from handed in application to merit listing

[TacticalW]

So here's my story from application to me being about to be merit listed (as soon as people handling my file get back from holidays x.x)

After working out for 6 months and getting more details I finally decided to put my application through and start on the recruiting process for Reserve Infantry (although I'll be changing to Reg. Infantry in about a year). It took a little while to get the call on the CFAT, but soon it "was" scheduled. I was nervous, did a few IQ tests beforehand to see what it's like and "did well" but still anxious.

I got to the CFRC in Vancouver and was with a group of about 10 others ready to enter for the test on 8:30. Generally everyone was semi-anxious and I would say especially me. Pretty tense atmosphere all the way through (save a few funny moments). Eventually we got called in and we made sure to go over missed information on the forms and then write down a history of whatever non-prescription drugs/alcahol we've had and for how long. This is when it got a bit interesting and one of the instructors looked over somebodies list saying "Whoowhee, you should open up a hospital" as well as one person actually asking for a second page to write the list of drugs on hehe. Anyways, we were starting the test on the computers and things went pretty smoothly. Most of them were simple and I could get them within 30 seconds of working it out and others more challenging as well as a few for each category that "were" pretty harsh brain teasers. We were done, were escorted back to the waiting area where we'd be called up one by one for them to tell what jobs we qualified for. It was pretty tense and a lot of people didn't do as well as they'd wanted and gotta say that made me more nervous. I was called up and first thing the instructor said was that I scored high and right away I asked if I got Res. Infantry (yes), Reg. Infantry (yes) and Reg. Infantry Officer (yes) and immediately was relieved and pretty damn happy having things click along the right way so far. The next day I had my interview scheduled for December 3 and things were moving along pretty well.

I came in for my interview and it was pretty short. About 10 minutes of a few basic questions, me explaining some plans and that was it. The interviewer helped me get the medical on the same day. I waited about an hour then went over it. The usual visual test and so on, although later I ran into some problems when I had to talk about some anti-depression meds I was taking and just needed my phychologist to sign some forms. It was delayed a bit but I got them a few days later and got one of the staff there to get it to the physician. Shortly after I got my fitness test (since I'm going to Reserves) set up for December 19th (yeah, I was dissappointed on the wait).

When the time came I went to the CFRC for the test and got to the waiting room. I was in good shape to start but unfortunately had a red bull (although still passed alright for the heart-rate and blood pressure portion) beforehand. Anyways, finished the step test and got everything done pretty fast. For pushups several weren't counted and the fitness tester stopped me early so I little dissapointed on that and couldn't redo it. Everything else was great and she told me I should be merit listed by the end of the day if everything went fine. So yeah, got past everything but this is when I'm running into some problems. On the way out I asked when I could get an offer and he explained to me that it would probably be late January because of the holidays and so on and went home. Once I got home I was wondering whether I could get some material or anything like a manual I could get on my own beforehand to keep me busy by getting prepared in the wait. For some reason he was telling me once again that it would be a while, kept on talking about details while I was trying to get a chance to make clear what I'm asking and yeah, he "started giving me a hard time" making up some stuff like "well, they might just tell you that there aren't enough positions to include you" and more crap that I contradicted with him saying "alright, just giving you a hard time" eventually. Anyways, he didn't answer my question and personally got pretty frustrated. Now it's today and I needed to call in to make sure that the forms got to the physician and that everything is either processed or in the position "to" be processed. Unfortunately as I tried to contact some other people other than the guy I had talked to before I found out that most were already on break and he was my only option from the list of extensions I had. So I called over and got the exact same talk as the other day and hearing a guy from the background telling him to say "don't call back until mid-january". Okay, now that was a bad sign and he didn't give me a chance to even ask what I called him for to ask. I tried to call others again and ended up finally calling him again unfortunately. After he gave said the same damn useless thing I finally got to ask what I was trying to get him to answer and that was if my medical check-up was processed and if the forms "got" to the physician and if there was anything else I had to worry about. Well, "YES" there was an issue with my medical file as apparently part 2 of it was held up for some reason. This either meant that the forms didn't get to him or something else, and yes my doctor checked everything and left a detailed explenation. He listed the people that were handeling my file and that were on break and apparently I really didn't have "anyone" that could figure it out until January 7th and then he started explaining how processing takes a while when I was pretty clearly not asking about the damn processing time but what was happening with the "forms I signed and gave to one of the staff". Anyways, now admittedly in a pretty foul mood and won't be able to call them until January 14th since the first time I put a call in I got such a reaction. What ticks me off more was that that's the first time I talked to that recruiter since 3 months ago in handing in my application and got completely brushed off at the first call and had to deal with it more as I tried to get one piece of information from him.

Sorry for the rant, but pretty demoralized and upset with things being held up now. I just want to start my trade and do "something" to start, even if it's just getting my hands on a handbook for tactics or whatever we get during training that I can read over. Just a note but I didn't insult or talk angrily with the recruiters at any point but clearly there are some issues. Just hoping nothing gets held up because of this, it was going smoothly but not quite as well now that I'm actually "done".

 

[RTaylor]

The issue I see here isn't your aptitude testing or the physical, it's the anti-depressants that you're on (or were on). Usually from experience helping others fill out their apps and so on the military prefers that before you're enlisted that you be off them for 6 months or so but that depends on what type of drug (clonazipam / lorazipam are usually the biggies)...that guy you were talking to didnt sound too professional in the least.

In all honesty though, it sounds like he just wanted to put it off due to the holidays. I just had my interview and the guy was great, told me everything I wanted to know. Just call your doctor and ask if they contacted him at any point, if there's an issue they'll have done that or want you to sign some release forms for medical info so they can know your history (they did for 2 friends of mine).

Just wait till the 2nd or so week in January, call back and say there was a phone number that came up on your phone that identified it as a call from the armed forces but no message was left and you were wondering what it was about. Sometimes you have to play games to get what you want.

 

[TacticalW]

For the anti-depressants (venlaflaxine) I talked with the doctor and it was fine. It was just the forms that had to be signed by the doctor and should be fine unless the forms somehow didn't "reach" him or a form was missing. Well anyways, I'll be calling the doc in the CFRC when he's back on January 7th and I guess making sure I'm merit listed and everything's running smoothly on January 14th from another staff member. Well anyways, I'll try to hold tight here but gotta say the wait is hard, even though I know things are moving along faster than for a lot of others but still, dang.

 

[RTaylor]

Yeah, they wait is hard...if you read my big blathering post it took me a looonnngggg time to get my interview which I just had today which was a massive stroke of luck.

Hopefully they get into gear again and get your app going soon.

 

[OS_Hewitt]

Hey there TacticalW,

Has the status of your file been given to you by now? Sometimes these things take forever, due to things being lost, people being unprofessional... I just finished a component transfer from the naval reserves, to the regF as a Vehicle Tech, took me almost 1 year and 7 months to do that... as for talking to the people in the recruiting center about your particulars, if you are dealing with a Cpl, try getting the number of his/her supervisor. That way you are talking to someone who has had more experience and so on. also, if you know someone in the forces with a DIN account, ask them to get the e-mail addresses of the people your dealing with, that way you have a written record of whats happening so they can't turn around one day and say, "sorry ________ , but we haven't head form ______, and ________ about your file so it will take a few months more." and you can turn around with nice little printed e-mail responses and say "thats a bunch of f***ing b**lsh!t I know what stage my file is in."

wish you the best of luck.

 

[OS_Hewitt]

ok let me rephrase that, you don't have to be rude or judgmental, but u can get a better picture if they're yankin your chain, or actually trying to push you through the system. with my stint of doing me CT, i found that until i started e-mailing, and calling 2 times a week, nothing, or an infantismal spark of something was being done to get my transfer completed. it took about 10 e-mails, and 20+ phone calls to Sgts, and Slt's to get any sort of clear picture, now i'm not saying go for their thoats by calling any officers, but that was the person that they had passed me on to when i asked to speak to someone who had a clearer picture of my file. the Cpl at the recruiting center that i was dealing with at first was 1. unprofessional, 2. new to the job so he was getting used to it.

Yes the recruiting staff do have many files to tract, and maintain, pass on and such, but with a little time and effort while you are inquiring as to you files status they can go onto their computer, access your information, and find out exactly where your file is on the process as a whole, if an offer is being made, if you are being recommended for the job, where and when your medical docs have been signed off on.

again, wishing you the best of luck

 

[TacticalW]

I really appreciate the input guys, so far looks like I'll be waiting a little longer for the merit listing. The doc there I forgot to mention it before but a little over a month ago when everything was done I was told I had to be completely off my anti-dep meds. I can't just stop in one day so another month and then I'll get off completely. Scheduling another follow-up with the Med Officer there and then I can finally get merit listed. I'm pretty dissapointed but trying to look at the bright side, which would by summer I'll weigh 165 pounds with 4% body fat lol (ideal boxing weight). Signed on to a bigger gym and had a trainer for a few weeks, now got a new workout with 3 excercises and 3-4 sets for every muscle group. Getting into pro-boxing  and soon to be going to some tournaments, and running 5-8 kilometres every day. All of this is to be able to do the best I possibly can when training arrives and later - so hoping things work out with my application and soon.

And yeah, earlier it was because there was something not signed on the forms and those were handed in, but just told about me having to get off the medication. I did tell him about venlaflaxine before and he didn't say anything but oh well. That one was pretty much unavoidable.

Right now I can't really do much to move my file up but for now I'll get things scheduled, get ready and now just about completely off meds so that's almost done. I guess it's been over 6 months since I put in my application, hopefully the wait won't be much longer. I'll be careful on who I call for information and call 2 people just incase for when I'm waiting for an offer and call them once a week.

Does anyone know how long it takes to get an offer for a Res. Force and whether it depends on the status of that individual unit that's close to you? The base that's closest to me is in Vancouver (Seaforthe Highlanders of Canada) - any chance someone could estimate the time required and if there's anything I can do to speed it up for later? Like calling one of the staff up there or something. I'm unsure how that works but yeah, I need some advice.

Well anyways, it's going as fine as it can for now, other than that hang up. Thanks again, I'll keep everyone posted, reply and ask questions when I need to - still checking army.ca pretty much daily so yeah.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

I suggest you go and read a bunch of the other posts here in the Recuiting Forum. Everything you've supplied and ranted about has been covered many, many times before. Spend some time reading and calm down. Your attitude of entitlement is going to get you tossed from the system before you even get started.

Locked.

Milnet.ca Staff

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

as for talking to the people in the recruiting center about your particulars, if you are dealing with a Cpl, try getting the number of his/her supervisor. That way you are talking to someone who has had more experience and so on.

Sorry for posting over your lock RG but, I couldn't let the above kife pass by as some may read it and think that there is an ounce of truth to this statement..................it is certainly in the "army.ca top ten stupid lines" list.