Joining the Army

[bobbyt]

I think at this point in my life joining the army would be the best possible thing for me. I just have a few questions before I go down to the recruiting office, if you guys don't mind.

How difficult is it to get in to the military these days? Is a college education necessary?

How competitive is it to get into one of those specialized NCM roles? I'm thinking Med Tech or Vech Tech.

Do I need to go through college for all NCM roles?

Thanks

edit: Is direct-entry underrated and are the CF even accepting infantry?

 

[dangerboy]

If you are thinking of applying for Med Tech or Veh Tech, why are you wondering if Infantry is open?

 

[GAP]

Go down to the recruiting center! You are jumping all over the place based on a total lack of information.....get some!

 

[Diamondwillow]

In all honesty - you should probably head to the recruiting office first and ask them these questions.  The level of difficulty to get into the military is different for EVERYONE - if you spend time reading the recruiting posts you will see some people having rolled through the process within a year and others taking several (yes I'm talking in years.).  Gone are the days of walking up to the counter and *sign up* and go home to Mama or the wife and announce you are in the Army now- its competitive,  more so than any other job I have applied for.  They actually WANT to know about what you've done in all aspects of your life besides your last job and why you left...  College helps your application but many of the NCM trades don't *require* it.  As for your question about getting into specialized NCM trades - well - its only as competitive as there are openings vs applicants - unfortunately - no-one here can or would be willing to offer numbers.  From what I have gleaned - by the time *numbers* make it to this board they are likely obsolete.  Your best bet isn't to try and determine what job gives you the best *chance* of enrollment - but rather are there any jobs accepting applications that are things you REALLY want to do?  If so - apply for those, if you have your heart set on something closed you can apply (online) but your file won't be processed until the trade *opens*.  The Forces.ca website will give you a good idea of what's available and what they are accepting applications for - but - the final word will be your recruiting office.  (as an example of how quickly things change, I went in for my interview last fall and was informed when I arrived that two of my trade choices had JUST closed that morning...)

 

[Eye In The Sky]

:goodpost:

 

[Zombie]

I think at this point in my life joining the army would be the best possible thing for me. I just have a few questions before I go down to the recruiting office, if you guys don't mind.

How difficult is it to get in to the military these days? Is a college education necessary?

How competitive is it to get into one of those specialized NCM roles? I'm thinking Med Tech or Vech Tech.

Do I need to go through college for all NCM roles?

Thanks

edit: Is direct-entry underrated and are the CF even accepting infantry?

To answer the two questions you asked with four questions, no you do not need a college education and it is very competitive. Educational requirements differ by trade. You'd be doing youself a big favour by going to a Recruiting Centre, as has been mentioned.

I don't understand your direct entry question and contact a RC to find out what trades are open.

 

[Zombie]

Your best bet isn't to try and determine what job gives you the best *chance* of enrollment - but rather are there any jobs accepting applications that are things you REALLY want to do? 

Good advice...

(as an example of how quickly things change, I went in for my interview last fall and was informed when I arrived that two of my trade choices had JUST closed that morning...)

Now that is just bad luck and/or timing...anything change since then?

 

[Diamondwillow]

Now that is just bad luck and/or timing...anything change since then?

I interviewed that day on my third and fourth choice... I had been wavering between two Navy and two purple trades - the Navy trades closed that day so my decision was invariably made for me.  I'm heading to BMQ on Feb 20th and EXCEEDINGLY happy with the end result.

 

[Zombie]

I interviewed that day on my third and fourth choice... I had been wavering between two Navy and two purple trades - the Navy trades closed that day so my decision was invariably made for me.  I'm heading to BMQ on Feb 20th and EXCEEDINGLY happy with the end result.

I didn't realize you could make four choices. At any rate, congrats and good luck...

 

[Diamondwillow]

You can't - not on the form.  The interviewing officer advised that I could interview for my third choice and if there were any other open trades I was interested in we could do the interview for them that day too - or I could come back to do the interview another day.  Like I said - I was wavering - so I already knew what I would choose as my second trade.