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Well, seeing as I have yet to go into extreme detail of my application process I figured I would list my experience so that someone else down the road may benefit from it.
I will spare you the "I always wanted to serve my country" routine. I have applied for a reg force position wit my job choices being Signal operator and artillery solider.
I applied back in January 2008. Within a week I was contacted my a Sgt. at the CFRC in Hamilton, and we started getting the piles of paperwork together (transcripts, etc.). I should note that at the time I had a criminal record, but had already applied for a pardon some months prior. I was required to provide a copy of the "application received letter' from pardons and clemency as well.
Some time went by and I was schedule to come in for my medical, CFAT and Interview. I attended, aced the CFAT, did the medical and endured the interview. The medical revealed that I had a substantial hearing loss in my left ear. This put me in an H3 hearing category which we all know is not good enough. Enrollment requires a minimum of an H2 classification. I also was carrying a bit too much weight. As a result I needed some documentation from my family doc. So I proceeded to the hour-long interview with the recruiter who asked me a slurry of questions, which I felt I prepared for well enough. (The CFRC hands you a pre-interview questionnaire. Complete it. It takes some time, but it prepares you well).
So off I go with my medical forms (one for an old stomach problem), the other for my hearing. My doc completes the stomach related one, and of course we have no issues there. The hearing is a bit more complicated. He sends me to an Ear nose throat specialist in Hamilton who I chat up with on my first meeting. Turns out we have 2 types of hearing loss. Neurological, and Conductive. The neurological is damage to the auditory nerve. This cannot, in no way be repaired. What's done is done. The other is a conductive hearing loss. Basically, for any number of reasons the sound is not being transferred efficiently enough through the inner ear to the nerve. This CAN be repaired to some degree it turns out. So we decide that because of my type of loss, a number of different procedures can be performed. Due to the size of the bones in the ear, which surgical option will be determined once he is in my head on surgery day. We also decide to go ahead with surgery. The percentages of success are extremely good, and the risks are quite nominal. I go in tomorrow (the 18th of September 2008) for this surgery. It is same day outpatient. I sure hope my ENT surgeon is real good. Wish me luck.
As a side note, I met one person through this board who also had this hearing surgery with great success. They shall remain nameless, but their input, support, and contributions have been invaluable. In fact, if it was not for them I would not have known about this surgical option. My ENT specialist is amazing as well.
During the time waiting for appointments, testing, and so on and so forth I have been hitting the gym daily. We have cut 3 inches off my waist in 9 months. I will keep working hard on this till the bitter end. Also, during this wait time, I also was awarded my Pardon. I provided a copy to the CFRC. Turns out my security clearance check came back. I have some marks for some old debts that need to be remedied. So I made some payment plans with the creditors, and as I have been paying off these debts, I provide a copy of the supporting documentation to the CFRC for my file.
What's left (in order by my gathering)?
Surgery.
A month of recuperation (or so).
More audio testing.
Pay off one more bill.
Submit a fist full of paperwork to the CFRC, and the CFRC medical office.
Wait.
If everything is in order, I hope to be given an offer, but that is far far down the road. I am expecting at least 4 to 6 more months max.
Anyhoos, I will keep this little thread of mine alive with details as things occur.
Best,
Nites
I will spare you the "I always wanted to serve my country" routine. I have applied for a reg force position wit my job choices being Signal operator and artillery solider.
I applied back in January 2008. Within a week I was contacted my a Sgt. at the CFRC in Hamilton, and we started getting the piles of paperwork together (transcripts, etc.). I should note that at the time I had a criminal record, but had already applied for a pardon some months prior. I was required to provide a copy of the "application received letter' from pardons and clemency as well.
Some time went by and I was schedule to come in for my medical, CFAT and Interview. I attended, aced the CFAT, did the medical and endured the interview. The medical revealed that I had a substantial hearing loss in my left ear. This put me in an H3 hearing category which we all know is not good enough. Enrollment requires a minimum of an H2 classification. I also was carrying a bit too much weight. As a result I needed some documentation from my family doc. So I proceeded to the hour-long interview with the recruiter who asked me a slurry of questions, which I felt I prepared for well enough. (The CFRC hands you a pre-interview questionnaire. Complete it. It takes some time, but it prepares you well).
So off I go with my medical forms (one for an old stomach problem), the other for my hearing. My doc completes the stomach related one, and of course we have no issues there. The hearing is a bit more complicated. He sends me to an Ear nose throat specialist in Hamilton who I chat up with on my first meeting. Turns out we have 2 types of hearing loss. Neurological, and Conductive. The neurological is damage to the auditory nerve. This cannot, in no way be repaired. What's done is done. The other is a conductive hearing loss. Basically, for any number of reasons the sound is not being transferred efficiently enough through the inner ear to the nerve. This CAN be repaired to some degree it turns out. So we decide that because of my type of loss, a number of different procedures can be performed. Due to the size of the bones in the ear, which surgical option will be determined once he is in my head on surgery day. We also decide to go ahead with surgery. The percentages of success are extremely good, and the risks are quite nominal. I go in tomorrow (the 18th of September 2008) for this surgery. It is same day outpatient. I sure hope my ENT surgeon is real good. Wish me luck.
As a side note, I met one person through this board who also had this hearing surgery with great success. They shall remain nameless, but their input, support, and contributions have been invaluable. In fact, if it was not for them I would not have known about this surgical option. My ENT specialist is amazing as well.
During the time waiting for appointments, testing, and so on and so forth I have been hitting the gym daily. We have cut 3 inches off my waist in 9 months. I will keep working hard on this till the bitter end. Also, during this wait time, I also was awarded my Pardon. I provided a copy to the CFRC. Turns out my security clearance check came back. I have some marks for some old debts that need to be remedied. So I made some payment plans with the creditors, and as I have been paying off these debts, I provide a copy of the supporting documentation to the CFRC for my file.
What's left (in order by my gathering)?
Surgery.
A month of recuperation (or so).
More audio testing.
Pay off one more bill.
Submit a fist full of paperwork to the CFRC, and the CFRC medical office.
Wait.
If everything is in order, I hope to be given an offer, but that is far far down the road. I am expecting at least 4 to 6 more months max.
Anyhoos, I will keep this little thread of mine alive with details as things occur.
Best,
Nites