New confused member ROTP/Engineering Officer

[Engineer79]

The bolded font below is the actual question
Hey everyone. I've have been researching, procrastinating and talking to many people about the Canadian forces for the past 6 months. About a month ago, i went to the CFRC and picked up the application. I am applying for the combat engineering officer (aka field engineer). I have also completed 2 years of my electrical engineering degree (2 more years to go before i get my degree).

So, this week, i went back to the CFRC with the completed applications, however, since i was planning on joining the reserves until i finish my degree, they asked me to go directly and talk to one of the reserves location. They even gave me a new form to fill out so they can directly send that form to all the reserves locations.

Now, i have been re thinking my decision - i know i want to do a couple tours after i graduate engineering - so why join the reserves, i should just join the regular forces! If i sign up for regular forces (and sign up for mandatory service after graduation), what will happen if the CF decides that i am not eligible for the combat engineering officer trade (either due to lack of space, or due to my fitness level)? So, what will i be doing during the the mandatory service time if i don't make it?

Truthfully, i just came here for assurance that i wont spend my mandatory years in regret of my engineering degree going to waste. I realize not everyone who applies for the engineering officer trade will make it through, so what if i am one of them? Any advice will be helpful.

 

[PMedMoe]

I would think that your "fitness" for the trade would be determined by your CFAT score, however, if you were not selected for that trade for some reason, you would be offered another trade.  That's why there are three choices on the form.

 

[Engineer79]

I would think that your "fitness" for the trade would be determined by your CFAT score, however, if you were not selected for that trade for some reason, you would be offered another trade.  That's why there are three choices on the form.

Exactly, but thats what im worried about. I dont want to spend 3 or 5 years of my life doing something that has absolutely nothing to do with engineering. 

 

[Otis]

E79:

You do not sign up for the Forces and get told what to do (trade-wise). When we give you the job offer, it will include what trade (job) you are going to be. If you do not get offered an Engineering-type trade, you do not have to agree to join.

 

[Engineer79]

E79:

You do not sign up for the Forces and get told what to do (trade-wise). When we give you the job offer, it will include what trade (job) you are going to be. If you do not get offered an Engineering-type trade, you do not have to agree to join.

This is very true Otis. But i should have been more specific about my entry plan, i was 50-50 on ROTP entry plan. What will happen in that case? Because, by the time i qualify/train to be fully employable as field engineer, i would have used up at least 2 years of the army's subsidized education plan (and i am assuming i sign a contract when i get accepted for ROTP). What if i get rejected by the army after those 2 years?

 

[PMedMoe]

Why would you get rejected after two years?

 

[Engineer79]

Why would you get rejected after two years?

If i sign up this week, i cant do my basic officer training until next summer, and my common army phase until the summer after that (2 years from now). During those two training session, they can reject you if your performance is not good enough. Especially after the first 9 weeks of BOTC, some of the officer cadets are sent home because they don't have what it takes to become and officer.

 

[PMedMoe]

If i sign up this week, i cant do my basic officer training until next summer, and my common army phase until the summer after that (2 years from now). During those two training session, they can reject you if your performance is not good enough. Especially after the first 9 weeks of BOTC, some of the officer cadets are sent home because they don't have what it takes to become and officer.

Nothing like setting yourself up to fail before even getting in.  :  I suppose there is a remote possibility of not passing your BMOQ.  I don't know what would happen in that situation.  Perhaps release and you'd have to pay for your schooling?  I'm sure someone will come along with a better answer.

 

[Engineer79]

Nothing like setting yourself up to fail before even getting in.  :  I suppose there is a remote possibility of not passing your BMOQ.  I don't know what wouldhappen in that situation.  Perhaps release and you'd have to pay for your schooling?  I'm sure someone will come along with a better answer.

Thankyou for your response.

P.S i wouldn't call it "setting yourself up for failure"  . I simply call it "Plan B". Oh look, im showing military leadership qualities already  

 

[matthew1786]

Engineer79, if you still visit these forums, I am curious to know how it worked out for you as I am somewhat in a similar situation. Thanks!

 

[Jed]

A msg to you young guys starting out in the engineers in the CF:

Don't take counsel from your internal doubts. Just go for it and get it done. Running all the what if's in your mind will just wear you down.

 

[matthew1786]

I dropped out of High-School, joined the Regular Force as an NCM, and had no backup plan.  Failure was not an option.  Get that into your head.  Last thing we need is an officer who doubts themselves and their ability.

The similarities between the OP and myself is that we are both 2nd year electrical engineering civi-U students at the time of ROTP application. That is all. No sitting on the fence for me, just an uphill climb to the top.

 

[rasputin]

While I admire the "failure is not an option" sentiment, I think a person is wise to make sure they know everything that could or could not happen.  It's been almost 20 years since I was in CMR but I can tell you, something like 3 or 5 failed boot camp (and were subsequently released from the military) not to mention several others who basically just "lost it" (couldn't mentally handle it and left).  One thing the military didn't do in my day was really inform you of what was coming up in terms of tests and such at various phases.  For instance, when you went to Aircrew Selection (first phase towards becoming a pilot), you were submitted to a battery of almost IQ type tests first day and if you didn't finish in the top 25% of everybody that wrote the test all time, that was it, right then and there you were done in your hoped for career as a pilot before you even attempted the other tests.  I saw several people who had the dream from the time they were little kids completely devastated right there and having to switch trades before they ever really started.  All this to say, I would strongly recommend you track down someone who has done the trade you are looking to do and find out exactly what the different test phases entail so you can prep yourself and what could and couldn't cause you to be eliminated from said trade.  I would even recommend that when you do a particular phase training, you talk to the people in charge at the start of the course and ask them what they are looking for and expecting.  If they are worth their salt they should see it as a sign of initiative on your part and as someone who wants to achieve his/her best.