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I've noticed there's plenty of information on this site about going from NCM to Officer, but not much about going in the reverse direction. I've been through the process, and answered a few PMs and personal conversations, and I thought I would get some of the information out there for those who are considering relinquishing their commissions.
First, some background: I enrolled as an Aerospace Controller (AEC) in 2006 under ROTP, and failed DP1 IFR training in 2011. I relinquished my commission and reassigned to AC Op in 2012, spent 4 years in trade, and was promoted to MCpl in 2016.
1. Why would I (or someone) relinquish their commission?
More often than not, it's a choice made after failing occupation training. If you're not recommended for a recourse in-trade, you have to either select a new occupation, or release. In my case, I made the choice to relinquish because the officer occupations available for reassignment at the time were Infantry or MARS, neither of which I had an interest in. AC Op was open, and allowed me to stay in the world I knew.
Rarely, some qualified officers do choose of their own volition to transfer to an NCM occupation. Just the same as why someone would choose to go from NCM to Officer, some choose to go from Officer to NCM for their own reasons. It's rare, but it does happen.
2. What's involved in relinquishing?
It's the same as a VOT: you choose from available trades, go for PSO interview(s), applicable medicals, and receive an offer message from DGMC which you can either accept or reject*. The added twist is one extra form which requests permission from the CDS to relinquish your commission.
There's no "demotion" ceremony for relinquishing, it's all done quietly. On the effective date, you put on your new ranks, take your tunic to the tailor, clear out of the officers mess, and clear into the JR's mess.
Footnote: Training failures rejecting an offer from DGMC will more than likely be released.
3. What rank will I be?
I can't give an accurate answer to this. Your rank on reassignment will be determined by DGMC in Ottawa. Best as I can determine, for ab initio training failures reassigning to NCM, they try to put your rank and time credit to where it would be as if you had initially enrolled as an NCM. I had nearly 6 years in when I reassigned, so I was given Cpl IPC1 with 8 months credit to IPC2. Four others I know who reassigned were either CEOTP or DEO with a year in, and were given Pte with appropriate time credits to Cpl.
4. Do I get to keep my pay?
No. Since relinquishing is a voluntary decision, you do not get vested rights to pay. If you are reassigning from 2Lt to Pte, there will be a substantial drop in pay. If you're lucky enough to reassign to Cpl, there may be a slight to substantial pay raise.
For medical reassignments, there may be a different answer to this question, but I'm as of right now, I'm unsure.
5. As a former-officer-now-NCM, will I be looked down upon? Will I be shunned by fellow NCMs?
Not really. I got some ribbing from time to time on QL3, but it comes with the territory. If you don't make a big deal out of it and don't make a point of bringing it up, most people will generally forget about it. If you stick your nose up at your new peer group, don't expect to make many friends.
6. Will my time as an officer negatively affect my promotion prospects?
The promotion boards do not look down upon former service as an officer - they only look at performance/potential as narrated on your PERs. Perform well, show potential, and you will be promoted.
If nothing, time as an officer might be a bit of a boon. With a BMOQ qualification, you can apply to CDA for a PLAR for CF PLQ*. For Navy and Air trades, that's a pretty good check in the box to have for promotion to MCpl. Having a degree and/or second language profile also boosts scores at promotion boards.
Footnote: Ok, notwithstanding what I said above about not being looked down upon, this is one case where your peers will be insanely jealous.
7. Can I get my commission back later?
Yes. You are eligible to compete in the In-service commissioning programs. You may be restricted from re-entering your previous officer occupation if you were a training failure, but otherwise you can enter the competitions for any other officer trade you meet the entrance standards for. Folks with degrees can compete for SCP, and those without can compete for UTPNCM and CEOTP. There is no "black-balling" because of your relinquishing either - you are treated the same as any other applicant.
8. Any other advice forescaping the dark side becoming an NCM?
Go in with a good attitude, and leave the past behind you. Being bitter and sticking your nose up won't get you ahead. There's lots of good trades and lots of good work to do as an NCM, and there is no shame in being an NCM, even with a degree.
First, some background: I enrolled as an Aerospace Controller (AEC) in 2006 under ROTP, and failed DP1 IFR training in 2011. I relinquished my commission and reassigned to AC Op in 2012, spent 4 years in trade, and was promoted to MCpl in 2016.
1. Why would I (or someone) relinquish their commission?
More often than not, it's a choice made after failing occupation training. If you're not recommended for a recourse in-trade, you have to either select a new occupation, or release. In my case, I made the choice to relinquish because the officer occupations available for reassignment at the time were Infantry or MARS, neither of which I had an interest in. AC Op was open, and allowed me to stay in the world I knew.
Rarely, some qualified officers do choose of their own volition to transfer to an NCM occupation. Just the same as why someone would choose to go from NCM to Officer, some choose to go from Officer to NCM for their own reasons. It's rare, but it does happen.
2. What's involved in relinquishing?
It's the same as a VOT: you choose from available trades, go for PSO interview(s), applicable medicals, and receive an offer message from DGMC which you can either accept or reject*. The added twist is one extra form which requests permission from the CDS to relinquish your commission.
There's no "demotion" ceremony for relinquishing, it's all done quietly. On the effective date, you put on your new ranks, take your tunic to the tailor, clear out of the officers mess, and clear into the JR's mess.
Footnote: Training failures rejecting an offer from DGMC will more than likely be released.
3. What rank will I be?
I can't give an accurate answer to this. Your rank on reassignment will be determined by DGMC in Ottawa. Best as I can determine, for ab initio training failures reassigning to NCM, they try to put your rank and time credit to where it would be as if you had initially enrolled as an NCM. I had nearly 6 years in when I reassigned, so I was given Cpl IPC1 with 8 months credit to IPC2. Four others I know who reassigned were either CEOTP or DEO with a year in, and were given Pte with appropriate time credits to Cpl.
4. Do I get to keep my pay?
No. Since relinquishing is a voluntary decision, you do not get vested rights to pay. If you are reassigning from 2Lt to Pte, there will be a substantial drop in pay. If you're lucky enough to reassign to Cpl, there may be a slight to substantial pay raise.
For medical reassignments, there may be a different answer to this question, but I'm as of right now, I'm unsure.
5. As a former-officer-now-NCM, will I be looked down upon? Will I be shunned by fellow NCMs?
Not really. I got some ribbing from time to time on QL3, but it comes with the territory. If you don't make a big deal out of it and don't make a point of bringing it up, most people will generally forget about it. If you stick your nose up at your new peer group, don't expect to make many friends.
6. Will my time as an officer negatively affect my promotion prospects?
The promotion boards do not look down upon former service as an officer - they only look at performance/potential as narrated on your PERs. Perform well, show potential, and you will be promoted.
If nothing, time as an officer might be a bit of a boon. With a BMOQ qualification, you can apply to CDA for a PLAR for CF PLQ*. For Navy and Air trades, that's a pretty good check in the box to have for promotion to MCpl. Having a degree and/or second language profile also boosts scores at promotion boards.
Footnote: Ok, notwithstanding what I said above about not being looked down upon, this is one case where your peers will be insanely jealous.
7. Can I get my commission back later?
Yes. You are eligible to compete in the In-service commissioning programs. You may be restricted from re-entering your previous officer occupation if you were a training failure, but otherwise you can enter the competitions for any other officer trade you meet the entrance standards for. Folks with degrees can compete for SCP, and those without can compete for UTPNCM and CEOTP. There is no "black-balling" because of your relinquishing either - you are treated the same as any other applicant.
8. Any other advice for
Go in with a good attitude, and leave the past behind you. Being bitter and sticking your nose up won't get you ahead. There's lots of good trades and lots of good work to do as an NCM, and there is no shame in being an NCM, even with a degree.
