Questions regarding Infantry Officer

[JustAnotherGuy]

I'll try to be more detailed in my questions.
If I join as an Infantry Soldier, will I have the opportunity to become an Infantry Officer later in my career?

 

[MJP]

I'll try to be more detailed in my questions.
If I join as an Infantry Soldier, will I have the opportunity to become an Infantry Officer later in my career?

Yes there are various commissioning programs out that that will allow you to do that.

Try a search for
UTPNCM
CFR
SCP
CEOTP

 

[JustAnotherGuy]

MJP thanks a lot for that I'm just looking them up now.

Is it difficult to get accepted into these programs?
And do they look at your high school marks or your career so far?

 

[GAP]

MJP thanks a lot for that I'm just looking them up now.

Is it difficult to get accepted into these programs?
And do they look at your high school marks or your career so far?

Read.....then ask...

 

[Michael OLeary]

Read.....then ask...

If you are going to offer cryptic advice, have the courtesy to include a link or specific search terms for the inquirer to start with.

Milnet.ca Staff

 

[Michael OLeary]

MJP thanks a lot for that I'm just looking them up now.

Is it difficult to get accepted into these programs?
And do they look at your high school marks or your career so far?

All of those programs are competitive and none take a lot of people each year. For the ones that include a requirement of eligibility for university, your high school marks will be a factor because they may affect your acceptance into a required educational program.

 

[dangles]

MJP thanks a lot for that I'm just looking them up now.

Is it difficult to get accepted into these programs?
And do they look at your high school marks or your career so far?

Although I am not in the CF, I can tell you that yes all of these programs are very competitive. Also, since these programs are dedicated towards you receiving a degree,  your highschool marks will have to come into view. This is because you MUST get accepted into a suitable University in order to receive a degree. And from what I hear, RMC has a more stringent required average than most other Universities out there [Although they probably could let you go to civi U through one of these programs - however I am ignorant of this, it is only an assumption].

Anyways, here is some advice about me in my current situation, it seems similar to what you are going through.

I am currently working towards a degree at a University right now, with the intent to join up as an infantry soldier. From there I will decide whether or not I want to become an officer.  In my opinion, this gives me the advantage of:
1) if I decide I do not want to pursue a career in the CF then my VIE is only 3 years [as an inf soldier] as opposed to 9 [for an infantry officer], 2) I get to see both sides of the spectrum [soldier vs officer], 3) from this perspective I get to see whether or not I even want to become an officer at all.

But, this is truly about what you want to do. This is more than likely a life-changing decision for you, so just make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into. Maybe you could even join a reserve unit, or take the military co-op program in order to experience the CF a little before hand? The reserves can reimburse you up to $2000 for one year in University as well. Anyways, best of luck.

 

[Michael OLeary]

3) from this perspective I get to see whether or not I even want to become an officer at all.

I can assure you that what the average soldiers "sees" of the full scope of duties executed by the unit's officers is very limited. Further to that it provides no visibility on the many roles an officer will perform once posted outside the unit. Do not depend on that experience to provide a comprehensive comparison.

 

[dangles]

I can assure you that what the average soldiers "sees" of the full scope of duties executed by the unit's officers is very limited. Further to that it provides no visibility on the many roles an officer will perform once posted outside the unit. Do not depend on that experience to provide a comprehensive comparison.

Thank you Michael. Actually, I don't know why I wrote that, because one of my TA's who was an infantry soldier for awhile told me the same thing. Anyways, if I were to OT, it would be to Int O, so I would truly have no idea what those officers were up to regardless.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Thank you Michael. Actually, I don't know why I wrote that, because one of my TA's who was an infantry soldier for awhile told me the same thing. Anyways, if I were to OT, it would be to Int O, so I would truly have no idea what those officers were up to regardless.

That's the thing about positions of observation and virtual horizons, unless you actually change your position of observation and get a different perspective and see different things, you can become convinced you already see (know) everything there is to see (know).

 

[JustAnotherGuy]

Another question, if i join as an infantry soldier would i be able to change trades later in my career, to say a combat engineer? just curious

 

[Michael OLeary]

Another question, if i join as an infantry soldier would i be able to change trades later in my career, to say a combat engineer? just curious

From another current thread:

Voluntary changes of trade are possible if:

a. the trade you are in is "Open" for transfers out,
b. the trade you want to go to is "Open" for transfers in,
c. you meet the entry requirements for the new trade, this may require interview by the Personnel Selection Officer (PSO, and even retaking the CFAT if you need a higher score than what you have on record, and
d. there's nothing on your file that may restrict your transfer such as unresolved medical issues, administrative proceedings such as Counseling and Probation, etc.

If those conditions are all met, then you can be considered for transfer to a new trade. Some trades fill vacancies with trained soldiers to make up for losses in training of recruit applicants (or other unforecasted attrition) for their own trade, but numbers are rarely consistent. Some trades take very few transfers from other trades and people have been known to apply year after year before being selected (if at all). You would have to renew your application each year for consideration.

 

[JustAnotherGuy]

Thank you