Reserve Pilot Transfer

[snyper21]

Forgive me if this question has been asked before, but I have searched this site for quite a while and have not found any answers.

I originally wanted to join the Reg. Force under the DEO route as a pilot. I graduate in the Fall 2009 from university. Considering the fact that there are no pilot slots available at this moment, and that there have been very few slots available in recent years, it seems as if it would be very difficult to get a position in the near future. I have done almost everything to improve my application from voluteer work, and flying lessons to daily physical exercise... you name it I've done it. To get the ball rolling right now, I was told by the recruiter that I can apply for a reserve unit (as an officer) in the Montreal area and then transfer over to pilot. My questions are...

1. Can I start my training considering the fact that I'm taking a full summer course load, as well as a full Fall course load?

2. Once I finish my training and get located to a reserve unit,  how soon after can I send in an application for pilot?

3. By doing this, would my application for pilot be THAT much more competitive?

 

[Strike]

This won't answer your questions, but there may be another option, albeit a slim one.

There is a Sqn in the Montreal area (438) that is reserve heavy.  It's very rare that an applicant will be accepted as a Res pilot without previous military flying experience, but it has been known to happen.  If you give them a call they could tell you if or when there will be openings for a non-trained Res pilot.  If they don't have a spot, they can give you the numbers of the other Res-heavy Sqn (400 in Borden) and Reg Sqn Reserve rep.  Who knows, there might be openings.  It may require a move on your point and, depending on the training required, you may be restricted to one airframe but it is another option.

Food for thought.

 

[snyper21]

Perhaps I was unclear, but my desire it to switch from reserve unit to apply to the REG force as pilot as soon as possible, and am wondering how long it takes.

 

[Loachman]

You are still not very clear.

Is it your desire to begin flying training as a Reservist?

If so, it's not likely to happen. There are only two routes - ex-Regular Pilot and HELICOP (a search for that will yield results) and, unless you have a commercial helicopter licence with five hundred hours, turbine time, and an instrument rating, that's not an option.

You are not likely to be attractive to 438 Squadron if you are only going to be with them for a short time, and vacancies in both 400 and 438 Squadrons are few and very competitive. We have a waiting list for most positions, including Pilot, and we can be choosy. You will have to have some specialty, training for that will occur during the summer, it won't be Pilot, and you're too late for this year.

Call 438 Squadron and see what they say. Don't get your expectations up though.

 

[snyper21]

What I would like to do is apply as a reservist, get through my initial officer training. Once that is complete, as soon as possible I would like to get transfered (if accepted) to a regular force pilot to start pilot training. So yes I would like to do my pilot training in the regular force and then work as a regular force pilot.

 

[Loachman]

Creative, and I now understand (and respect) your intent, but I think that you are going to have a hard time convincing the people that you have to convince.

You will not be enrolled in the Air Reserve as a Pilot, as you do not meet the current criteria. That is a topic for another rant, and I have most likely already done that one here. (There used to be a Reserve Pilot Training Programme for off-the-street Reserve applicants. It was a good Programme, but was unfortunately shut down by a twit who had no appreciation for or understanding of Reservists and Reserve Units.)

You will have to be enrolled as Something Else, yet there is no expectation that you will ever perform in that capacity.

Even if your sales pitch is successful, you will still wait just as long before beginning flying training and therefore will essentially be collecting pay while contributing nothing of value in the meantime. Closure of applications was, I believe, done just to avoid that.

Prior to my recent deployment, we were employing three or four 2Lts awaiting various flying courses in Ops. I am on post-deployment leave right now, and did not think to check and see if that was still the case but I doubt that it has changed as it's been that way for years. That's just my Squadron, too, and I would guess that there is no difference at any other. I have no idea what the total number of them are, but there must be many dozens. While these people contribute what they can, we can only find so much for them to do.

Call 438 Squadron, but be prepared for disappointment. You're probably going to have to wait until Reg Force slots open up again, but good luck.

 

[snyper21]

Thanks Loachman I appreciate your advice. I believe there is still some sort of misunderstanding in my post (my fault). I didn't clarify my intentions clearly. I understand that there is no way I'd get picked up for reserve pilot training as an officer. What I forgot to mention was that I'd be applying for officer in ANOTHER air trade for the reserves. All of this would be for the sole purpose of eventually getting a reg. force pilot position in the nearest possible future. The recruiter I spoke to said that getting a pilot offer these days for someone off the street is highly unlikely as the numbers are very low (and not to mention I'd have to wait until March 2010 to begin my application process). He said a way to speed up things (as I would start my basic officer training and application process) and make myself a much more competitive applicant would be to start off as a reservist (in any officer position) then transfer over to reg. force pilot. He also mentioned that if I were to do the reserve thing that I would already have a foot in the door and my chances would be alot better for getting a pilot offer (once the numbers do come out).

Now my question is, assuming I do get an offer for an officer air trade position in the reserves and finish my initial training, how long do I have to wait to then apply for a transfer?

P.S., Sorry if I'm being repetitive in my posts, I would just like to make my intentions clear and make the best possible decision regarding my future because this is a very real career choice I wish to pursue.

 

[Zoomie]

I can only see two real advantages to your prospective route.

1) If you complete PRes BOTP - you will save yourself 14 weeks of RegF BOTP if/when you transfer.
2) Your paperwork for being recruited might be shortened by one or two days.

You still will be competing against the civilian public - if you have a degree, your file will be in the pool of the rest of DEO applicants.  If we are currently accepting zero pilot applicants, that number doesn't change for those currently in the CF.

You will still need a degree to become an Officer in the RegF - not required for the PRes.  Don't get caught in a trap thinking that if you get your commission in the PRes without a degree that you will be able to sneak into the RegF - they simply won't accept your transfer.

To answer your timing question.  In order for this PRes experience to mean anything - you will want to at least get your trade training done and then apply for a Component Transfer.  As a reservist you might not be loaded on to a basic training course until next summer (2010).  If you are lucky, you might be able to get all your training done that summer - but be prepared to spend more than 3 months away to get it all done.  Some reserve units are going to want to get some value out of you too - they won't be too pleased to send you on these pricey courses only to lose you in under a year.  In that respect, I cannot recommend you follow this route unless you are prepared to serve for 4-5 years with whatever unit you choose. 

 

[Loachman]

If the recruiter backs this course, there may be some merit in it, however somebody higher in his chain may disagree or the situation may change in the near future. It may get you into the CF sooner, which is a benefit, but that may be the only one. Sub-benefits would include time towards your CD and pension etcetera.

Besides Pilot, the only other air officer classification in a Tac Hel Squadron is AERE. There are few non-air positions either - we have one Log O position as OC Log Support Flight and an Adjutant and that's it.

As I've said, you'll have to talk to 438 Squadron about their situation.

What is it that you ultimately wish to fly?

 

[snyper21]

hmm this sounds as if it would be a big deal and cause a huge headache by going reserves first. I ultimately wish to fly the cf-18, but transport is great as well. At first I wanted helos (as my second choice after jets) but after checking out the Air Canada website I quickly changed my mind lol. I might stick with my original plan and just apply DEO when numbers eventually do come out. I believe I am a strong applicant and am confindent in getting chosen. It's just that the recruiter put it in a way that it's almost impossible to get an offer (even next year). I don't agree with the fact that he was pushing on other trades and career paths despite my great passion to fly. But that's just me.

 

[Loachman]

Air Canada lays people off every few years. Back in the early nineties that hit everyone with less than thirteen years of seniority. All of a sudden, guys with families and whacking big mortgages were job-hunting all over the planet. Just keep that in mind when planning your future. I'm not knocking it, but sometimes one finally sees that the grass is greener on one's own side of the fence once one hops over. We've had Reservists in 400 Squadron go back into the Reg Force during such times. You can probably talk to a few 438 Squadron guys about airline life.

A lot of guys on my Primary Flying Course (1979) wanted transport purely as a stepping stone to lucrative and cushy airline careers. Not one of them passed the course. Poor motivation, as far as I was concerned.

Pick something that you really want to fly, not something that may lead to a civ job in the future.

 

[snyper21]

In all honestly, the only thing I REALLY want to fly would be the CF-18. Everything else is secondary, but by going into transport if for whatever reason I can't get jets, there would still be that POSSIBILITY of an airline career, whereas by going into helos it seems almost impossible considering you need a minimum of 1000 hours of fixed wing time as a bare minimum.

On the other hand, thinking this far into the future will give me a massive migrane which will prevent me from moving further lol. I should probably just focus on my next step.

Thanks for the advice guys, I very much appreciate it.

 

[Loachman]

It sounds like you have the proper perspective.

Other than this absurd desire to fly seized-wing machines.

Not the best time to try and get in, unfortunately.

Best of luck.

 

[snyper21]

Thanks Loachman but I don't believe in luck 

 

[Loachman]

I have good reason to.