Steiner's Story, split from Re: General Questions regarding your application

[steiner0400]

GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE!

As we know, today is October 1st. I went in for my CFAT...

The test is gruelling but manageable if you're quick to determine obvious answers. For those that do not read books often; good luck on the first part.

Anyways, after completing the test(s) and self assessments, there were seven of us whom entered and waited in the waiting area. The silence was intense, every footstep resinating from the adjacent hallway made your heart skip a beat. The clocks timed TICKING making your foot vibrate. Some of us being called in one-by-one and released the same.

Then there were four. Myself, a perticularily attractive danish girl, a man dressed as I was in shorts and a sweater, and a well dressed gentleman with a light beard.

We were called in and my heart sank. I feared we were the failures. We were handed sheets of paper with highlighter markings. "No!" I thought.

"You may notice your sheets to be particularly colourful." The file manager said, "However, You're all eligible for officers."

My mind couldn't comprehend what I had just heard. I had passed that exhausting test. That mind boggling set of nearly impossible to comlete questions.

I feel free. I feel excited.

We passed. Congratulating eachother as we stepped out of the gaze of the file manager, which was a piercing stare, we went on our ways to bask in the glory.

But now... There's another wait. 4-6 weeks for the background, credit, and reliability screening.

I'll have to contact my references to ask them for daytime numbers since most of the numbers I have are for their house phones and they all work days.

Oh well. The most fearful part has come to pass.

Thanks for keeping up with this tale. ;D


(Moderator edit to fix title.)

 

[Loachman]

GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE!

As we know, today is October 1st.

It's not good news for those of us who hate winter.

 

[steiner0400]

It's not good news for those of us who hate winter.

As I'm sure you know, the army doesn't stop for winter. The army is ready 24/7/365. I feel though, that with it being up to 1.5 months to have any more progress, that (being around November 15th) It's unlikely that I'll be BMQ'd for a winter period. But who knows, Maybe it'll happen. One can only hope, right?

Try being a little optimistic my friend.

 

[Jayjaycf]

Good to hear you were successful on your Cfat, I did mine couple weeks ago and remember being stressed and anxious after the test because I thought I didn't do good enough. We were 20 to do the test and when we were all done they called about 10 of us outside, while we waited were all wondering if we had fail because the first 10 people who got called all looked brilliant ( not saying that they were not ) but in the end they failed their cfat and we passed. It is quite a relieve when you hear you did great and qualify for almost all the trade in the army including officer trade. Good luck for the rest of the process mine was pretty quick got the interview and medical last Thursday everything was fine just have to get a form filled by Lasik since I got my vision corrected 10 months ago. Again good luck and wish everything goes well for you 

 

[steiner0400]

Good to hear you were successful on your Cfat, I did mine couple weeks ago and remember being stressed and anxious after the test because I thought I didn't do good enough. We were 20 to do the test and when we were all done they called about 10 of us outside, while we waited were all wondering if we had fail because the first 10 people who got called all looked brilliant ( not saying that they were not ) but in the end they failed their cfat and we passed. It is quite a relieve when you hear you did great and qualify for almost all the trade in the army including officer trade. Good luck for the rest of the process mine was pretty quick got the interview and medical last Thursday everything was fine just have to get a form filled by Lasik since I got my vision corrected 10 months ago. Again good luck and wish everything goes well for you 

Thanks, man!
Hopefully the rest of my process quickens up a little bit and I can get out there and do my country proud.

It felt surreal to be above the rest since I felt as though I was struggling with the mathematical portion. Guess I jsut have a wise gut. haha

How long would you say you waited after your CFAT for an interview call? I know I still have to get daytime numbers for my references so the third party company can contact them on their terms. so that will likely extend my time, just wondered if you had any issues with your security and credit screening.

N

 

[Jayjaycf]

The longest wait I had was for the first contact, I got an email saying that I needed to bring security form filled out, original birth certificate and transcript to the recruiting center two weeks later got the call to schedule my Cfat, it was scheduled two weeks later and once my cfat was completed I got to sit with a very nice woman that booked my medical and interview right after the cfat so once the ball got rolling for me it was something like a 2 months process starting from bringing transcript to cfat to medical and interview. I know they called my reference in between my cfat and interview because they told me they had been called. Had no problem whatsoever with the credit check and criminal record check the lady interviewing me told me that both were good. So everything was pretty quick on their end in my opinion I hope it will turn out this way for you too.

 

[steiner0400]

It would be nice for me to have gotten my medical scheduled. But who knows, after I call my file manager tomorrow with my references daytime numbers maybe it'll go quick.

One can only hope!

 

[steiner0400]

I suppose I should give a full back story to this whole ordeal anyways so here it is.

Since I was a child, I've had a huge admiration for anything and everything military. From the bullets to the tanks, from the fuel to the flight, everything.

Over the years that admiration slowly eroded until I was left graduating grade 12 with no career plan ahead of myself. From then on I worked as a sandwich artist at the local subway... That is, until about 2.5 years ago at the age of 18 when I decided - rather, I was told by my mother - that I need to figure out what I'm doing with my life and to get on it. So I picked something of a career.

Heavy Equipment Operator.. "badass!" I thought so I applied for the HEO course at Conestoga College here in ontario. The course was extensive, teaching aspects of the field that I as a HEO would likely never be faced with. I loved It, though, It was where I was meant to be. The smell of burning diesel, the sheer size of everything, the prestige of operating a 80,000lb piece of steel.

The life came too quickly to a halt when the course ended. I graduated with honours and a 3.64 G.P.A. 2nd in the class. There I was, still working the weekend shifts at the local sub shop. One day I decided I would go out with my neighbour and work on his companies site for FREE to get my foot in the door. That's when I got the call from a road construction company. I went in the following day.

To my surprise I went in and one of the guys I had the class with was running the D6 dozer. I was told to go work in it next. I was in it for about 30 minutes scraping up topsoil for a fill site. After this time, I went to run the smaller D5 (piece of ****) on the road levelling off gravel. After about 20 minutes of this I saw the guy who was there before driving away in his car. It seemed I beat him out of the job, but I didn't know it was an audition... I was told by my supervisor that I had the job within a minute and that the other guy was there the day before and that morning as well. Didn't really suprise me much because the guy I beat out wasn't very good with equipment. I did feel a bit bad for him though.

During all of this I got out of a 2 year relationship and into a new one (no downtime at all.. kind of disappointed about that TO BE HONEST). Though, I am happy to be where I am now in another almost 2 year relationship still holding strong.

The reason I bring up the relationships is because both of the women I was/am with have told me through casual conversation that they would not want me to join the military. This topic came up because I would sometimes say how I wished I could have made a difference overseas or at our homefront. Both of them get emotional when I talk about it. Finally after a year My current girlfriend told me that she would support whatever I choose.

That being said, after the second season of working with said construction company the contract was up, and I, like the others, was left jobless. Here I am.. Back in the same boat as before. I looked for work out west, contacting EVERY company with construction, excavating, pipelaying, etc. . . And there I was. I discussed it with my current girlfriend and she said it was fine and she would support me no matter what.

I applied on the day of August 14th, 2013.

I received an e-mail the next day asking for the support documents.

I sent the support documents on August 19th, 2013 and were received on August 22nd, 2013.

I waited days, which turned to weeks, which turned to a month. Calling at certain points along the way (2, 3 and 4 week marks) No voicemail availability since it was all automated call service. E-mails left without reply. I was defeated. Why wasn't I getting anyone to pick up or e-mail back? I left a plea for help on the forums here. Someone helped and said that if no one answers your e-mail, your file is likely at the CFRC.

I went and tried my luck at my CFRC... Turns out, They were mailed the file the day after the support documents were received at the North Bay office.

The file was sent from North Bay on August 23rd, 2013.

When I went in I was told my file wasn't overly competative and they saw no reason to contact me. Jeeze, Thanks! After much conversation They switched out the 2 trades which I was unlikely to be picked for (combat engineer believe it or not with my civi cridentials) and armoured.

They gave me a folder holding all of the forms I needed to fill out to regarding security check references etc...

The forms were returned on September 23rd, 2013.

On the day I returned the fillour out forms, I was given a CFAT date. Only one week away.

My CFAT was scheduled for today, October 1st, 2013.

The test is nothing short of gruelling, hard, and stressful. My recommendation is just keep your cool and get your head in the right place before hand. After the test the 7 applicants were told to go out in the waiting area, after the first 3 were called in and left the final four, including myself, were called into the test room.

"We're the failing bunch, I'm sure of it..." I thought, which I'm sure is what everyone else was thinking. We were handed the sheets covered in highlighter as the file manager stated they were very colourful, and yes they were. However, we seemed to be sitting with papers stating which trades we were eligible for. The selected trades being all of them.

We all breathed a sigh of relief and left the room after a discussion about what to expect now. We congratulated eachother and went on our ways.

So here I am, finishing off with a breath. waiting for further instruction from my file manager.

Ill keep everyone up to date.

 

[the 48th regulator]

As I'm sure you know, the army doesn't stop for winter. The army is ready 24/7/365. I feel though, that with it being up to 1.5 months to have any more progress, that (being around November 15th) It's unlikely that I'll be BMQ'd for a winter period. But who knows, Maybe it'll happen. One can only hope, right?

Try being a little optimistic my friend.

:rofl:

Ya Loachman, you pessimistic prick!

Unfortunately steiner0400, Optimism disappears when one realizes the army loves the outdoors, and the outdoors in winter is where the cold resides.  Keep up the chipper attitude, it does for some good times out in the field.....

dileas

tess

 

[steiner0400]

:rofl:

Ya Loachman, you pessimistic prick!

Unfortunately steiner0400, Optimism disappears when one realizes the army loves the outdoors, and the outdoors in winter is where the cold resides.  Keep up the chipper attitude, it does for some good times out in the field.....

dileas

tess

haha yeah, a little excessive in my tone but funny nonetheless. Either way, the army does love the outdoors and it does seem that the outdoors is affected by the winter. Hey, gues we aren't all born with canadian blood now are we?

 

[Van Gogh]

Congratulations Steiner !!!

Yeah the exams can be stressful. I especially remember the part when they called me to give the results, I was so stressed. I was really relieved to know that I passed, great moment. That moment was so great that I would even say it was worth all the psychological suffering before it lol.

I remember writing it myself. Was stressful, but not grueling. Wrote it only 1 month after I wrote a GMAT (which is little bit harder and lasted for 4 hours, now that was really grueling lol.)

What position have you applied btw? Which officers?
By when are you planing/hoping to get into the army?

 

[steiner0400]

What position have you applied btw? Which officers?
By when are you planing/hoping to get into the army?

I'm hoping to get into artillery or infantry, bu I will take vehicle tech. Those are the three. I can't be an officer without military training or a university training unfortunately...

I'm hoping to have a BMQ date by early next year, if not by the end of this year.. All depends on how quickly everything goes from here.

Thanks for showing up V.G.

 

[mariomike]

Heavy Equipment Operator.. "badass!" I thought so I applied for the HEO course at Conestoga College here in ontario. The course was extensive, teaching aspects of the field that I as a HEO would likely never be faced with. I loved It, though, It was where I was meant to be. The smell of burning diesel, the sheer size of everything, the prestige of operating a 80,000lb piece of steel.

I wasn't an HEO, but we were in their union ( go figure ). Many years ago, my former partner ( a Paramedic ) was ( involuntarily ) re-classified by the City as an HEO and transferred to the Works Department.

I saw him at the Yard and he showed me what they trained him on. Rubber-tired and track-type front end loaders, backhoes, grade-alls, roll-off trucks. They put him on the Michigan run driving an AZ tractor-trailer.

He seemed to like it. Just goes to show how people adapt when career paths change. 

Good luck with your application.

 

[steiner0400]

I wasn't an HEO, but we were in their union ( go figure ). Many years ago, my former partner ( a Paramedic ) was ( involuntarily ) re-classified by the City as an HEO and transferred to the Works Department.

I saw him at the Yard and he showed me what they trained him on. Rubber-tired and track-type front end loaders, backhoes, grade-alls, roll-off trucks. They put him on the Michigan run driving an AZ tractor-trailer.

He seemed to like it. Just goes to show how people adapt when career paths change. 

Good luck with your application.

Operating is a skill that some people have naturally, sme people can learn, and some people should just stick to watching.

 

[DAA]

Wow, an applicant who has garnered their own "thread"!  You just might become an example for others and help to answer some of their questions in the process, which have been asked time and time again.

The only part missing is the "preface" and how your initial application process went?  That seems to be the most popular question these days.  Did you apply "online/hard copy"?  How long before being contacted?  You started it, so let's hear it all!!!!  Start to hopefully, fruitful finish!!!

 

[Van Gogh]

Thanks, man!
Hopefully the rest of my process quickens up a little bit and I can get out there and do my country proud.

It felt surreal to be above the rest since I felt as though I was struggling with the mathematical portion. Guess I jsut have a wise gut. haha

How long would you say you waited after your CFAT for an interview call? I know I still have to get daytime numbers for my references so the third party company can contact them on their terms. so that will likely extend my time, just wondered if you had any issues with your security and credit screening.

N

Really sorry if I might have misread what you have written in your very first post, but if I understood it right, you are a girl? Am I right???
Just curious ....

P.S. I am sure you will get in pretty quickly, your file shouldn't have and problems according to what you wrote and the positions you applied to I believe are in relatively high demand !!!

 

[mariomike]

Really sorry if I might have misread what you have written in your very first post, but if I understood it right, you are a girl? Am I right???
Just curious ....

Check his profile, if you are curious...
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/members/57117

 

[Van Gogh]

Oops, he is a guy, my bad 
:facepalm:

 

[Loachman]

Hey, gues we aren't all born with canadian blood now are we?

I am English, by birth, actually - but I've been here since winters were somewhat colder and longer than they've been for the last many years.

And I am a realist. I've seen a lot of optimists smacked in the face by reality.

 

[steiner0400]

The only part missing is the "preface" and how your initial application process went?  That seems to be the most popular question these days.  Did you apply "online/hard copy"?  How long before being contacted?  You started it, so let's hear it all!!!!  Start to hopefully, fruitful finish!!!

It was an ONLINE application as most - if not all - are now. I was given a hard copy set of application papers the day I went in to inquire about my file too so I think they might still do hard copy if that's what you rather do. I was given a heads up by someone on here, who heard my plea on another forum board, that my file had been sent from North Bay and that I should call them. I'm not really a phone person so I decided to go in person, which was actually quite intimidating. Cotton mouth has followed me there every time I've been in that office.

As far as being first contacted. I received an email from North Bay the day of or the day after my application was sent in (I can't really remember.)

Really sorry if I might have misread what you have written in your very first post, but if I understood it right, you are a girl? Am I right???
Just curious ....

P.S. I am sure you will get in pretty quickly, your file shouldn't have and problems according to what you wrote and the positions you applied to I believe are in relatively high demand !!!

No, I am a guy. Thanks mariomike, however, I'm a little curious as to why it mattered and whether or not you (mariomike) creeped up my profile before or after he asked. haha