Thank you

[Freight_Train]

An excellent example on how to behave during the recruitment process. For all those thinking about or going through the process please read FTs account and you might save yourself some frustration and hassle. Our thanks again FT.
Ex-Dragoon


I decided to join up last December and after some confusion between the requirements to come in as an officer or NCM, I was told that I would have to pursue the NCM route.   No problem, Army here I come.   I figured I would be drilling with the reserve infantry unit by March, and completing BMQ/SQ this summer...   Thankfully I joined this fantastic website and was soon set straight (the inordinate length of the recruiting process) and I settled in for a long wait.   I turned my application in early February and I got my good news from CFRC today.   My file is now complete and is headed back to the recruiting det. and will soon be at my reserve unit.   Looks like now I will be drilling in September and hopefully completing weekend BMQ this fall.   To all the others waiting, keep on top of your recruiter.   I called every couple of weeks and I short circuited a couple of delays by being proactive.   I want to thank everyone for posting and answering questions.   It has helped keep me sane over the last few months.

 

[ZipperHead]

Here's somebody who did something other than whine and whinge about the way that the recruiting system works: 3 cheers for Freight-Train!!!!  

Let his (or her) example of positive attitude and can-do spirit be an example for the rest of the people (you know who you are   ) who bitch and moan about their predicament, but apparently do jack-squat to rectify it.

With that type of attitude, I would be glad to have you in my unit (rather than the complain-about-every-little thing type that seems to be prevalent in this era).

I hope you enjoy your time in uniform, Freight-Train.

Al

 

[rdschultz]

Hey dude, congratulations.  I can second the fact that this website kept me sane during my wait, as well.  With a few others here going for the same job(s) as I was, the sharing of information and ability to get a another point of view on some issues helped keep me together.  Well, I would've kept together either way, but this made it far easier.

Just out of curiousity, what sort of proactive things did you do?  Perhaps they can be of help to others here?

 

[Freight_Train]

Thanks Allan.
Hoser, I made sure that I called every couple of weeks even when they told me that it would be 4 weeks for something to come back.   There was a question on my credit history where I had to provide a letter.   I faxed them a copy and followed up with a phone call to make sure it met their needs and was told that it had not.   I got them what they needed and again followed up with a call.   It appears that the last letter did.   The big thing I discovered through this process is that they don't phone you right away if there is a problem!   Remember, your file is obviously the most important file to you.   To them, you are just another of many files.   I am sure that their philosophy is that they will get to it when they get to it.   I made sure that I had a "relationship" with my recruiter by always introducing myself the same way and that I was always polite, even when I was frustrated.   My file then had a face, or at least a voice attached to it.   By checking in with them, it also raises their accountability because if they know that you will be phoning back and that you have been so nice to them, they don't want to disappoint you.   Do they?   Thankfully I didn't have a lot of glitches with my file and for the most part it went smoothly.   I have read many of the recruiting horror stories on the board and I count myself lucky.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Well done FT..a perfect example on what to do and not what to do. I hope all the others going through the same process read this and take your advice. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Sappo]

Where are you taking your bmq this fall freight train?

 

[dr.no]

ya, it's about time for me to call my recruiting office. Haven't done that in at least two weeks.
By the way, how long does it take for the medical forms to come back from Borden? The person I talked to said it takes a month, but I'm starting to have my doubts...

 

[Freight_Train]

Sappo - BMQ will depend on the unit.  If there are enough people they will offer it, if not I will have to wait until next summer.  I signed up for the Rocky Mountain Rangers in Kamloops, BC.
dr.no - My file was sent to Borden on June 1 and was sent back to CFRC on July 19.  I was originally told 4 to 6 weeks, so it was pretty close.
Greg

 

[BDTyre]

I was also told 4 weeks, which it will be as of Wednesday.  My interviewer even encouraged me to phone, saying that if I don't hear from them by the end of July by all means call and they'll try to figure it out.

 

[nbk]

My file was sent to Borden 16 June and haven't heard from them yet. Called them once so far and they checked and made sure it went out and told me that they would indeed call me when they got it back. I was told 3 weeks and to call them if I haden't heard from them "in a month or so". I think it will come back first week of August.

 

[shaboing]

o man i called every week, stopped by the armouries and i still had bad luck, haha, i was supposed to go to basic this summer but after 16 weeks of waiting on my papers which were in bordon i called 3 days b4 i was supposed to go and i was told i had to wait till next summer or go weekends in the fall for 10 weekends. i haven't talked to the WO in a while, i should give him a call this week to see if my papers ever made it out.... 25 weeks later..... LMAO o man, this summer could have been so much better


EDIT*** i was also told 4-6 weeks, and i'm in ontario not too far from bordon....

 

[Freight_Train]

o man i called every week, stopped by the armouries and i still had bad luck, haha, i was supposed to go to basic this summer but after 16 weeks of waiting on my papers which were in bordon i called 3 days b4 i was supposed to go and i was told i had to wait till next summer or go weekends in the fall for 10 weekends. i haven't talked to the WO in a while, i should give him a call this week to see if my papers ever made it out.... 25 weeks later..... LMAO o man, this summer could have been so much better


EDIT*** i was also told 4-6 weeks, and i'm in ontario not too far from bordon....

Like I said I am quite happy with my files progress.  25 weeks is BRUTAL!
Greg

 

[nbk]

25 weeks that sucks man. I am going reg force by the way, not reserve, so maybe it will take shorter (or longer).

 

[BDTyre]

Just for clarification, my medical was actually sent off at the end of May, and my update interview was at the end of June, so my medical had already been gone a month when I was told 4 weeks.  I was also told that they are very busy trying to process people for summer BMQ, so a two month wait at this time is not unheard of.

The Captain that did my update interview said that the usual response time is 4 - 6 weeks, but at the beginning of summer and around Christmas it can take much longer.

 

[casing]

My application process went very smoothly as well.   I asked a lot of questions of my file manager and recruiting officer--to the point of potentially being bothersome.   But I always made the best effort to be extremely polite in my enquiries.   I think that helped my application a long way.   Also, asking so many questions made the application process smoother because I often unearthed discrepencies or mix-ups that were going on down at the CFRC and was able to sort it out.

My application process took almost exactly 6 months from the time I dropped it off until receiving an offer.   This included the xmas break, and my being a no-show for my CFAT appointment (this set the process back exactly 1 month) if you can believe that.   Just be persistent and polite.

Not to jump on the band wagon here, but I just want to state my deepest thanks to this forum site and all of the members for giving me the most information I could have hoped for and helping to get me prepared.   Thank you!

 

[Spr.Earl]

From a friend in the know,Bordon is the bottle neck for those joining the Rserves now,as all Medical Files from across the whole country go there now never mind those appliocation's for the Reg.'s.

Rumour is they are going too or already are trying to fast track Reservist's at the Local Level to lessen the wait time.

 

[dr.no]

I called my recruiting office yesterday, was extremely polite, as was told my files should be back no later than August 15.

 

[dr.no]

...which will make the total wait time about 5 weeks (I forgot to add that above) :-[

 

[brihard]

I got lucky. My medical came back form Borden in three weeks. I did the remainder of my recruiting over the next two days. The secondday was the start of my BMQ, so technically I was still a ciovilian the night my weekend/evening BMQ started. I was sworn in the next day, after I drew my kit and got my Mil ID...

I've heard horror stories of people waiting many many months for Borden. There's something like three doctors serving every single file that comes through...

 

[Spartan]

Those who have quick responspes from Borden I congratulate you.
Myself originally paperwork sent in to Borden Feb 24, received a letter mid-late june saying I was unfit (shoulders)- resent doctor's note to Borden middle of July- I've been told by the medtech Sgt that the earliest I will here back from Borden is mid to late August- with late August being the more likely.
I've had to go through voicemail jail only to discover that it is infact x person that I needed to talk to about my file.
Repeat above voice mail process.
All this for my application to the reserves.

I would like to thank the numerous people on this site who have made my process and application process make that much more sense. Without this site I would be alot more frustrated and alot more lost on things related to.
The few good things that I can say about CFRC WPG- the Capt who I was incontact with since my interview (and who did my interview) was really straightforward to me- didn't beat around the bush. It also helped that he is from the unit that I am hoping to join - the FGH. It really gave me a better idea on what to expect.

As well, besides getting numerous different answers on the same questions-from different people - was the straightforwardness and helpfulness of their medtech Sgt.