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The journey begins

I had a chance to speak with the Cpl in charge of my security forms this morning, and she gave me different (and much more positive) info re: my clearance. She said that the short trips to Asia were not the issue, only the fact that I was living in Taiwan 9 years ago. So once I get that one clearance, I will be good to go. She also said that it used to be that it would take a year or so to get this type of clearance. However, in the past, there was only one location in Ottawa that handled all of the security clearance issues. Now there are several locations across Canada that handle them, so it should go much more quickly. Good news!

While I was there (@CFRC) this morning, I took the opportunity to mention what I had heard re: May BMOQ and potential cancellations (I'll repost this in the May BMOQ thread as well), and she said that they would have heard if there were any cancellations, and that with so many officer candidates waiting to do basic training, it was highly unlikely that any BMOQs would be cancelled. If anything, she said, the other courses would be moved to a different location, like Esquimalt or Gagetown.

 
garb811 said:
If someone is living, or planning to live, out of the country, immediately prior to departing the country to return to Canada, get a certified Criminal Records Check from the local police department where ever it is you're living.  If it isn't in English, contact the Canadian Embassy Consular Section and determine who their recognized translators are.  Pay the money to have the translation done and, in any case, get it notarized by the Embassy.  SOME, but not all, Embassies have the ability to get the Records Check and translations done on your behalf while you're still in the country.  If you ever have to apply for a Security Clearance, submit those documents with your Personal History Questionnaire.  This process isn't cheap but it sure beats having to wait 6-12 months for the other process to happen.

Garb - how long is "living" out of the country?  Would that include doing things like a semester exchange to Korea (still a full time student in Canada, but studying in Korea for a term)?

CelticGirl - sorry to hear about your hold up!  :(  It must be so frustrating.  I hope that they manage to get your security check done quickly.
 
You should definitely put that down as you essentially changed your residence for the semester in Korea and were doing more than just "tourism" stuff.
 
CG, I'm glad you called for clarification and seems like you got some very helpful information.

Sometimes that is what it takes. I'm sure you are feeling a whole lot better.  :)

emma
 
emmiee said:
CG, I'm glad you called for clarification and seems like you got some very helpful information.

I had actually gone in there to drop some papers off (the endless paper trail), and while I was there I decided to be 'inquisitive'. ;) They're such friendly people, though...very easy to talk to, so we ended up having a nice little chat about it, and as a result, I ended up feeling a whole lot better.
 
Well, I hit a major snag today. I received a letter in the mail from the DND saying I am "unsuitable for military service" because I have Reynaud's disease. This is a very minor affliction, I should tell you, and I was never formally diagnosed as there is not test for it that I am aware of. It is just something my doctor and I talked about years ago on a routine visit and one of those "should have known better" bonehead moves on my part, checking that box that said Reynaud's during my medical. Ugh. The medic at the CFRC did not offer me any hope and basically told me this is the end and that there's nothing more I can do. Meanwhile, other military pers have been telling me differently. I'm meeting with my doctor tomorrow to see if I can get her to write a letter explaining the mildness of this condition and the fact that I was never actually tested for it or formally diagnosed with it. Meanwhile, the security clearance issue is still up in the air. The corporal I spoke with at the CFRC today said she is going to speak to her commander about it again and see if there isn't some other loophole they hadn't considered.

So as it stands right now, things are not looking especially bright. I'll continue to fight the good fight, continue working out and studying, but also seek out other career paths and try to put eggs in other baskets as I am finally realizing that this particular basket may not pan out after all.  :-\
 
Well, I hope that you are able to get things all sorted.  Don't give up hope!
 
Celticgirl 

Hang in there I hope this works out in your favour good luck .
 
CG, don't give up !  However exploring other avenues is also a good thing for the "just in case" senario.

emma
 
Celticgirl,
Take your letter with you when you go to see your family doctor and if possible get your Doctor to get you tested and / or refer you to a specialist to get tested. Once the diagnosis is either confirmed, denied or the severity is clear and hopefully treatable then take that info back to the medics to be sent to the RMO for re evaluation.
You have a better than average chance.

In case you aren't aware the Public Service is also looking for lots more people.

Best of Luck. 
 
Rockpainter, Karl, and Emmiee - thank you for the positive reinforcement. I need some today, that is for sure!

CFR FCS - I appreciate all of your advice. I've made an appointment to see my family doc tomorrow and will bring the letter from the DND with me. The fact that you believe I have a "better than average chance" is encouraging. Thank you. :)
 
My doctor is sending a referral to a specialist (a rheumatologist) so hopefully, the Raynaud's testing will yield a negative result. I also called the CFRC and requested my file be kept open until I get the test results back. I know that it's no problem to re-open a file, especially within a short time frame, but I just worry about losing any ground that may have been made with the security clearance.

I'm feeling a bit better now and am going to relax and enjoy the long weekend!  ;D
 
CG I hope all goes well for you with the specialist, and that the results are negative. Enjoy the long weekend and don't fret over anything till then. Keep up the PT as I believe that you will get through this. All the best.

Chimo
 
Rodahn said:
CG I hope all goes well for you with the specialist, and that the results are negative. Enjoy the long weekend and don't fret over anything till then. Keep up the PT as I believe that you will get through this. All the best.

Chimo

Thanks, Rodahn! I'll keep up the PT - not just to prepare for the military but for my own sanity as well. PT is the best therapy there is.  ;)
 
CG never give up.  My son did a similar "bonehead" thing when he applied and checked off possible asthma which he never had.  He had been given an inhaler once for a specific event.  He also got the "unsuitable for military service" answer as a result of that but we didn't give up. 
After nearly 5 months of letters, requests, a couple of visits to a specialist, and more letters he was finally declared medically fit and enrolled in PRes (NSaskR) last June.  Last summer he did his BMQ/SQ, completed his Reg Force BIQ this past winter in Meadford and is now at CFMC in Wainwright.
I guess the moral of this is never give up hope so take the time to enjoy your long weekend and best of luck!
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up" - Thomas Alva Edison
 
Rescue777 said:
CG never give up.  My son did a similar "bonehead" thing when he applied and checked off possible asthma which he never had.  He had been given an inhaler once for a specific event. 

I was thinking about this today. I see this "bonehead" move as both a good thing and a bad thing. The positive aspect is that people like myself and your son are very, very honest and this speaks to our integrity. The negative side of it is that we were too forthcoming with information that hurt us in the application process. Information that wasn't even completely accurate, as it turns out. My own family doctor couldn't understand why I checked off Raynaud's and migraines as I had never been formally diagnosed with either - they were just things that had been discussed on doctor's visits a long time ago. I can't uncheck anything, but I can get a test done to prove (hopefully) that I am medically fit.

Whew! Thank goodness it's Friday.  ;)
 
UPDATE:

I got a call from the CFRC today. I am now "medically fit" for the military!  ;D  That sure took a while to clear up, but fortunately, the appointment with the specialist went the way I had hoped and his letter helped get the original decision overturned.

There is still no word on the pre-sec, though. I was told that countries like Taiwan "usually don't respond" to these requests. So I guess my only hope is that I can get it waived (slim chance, I realize)...otherwise, I am waiting until May.

Someone please tell me that this is all going to be worth it when I finally do get in!  :P
 
Great news, Celticgirl!  I'm sure that's taken a load off your mind!!!
 
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