ataman said:
Oh boy...You make it look like Canadian Forces are such a welcoming place, full of great people who want to help, have respect and act mature...
For those who are actually trying to provide some valuable information and help, thank you for the important information you provided and corrected me with respect.
I will do what I need to... I will learn if this is for me or not by myself.
Ataman, welcome to your first lesson about the Canadian Forces. It is a microcosm of society. There are every type of people from all walks of life in this great organization. Your questions were answered, and they were answered to the best of OUR ability as a forum and as a internet community. The real answers will come from the CFRC New Westminster.
As to your comments about maturity and respect, again welcome to the real world. The CF is a place where respect is earned, and if you behave in a childish manner you will be responded in kind.
Ataman, I will tell you this now as a former recruiter, with your current thought process and attitude you will not get in. Not to mention your reasoning of "if I join the CF, I don't have to do mandatory service" will make you a problem. The Canadian Forces and the Canadian government will NOT interfere for you on your behalf if you're a citizen of another country, and their laws apply to you because you're a citizen of that country.
If you ever think that the CF will interfere on your behalf for things like mandatory service you are dead wrong. I will give you an example of someone I knew, a PRes member who was recalled to his native country for service during a time of war. He, as a citizen of that country had to go. He told the CF he needed leave, and explained the situation. He served... not once, but TWICE on two separate engagements that his country had. He then returned to the CF with a VERY VERY VERY VERY extensive security clearance again and rejoined his unit.
Another thing is that just because an MOC is now available for DE it does not mean YOU will be afforded the opportunity to do that. You said yourself that your fitness is not where its supposed to be, please reference the post where I had talked about advising against DE for civies.
Through my experiences recruiting, and working with many professionals in the DE/Spec realms of the CF, I can tell you the following from first-hand experience. Out of the 10 people that I had talked to who wanted to try for DE SARTech which just recently opened up as a DE MOC, I only know of 1 who made it. The people who I had talked to during my recruiting at the Paramedic Academy were fit, young, bright individuals and I know of one that was not only an Iron Man, but an all around athlete in phenomenal shape. He didn't make it. He didn't even try. The reason why? He attempted the work out program for pre-SAR Prelim and he said that it was hard, and that he didn't think he could do it.
Now... take it what it's worth but you have to realise that your reasons for joining are NOT realistic.
Your attitude from what we can observe on the forum is poor, and I would attribute that to your motivation for joining the Canadian Forces. Even if you somehow was able to enter as DE CD you STILL have to pass BMQ at CFLRS St Jean which is 13wks, during the time you will be paid as a Pte (R) because this is all you are and you are nothing until you pass Basic. After BMQ provided that you pass, you will be shipped off to either Halifax or Esquimalt depending on which fleet you're assigned to. From there you will do the required NETP which is 3wks where you're taught about the Navy, firefighting, shoring, so on and so forth. Then if you're lucky and there aren't people who have been in the system LONGER then you, you MAY get a position on prelim, and I repeat MAY. You have to realise that there are plenty of people (plenty being relative word) that may have put in for a CT to CD before you ever put your name into the recruiting process. So you may have to wait a month, two months, possibly longer prior to you getting on prelim. Now, during all of this time you are paid as a Pte (B) because you're not trained, you have no hook, you have nothing. Because as a DE you technically don't even have a MOC! So during the time of your unemployment you will be used as "Seaman, 2 Section, GD Platoon" or positions similar to that.
As FDO said Prelim is 11wks. You may not make it. There is a HIGH washout rate for CD, it is on par with SARTech and every bit as physically demanding. You will be challenged to your limit then add 90%, so you'll be giving it 200% since 110% is always expected of candidates. Now provided that you're not injured, washout or outright fail you will be afforded a chance to attend CD training. Now... just so we're clear, just because you pass Prelim doesn't mean you get a spot. All of your cadre are members of the CD team, and they will be assessing you not only on your ability to dive, swim, run fast, think fast, they will also be judging your ability to work with a team and whether or not you'll be able to work with THEM.
So you make it onto CD training it's 11 months, and at any time you can fail something and washout. No one wants to work with an individual that could get themselves killed, or worse get someone else killed. In the realm of CD the possibility is EXTREMELY high for one or both to occur. Granted that you PASS CD training and get assigned to a Fleet Diving Unit which could either be Pacific or Atlantic yo will HAVE to move there. No choice.
So to shorten everything I just wrote:
Application Period = 6 months (could be longer, could be shorter, this is conservative)
BMQ = 13wks (Pass on 1st Attempt)
NETP = 3wks
Prelim = 11wks (Pass on 1st Attempt)
CD Course = 11 MONTHS (Pass)
So that is 18 months or 1.5 years. This is a conservative estimate provided NO waiting time between courses and NO failures or recourse. During 1.5yrs you will be staying and working where the Canadian Forces TELLS you to, so can you please tell me how or when you'll be living in that loft in New West? Considering you may not even BE in the same province?! I mean you sure as hell are not going to be going ANYWHERE during Prelim and sure as hell not during CD Course.
Not to mention if you washout or receive a "Deemed unsuitable" on your evals you will kiss your chance at CD goodbye, then you'll have to pick an MOC like.... oh... Cook.
FDO please feel free to correct my time lines, I'm going by what I had a few years ago when recruiting with 2 CDs out of FDU (P).
After saying all of that ataman, I will reiterate that the Canadian Forces is NOT for you, at least not now with your current financial commitments and your goals for joining. If you feel I've somehow made you feel unwelcome or trying to push you away, it is not because I like slagging people on the internet, it is because I have seen too many people such as yourself trying to work the system or try to get in just to be disappointed and leaving.
Might as well not join.
Now I wish you all the best and if you still wish to join the CF, I suggest that you visit CFRC New Westminster once in a while and see if you can find a SME for you. Or failing that swing by HMCS Discovery which is the Naval Reserve unit located in Stanely Park. Discovery has a detachment of FDU (P) located there and they employ Port Inspection Divers (PID), and they complete the Ships Diver course with add on having to do with basic underwater demolition and so forth. There is no promise of an opening however, since they are always filled and seems to be quite happy with who they have. If you don't jive with them you won't be there for long. They eat their young.
Anyways take what I've said for what it's worth. Nothing is official unless it's published by the CF. These are just the ramblings of someone who wants to help. I didn't become a mentor to slag people.
