What keeps or kept you in the CAF?

[dimsum]

"What keeps or kept you in the CAF?"

^ I would look at that question another way. ^

I was in the Reserves. It wasn't my career.

But, if the CAF is going to be your career, why not plan on staying in ( if possible ) for the whole ride?

Are people changing careers more now than they used to?

That's a good point. 

At the risk of taking this on a tangent, the Australian Defence Force's recruiting ads don't (or haven't lately) focus on making it a career.  By and large (each service does its own recruiting), they focus on "fun" things and carefully state that most trades "only need a x years contract". 

I think that this is a bad way to go, but that's just my  :2c:

 

[mariomike]

At the risk of taking this on a tangent, the Australian Defence Force's recruiting ads don't (or haven't lately) focus on making it a career.  By and large (each service does its own recruiting), they focus on "fun" things and carefully state that most trades "only need a x years contract". 

I think that this is a bad way to go, but that's just my  :2c:

I think it's an awful bad way to go. The Profession of Arms is more than just a job, it's a vocation.

 

[sidemount]

Agreed, after doing this for the last 12 years, Im in it for the long haul. I dont think Id be able to make a career out of a civy job, the military lifestyle is in my blood now. That being said a change of scenary may be required but it will be within the CAF.

 

[OldSolduer]

I think it's an awful bad way to go. The Profession of Arms is more than just a job, it's a vocation.

I'll add that it is a way of life as well.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

My goal is make it my career till retirement but I'm not sure how my body will be in ten years as I want to be in Infantry

Better you know early.... it'll be knackered!

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Are people changing careers more now than they used to?

I joined July 1989 and am in my 3rd MOC/MOSID.

 

[Inspir]

I joined July 1889 and am in my 3rd MOC/MOSID.

Damn

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Corrected for PEBCAK error. 

 

[Kat Stevens]

I joined for the money, I stayed for the mud.

 

[Pusser]

That's a good point. 

At the risk of taking this on a tangent, the Australian Defence Force's recruiting ads don't (or haven't lately) focus on making it a career.  By and large (each service does its own recruiting), they focus on "fun" things and carefully state that most trades "only need a x years contract". 

I think that this is a bad way to go, but that's just my  :2c:

Although I agree that military service is more than just a job and is in fact, both a vocation and a way of life, I think the CF puts too much effort into trying to make it a career for everyone.  I think we would be a lot healthier as an organization if we encouraged more short time membership.  I think almost everybody can benefit from military service, but not everyone can or should make a career of it.

Having said that, as a career member, I stick around for:

1) six-weeks paid vacation
2) six-figure salary (and the pension that is to come);
3) I get to play hockey on company time; and
4) I only occasionally get shot at.

 

[mariomike]

I think we would be a lot healthier as an organization if we encouraged more short time membership.

Perhaps they are.

"How long do I have to serve?"
http://www.forces.ca/en/page/careeroptions-123#tphp

That's the first question asked and answered under both the full and part time tabs.

 

[dapaterson]

I joined July 1989 and am in my 3rd MOC/MOSID.

I joined a few months later, and am in #4 (although one was a COT due to a restructure of the occupation).

 

[211RadOp]

The beer!!  :cheers:

Actually it is as most said, the comraderie.  Most of us can travel from coast to coast and not have to pay for a hotel and will always find someone to have a beverage with.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

I joined a few months later, and am in #4 (although one was a COT due to a restructure of the occupation).

4 is the record right now then  :nod:

 

[George Wallace]

4 is the record right is now then  :nod:

Yes.  He is still the title holder.  I only had three, but have collected six Release Certificates.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Unlikely to see that number beat...

 

[Brasidas]

Unlikely to see that number beat...

I'm sure its been beaten by somebody somewhere.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Stay in long enough, you get to a point where you have too much to lose by getting out before you're pensionable.  Once that benchmark is reached the game changes.  Some stay because they really enjoy or feel fulfilled by what they do or who they work with.  This does become challenging at times as the system seems hell bent on stamping out any bits of the fun factor there might have been in former days.

For myself, I would be gone now if the oil industry had not gone pear shaped and threw a monkey wrench in my hopes and dreams.  So until I do find a better hole to go to, I'll stay and continue to earn my pay and pay my bills.

 

[Edward Campbell]

I will not talk about me. What drew me in, over 50 years ago, and what kept me in, for 35+ years, were (still are) too diverse and complex to sum up in a few sentences.

But, I saw this, posted by a partner (very senior bloke) in a giant, global management consulting firm:

         

Civvies get the order wrong ... "mission" comes first, promotion and pay are last, but the other factors, being "trusted," "mentored," "valued" and "involved," and so on, are all part of what makes the CF a GREAT place for many people. But, and this is a BIG BUT, the CF is not the right place for everyone ... if you fit the CF and the CF suits you then that's great, but it's no shame to be ill-suited for naval or military service.

 

[mariomike]

         

Interesting.

Most ( almost all ) of the employees I hired on with stayed in for the whole ride. I believe it is similar in the police and fire services.

Maybe it was for the reasons above, or maybe because it was a steady job.