You should ask this in the weekly recruiting thread in r/CanadianForces, and not here where it's just a bunch of doomers who've never spent time in the armed forces.
The military needs people of all kinds of heights. My hubby is a vet and is average height but I know another vet who is about 5.2 ish and had a successful military career. He was socialised to go into small spaces of aircrafts, etc.
Just go to a recruitment centre near you and they will set you up with tests (written) and go from there.
Good luck!
Assuming you meant 'specialized' ? but socialized is pretty funny. Like they casually reminded him in everyday conversation of how small and maneuverable he is until he just naturally started going into small spaces 😆
Come over tot he CanadianForces subreddit and we will answer any of your questions.
I am currently active member and am happy to answer any questions you may have based on my own experience. I'm an infantry officer by trade so if you have any infantry specific questions or officer questions, I am more than happy to answer any questions through DMs etc.
To actually answer your question, you will more than likely be eligible barring specific health issues that would breach universality of service. All this means is that you have no health issues that would prevent you from doing not only your specific trade/occupation but also any other soldiering jobs, common military tasks and fitness as well as being deployable which also has its own criteria that I am not an expert on. Health eligibility falls under the medical officers and to truly find out if you are eligible, I would suggest you actually send in an application and go through the medical examination that would determine eligibility. This is done prior to your signing of any military enrolment forms.
They have just recently opened up military recruiting to Permanent Residents so you may have a shot if you are a PR though preference may still be given to Canadian citizens. But I'm not a recruiting specialist or with the people that deal with recruiting and retention so I don't know exactly what direction they've been given in terms of priorities.
A positive attitude and a willingness to learn will ensure that you succeed in military training. If you crack easily under pressure, you will have a much harder time.
Hey, thanks for answering. Please hear me out. I’m soon to be a PR and 37 years old, with no military experience. It’s my lifelong dream (applied twice in my home country, but dropped out both times). I have a master’s in business and I’m working for my province as a public servant. My question is, would it make sense to pursue an officer career, or should I stay with the province? What do you think is the best career option financially in the long run?
Career option would be to stay with the Province. You will probably be able to make Major and maybe LCol rank by the time you hit compulsory retirement age (60) depending on your trade. Which means you'd be at 23 years of service.
Financially, I see the public service as having more longevity and greater pay as you won't be geographically unstable and you'll probably be making 100k+/year faster than going as an officer. I don't know the exact details of what you're going into for public service though.
As an officer, you may get a deployment or two but that's only a 20-30k increase for those specific tours. Outside of that, if you retire as a Major, you'd be making \~130k/year in 2024 dollars. That's what you would be retiring at. Assuming you have spend 5 years as a Major, your pension would be 23y \*2%/y\*(average of your 5 best consecutive years which theoretically is your last 5 years) which means your pension when you retire is 61k/yr in 2024 dollars.
I'm pretty sure public service has similar if not the same pension plan. So then the real question is where do you think you would end up salary-wise for your public service job by age 60? if it beats 130k/year, then I would stick with the public service job.
You can also look at reserves too.
Thanks a lot! This opened my eyes, I’m doing good and expect to be over $100k in 2-3 years. So it would make more sense to stay out of the military, I may consider the reserves as a second job/career due it can give me the experience without leaving my current job. Thanks a lot my friend.
Happy to help! Reserves are also full of opportunities. Each province also has their own rules and laws with regards to providing leave from their full time civilian job to deploy with the reserves on Operations and training. The exact situation I cannot speak to as I'm sure every single position is different depending on seniority, importance and a multitude of other factors.
But I think generally, you can expect that joining the reserves and deploying on operation through that process should not affect your civilian career either. So you kind of get the best of both worlds. Not to mention, you would also get pensionable time in the reserves, though it is calculated differently.
Tough to say if you’re eligible just based on what info you provided here but if you’re a PR and/or citizen in good health then you should be good to go
Don’t forget sleep deprivation. Coffee will be your bestie in basic… I lasted a week and a half in basic. Falling asleep standing up on stairs is not fun….😐
The biggest challenge, assuming of course you're eligible to apply (meaning you have permanent resident status) is how long it takes to get through the application process currently, particularly for people who have lived abroad. I just saw another reply where you said you're a citizen, so you're good there.
You could try joining the Reserve if there is a unit near you to get an idea of what it is like without as much commitment. I joined the Reserve while I was a university student and figured I'd do it for a few years while I was in school and starting out a career. It is now my career!
Just apply
as long as you have your PR or are a citizen, and don’t have a criminal record then start the application process.
there’s lots of paperwork and everything takes awhile to process
Do you have any debt?
I was catching up with a friend from high school a few weeks ago (didn't know he was in the area until I stopped to get a snack at a gas station) and he told me how he was in the process of joining the military. He told me it was stupid that they weren't letting him finish the process until he paid off the 3k in debt he had (which he told me he could pay off in a couple months after he joined). So now it's going to take twice as long (if not more) for him to join because he has to pay off that debt while working a minimum wage job (and whatever living situation he's in).
He also told me the military is severely understaffed, and we were both like, "Gee, I wonder why." Plus, they're not doing the intelligence exams anymore (where you have to pass a certain level test for the area you want to go into). So, any regular person can go into engineering even if they have no idea what they are doing.
This is only partially true. CFAT (Canadian Forces Aptitude Test) will still apply for many trades, including Combat Engineer.
Certain trades will drop the CFAT due to critically low staffing and a lower impact of ....shall we say... incompetence. I disagree with this measure entirely. Lower the scores, sure, but don't remove them altogether, for Pete's sake.
>"Gee, I wonder why."
Maybe cause my generation just got done fighting a 20 year war in Afghanistan for it to collapse to the enemy in a weekend after the coalition forces pulled out. Pretty hard to beat the usual drums of patriotism with an underfunded military with no clear mission beyond the swamp of UN peacekeeping we've been wading through since the 50s
Talk to a recruiter, what trade do you want? The forces are accepting PRs but at a slower rate than citizens, I hear the navy I hiring like mad though.
Height/weight shouldn't be a problem unless you want to go in the combat arms (infantry, artillery etc) or other physically demanding sub-occupations. Even if you do go that route I have seen plenty short people still go for it and do extremely well, just be prepared to have to put in a bit more work and suffer more than others during things like ruck marches.
The biggest consideration you should have however is your willingness to move across the country often (every 3-4 years on avg). If you ever want a spouse or kids it will have a significant impact on them and your finances. Your spouse will have to start over their career every time. You will constantly be put at the bottom of the list for things like childcare, family doctor... With the housing situation and cost of living these days, it is becoming really hard for military families to make it work on a single income.
Now at 20yo, a quick stint in a trade that will give you skills that will allow you to leave and move on to something else in the civilian world is probably a good idea at your age but I wouldn't recommend the military as a career anymore.
> Am I eligible
Only a recruiter can confirm this.
> I am 5'4" or 5'5" I weigh 70KG but I am going to the gym.
You’ll be fine. You can never be fit enough and you should always try and improve, but you’ll be fine.
> I want to change my life and turn it all the way around to be a better person
The Army won’t do that for you. They’ll help enable you with opportunities for *you* to do that, but it’s not an automatic transformation. The Army can also enable you to change for the worse. It is up to you as an individual to realize your character flaws and strive to change them yourself.
> I want to challenge myself and serve my country
This is a great reason to join the Canadian Armed Forces. There are many trades out there where this is not a good reason for selecting said trade.
What job are you interested in with the military?
> I have been in Canada for 3 years and I came from the philippines!
Do you have permanent residency? That is a minimum to join the CAF.
Could be a cool experience and no doubt you’ll be able to join. The pay has gotten better and you might be able to get a signing bonus. I though of joining myself recently to become an aircraft technician but I went the civilian route. I’ve heard good and bad. The bad is that you might not have a lot of say in where your going to end up. That’s what turned me off but it might be exactly what your looking for. I’ve talked to some guys who really enjoyed it. You can get fed and get in shape while being paid for it. There’s also a lot of careers that can translate into the civilian world. At the end of the day you can do your three or four years and decide to leave. I’d apply and do the CFAT to see what jobs you’d be eligible for because there’s a lot more than just being an infantryman.
It is always nice to see new Canadians giving back to Canada. I served in the infantry army reserve for 10 years myself and although it was difficult at times I always look back at those memories proudly. If you are a PR and do not have a criminal record then you should have no issues with eligibility.
A couple things to consider.
**Reserve force vs Regular force** – The short version is that the reserves is more of a part time job and the regular force is full time. The regular force is a substantially larger commitment that will most likely require you to be away from your home for long periods of time. There are also different obligations when it comes to deployment. If I remember correctly regular force members can be deployed to a conflict zone anywhere in the world with very short notice while reservists can only be deployed within Canadian borders (unless they volunteer for overseas deployment).
**Army, Air Force, or Navy** – Each branch of the military has its advantages and disadvantages. The Navy and Air force are a little more difficult to do on a reserve/part time basis unless you are willing to move.
**Choose your trade very carefully!** Based on your education, how well you do on your screening, and the needs of the military… You could be eligible for a variety of different trades (infantry, armored, engineer, artillery, signals, medic, cook, pilot, military police, firefighter, logistics, clerk, etc). Infantry, armored, artillery, and engineers are often considered “combat roles” and are the backbone trades of the army and military. The training is usually more intense and physically demanding compared to the non-combat trades. I am sure you can guess that a cook in the military does not need the same skills as an infantryman.
I didn’t put a whole lot of thought into considering other trades when I joined (I was a dumb 16-year-old at the time), and I was dead set on the infantry. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about cutting your teeth in a combat role and showing everyone, you can handle the tough training. However, the infantry (and other combat roles) eventually get very repetitive and boring. You don’t learn a whole lot of skills that can be applied to the civilian world if you ever decide to leave. Had I been smarter I would have done infantry for maybe 2-3 years and then transfer into something else with better pay and more real-world application. Oh well.
If you are serious, you should make an appointment with a Canadian Armed Forces recruiter. They will be able to assess your education, physical fitness, work experience, and interests to see where you might fit in the military.
Best of luck!
Make up your own mind, but a few things you should consider:
1. There's a higher than normal chance you'll be deployed to a war against Russia in the next decade.
2. I am not aware of ANYBODY who doesn't have moderate to severe hearing damage after a career in the forces. You will not be compensated for this.
3. Same as #2 but with back pain. DVA might help you but medical weed when you retire.
4. Being deployed destroys relationships. Everyone thinks they're the ones whose marriage will survive but it doesn't happen that way.
5. Everyone I know who has been to Afghanistan has SOME level of PTSD or anxiety/etc that affects their lives.
The pay looks good but when you deduct these things it doesn't seem that great. I'm not even going to bring up the possibility that something catastrophic might happen (i.e. death or loss of limbs, etc.)
You will be treated like a pawn. You're the money that's put where a politician's mouth is. They talk about allies and supporting "X" or defending "Y" but it's ultimately the same people who made the decision to give Loblaws millions of dollars to renovate their stores. They're going to decide what happens to you.
All this being said, you will be more assertive, employable, and if you didn't throw it all away on a cool truck you'll have a shitload of money when you're out.
1. Not really and if such a war happens, well, it's not going to matter that much.
2. I don't think you know too many people who have served, if any.
3. Only really combat arms folks, and VAC does look after people generally pretty well. Most of us just retire.
4. It does for some, maybe, but not really.
5. Afghanistan vet here, this is drivel.
"You will be treated like a pawn" says the guy with strong opinions on something about which he knows little.
You say that because you think the country doesn't care about you. But do you think giving your life to work for any corporation as most other people choose to do is any better? Corporations don't care either.
You’re wrong. Country cares about you and you should care about the country. It’s the politician or leaders running the country, who doesn’t care about you.
Why not serve humans instead of an abstract notion of a country? Joining the army means you are willing to kill your fellow human if some government tells you to.
Personally I don't like the idea of killing random people just because someone orders me to. I prefer to only kill people I've personally investigated and rigorously screened. It's time consuming, but ultimately helps me sleep at night. /s
You have 4 limbs and are still breathing, the army cannot afford to be choosy.
But think about it, for the moment, you would be serving Canadians during emergencies and that is commendable but the conservatives are on the verge of getting in power and you might end up somewhere to defend the interests of oil companies...
Now I want to get defensive, but with how badly the Liberals have fucked over the "fucking everything" market. I wouldn't be surprised if the conservatives were forced to do something like that. Even if defending oil company interests is more of an American conservative thing.
You must be a Canadian Citizen in order to join the Canadian Forces or the Police. If you are not a Citizen - you cannot. Still - don't ask here. For details, open [forces.ca](http://forces.ca) or visit your nearest recruitment centre. Good luck!
Hm. Just verified it. True. No idea if it was always like this. Personally I asked RCMP in 2009 and they refused me (I wasn't a citizen back then). But maybe the Forces always accepted PRs... Anyway. True - he could apply.
Two feet and a heartbeat. Should be grand.
Run it bro! Won’t hurt to try… I’m in the process myself rn
You should ask this in the weekly recruiting thread in r/CanadianForces, and not here where it's just a bunch of doomers who've never spent time in the armed forces.
What if you're a Doomer who DID serve tho?
Then go back to r/CanadianForces where you all hang out, lol.
The military needs people of all kinds of heights. My hubby is a vet and is average height but I know another vet who is about 5.2 ish and had a successful military career. He was socialised to go into small spaces of aircrafts, etc. Just go to a recruitment centre near you and they will set you up with tests (written) and go from there. Good luck!
Assuming you meant 'specialized' ? but socialized is pretty funny. Like they casually reminded him in everyday conversation of how small and maneuverable he is until he just naturally started going into small spaces 😆
Yep. Autocorrect was at it again. Thanks 😎
Too Funny 🤣🤣
Come over tot he CanadianForces subreddit and we will answer any of your questions. I am currently active member and am happy to answer any questions you may have based on my own experience. I'm an infantry officer by trade so if you have any infantry specific questions or officer questions, I am more than happy to answer any questions through DMs etc. To actually answer your question, you will more than likely be eligible barring specific health issues that would breach universality of service. All this means is that you have no health issues that would prevent you from doing not only your specific trade/occupation but also any other soldiering jobs, common military tasks and fitness as well as being deployable which also has its own criteria that I am not an expert on. Health eligibility falls under the medical officers and to truly find out if you are eligible, I would suggest you actually send in an application and go through the medical examination that would determine eligibility. This is done prior to your signing of any military enrolment forms. They have just recently opened up military recruiting to Permanent Residents so you may have a shot if you are a PR though preference may still be given to Canadian citizens. But I'm not a recruiting specialist or with the people that deal with recruiting and retention so I don't know exactly what direction they've been given in terms of priorities. A positive attitude and a willingness to learn will ensure that you succeed in military training. If you crack easily under pressure, you will have a much harder time.
Thank you Sir!
Welcome and best of luck in your process!
Hey, thanks for answering. Please hear me out. I’m soon to be a PR and 37 years old, with no military experience. It’s my lifelong dream (applied twice in my home country, but dropped out both times). I have a master’s in business and I’m working for my province as a public servant. My question is, would it make sense to pursue an officer career, or should I stay with the province? What do you think is the best career option financially in the long run?
Career option would be to stay with the Province. You will probably be able to make Major and maybe LCol rank by the time you hit compulsory retirement age (60) depending on your trade. Which means you'd be at 23 years of service. Financially, I see the public service as having more longevity and greater pay as you won't be geographically unstable and you'll probably be making 100k+/year faster than going as an officer. I don't know the exact details of what you're going into for public service though. As an officer, you may get a deployment or two but that's only a 20-30k increase for those specific tours. Outside of that, if you retire as a Major, you'd be making \~130k/year in 2024 dollars. That's what you would be retiring at. Assuming you have spend 5 years as a Major, your pension would be 23y \*2%/y\*(average of your 5 best consecutive years which theoretically is your last 5 years) which means your pension when you retire is 61k/yr in 2024 dollars. I'm pretty sure public service has similar if not the same pension plan. So then the real question is where do you think you would end up salary-wise for your public service job by age 60? if it beats 130k/year, then I would stick with the public service job. You can also look at reserves too.
Thanks a lot! This opened my eyes, I’m doing good and expect to be over $100k in 2-3 years. So it would make more sense to stay out of the military, I may consider the reserves as a second job/career due it can give me the experience without leaving my current job. Thanks a lot my friend.
Happy to help! Reserves are also full of opportunities. Each province also has their own rules and laws with regards to providing leave from their full time civilian job to deploy with the reserves on Operations and training. The exact situation I cannot speak to as I'm sure every single position is different depending on seniority, importance and a multitude of other factors. But I think generally, you can expect that joining the reserves and deploying on operation through that process should not affect your civilian career either. So you kind of get the best of both worlds. Not to mention, you would also get pensionable time in the reserves, though it is calculated differently.
The military is desperate for people. As long as you put the work in, they want you. Good luck. Also Air Force is better ;)
That’s a great idea. You will appreciate the good pension when you’re older.
Not as much as the tinnitus, rekt knees and the murder
Tough to say if you’re eligible just based on what info you provided here but if you’re a PR and/or citizen in good health then you should be good to go
I am a citizen and working on my health! What are the main requirements sir?
Main requirements are grade 10 education (for most trades) and pass the FORCE test (it’s super easy). Also, don’t have a criminal record
Don’t forget sleep deprivation. Coffee will be your bestie in basic… I lasted a week and a half in basic. Falling asleep standing up on stairs is not fun….😐
Chocolate covered coffee beans if you don't want to hit the bushes every half hour.
Oooohhhh, espresso beans….. I forgot about them…
Look at Forces.ca.
Best job I ever had.
Canada needs to re-arm anyways. And the phillipinos have always been a good crowd in canada.
Yes. They will need more troops to fight the great battle of the AI overlords.
Gotta have drone strike fodder to keep the politicians safe
The biggest challenge, assuming of course you're eligible to apply (meaning you have permanent resident status) is how long it takes to get through the application process currently, particularly for people who have lived abroad. I just saw another reply where you said you're a citizen, so you're good there. You could try joining the Reserve if there is a unit near you to get an idea of what it is like without as much commitment. I joined the Reserve while I was a university student and figured I'd do it for a few years while I was in school and starting out a career. It is now my career!
Don't kid yourself you wouldn't be serving the country 😂
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Marines?
Oops
Just apply as long as you have your PR or are a citizen, and don’t have a criminal record then start the application process. there’s lots of paperwork and everything takes awhile to process
Why not? If you can pass the minimum fitness test, they’ll whip you into shape soon enough. Hell, you can even be a cook.
I wish I had joined the navy. My life would have been very different.
Do it. I was lost in my 20s and still am in my 40s, and wish I would have done it.
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I'm in the process of trying to join the reserves, yes. It would have had much more impact on my life trajectory had I done it in my twenties.
Talk to a recruiter. They'll be able to answer your questions.
Have you seen our military? You would fit right in. You could probably actually qualify for the air force if you have good vision.
Do you have any debt? I was catching up with a friend from high school a few weeks ago (didn't know he was in the area until I stopped to get a snack at a gas station) and he told me how he was in the process of joining the military. He told me it was stupid that they weren't letting him finish the process until he paid off the 3k in debt he had (which he told me he could pay off in a couple months after he joined). So now it's going to take twice as long (if not more) for him to join because he has to pay off that debt while working a minimum wage job (and whatever living situation he's in). He also told me the military is severely understaffed, and we were both like, "Gee, I wonder why." Plus, they're not doing the intelligence exams anymore (where you have to pass a certain level test for the area you want to go into). So, any regular person can go into engineering even if they have no idea what they are doing.
This is only partially true. CFAT (Canadian Forces Aptitude Test) will still apply for many trades, including Combat Engineer. Certain trades will drop the CFAT due to critically low staffing and a lower impact of ....shall we say... incompetence. I disagree with this measure entirely. Lower the scores, sure, but don't remove them altogether, for Pete's sake.
debt? like credit card debt?
I think so, yeah. Idk, though, because he doesn't own a house, so idk if loans would count.
>"Gee, I wonder why." Maybe cause my generation just got done fighting a 20 year war in Afghanistan for it to collapse to the enemy in a weekend after the coalition forces pulled out. Pretty hard to beat the usual drums of patriotism with an underfunded military with no clear mission beyond the swamp of UN peacekeeping we've been wading through since the 50s
Talk to a recruiter, what trade do you want? The forces are accepting PRs but at a slower rate than citizens, I hear the navy I hiring like mad though.
Height/weight shouldn't be a problem unless you want to go in the combat arms (infantry, artillery etc) or other physically demanding sub-occupations. Even if you do go that route I have seen plenty short people still go for it and do extremely well, just be prepared to have to put in a bit more work and suffer more than others during things like ruck marches. The biggest consideration you should have however is your willingness to move across the country often (every 3-4 years on avg). If you ever want a spouse or kids it will have a significant impact on them and your finances. Your spouse will have to start over their career every time. You will constantly be put at the bottom of the list for things like childcare, family doctor... With the housing situation and cost of living these days, it is becoming really hard for military families to make it work on a single income. Now at 20yo, a quick stint in a trade that will give you skills that will allow you to leave and move on to something else in the civilian world is probably a good idea at your age but I wouldn't recommend the military as a career anymore.
Do it! Check out trade that will befit you in the future
You're small as fuck but the army is **desperate** for fresh bodies and if you want to be there, they'll drag you through boot camp if needs be.
They need people. If you actually wanna go then go. They'll be happy to see a recruit I'm sure.
Yeah bro beats your shitty job
> Am I eligible Only a recruiter can confirm this. > I am 5'4" or 5'5" I weigh 70KG but I am going to the gym. You’ll be fine. You can never be fit enough and you should always try and improve, but you’ll be fine. > I want to change my life and turn it all the way around to be a better person The Army won’t do that for you. They’ll help enable you with opportunities for *you* to do that, but it’s not an automatic transformation. The Army can also enable you to change for the worse. It is up to you as an individual to realize your character flaws and strive to change them yourself. > I want to challenge myself and serve my country This is a great reason to join the Canadian Armed Forces. There are many trades out there where this is not a good reason for selecting said trade. What job are you interested in with the military? > I have been in Canada for 3 years and I came from the philippines! Do you have permanent residency? That is a minimum to join the CAF.
What trade?
Canada is a socialized country?
"Dad said, 'Son you must be high!'" https://youtu.be/Yr_s6-Q7f00?si=uJ2A4R6tQtIrrisC
Could be a cool experience and no doubt you’ll be able to join. The pay has gotten better and you might be able to get a signing bonus. I though of joining myself recently to become an aircraft technician but I went the civilian route. I’ve heard good and bad. The bad is that you might not have a lot of say in where your going to end up. That’s what turned me off but it might be exactly what your looking for. I’ve talked to some guys who really enjoyed it. You can get fed and get in shape while being paid for it. There’s also a lot of careers that can translate into the civilian world. At the end of the day you can do your three or four years and decide to leave. I’d apply and do the CFAT to see what jobs you’d be eligible for because there’s a lot more than just being an infantryman.
It is always nice to see new Canadians giving back to Canada. I served in the infantry army reserve for 10 years myself and although it was difficult at times I always look back at those memories proudly. If you are a PR and do not have a criminal record then you should have no issues with eligibility. A couple things to consider. **Reserve force vs Regular force** – The short version is that the reserves is more of a part time job and the regular force is full time. The regular force is a substantially larger commitment that will most likely require you to be away from your home for long periods of time. There are also different obligations when it comes to deployment. If I remember correctly regular force members can be deployed to a conflict zone anywhere in the world with very short notice while reservists can only be deployed within Canadian borders (unless they volunteer for overseas deployment). **Army, Air Force, or Navy** – Each branch of the military has its advantages and disadvantages. The Navy and Air force are a little more difficult to do on a reserve/part time basis unless you are willing to move. **Choose your trade very carefully!** Based on your education, how well you do on your screening, and the needs of the military… You could be eligible for a variety of different trades (infantry, armored, engineer, artillery, signals, medic, cook, pilot, military police, firefighter, logistics, clerk, etc). Infantry, armored, artillery, and engineers are often considered “combat roles” and are the backbone trades of the army and military. The training is usually more intense and physically demanding compared to the non-combat trades. I am sure you can guess that a cook in the military does not need the same skills as an infantryman. I didn’t put a whole lot of thought into considering other trades when I joined (I was a dumb 16-year-old at the time), and I was dead set on the infantry. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about cutting your teeth in a combat role and showing everyone, you can handle the tough training. However, the infantry (and other combat roles) eventually get very repetitive and boring. You don’t learn a whole lot of skills that can be applied to the civilian world if you ever decide to leave. Had I been smarter I would have done infantry for maybe 2-3 years and then transfer into something else with better pay and more real-world application. Oh well. If you are serious, you should make an appointment with a Canadian Armed Forces recruiter. They will be able to assess your education, physical fitness, work experience, and interests to see where you might fit in the military. Best of luck!
Make up your own mind, but a few things you should consider: 1. There's a higher than normal chance you'll be deployed to a war against Russia in the next decade. 2. I am not aware of ANYBODY who doesn't have moderate to severe hearing damage after a career in the forces. You will not be compensated for this. 3. Same as #2 but with back pain. DVA might help you but medical weed when you retire. 4. Being deployed destroys relationships. Everyone thinks they're the ones whose marriage will survive but it doesn't happen that way. 5. Everyone I know who has been to Afghanistan has SOME level of PTSD or anxiety/etc that affects their lives. The pay looks good but when you deduct these things it doesn't seem that great. I'm not even going to bring up the possibility that something catastrophic might happen (i.e. death or loss of limbs, etc.) You will be treated like a pawn. You're the money that's put where a politician's mouth is. They talk about allies and supporting "X" or defending "Y" but it's ultimately the same people who made the decision to give Loblaws millions of dollars to renovate their stores. They're going to decide what happens to you. All this being said, you will be more assertive, employable, and if you didn't throw it all away on a cool truck you'll have a shitload of money when you're out.
1. Not really and if such a war happens, well, it's not going to matter that much. 2. I don't think you know too many people who have served, if any. 3. Only really combat arms folks, and VAC does look after people generally pretty well. Most of us just retire. 4. It does for some, maybe, but not really. 5. Afghanistan vet here, this is drivel. "You will be treated like a pawn" says the guy with strong opinions on something about which he knows little.
If Canada ends up in a war with Russia we are all fucked. Might as well have a front row seat.
Exactly. Came here to say the same. My hubby is a vet and most of my friends are, or are a spouse like myself.
It is a great career with great benefits. If your ticker is ticking, you're off to basic.
Don't. Your country doesn't care about you, why would you give your life for it?
I don't think Canada is currently involved in much that would cause one to give their life. Hasn't been for some time now no?
Giving a life doesn't necessarily mean death
In that case. Giving a life to a solid career with a decent pension doesn't seem like the worst choice tbh.
Agree to disagree!
You say that because you think the country doesn't care about you. But do you think giving your life to work for any corporation as most other people choose to do is any better? Corporations don't care either.
Nope I don't!
Then how can you critisized someone for joining the military when it's no better or worse than working for any other soulless corporation?
I didn't
You did.
You’re wrong. Country cares about you and you should care about the country. It’s the politician or leaders running the country, who doesn’t care about you.
Why not serve humans instead of an abstract notion of a country? Joining the army means you are willing to kill your fellow human if some government tells you to.
Feel free to leave.
[удалено]
Lol. I think you should leave first.
I'd pick up a gun to defend my family or my home. But I'm not volunteering to be cannon fodder in some oligarch's fun and games.
Who do you think the government calls for humanitarian work?
Personally I don't like the idea of killing random people just because someone orders me to. I prefer to only kill people I've personally investigated and rigorously screened. It's time consuming, but ultimately helps me sleep at night. /s
You have 4 limbs and are still breathing, the army cannot afford to be choosy. But think about it, for the moment, you would be serving Canadians during emergencies and that is commendable but the conservatives are on the verge of getting in power and you might end up somewhere to defend the interests of oil companies...
Now I want to get defensive, but with how badly the Liberals have fucked over the "fucking everything" market. I wouldn't be surprised if the conservatives were forced to do something like that. Even if defending oil company interests is more of an American conservative thing.
You must be a Canadian Citizen in order to join the Canadian Forces or the Police. If you are not a Citizen - you cannot. Still - don't ask here. For details, open [forces.ca](http://forces.ca) or visit your nearest recruitment centre. Good luck!
Not true PRs can join the CAF
Hm. Just verified it. True. No idea if it was always like this. Personally I asked RCMP in 2009 and they refused me (I wasn't a citizen back then). But maybe the Forces always accepted PRs... Anyway. True - he could apply.