canadian forces

[leducreef]

what do you guys mean about career qualification

[StirCrazy]

thing trade. I was a marine engineer. so I can now be a machinest, pipe fitter, millwright, heavy diesel mechanic, and I have the right to challange my 3rd class power engineering ticket. a naval electrition can retire with his civilian electrical red seal, ect.. so think of what you would like to be doing in 20 years and then find a trade that will help you do that in the millitary. like was mentions so many people joint the army and after 20 years can get a job as a security patrol person..

now having said that my son joined as a army weapons tech

you also got to look at how you want to spend your time. in the navy you travel all over in a ship and always have your own bed, good hot meals and showers, army.. well extream camping and airforce.. who knows what they realy do

Steve

[Skimmerking]

[quote=mike31154;470468]Roger's Pass huh? So if I decide to head up there for some avalanche training for backcountry skiing, you guys have a bunk for me?? quote]


Mike come on down man, we have a lounge here $2.50 per beer and Highballs too. let me know when you are coming ok .

[JDigital]

[quote=asmodeus;470493]

Originally Posted by mike31154

Roger's Pass huh? So if I decide to head up there for some avalanche training for backcountry skiing, you guys have a bunk for me?? quote]


Mike come on down man, we have a lounge here $2.50 per beer and Highballs too. let me know when you are coming ok .

I can I come... Just want the skiing though...

[mike31154]

[quote=asmodeus;470493]

Originally Posted by mike31154

Roger's Pass huh? So if I decide to head up there for some avalanche training for backcountry skiing, you guys have a bunk for me?? quote]


Mike come on down man, we have a lounge here $2.50 per beer and Highballs too. let me know when you are coming ok .

Too cool, thanks. Not sure when I'll be doing that, depends on when the CAA runs the courses there. I haven't checked this year yet. I'm stranded right now anyhow, vehicle is broke and I won't have it fixed until next week. A good friend of mine here in Vernon is a retired Artillery Major. Lucky stiff spent his last two years in Colorado Springs, then retired.

leducreef, as far as qualification, I think StirCrazy pretty much covered that topic.

StirCrazy, us Air Force guys can pretty much end up anywhere. I did two tours in Tactical Helicopter Squadrons supporting the Army, so got a good dose of camping out etc. Our unit in Germany was fully mobile so the entire Squadron was able to pull out within two hours notice. All of our essential maintenance equipment was in SEVs (special equipment vehicles), army trucks with shops on the back powered by diesel generators on a trailer. As a tech in Cold Lake life was a little different and the tactical army stuff was a bit of an eye opener for someone accustomed to working out of a warm, cozy hangar. Many of my buddies in the trade ended up on the back of a boat with the air detachment maintaining Sea King helicopters, so they got a taste of the Navy life. Not sure who got the better deal there, but many moons ago when I was treated to Thanksgiving dinner on the HMCS Terra Nova when we were in Esquimalt for the soccer nationals, I left that boat with banged up shins and forehead. Not much room on that tin can. At least on Army exercises you get the odd weekend off and can get out of camp. When you're on a boat for months, you're on it, even on weekends, 24/7. But I guess some of the ports of call make up for it and I understand some of the newer boats have much more room.

[StirCrazy]

[quote=mike31154;470510]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

but many moons ago when I was treated to Thanksgiving dinner on the HMCS Terra Nova when we were in Esquimalt for the soccer nationals, I left that boat with banged up shins and forehead. Not much room on that tin can. At least on Army exercises you get the odd weekend off and can get out of camp. When you're on a boat for months, you're on it, even on weekends, 24/7. But I guess some of the ports of call make up for it and I understand some of the newer boats have much more room.

ya it can take a while befor you automaticly pick up your feet at the right time or duck.. I have been on the tankers since 1993 so have much more room, the guys and gals from 443 love comming to the tanker, more like a floating hotel. ya when your on it you are on it.. but we do lots of things to try make the ride more fun, and normaly its only a week or two till you are some place new.. If I would have knowen then what I know now I would have bought a condo in Diego, I watched one go from 100K to almost 1mill in 15 years.. and I ended up going to diego over 100 times in 20 years.. Hawaii was second at about 75 times.


Speaking of a lounge at 2.50 a beer, the ships have a bear machine so you can have a couple beer a day at sea and it is about a 1.25 now.. was 0.50 each when I was younger.

but Rodgers pass eh.. hmm still a little to far to drive up and visit as I got the brand new puppy taking up most of my time right now...

Steve

[leducreef]

so i got a call today
i was told that thay were not looking for any combat postions
and there would prob not be any openings tell april
oh well i guess i got a few months to get my self in better shape .

[blacknife]

i did just under 5 years as Calgary highlanders infantry. reserve though not reg force. i had been in cadets before and wanted to stick with something a little more real but did not want to commit to long service time. I had an amazing time in there and kind of regret getting out but thats how life was at the time.

in reserves everyone loves to be there, its more like a hobby to try to keep yourself in shape.. enjoy shooting things and have a possiblity to go overseas. the reg force guys there were a few that enjoyed it but so many of them were just counting the days till there contract was over.. be it two or 6 years or however many years away.

ive had a few friends go through air or naval and end up with some good qualifications when they got out 6-10 years later.



I really really liked shooting things, and had lots of chances to do that.

[mike31154]

Ha ha, this thread is starting to give me a little bout of nostalgia, snif. We should all meet at Roger's Pass and have a little Army, Navy, Air Force Mess Dinner.

Looks like you guys are intent on shooting things up. Don't forget that right now there are folks in harms way in Afg.... they shoot back over there and don't always fight by the 'rules of engagement'.

I'll make my pitch for the Air Force life now, maybe we can get a little recruiting contest going here. Really surprised there's a waiting period for the combat arms trades these days...

Anyhow, here are a few photos of some of my experiences over the years. Started on 'fast' air in Cold Lake, more of that in Baden Germany, then a good dose of Army related life in Edmonton and again in Lahr Germany. Ended up as a headquarters weenie in Ottawa supporting the Search & Rescue Helicopter fleet. That was probably the most satisfying part of my career, working on saving people instead of destroying stuff. And to finish off, a civilian consultant supporting the CF18s for 3 years in Ottawa.

As a tech, you do get the odd back seat ride in the two seaters. CFB Baden, Germany



Bringing up the rear of a formation of CF104s in our venerable T33. I think that's the largest number of 104s we ever got in the air at one time in Baden. If you're concerned about your carbon footprint, don't be, one of those birds burns up a substantial amount of kerosene in an hour.



Wainwright Alberta, having a little break/chit-chat by the Huey



One of the better trips out of Edmonton, in the back of a Huey headed for Yuma Arizona through Grand Canyon country. One of our overnight stays on the way was Las Vegas. Highly overrated IMO, I'd never pay to go to Vegas on my own...



CFS Alert. Not many folks have the 'pleasure' of ever making it up here. We went up to prepare a Huey for transport in a Hercules back to Edmonton. The Huey is tasked to resupply caches in the arctic during the summer. Notice how almost every major center in Canada is about the same distance from this god forsaken place.



A number of items need to be removed so the Huey will fit



Stripped down & ready to slide her in



There were tons of other experiences, some not so good, some great. Photos are scanned so the quality isn't the greatest. No such thing as digital cameras at the time.

Hopefully StirCrazy & Asmodeus can come up with some cool stuff too. I'd love to see some pics from Hawaii or San Diego, and an avalanche or two coming down after a round is pumped up the mountain at Rogers Pass.

[Jessie55]

I joined in 05 best decision of my life. I remustered once already but it is worth it. Just like asmo said i joined young...17 and didn't really know what all the trades were about i just saw an MP5 and decided that it looked pretty cool. There are so many different fields to work in im sure there is something for everyone. You will meet many awesome people from all over Canada and get to travel alot all for free. Steady pay with structured increases aka promotions lol. As for BMQ its changed alot from what i have heard but it is not that bad go in with the right mind set and you will be fine....strong mind strong body. Good luck