Going to the Air Force!

Capt. Cool · Post by **Capt. Cool** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:43 pm

Just finished the looooong application process and got accepted. Looks like the start date is Aug. 28th. Should be interestring with all the new metal being bought.

Just wondering if anyone else has applied and heard any news back? Also if anyone has gone through basic training.. any help on what to expect would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

petite · Post by **petite** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:34 pm

I'm in the application process and finally got a testing date.
A couple of buddies of mine have gone through BMQ, some NCOs and some Officers. What do you want to know?

DC6driver · Post by **DC6driver** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 5:48 pm

learn to love the fling wing, cuz thats where your military career will be

no name · Post by **no name** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:20 pm

If you think the application process is loooooooooong, you'll love waiting for the Jaw! Enjoy IAP/BOTP and OJT.

Lommer · Post by **Lommer** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:21 pm

Congrats, keep us all posted as to how you progress and how everything goes. I'm very interested to hear the pilots' perspectives on military aviation as that is a route I will be considering once I finish my degree (<2 years left).

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:22 pm

I will donate $20 to the charity of your choice for every bogey you shoot down.

mellow_pilot · Post by **mellow_pilot** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:25 pm

I'm just fininshed all the loose ends and waiting for word back. (which I don't expect for atleast a month)

Couple buddies gone through, one in St. Jean right now doing SLT (second language training). I think the best advice I heard for IAP and Basic Officer is, "ears open, mouth shut!"

Cheers, congrats, and good luck.

m_p

gonfly'n · Post by **gonfly'n** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:18 pm

enjoy being treated like a piece of shit, waking up early and receiving little time off during basic. They want to weed all the useless pieces of shit out during basic, so if you can tough it out it will get better. On the plus side you are able to save money and the food isn't all that bad.

Kelowna Pilot · Post by **Kelowna Pilot** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:18 pm

I think the best advice I heard for IAP and Basic Officer is, "ears open, mouth shut!"

Thanks... reading that just gave me a flashback of the Geekiest two weeks of my life spent at Air Cadet Camp in Pen Hold, Alta as a 13 year-old.

Oh the fond memories of being screamed at for daring to scratch my nose without asking permission first while in formation...

Oh the the fond memories of one certain Corporal who had a name that rhymed with "Doobey." I hope that schmuch is working at Walmart now...

The Canadian armed forced... there's no life like it. You can say that again.

Not for me, thanks...

mcrit · Post by **mcrit** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:19 pm

I'm doing Second Language Training now. My advice for IAP/BOTP would be this
-start a running program
-be prepared to put in 110% effort (not a cliche... most of the people that got tossed got tossed because they were slugs)
-don't let yourself get freaked out by the stress
-MOST IMPORTANT when you are in the field doing a task just stay calm and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN THE AIDE MEMOIRE. So many people started running around with their heads cut off in that situation.
-also, get some Anacin, or excedrin.... any over the counter pain killer that has CAFFINE. These have the advantage of taking the edge of muscle pain (which you will have), and the caffine keeps you alert when you are sleep deprived (which you will be)
-if you start in Sept you may be doing your field training in the winter (December). Get some micro-fleece tops and bottoms to keep you warm. Marks Work Warehouse has some.
-Buy extra wool socks and take them to the field.... you can never have enough socks in the field

Any questions PM me, other than that, see you at the Mega (BTW, the upper floors are not nearly as ugly as the basement)

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:24 pm

Kelowna Pilot wrote:
I think the best advice I heard for IAP and Basic Officer is, "ears open, mouth shut!"
Thanks... reading that just gave me a flashback of the Geekiest two weeks of my life spent at Air Cadet Camp in Pen Hold, Alta as a 13 year-old.

Oh the fond memories of being screamed at for daring to scratch my nose without asking permission first while in formation...

Oh the the fond memories of one certain Corporal who had a name that rhymed with "Doobey." I hope that schmuch is working at Walmart now...

The Canadian armed forced... there's no life like it. You can say that again.

Not for me, thanks...

That's way too funny. As a kid I used to go to the YQF airshow every year. The cadets of course did security and crowd control there. I happened to see this snot nosed little puke of maybe 13 reaming the shit out of some poor 10 year old, yelling at him 2 inches from his face, calling him obscene names, like the drill seargent in Full Metal Jacket.

That was the day I decided the cadets weren't for me.

Jercules · Post by **Jercules** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:52 pm

Show up in shape and with a positive attitude and you'll enjoy the training.

Say Altitude · Post by **Say Altitude** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:49 pm

Remember before signing the next 10 years of your life away, you are an Officer first, a pilot second. You have to wrap your head around alternating between a flying job and a desk job every other posting. That's the way it is - that said with the shortages there are exceptions to the rule (read anything helo except SAR). Count on helo, and if you're lucky you'll get something else....

Basic isn't the end of the world - don't screw your wingers because it will haunt you. No one will remember or care if you got 1st or 5th in basic but they will remember if you gave the Heisman to your winger to get there...

Good luck.

SA, CD1

gryphon · Post by **gryphon** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:09 pm

That's the way it is - that said with the shortages there are exceptions to the rule (read anything helo except SAR). Count on helo, and if you're lucky you'll get something else....

SAR helo is open to pipes now (as of 2004) and is suffering shortages like the rest of the communities....most here haven't had a ground tour yet (unless they asked...and even then, it's mainly RCC)....not a bad way to go unless you want to be deployed (can you say Chinook?). And ok...I'll bite (after all, it is 3am and we just got stood down off a mission)....most that end up with helo would never trade it up for anything (that's after they figured out the hovering issue), and the rest just wish they wouldn't have asked for multi!!!

Good luck in the system...find all the cool things you can do and make the best of it!!

Lommer · Post by **Lommer** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:50 pm

Ok, since the military members of avcanada are coming out of the woodwork for this thread, here's a question. What's the best posting: SAR Cormorant, or F-18? (the two I would personally have a tough time deciding between).

P.S. sorry for the hijack

Golden Flyer · Post by **Golden Flyer** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:24 am

I considered the air force, but the idea of not being sure if you'll be able to make a fixed wing aircraft turned me away.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:46 am

" but the idea of not being sure if you'll be able to make a fixed wing aircraft turned me away. "

So you would not want to fly rotary wing aircraft?

Which means you will miss the best kind of flying there is.

That is sad.

Cat

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:50 am

lol, the best part is when you don't get to fly any of the machines and you're a navigator.....

no name · Post by **no name** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:03 am

cyyz wrote:lol, the best part is when you don't get to fly any of the machines and you're a navigator.....

or spending 1.5-2 years on OJT (on the job training) and then flunking the Jaw. Scares the crap out of me....

Personally, I was Mr.Multi but having spoken to some helo drivers, looks like a lot more fun. All I ever hear is how they wanted to be an 18 driver but got a helo slot and wouldn't trade it for the world....

BTW Capt.Cool - didn't mention it earlier , good luck!!!

mcrit · Post by **mcrit** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:54 am

Don't let the OJT thing scare you to much. The current huge backlog developed because there was a switch in contractors for Primary Flight Training at Portage, Bombardier used to do it but now its Kelowna. Scuttlebut is that there will be a hard push to clear that backlog, and I am inclined to believe it becuase there is an aweful lot of pressure to get operational pilots.
As to the one tour flying, one tour desking... so what. In the military even when you're not flying you're still getting paid. The way the civilian aviation industry seems to go there is a similar cycle. Alot of civil pilots spend 2 or 3 years flying and then 1-2 years looking for work after they get laid off (Ask anyone that went through the post 911 crash or the recession in the 90s).
I guess what I'm trying to say is that any career in aviation requires that you pay a price. I'd submit that the price you pay in the militray isn't any higher than the price you pay for a civil flying career, but the return on investment is much more certain.

groundpilot · Post by **groundpilot** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:56 am

cyyz wrote:lol, the best part is when you don't get to fly any of the machines and you're a navigator.....

Sounds like a pilot who calls take off and landing the hardest part of the flight.

Good luck Capt Cool its a long journey to even just get to Moose Jaw but once you start training you will see its all worth it. The flying is simply amazing and no civie could ever understand.

As for the rotary thing, it does happen on occasion where a person gets helo who doesn't want it but its rare. In general people get what they want and if you do well you will get what you want.

Just be patient and enjoy every step of the way. It might be hard on BOTC but try to get out to Montreal every weekend with the close friends you will make and before you know it you will be sitting on your fat butt on OJT and waiting for the Jaw. Most people here are having no problems in the Jaw and pass rate is well above 90%. You will be given every chance to make it, its in their interest for you to do well. They also are substantially increasing the number of students next year so hopefully the wait will be minimal.

Cheers

scubasteve · Post by **scubasteve** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:55 am

I dont suppose the vision requirement has changed yet?? Damn contact lenses!!

no name · Post by **no name** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:26 am

mcrit wrote:Don't let the OJT thing scare you to much...

It is not OJT that scares me, it was more that I didn't want to wait say 2 years for the Jaw and find out I couldn't earn my wings. Sounds like the pass rate is much higher than what the recruiting centre had told me - go figure. (sorry had to get that in there.) Thanks for the info...

groundpilot · Post by **groundpilot** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:16 pm

Go! wrote:
mcrit wrote:Don't let the OJT thing scare you to much...
It is not OJT that scares me, it was more that I didn't want to wait say 2 years for the Jaw and find out I couldn't earn my wings. Sounds like the pass rate is much higher than what the recruiting centre had told me - go figure. (sorry had to get that in there.) Thanks for the info...

You can pretty much throw out 90% of what the recruiting center says. I think of the 20 or so pilots I went through with in BOTC all but 4 didn't make it. And one was because of a medical condition and one said flying wasn't for him so go figure. Although some are in helo school right now which isn't exactly a guaranteed pass either.

The Gun · Post by **The Gun** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:35 pm

Groundpilot's got some good advice there. Make sure to head out to Montreal on the weekends with the boys. It gives you something to look forward too. Check out http://www.army.ca too. There is a WEALTH of information there about every aspect of basic, SLT, OJT, etc...

Don't listen to the detractors, you've got nothing to worry about. Start living the dream.