Category Archives: Military

Well, after 16 months of waiting after I first handed in my application to be a member of the Canadian Forces Officer, I have been told 100% that I do not meet the Common Medical Enrolment Standards. This means that my road has come to an end. It also means that I can’t even apply for the reserves as they also follow the CMES.

I feel as though I am letting my family down. I have a long tradition of Military family members and cannot carry on that lineage. I caught long and hard to prove to the CF that there is nothing wrong with me medically, but they are worried about the “what if”‘s and what could possibly go wrong in the future.

So now I continue on my life as I have been with the job I have had now for almost two years. Despite thinking that 2012 was going to be a better year than 2011, it is not starting off that way. Thankfully ITIL only 4 days into the year and there is still 362 days left for things to change and for things to get batter.

For now I drown my sorrows in a pint or two of Guinness and ponder what to do next. I want to tank everyone for all the kind words during my application process and all of the ones when the final decision was given to me. You have all been very supportive and I am extremely greatful to have you all in my life.

And again this is going to be another HORRIBLE Christmas. The CF has yet AGAIN said that I am Medically unfit despite evidence that there is NOTHING wrong with me. Now I have to either accept it, give them even more additional information saying there is nothing wrong with me by more doctors, costing a bunch of money on my end or lastly, appeal for a secondary review of my medical file with outlines of the aspect(s) of the final decision as to what I disagree with and the reasons why.

I just feel like giving up. I’m going to appeal this but I know it just going to take just as long as it did before and being so close to Christmas, I wont get the appeal looked at until the new year now.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Mark.

Oh yes, I have not given up hope yet on my application to the military. I finally was able to see a specialist on the 25th and was able to get the all clear from them. I received the letter from him yesterday and now I have to go into the Kingston CFRC detachment and have them send the letter to the RMO in Ottawa to hopefully have them finally give me the medical all clear. So now one hurdle has been passed. Several more still to go. The most important one is getting the RMO in Ottawa to see that I am fit for active duty and deployment.

The road has been long and very tiresome. I do feel like giving up from time to time but I know that when you want something bad enough, you will fight your hardest to make sure you reach that goal. It has been 14 months since I put in my application to join the ROTP. I know I have at least another 6 month before I found out 100% if my dreams of becoming an Officer in the Canadian Forces will truly come to fruition.

I’m not a religious person at all, but for those of you that do believe, please say a little prayer that all of this hard work will not be in vein.

I was able to get a referral to the urologist that looked at me last time, but the unfortunate this is that the appointment is not until December 16th. I can’t wait that long as there are several things I need to do before then. I need to know if I can make changes my selection and if I would be accepted for those changes. I also need to re apply for University course at both Queens and possibly Carleton again.

Right now I have been accepted to Carleton for their Computer Engineering degree, but since I have not been accepted into the military, I will not be attending this year. I will be instead, defering my accceptance until next fall as well as possibly applying to Carleton’s Criminology degree as I am thinking about applying to be a Military Police Officer in place of my Pilot choice.

The biggest set back right now is trying to find a way to get an earlier appointment to see the Urologist and get the letter. The only thing that I can think of doing is calling their office every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in hopes to get a cancelled appointment. But as the weeks go on, I think it will be harder and harder to do this. If any one else has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

So as it stands right now, I am still in immoveable limbo, waiting on someone else.

So after 6 months of waiting I finally have more information. I have been told that I will not be able to be considered for Air-crew until 5 years post-op. This means that in December of 2014 I can apply again to be a pilot. I am not sure if they will take me when I am 29 or not, but I guess we will cross that bridge when the time comes.

In the letter, it also states that until I get a letter from my urologist giving me the all clear, I am still deemded med-unfit. So now it’s how fast can I see the urologist to get the letter saying everything is OK with me and sending it in to the local CFRC RMO to have it sent to Ottawa to hopefully get the med-unfit lifted for all the other non air-crew trades. Then hopefully all I will need to do is update a few things, make another selection in place of pilot and have another interview for that trade and then HOPEFULLY be considered for ROTP for next school year.

I am so close right now that it hurts. I know what has to get done and I know once I get the paper work, there will be nothing holding me back. So now, I have a year to get into shape. I need something to motivate me and I know this should have been it before. But now I can taste the finish line, I just have to make sure I can eat it once it is laid out infront of me.

I have not heard anything back from the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre (CFRC) about further testing in Trenton but if I do, this is what I have to look forward to:

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/8w-8e/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=8252

Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Centre (CFASC)

Apr. 14, 2009

by 2Lt Jennifer Jackson,
8 Wing Public Affairs OJT

So … you have decided to become a Canadian Forces Pilot.

You have gone to the recruiting centre (or your local Personnel Selection Officer), filled out paperwork, completed testing and passed the basic medical.

Things are looking good … and then you are told you have been selected to attend the Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Centre (CFASC). Why? And what will happen there? How do you prepare?

The CFASC has existed in one form or another since WWII, and was located in several different locations across Ontario before it finally found its present home as part of 8 Wing/CFB Trenton in 1997.

Its mission is to screen candidates who have expressed an interest in becoming a pilot or an Air Combat Systems Officer (ACSO – previously known as Air Navigator), in the Canadian Forces. ACSO candidates are only required to attend the CFASC if Pilot is one of their secondary choices.

Every year, Commanding Officer Major Carl Kap and his staff process approximately 350-450 potential aircrew candidates.

Each course of up to 15 candidates lasts one week, and consists of tests designed to determine each candidate’s capacity in motor skills, hand/eye co-ordination, as well as general suitability for being an aircrew member in the CF.

Candidates arrive in Trenton on the Sunday before their course, and undergo testing until the Wednesday evening, when the course is moved to Toronto for the medical portion of the process. The travel expenses, meals and accommodations for each candidate are paid for by the CF, and each candidate leaves the centre with a clear indication of whether or not they have met the selection requirements.

While in Trenton, each candidate will complete a tour of the centre, two and half hours of cognitive, spatial and motor skills testing, and four one-hour sessions in a simulator. It is important to note that the non-simulator testing done at the centre is not part of the selection process, but is completed as part of on-going research aimed at determining future selection procedures.

Success ultimately comes down to the performance of each candidate in the simulator. Prior to arriving in CFB Trenton, each aircrew applicant is given a package of instructions to study on the fundamentals of flying, and no human instruction is given before or during the time spent at the CFASC.

Once in the simulator, candidates are required to apply the fundamentals outlined in the pre-study package, and they are also given computerized power-point presentations as part of each simulation.

All assessments are done through automation, with no human input, ensuring that every candidate receives the same information and instructions.

The standard for success at the CFASC is set by National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, and looks for several different things, such as co-ordination, motor skills and the ability to adapt to a steep learning-curve.

By the end of that Wednesday morning, each candidate is debriefed on their performance at the CFASC, and whether they have met the requirements to be selected as a pilot candidate in the CF.

On Wednesday afternoon, those who wish to do so are given an opportunity to write the ACSO aptitude test to determine their suitability for that occupation.

The historic success rate for candidates at the CFASC is approximately 45 per cent, and this selection process contributes to a 75 per cent success rate at the subsequent pilot training. Ninety per cent of those successful at the CFASC also meet the aircrew medical requirements.

On the final two days of the one-week selection process, candidates undergo medical testing at Defence Research Development Canada in Toronto.

These tests include hearing, sight, respiratory ability and anthropometric measurements. The purpose of these measurements is to ensure each candidate will fit safely into the cockpit of the aircraft used during pilot training.

After successfully completing all parts of the selection process, candidates are sent back to their homes to await word from their recruiters that they have been offered a position in the CF as a pilot.

Unfortunately, success at the CFASC does not guarantee a job offer in the CF, as many other factors must be considered.

All potential candidates for the CFASC can rest assured they are in good hands. The CFASC’s staff of Major Carl Kap, Captain Yvon Larose and Captain Art Touw represent a combined experience of 83 years in the regular force, 13 years of reserve experience, and a 18,000 hours of flying time.

Additionally, candidates benefit from the administration expertise of Resource Management Support Clerk Corporal Marie Ferguson.

When speaking of the best way potential CFASC candidates can prepare for their week on course at the centre, Maj Kap lends this advice: “Know the study guide. Come to the centre fit, well rested, well prepared and extremely focussed. Be prepared for a selection process that is extremely stressful and demanding. Only by being at your best do you have the best chance of being successful.”

I am really looking forward to the testing and hopefully I can be part of the 45% that goes on to be selected. I will be calling the CFRC on Monday to find out if there they know any more information about what National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) has said about my initial medical. I’m hoping for good results.

On a some what similar note, I took a tour of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) earlier this week. I took tones of pictures and learned a bit of history during the tour. Head over to my Flickr page for more pictures. I found out that I will find out if I am accepted to attend RMC two weeks after the deadline of January 14th, 2011. I am both nervous and excited about finding out. I really hope that I will be attending RMC in the fall.

Hopefully I will know more and be able to update again soon on my process to joining the Canadian Forces.