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I've posted a few times on here, but have largely been lurking around here for the past 6 months or so (though I only signed up here in September, after I started my application process). I've really been looking around the site, avidly reading threads that seemed relevant, especially those related to recruiting stories, and other information. This place has been a bastion for my military interest, and has become the number one site I visit when I get to work, and when I go to bed. As well, it is a large part of the impetus that got me to finally realize my dream and join the military as an officer. For that, this entire site and its members have my heartfelt thanks.
I was just reading some of the other threads in here about personal stories and I saw N-CK's thread, and saw that he's also going through CFRC Calgary. That kind of got me going to write my own story (I'll probably want to know what I was thinking later
). So here goes...
I've always had an eye for the military, it's been integral in my life, even though I have no relatives to speak of that were in it recently (aside from my Grandfather's experience in the Italian Alpiner's in WWII). I was an Air Cadet for as long as you could be, from 12 until they booted me out at 19. I was really interested in the doing ROTP through RMC when I graduated, but to be honest, the recruiters at that time in Calgary pretty much scared me away. So I went on a long and convoluted journey to get my Bachelor's degree, which ended up being at two Universities (SFU and U of C), and getting my commercial pilot's license at Mount Royal College. Needless to say, I did a lot, and experienced a lot, but this past April I finally received my Bachelor's Degree in English.
Having received this degree, I did it while maintaining a full time job selling VW's; a job that I'm extremely grateful to have, as it has directly paid for: a house, my degree, and a new car. I make good money here, and if I was to stay, my earning potential will only go up. However, this is where I experienced 'professional stagnation'. I looked at myself and what I respected in others, as well as this site, in addition to many many job listings, I determined that the only place I can think of making a career for myself that suits the ideals I hold strong is The Canadian Forces.
The difficult part was switching my preference from Pilot to MARS. Now I know pilot applicants are a dime a dozen, and there are so many who peruse this site with the fantasy of being top gun or some other ****. But I do know that being a pilot has been a huge part of me for many years (hence the Commercial License). However, I have an equal fascination with ships and the Navy (despite being the most landlocked SOB you've likely seen in years). The only seas I have seen (apart from traveling and a Cruise) have been covered in wheat! But having looked at the career in great depth, and seen that it might represent an even greater challenge for me than even pilot can provide (feel free to correct me on that, total hearsay). I hope this is true!
Since I've applied, I have indeed switched to MARS when it became apparent (and through some very effective counseling from fellow member Wootan 9, I sold them their Jetta ) that the delay in training for pilot would be more than I would want. So here I sit, I've been Merit Listed for MARS, and have been waiting on a call confirming that I've been let on to the NOAB that is (supposedly) happening on the first week of March. If so, I can mark then end of my cushy little car sales job, and hopefully mark the beginning of a career where I can interact professionally with the many fine souls that constitute this website!
(Thanks for listening, I get kind of long winded so I apologize...damn English degree )
I was just reading some of the other threads in here about personal stories and I saw N-CK's thread, and saw that he's also going through CFRC Calgary. That kind of got me going to write my own story (I'll probably want to know what I was thinking later
). So here goes...I've always had an eye for the military, it's been integral in my life, even though I have no relatives to speak of that were in it recently (aside from my Grandfather's experience in the Italian Alpiner's in WWII). I was an Air Cadet for as long as you could be, from 12 until they booted me out at 19. I was really interested in the doing ROTP through RMC when I graduated, but to be honest, the recruiters at that time in Calgary pretty much scared me away. So I went on a long and convoluted journey to get my Bachelor's degree, which ended up being at two Universities (SFU and U of C), and getting my commercial pilot's license at Mount Royal College. Needless to say, I did a lot, and experienced a lot, but this past April I finally received my Bachelor's Degree in English.
Having received this degree, I did it while maintaining a full time job selling VW's; a job that I'm extremely grateful to have, as it has directly paid for: a house, my degree, and a new car. I make good money here, and if I was to stay, my earning potential will only go up. However, this is where I experienced 'professional stagnation'. I looked at myself and what I respected in others, as well as this site, in addition to many many job listings, I determined that the only place I can think of making a career for myself that suits the ideals I hold strong is The Canadian Forces.
The difficult part was switching my preference from Pilot to MARS. Now I know pilot applicants are a dime a dozen, and there are so many who peruse this site with the fantasy of being top gun or some other ****. But I do know that being a pilot has been a huge part of me for many years (hence the Commercial License). However, I have an equal fascination with ships and the Navy (despite being the most landlocked SOB you've likely seen in years). The only seas I have seen (apart from traveling and a Cruise) have been covered in wheat! But having looked at the career in great depth, and seen that it might represent an even greater challenge for me than even pilot can provide (feel free to correct me on that, total hearsay). I hope this is true!
Since I've applied, I have indeed switched to MARS when it became apparent (and through some very effective counseling from fellow member Wootan 9, I sold them their Jetta
) that the delay in training for pilot would be more than I would want. So here I sit, I've been Merit Listed for MARS, and have been waiting on a call confirming that I've been let on to the NOAB that is (supposedly) happening on the first week of March. If so, I can mark then end of my cushy little car sales job, and hopefully mark the beginning of a career where I can interact professionally with the many fine souls that constitute this website!(Thanks for listening, I get kind of long winded so I apologize...damn English degree
)
