Civilian thinking of joining

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

Hello everyone, just wondering if someone could tell me what the actual pay is for trades in the miltary say from recruit to full time "employee" per say, what pays the best? What pays the least? What's a great occupation to get into, what should someone be aware of before joining? I'm at a crossroads in my life and I'm seriously thinking about joining I'm 31, eat healthy workout everyday which i love the most out of everything going on in my life right now, I also have a few college trades and about to get another in software development but job prospects aren't promising right now as they were before I took this current diploma program, so I need to have a contingency plan in place to survive and I've always been Intrigued by the army the structure, the having a purpose and being a part of something bigger, having work that means something and so on just to name a few and give you a little inside view on my thought process.

I'm interested in signal tech, military police, intelligence operator, cyber operator just to name a few! Thanks for any information it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Hello everyone, just wondering if someone could tell me what the actual pay is for trades in the miltary say from recruit to full time "employee" per say, what pays the best? What pays the least? What's a great occupation to get into, what should someone be aware of before joining? I'm at a crossroads in my life and I'm seriously thinking about joining I'm 31, eat healthy workout everyday which i love the most out of everything going on in my life right now, I also have a few college trades and about to get another in software development but job prospects aren't promising right now as they were before I took this current diploma program, so I need to have a contingency plan in place to survive and I've always been Intrigued by the army the structure, the having a purpose and being a part of something bigger, having work that means something and so on just to name a few and give you a little inside view on my thought process.

I'm interested in signal tech, military police, intelligence operator, cyber operator just to name a few! Thanks for any information it would be greatly appreciated!

There is really no easy answer to your question.

There are so many entry schemes, different occupations, variations on how long it will take you to get trained (which impacts promotions) and how keen you are to get ahead, that your question could be answered in literally thousands of ways.

Here are the pay tables for the CAF. That will give you a general range:

Military pay - Canada.ca

This page displays information about pay for Canadian Armed Forces members.

www.canada.ca

 

[Kat Stevens]

General pays pretty good. you should ask about signing up to be a general, we always need more of those. Hell, we'll invent a job for you!

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

There is really no easy answer to your question.

There are so many entry schemes, different occupations, variations on how long it will take you to get trained (which impacts promotions) and how keen you are to get ahead, that your question could be answered in literally thousands of ways.

Here are the pay tables for the CAF. That will give you a general range:

Military pay - Canada.ca

This page displays information about pay for Canadian Armed Forces members.

www.canada.ca

Appreciate your response and yeah I've went over the pay rates alot, private pay averages out to about 22 an hour or like 3720 a month based on the $124 a day which they state which is OK I guess, but if your posted in Ontario or somewhere I'd imagine it's hard to live off that amount of money, any idea how fast you get promoted and get a Pay increment? Or is that solely based on training and promotions, time spent in trade and authorized by higher command etc?

 

[Quirky]

Pick a trade that's at least Specialist 1 and with skills you can use outside the military. Pay is really low for the newer ranks that are posted to expensive areas and with lack of military housing you get a retention crisis. You'll be a Private for the first four years then get automatically promoted to Corporal. The Air Force is advance promoting nearly all Privates to Corporals once they reach their units due to the financial issues. Oh yeah, go Air Force, you'll end up there anyway.

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

Pick a trade that's at least Specialist 1 and with skills you can use outside the military. Pay is really low for the newer ranks that are posted to expensive areas and with lack of military housing you get a retention crisis. You'll be a Private for the first four years then get automatically promoted to Corporal. The Air Force is advance promoting nearly all Privates to Corporals once they reach their units due to the financial issues. Oh yeah, go Air Force, you'll end up there anyway.

So could you explain the specialist 1 to me? How is that achieved exactly? And I'm from newfoundland I was hoping to get posted back here as it's not highly sought after but I'm thinking that wouldn't happen cause you don't choose where you get posted right?

 

[Quirky]

So could you explain the specialist 1 to me? How is that achieved exactly? And I'm from newfoundland I was hoping to get posted back here as it's not highly sought after but I'm thinking that wouldn't happen cause you don't choose where you get posted right?

Here is a list of all specialty trades: Pay rates for Specialist Non-Commissioned Member - Regular Force and Class C Reserve Service - Canada.ca

Newfoundland has postings available depending on the trade you pick.

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

Thanks for the link! And I'm not even sure what postings are available here in newfoundland honestly I'm assuming a recruiter would know?
I wonder if the air force has postings here.

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

Here is a list of all specialty trades: Pay rates for Specialist Non-Commissioned Member - Regular Force and Class C Reserve Service - Canada.ca

Newfoundland has postings available depending on the trade you pick.

Also wondering if you know how the specialist 1 is achieved? Say if I did the cyber operator occupation since I have a software development background, once I finish bmq and occupation training would that mean I come out as a corporal specialist 1 and not just a private?

 

[Quirky]

There might be hiring incentives for different trades, you’ll have to ask the recruiting Center.

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

yeah that makes sense im attending a online recruiting event today hoping to ask some questions, but for now do you know if theres a way to see job postings within the military in Newfoundland?

 

[SeaKingTacco]

yeah that makes sense im attending a online recruiting event today hoping to ask some questions, but for now do you know if theres a way to see job postings within the military in Newfoundland?

Not for someone outside the military, there isn’t.

In any case, that is not how recruiting for the CAF works. You are not being hired to fill a certain position in a specific location, in a civilian sense of the word. You will be hired as occupation “x” and then liable for posting anywhere in Canada (or around the world) to where that occupation has empty positions. You may get a say in where you go: then again- you might not. TBH, some of my best postings actually ended up being sent to places that I didn’t think I wanted to go.

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

Thank you for your service by the way! And yeah I guess I'm at a cross roads in my life in that if I join and get posted somewhere it'll probably end my current relationship with my girlfriend and up heave the life I have now with her and my dog etc it's a little sad to think of but I always have wanted to see the world and experience much more then I have I know that much

 

[FormerHorseGuard]

Getting posted is not the end of the world. Many gfs, bfs, and spouses and the family dog and even kids are strong enough to take the posting adventure. They realize it is part of the partners career and going on the adventure. The family dog will find a new tree to mark everyday, the kids will make new friends and the other half, he or she will adjust too. If they are willing to be supportive of your career and you are supportive of their career and you realize quick enough that your life when you are home is second or third in their life because your better half is raising the kids, paying the bills and making the choices and will continue to make the choices and important decisions because you are not always home and some one has to make them. Your job when home is to be the dog walker, the proud parent at kid things and supportive of your spouse or partner because you do not know if you are going to be home for the next event. So you show up and do the right thing by being supportive, and realize once home you may not come first in their lives because they are busy when you are not home and just as busy when you are home.

So do not count her out before you even get your foot in the door.

 

[Mike5]

Reg Force may be your best option, but If mobility is a deal-breaker, check out the Army Reserve. Similar role, part time, more control over your life. 37 Signal Regiment in St. John's may have various Signals roles.

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

Getting posted is not the end of the world. Many gfs, bfs, and spouses and the family dog and even kids are strong enough to take the posting adventure. They realize it is part of the partners career and going on the adventure. The family dog will find a new tree to mark everyday, the kids will make new friends and the other half, he or she will adjust too. If they are willing to be supportive of your career and you are supportive of their career and you realize quick enough that your life when you are home is second or third in their life because your better half is raising the kids, paying the bills and making the choices and will continue to make the choices and important decisions because you are not always home and some one has to make them. Your job when home is to be the dog walker, the proud parent at kid things and supportive of your spouse or partner because you do not know if you are going to be home for the next event. So you show up and do the right thing by being supportive, and realize once home you may not come first in their lives because they are busy when you are not home and just as busy when you are home.

So do not count her out before you even get your foot in the door.

wise words and I appreciate the advice! thank you again!

 

[OldSolduer]

Just one thing - when and if you join you are not an "employee" in the civvie sense of the word. You are a soldier, sailor or airperson...or what ever terminology is used. The rules are different.

 

[CivJuniorProgrammer]

Solider first and foremost of course !

 

[dimsum]

Solider first and foremost of course !

That...depends.

At the risk of seriously side-tracking this thread, I'd suggest you talk to the Recruiting Centre and also look into the Reserve. The Reserves won't give you full-time jobs (at least not right away) but you won't be posted. You will be gone for training for a up to a few months at a time though.

Whether that works for your personal situation is really up to you.

 

[Chad.wiseman]

Thank you for your service by the way! And yeah I guess I'm at a cross roads in my life in that if I join and get posted somewhere it'll probably end my current relationship with my girlfriend and up heave the life I have now with her and my dog etc it's a little sad to think of but I always have wanted to see the world and experience much more then I have I know that much

I’m a reservist in Newfoundland. Feel free to reach out to me and I can provide some information on the lay of the land here locally.