The "Wanting To Join Another Military" Thread- Them To Us- Us To Them

[aesop081]

and I will tell your your life will be much better in the CF the US Army on a number of fronts family wise.

While you are entitled to have your opinion, please allow me to give you mine, based on my time working in a US Army unit and all my time working alongside US forces.

Free on-base housing, economic allowance for members living off-base, an exchange system that offers not only tax-free shopping for members and their families but , in alot of cases, beats downtown prices are things that make life better for military families. You will not find those things in the CF.

Ever been posted to a CF base in a remote location and needed , oh lets say, a pediatrician for your child ? Well when i was working in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, there were no such doctors in the nearby town. Guess what, the base hospital had at least one of most medical specialist that a family needed. Take one guess at how much support a CF military family in a remote location gets from a CF medical facility.

While i'm not prepared to say that life for a US military family is better that that of a CF family, i wouldnt say that "your life will be much better in the CF the US Army on a number of fronts family wise ".

 

[Kiwi]

G'day chaps,

Been a while but here's where everything is at.  I'm now traveling in Canada (living in Kelowna for the summer) and making inquiries with one of the SAR guys.  Still looking at moving here and being a firefighter for a few years until I am eligible to enlist.

 

[agenteagle]

While i'm not prepared to say that life for a US military family is better that that of a CF family, i wouldnt say that "your life will be much better in the CF the US Army on a number of fronts family wise ".


[/quote]".

Yes CDN Aviator you are correct that it depends on many factors but in the US the members have insurance that is only excepted in certain places. I read an article a couple of months ago that I can't locate again talking about a military wife complaining that the closes place for her to deliver a baby was 1.5 hours drive when there was another hospital located only 20 minutes away but didn't take the military insurance. This is not the norm but does happen.

I guess for me being a Canadian citizen but US green card holder the thought of 18 month deployments was not good with family in mind. How about in the last 4 years my friend has missed both his childrens births and has been with his wife for 12 months.
CF 7 month tours with 12 months in between seems much better for my family. But yes this is only my personal opinion and other may see it different. Some looking into it should do the research and make the best choice for them.

The US basic pay is half of what the CF basic pay is but the other housing, food, and other allowances equals about the same but in five years in the CF you will make more then in the US Army. But again money is only a small thing compared to other family issues.

What ever choice is made will be good because the US Army and the CF are both great career choices. Good luck with it.

 

[Stub]

Hi

I've spent some time reading this topic, as I wanted to join CF and now began to wonder. As one of these posts said: "don't waste time of the recruiters", and there where quite a few foreigners who attempted to join the army I thought it'll be better to ask here:

In short:
Came here at the age of 20, 3 days after I arrived to Canada I was granted Permanent Resident status and I can apply for citizenship in a week. I know process will take awhile (and is not 100% that I will be granted passport).

Anyways, my question: Because I haven't been here for 10 years, nor did I came to Canada at the age of 16 (or less) do I even stand a chance to get into CF in a year or so? 

sounds like I'll just be truly wasting recruiters time and paper and that my file will just be sent for (I think its called) a background check which can take even more than 18 months and forgotten?

 

[George Wallace]

Unless you are a Canadian citizen; no.  You must, once again, be a Canadian Citizen.  Permanent Residence Status is no longer accepted. 

Even with ten years residence in Canada, a security check must be done covering your previous life in your home country. 

 

[Stub]

I'm sorry, I made my question wrong.

I understand that  I have to be a Canadian Citizen and that security check must be made on me, what I wanted to ask was more like:

after I become Canadian Citizen, is it true that I'll have to wait about 18 months or even more just for security check results alone and most likely be denied because I haven't been in Canada for 10 years neither did I come here at the age of 16 or less?

 

[George Wallace]

It may indeed take 18 months for a security check to be done.  That will depend on the cooperation of you native country.  The residency rules will apply to your attaining Canadian Citizenship and applying to join the CF. 

You can prepare now by getting all your documents in order.  You may even apply for a Criminal Records check from your home country and provide a certified copy to the CFRC.  You can also start compiling a list of all your immediate relatives, their addresses, and their employment.  You will need that for your application and enter it on your BackCheck forms.  You will also need your Birth Certificate, your Citizenship Certificate, your Drivers licence, your Social Insurance Card, and perhaps your passport.  You will need transcripts from your School and University, if any. 

All of this information will be given to you at the CFRC.

 

[candamyr]

I'm not yet a citizen, I have applied earlier this year and expect for the process to be done mid next year... would it make sense to already talk to recruiting at all? or would they not even talk to me yet? I'm asking because it may give me some valuable extra time to prepare (as in getting fitness level up) if I could already determine my options (and what they would ask of an almost 40 year old).

Any input appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

 

[PMedMoe]

Check out this thread.  Read some of the others on here (Personal Stories, etc).  (Use the Search function).  I don't think talking to the Recruiting Centre at this point will get you anywhere, except maybe to pick up some literature on the various trades.  As for the physical fitness, you can work on that without talking to anyone.

 

[jmlz87]

For a very short while we were accepting applications from Permanent Residents. As of now, that has been repealed and no longer true. At this point in time, you must have citizenship to even apply.

 

[Loachman]

This is dated information, so...

I first went to the recruiting centre in 1978, prior to applying for Canadian citizenship.

At that time, citizenship applications were taking four months, on average, to process.

When I applied for citizenship, I let them know why, and they pushed it through in two months.

Whether or not the same thing can be done today, I cannot say. I would suspect not, as bureaucracies have improved (grown much larger) since then and we now have computers to slow things down even more, but it could not hurt to both pop in to visit a recruiting centre for an info visit, and let the citizenship people know what your intent is.

 

[Zejames]

Good day fellow army...people

'Let me introduce myself, I'm a 21 year old dutch private, I serve in the 11th airmobile brigade, 12th infantery "wonju" battalion, and am in active serves for about 3 years now.

Now this is the situation, followed by the question, my...girlfriend, for a while now, lives in Ontario, Canada, now...migrating to another country, without a decent education isnt that easiest thing ever, you need quite some saving and stuff, well...well basicly you need to have some sort of good education, wich I lack. ontop of that, I love my job, quiting it would be...would be hard for me. So here comes the question.

Is it possible to sign up for the canadian army as a forgneir.

I think thats all for now, thanks in advance.

 

[155mmMoose]

I believe you need citizenship. :\

 

[JBoyd]

BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Be a Canadian citizen;
-Citizens of another country who have landed immigrant (Permanent Resident) status in Canada may also be considered for enrolment when the CF has need of their skill, when the position cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen, and if the national interest would not be prejudiced. However, only under exceptional circumstances will authority be granted to enrol a citizen of another country.

Be 17 years of age (with parental/guardian consent) or older;
- junior level Military College applicants must be 16 years of age;
- you may be enrolled in the Reserves providing you are 16 years of age (with parental/guardian consent);

Meet the minimum education requirements for your entry plan and/or occupation;
-this can vary from Grade 10 (Sec III in Quebec) for combat arms occupations to a university degree for the Direct Entry Officer entry plan.

 

[George Wallace]

This topic has most of your questions, and answers:

Foreigners Joining the CF (All Components)



Currently the criteria have changed to state that only Canadian Citizens can join, and they (new citizens) will have to have lived in Canada for ten years.

 

[b7197]

You must be a Canadian citizen. I am a permanent resident now. I went the CFRC couple weeks ago. They told me "Come back later with a citizenship card."

 

[b7197]

George,
Are you sure "they (new citizens) will have to have lived in Canada for ten years."?




Currently the criteria have changed to state that only Canadian Citizens can join, and they (new citizens) will have to have lived in Canada for ten years.
[/quote]

 

[FDO]

If your a applying for a security level 3 trade you need to be in the country for 10 years, level 2 is 7 years and level 1 is 5 years.

As for Permanent Residents we tried that earlier this year and found it was a security nightmare. The only way we will even look at a non-citizen is if they have some kind of trade or skill we can't fill with a citizen.

 

[MasterInstructor]

If your a applying for a security level 3 trade you need to be in the country for 10 years, level 2 is 7 years and level 1 is 5 years.

As for Permanent Residents we tried that earlier this year and found it was a security nightmare. The only way we will even look at a non-citizen is if they have some kind of trade or skill we can't fill with a citizen.

I just randomly came across with this. It is pretty recent so I am guessing it still does apply.

I applied for Nav Comm on November 13 2009. My original date of entry is in July 2002 and I got citizenship in 2006. I was given Pre-Clearnce form for having a relative in Turkey.

I think Nav Comm does require Level III and nobody told me anything about this? Should go Vancouver CFRC and remind them and apply for another trade?

Thanks

 

[mariomike]

I think Nav Comm does require Level III and nobody told me anything about this?

http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/34369/post-266260#msg266260