Yet another pilot thread

[trev98]

Yes this is another thread about becoming a pilot, and yes I have used the search function. A pilot is just that exciting I guess everyone wants to be one I guess. Anyways heres my story. I have already seen the recruiting office and all, I know that for example this year there were 0 positions because it is oversubscribed. But he told me I could go ROTP, which isn't as attractive to me because I would rather further a career which in I'm getting my degree if all else fails. The other option was DEO, which sounds really attractive to me.
I am currently working towards a Process Engineering degree, it is a 6 year program which is pretty much work terms and semesters in school alternating. I have 4 years left of this and I want to build an excellent application to get in the air force as a pilot. Also I will add before I started school I checked into this but the whole vision thing killed that dream then, but as a I recently found out laser eye surgery is accepted its back. I was wondering what types of things can I get involved with. I went to see a recruiter for an Army Reserve he told me that me joining then working part time would not help me which I don't really think that is true and like to confirm that. I did look into the Air Reserve but they only took full time which is no good for me as a student. The recruiter told me that work history, good grades, sports, volunteer work, awards, good references all would be part of a good application. What I would be lacking there is volunteer work which I have no clue where to go with that and awards, the only type of awards I have got is table tennis for provincial winning team. I was heavily involved with that in high school and still play recreationally.
Like I said I want to build an exceptional application over the next four years, any insight of helping a guys dreams come true will be greatly appreciated. Maybe all them hours playing flight simulator since I was a kid could become a little bit useful haha. Thankss

 

[d3boy2002]

Hi Trev,

I'm quite new here as well so I don't know if i'll be much help but i'll try my best... I've also been researching quite a bit on this topic a lot .

If you're planning on getting laser eye surgery, I think they only allow either PRK or wave-guided custom LASIK for the air force. You probably researched about that so details won't matter at the moment. As for your volunteering, consider playing an instrument at church if you are religious at all. One hour per weekend actually adds up to be quite a lot in the end. I hear that most employers nowadays would rather look for applicants who have experience with instruments than those without and that it could be a very big plus on your application. It's also a great way to earn rewards if you enter competitions and whatnot. If instruments aren't your thing, then there are plenty more opportunities for you out there. If you like table tennis then you could become an instructor if you've got the time. One thing I'd like to point out, since you haven't mentioned this at all, is that a private pilot license could help your application as well. I'm not sure if it will do any considerable good, but it couldn't hurt.

Hope I helped,
Benedict Park

 

[PMedMoe]

As for your volunteering, consider playing an instrument at church if you are religious at all. One hour per weekend actually adds up to be quite a lot in the end. I hear that most employers nowadays would rather look for applicants who have experience with instruments than those without and that it could be a very big plus on your application.

Really?  I wonder why?  ???  Seems kind of weird.  "Oh, look, this guy plays the organ.  Let's hire him to be our senior accountant!" 

As far as the whole "I want to be a pilot" thread my only advice is be prepared to be disappointed or possibly wait for a long period of time.  The trade receives many applications per year, always more applications than positions and is very competitive.  Read some of the other threads regarding this.

 

[Strike]

If you're looking for volunteer opportunities have you ever thought of running a marathon or half marathon for The Arthritis Society, Leukemia Lymphoma, of Diabetes Associations?

Not only do you get some time in volunteering, you raise a crap load of money for a good cause, keep/get in better shape, and feel great doing both.

 

[Journeyman]

I hear that most employers nowadays would rather look for applicants who have experience with instruments than those without

WTF??  :stars:

If you're looking for volunteer opportunities have you ever thought of running a marathon or half marathon for The Arthritis Society, Leukemia Lymphoma, of Diabetes Associations?

...or erectile dysunction!  ;D

 

[Eye In The Sky]

As for your volunteering, consider playing an instrument at church if you are religious at all.

Not to be offensive, but this has GOT to be the most bizarre advice I've ever seen in relation to military service or anything to do with the CF. 

Just for fun, let us go to sometime in the future...

CWO Bloggins:  So, Sgt EITS (hey I can dream can't I?  ), you are ranked 8th in the trade this year, but as you can see, at this time there are only 7 promotions to WO this year.  You just missed it by one.  You should be good to go next FY though...

EITS:  Chief, how did Sgt Shitpump rank higher than me?  He was on PATA for 6 months and has a drinking problem.  I deployed for 6 months, topped "insert course name", was V-PMC of the Mess, the Unit Sports Rep, and volunteered to work with the Air Cadets, local civie SAR teams, and coached kids soccer.  I don't understand *dabs eyes*.

CWO Bloggins:  EITS, I hear you.  You did well this year.  BUT...Sgt Shitpump...well...let's be frank here and not beat around the bush.  Sgt Shitpump played the organ for the Church of Toga-Wearing Lunatics.

EITS:  DAMMIT...I was going to do that but I was in the hospital after donating bone marrow for that dying child!

CWO Bloggins:  Well, maybe next year, you will think instead of just jumping at less glorious activities...you just need to think about what you do outside of the Sqn.

:blotto:

 

[kincanucks]

Not to be offensive, but this has GOT to be the most bizarre advice I've ever seen in relation to military service or anything to do with the CF. 

Just for fun, let us go to sometime in the future...

CWO Bloggins:  So, Sgt EITS (hey I can dream can't I?  ), you are ranked 8th in the trade this year, but as you can see, at this time there are only 7 promotions to WO this year.  You just missed it by one.  You should be good to go next FY though...

EITS:  Chief, how did Sgt Shitpump rank higher than me?  He was on PATA for 6 months and has a drinking problem.  I deployed for 6 months, topped "insert course name", was V-PMC of the Mess, the Unit Sports Rep, and volunteered to work with the Air Cadets, local civie SAR teams, and coached kids soccer.  I don't understand *dabs eyes*.

CWO Bloggins:  EITS, I hear you.  You did well this year.  BUT...Sgt Shitpump...well...let's be frank here and not beat around the bush.  Sgt Shitpump played the organ for the Church of Toga-Wearing Lunatics.

EITS:  DAMMIT...I was going to do that but I was in the hospital after donating bone marrow for that dying child!

CWO Bloggins:  Well, maybe next year, you will think instead of just jumping at less glorious activities...you just need to think about what you do outside of the Sqn.

:blotto:

That has to be the funniest thing you have written on this site.  Thanks for that.  As for Trev and Benedict WTF boys?  You are boys, right?

 

[dapaterson]

Sgt Shitpump played the organ for the Church of Toga-Wearing Lunatics.

I thought everyone knew the importance of "playing the organ" to get ahead...

 

[aesop081]

CWO Bloggins:  So, Sgt EITS (hey I can dream can't I?  ), you are ranked 8th in the trade this year, but as you can see, at this time there are only 7 promotions to WO this year.  You just missed it by one.  You should be good to go next FY though...

EITS:  Chief, how did Sgt Shitpump rank higher than me?  He was on PATA for 6 months and has a drinking problem.  I deployed for 6 months, topped "insert course name", was V-PMC of the Mess, the Unit Sports Rep, and volunteered to work with the Air Cadets, local civie SAR teams, and coached kids soccer.  I don't understand *dabs eyes*.

CWO Bloggins:  EITS, I hear you.  You did well this year.  BUT...Sgt Shitpump...well...let's be frank here and not beat around the bush.  Sgt Shitpump played the organ for the Church of Toga-Wearing Lunatics HOCKEY.

EITS:  DAMMIT...I was going to do that but I was in the hospital after donating bone marrow for that dying child!

CWO Bloggins:  Well, maybe next year, you will think instead of just jumping at less glorious activities...you just need to think about what you do outside of the Sqn.

There....now its a true story.

 

[blacktriangle]

I thought everyone knew the importance of "playing the organ" to get ahead...

:rofl:

PO 696969: Operate Knee Pads, CADPAT.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

All of those replies made me laugh, and Mrs EITS is wondering what is so funny as I sit and laugh at my laptop.  Quick look over my shoulder, sees "no its not porn" and we're good to go...keep 'em coming!

 

[FDO]

I volentered at a local Cadet Corps for several years, I was on the exec of base clubs, I even helped old ladies across the street (sometimes they actally wanted to cross) But I didn't get promoted until I quit all the Community activities. I guess they were just afraid I'd try bringing out my organ in public.

 

[trev98]

Are there any people here directly involved in the air force or even better pilots in the air force on here that could offer some advice on how to get accepted into the process? Yes I obviously know its hard, but I also know its not impossible, I like a challenge.

 

[FDO]

As a recruiter I can tell you that right now unless you are already a skilled military pilot you are NOT getting in the CF as a pilot until April 2010. And even then we may not have any positions. It will not matter what you do. We have NO PILOT positions. They only way we are taking pilot wannabes is through ROTP.

Suck it up and either go ROTP or take choice 2. Even if you get accepted into ROTP as a pilot it is not a guarantee that you will graduate as a pilot. It is VERY competitive. Make sure you have a second choice.


Enough said on this topic.

 

[trev98]

Yea I'm thinking about ROTP, may go check more into it at the recruiting office. So I guess they will take an ROTP guy over DEO? I will not graduate from my degree until 2013, which I will be 25. My worries about ROTP is that if I never got pilot I would want to work in the field of my degree so I could get my P.Eng.

 

[d3boy2002]

Hahaha But I'm telling you, its true. Atleast, outside of the military anyways ...

EDIT:
Okay I know that the problem has been solved but I just want to expand on my previous ideas before you guys send me to a mental hospital.
People who have played instruments before or for a long period of time would have showed perseverance, and if they won awards or achieved anything of the sort, they would be able to show that off in a resume. People that have played music have statistically been shown to do better in math (though that might just be marketing where I'm from) and by now you guys probably are still thinking "WTF" so I'll quit now .

Good day,
Benedict Park

 

[aesop081]

Hahaha But I'm telling you, its true. Atleast, outside of the military anyways ...

EDIT:
Okay I know that the problem has been solved but I just want to expand on my previous ideas before you guys send me to a mental hospital.
People who have played instruments before or for a long period of time would have showed perseverance, and if they won awards or achieved anything of the sort, they would be able to show that off in a resume. People that have played music have statistically been shown to do better in math (though that might just be marketing where I'm from) and by now you guys probably are still thinking "WTF" so I'll quit now .

Good day,
Benedict Park

WTF does all this have to do with flying ?

 

[d3boy2002]

I have found a better response than what I could come up with  :-\
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_playing_a_musical_instrument_help_you

 

[SupersonicMax]

People who have played instruments hockey before or for a long period of time would have showed perseverance, and if they won awards or achieved anything of the sort, they would be able to show that off in a resume. People that have played music hockey have statistically been shown to do better in math Phys Ed

Your point again?

 

[FDO]

The reason they will take an ROTP pilot over DEO is we don't need pilots NOW. We will need them 4-6 years. Oddly enough that's just about the time ROTP applicants will be finishing school and can be sent to flight training. I know it's hard to believe but someone is actually "forward thinking"!