An update from the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (CFRG)

Having got home from work I fired up the laptop and there was an email from the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (CFRG). I have to admit I had mixed feelings about opening it – would it be good or bad news? As it turns out it was a request for me to ring them as the phone number I had given wasn’t working and they wanted to speak to me.

It was a pleasant change to get through to the R3 Plans/Foreign Applicant Coordinator on the first attempt; normally I get the answer machine as he’s a very busy man. The news was good, the PLA is complete and they are offering me a job. I’ve been offered Sgt which I am more than happy with as CFRG HQ is only authorized to enrol applicants up to and including the rank of Corporal - any higher rank is considered a 'controlled' rank and requires written approval from DGMC (the rank structure goes Cpl - Master Cpl - Sgt). He said they would like me to go to Cold Lake (an Air Force base on the lines of Top Gun), however, there are 3 offers on the table; Wainwright and the training school at Borden – I think they may have me lined up to do some teaching/training but he didn’t have the full details. I am more than happy with the offer, however, I still have to jump through the regular recruiting hoops, i.e. medicals, interviews, security etc and of course there’s the small matter of being granted Permanent Residency (PR) which is by no means a done deal.

Having had a quick scan on the net, Julie and I would be quite happy out in the middle of nowhere in Cold Lake, but the house prices are steep (there’s oil in the sand there) and the children need to be our main priority really. I'm leaning towards Borden simply on the grounds of logistics etc, i.e. it's on the east side so cheaper flights for visitors, the states are within driving distance, it's reasonably near to the city, the property is cheaper etc etc.

So, I’ve now got a couple of days to weigh up the pros and cons and then get back with an answer. They’ll then get the official recruitment process underway and apply to HRSDC for an Arranged Employment Opinion (AEO). That will obviously bolster the immigration paperwork I submitted 3 weeks ago and will mean that I don’t have to stump up the ‘proof of funds’ (C$25,749). At some point they’ll then need to fly me out there for the mandatory interviews, medicals, and security clearances etc prior to signing on the dotted line - that won't be for a while though because the medicals are only valid for a year. Obviously I can’t physically enlist until my time is done here anyway (May 2011), so it will probably be a case of hurry up and wait to hand the ID card in after everything has been processed.

The application has been delivered

Today was the 9th day since I posted our application and I was beginning to get more than concerned that it hadn't tipped up in NS yet. My concern was based on a couple of other applicants who also used 'Royal Mail Airsure' and who's application took 3 - 6 days respectively. The poxy Royal Mail 'Track & Trace' has been giving me the generic - 'Your item, posted on 06/06/09 with reference ***********GB has been passed to the overseas postal service for delivery in CANADA' and to be honest I was getting fed up with it.

Fortunately, the forum members of BE came up trumps again, and steered me towards the Canada Post website which unbeknown to me allows tracking using my Royal Mail reference.

At 7.43 am this morning my new found friend, a Mr Robert Doucette, signed for my package - Stage 1 complete.

I'm embarrassed to say it but the Canada Post tracking leaves the Royal Mail one for dead. I can see a full breakdown of everywhere my package has been - an excellent facility. Onto Stage 2, pacing the floor waiting for our AOR and subsequent 120 day letter (fingers crossed).

CF application update

At last, an update on my application to join the Canadian Forces (CF). Having managed to get hold of the email address of the Master Warrant Officer (MWO) doing my Prior Learning Assessment Review (PLAR), I dropped him a line to find out how things are progressing.

As expected, the process isn't exactly rapid, however, he confirmed that he received my file last week and that he will be starting the PLAR on Monday (15 June).

So, it's now been 3 months since I submitted my application and things are progressing (albeit steadily).

The fingers are still firmly crossed!

Things could get interesting....

Having trawled many more threads on BE this weekend I've run into what will no doubt be the first of many potential show stoppers.

My youngest daughter (Amber) has a Statement of Special Needs for a learning difficulty, i.e. she has some 1 to 1 in class which the CiC might flag up on the medicals as creating ‘Excessive Demand.' Basically, if they think she’ll cost more than $4,806 a year then she’s excessive. Mind you, that includes everything i.e. education, health etc. She doesn’t have any health issues so that’s a bonus.

If they do decide she’s an excessive demand then we'll have to put forward a plan of how we’re going to address this, i.e. pay to send her to private school or pay for extra tutoring etc. I guess we'll cross that hurdle if and when we come to it!

The application is on its way

So, I finally decided that there was no point in delaying the proceedings any longer. If and when the Canadian Forces (CF) come back with an offer I can always forward on the details to add to the file. With that in mind, this morning I gave all the paperwork a cursory last once over before sealing up the envelope. 1/2 an hour later I handed it over to the nice lady in Kingswood Post Office and that was that.

For those interested, I sent it by Royal Mail Airsure (£9.88) which is supposed to take 4 or 5 days to get there and includes tracking all the way.

Nothing left to do now but sit and wait.........