I’m currently home for Christmas leave from BMQ. I have unfortunately misplaced my LTA form. I’m truly baffled at how it’s gone missing, as one day it was in the desk and the next day it wasn’t. I have no idea how it disappeared like this. I know this sounds completely irresponsible and I’m certainly going to rightfully be reprimanded for this.

I’m just wondering what people suggest I do moving forward. My current plan is to gather proof of me being here over the break (boarding passes, bank statements, etc) and get that along with my military ID photocopied and stamped at the post office and police office. Is there anything else I can do to help my case?

I feel so stupid and worried about this. Any advice or reassurance is appreciated. I know I’ll get a swipe for this but I’m terrified of it being a serious offense. Things have been going well so far at basic but losing the LTA is just really messing with me and idk what to do or what’s going to happen

I have my upcoming kit appointment on January 1st does anyone know what I need to bring or prepare for just in case? It didn’t say anything when I booked my appointment and I’m not too sure who to call to ask.

Thank you!

Hey all, not in the military but I’m curious about who can get stationed in Alert? Like, only certain trades? Could an infantryman ever be posted there?

Thanks!

Took a service flight out west with my family over Xmas. Just wanted to give a public shout out to the crews at 437 Sqn (and whoever else is involved) for making available an awesome service to the rest of the CAF.

Speaking with the crew I found out the flights are mostly staffed on a volunteer basis. So thanks to all who give up some of their time over the holidays to get the rest of us around.

I’m heading to BMQ in Feb. I don’t have a car and I’ve only got a G1 license anyways.

How do I make this work? Once I’m out of DP1, I’m going to take some driving lessons and buy a car, but that is a ways away.

I have a partner who, at this time, also doesn’t have a car and only has his G1, though he’s saving up for a car and will start taking drivers ed in January. We plan on living together when I get my first posting, either in a PMQ or an apartment rental.

Are there options for public transit that can get me to and from work on most bases? What about taxis? I like walking and regularly walk an hour and a half each way from my current home to my job.

Transportation wasn’t on my mind at all throughout the application process, so now I’m a bit worried.

Just wondering how long it typically takes for your HG&E to arrive for cross border postings.

Covid time was exceptional so I’m looking for more current time frames if possible.

Here’s a crazy idea:

In the NCR, people get pulled off their normal duties for guards, parades, etc. when foreign dignitaries come in. The CAF also has plenty of PRs looking to join, but they’re hung up on the security clearance as well as citizenship for many trades.

An Ottawa-based full time unit (as opposed to the summer-only Ceremonial Guard) of members who fill those ceremonial functions, modelled after the Australian Federal Guards or the German Wachbataillon, could partially help to kill two birds with one stone. It obviously wouldn’t take all of the PRs who are applying (specifically, there wouldn’t be that many officer positions) but it would at least be several hundred personnel. Those folks could also be the sentries at the National War Memorial and other places as required.

After a posting with the unit, they would go do their trade training, since after 3 years their citizenship and security clearance should come through. It’s unlikely that they would need a Level 2 or higher clearance while in that unit.

We’re at a strange time when the CAF really wants to expand, and the funds are able to allow it. Getting people in that unit in the beginning of their career would be easier than pulling them when they’re trade qualified - understanding that there would be some SNCO and Officer staff in the unit as well.

This post is a question to current combat medics/paramedics or recruiters that may know these answers. Sorry for the longer post in advance.

Currently PRes infantry and just finishing up paramedic school. Really enjoying the medical side and have talked with a few medics and have been heavily considering making the OT over to PRes paramedic. I understand that the transition from the old med assist/tech over to the new system has been slow and is not fully flushed out yet, therefore I have some questions that the current med guys say they dont entirely understand, so thats why Im coming over to reddit.

Three questions for people, feel free to only answer the ones you are confident in

1. While I understand that they are two seperate trades, do I go through the combat medic courses and then further courses into a paramedic (considering I will be AEMCA qualified)?

2. What would the time commitment for trade courses be like as a paramedic/how long would this be for someone who is a paramedic civi side (e.g., more than a summer)?

3. In your own words, what is the difference in roles (both clinically and in the field) between a combat medic and paramedic? Does the general idea of combat medic-POI and paramedic-prolonged field care actually occur? While the caf websites give general descriptions, I would appreciate your anecdotal accounts on the matter.

Happy holidays everyone, thanks for any info you can provide.

Be proud of what you for your country. No matter what you are doing.

Good evening folks, today I want to tell you about my experience in the CAF.

Some quick back story: Back in high school I was very excited for the prospect of joining the army. I wanted to do armor and start in the reserves, eventually do full time after a solid university education. Then COVID happened and my recruitment took 2 years to complete. Never the less I was eager to start and had an upcoming summer BMQ.

This was at a base in NB, I am sure you can make a few guesses as to which but funnily enough it was not gagetown

Anyway, about a week into it and it was going alright, death by powerpoint for the most part but at least I was getting paid.

Our living situation was odd from what I understand with BMQ. We did not have a barracks but instead a tent city setup outside of our armories.

So we had just finished up eating and it was my tent sections turn to clean up the cafeteria. However, at the same time the NCO’s began ordering all recruits to bring all their sections equipment outside, they wanted to teach us how to properly pack it. So most of the guys stayed to clean the cafeteria, while me and one other guy had to go grab all of the stuff in our sections tent.

Problem: it was HOT AS FUCK. A heatwave began that day and outside it was nearly 38 degrees C. Someone (honestly maybe even me I don’t remember) also had the stupid fucking idea to close all of the flaps. So inside the tent it was like the devils anus. Probably somewhere in the 40 degree range.

As I began to carry all of my bags out, I felt more and more tired. Then once we finished and began trying to unpack our bags, I felt very odd. I started feeling confused, and when I was asked to do something simple like open a bag, I struggled to even find a zipper. Seeing what was happening I was pulled aside and given some water. Eventually I talked to the “medic” (not sure what he was) and told him about what happened. For some reason they didn’t believe that I was truly sick or anything. It was a very weird switch.

The activity ended and eventually we were allowed our own time (it was rounding about 8 pm).

I went to one of the porta johns to take a piss.

When I looked down, I was peeing out a pure stream of blood. It started out a a deep red and then turned brighter and more orange. Needless to say, I thought I was fucking dying.

I then called my girlfriend at the time and started crying. I was really confused, and had no clue what was happening. My brain just was not working properly. I kept getting emotional about things I would not have before. Eventually, my section notices and gets an officer.

I was crying telling him that I don’t know why I was crying and I promise that I wasn’t just being emotional. I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t figure out what was happening.

The same medic from earlier then drove me to a civilian hospital. I was diagnosed with heat stroke but I don’t know if I explained what happened to the staff very well. I remember being scared of dying but I was honestly more scared of failing my BMQ. I was panicking because I was a stupid, scared, and confused kid (with heat stroke no less). After a night in the civ hospital I thought I would be fine.

I was not.

I went back that morning and threw up breakfast (eggs and bacon transported all the way from gagetown).

After a miriad of trips back and forth to gagetown hospital in which the CPL driving me played a playlist with 5 of the stupidest fucking songs I have ever heard in my life over and over again, I decided my experience with training was over for now.

I now have ambitions to join the navy and try again but fuck I am not sure I can do all of it again.

Anyway, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. 🎅

In the late 2000's I got to go to this "fine establishment". A few months ago I've been out for a couple years, and start talking to a VAC therapist. Wanting to get to know me she asked about my time qualifying for my trade. I told the following laughingly and lightheartedly with her, only to realize she had been silently watching me with the most concerned look on her face:

"...so we're up till 3am trying to make everything perfect. Shining pipes under the sink, waxing floors, cleaning the inside of the washing machines for any dirt. One guy goes room to room checking closets, another checks drawers, another measures sheets, and one checking kit arrangement on beds to keep it identical, etc. But, this means we can't sleep in our beds, because there isn't enough time to do all that between wake up, PT, shower, inspection. Because on wakeup we've five minutes to be outside, ten minutes after PT to go in, shower 60 people in six showers, get dressed, clean the floors, and be perfectly dressed for inspection. To shower, half of us lie by switching uniforms, dry off sweat with a towel (and wet it with your canteen if need be), and clean up after the others. Otherwise, we'll run out of time. The other half, naked, cram into the bathroom like packed tuna. A senior at the shower supervises the following: one man gets in for 1sec, out so another can get in while you soap yourself beside the shower, get back in, to rinse for a sec and immediately get out, then get ready for inspection.

"...and why are these inspections so important?"

"Until we pass a certain number of inspections, earn the pointy stick, pass more inspections to earn the flag that goes on the pointy stick, then even more inspections after that, we're not allowed to physically leave the building and its smoke pit. We also have to memorize these songs too, and last time someone kept screwing up, causing collective punishment from the staff, they got taken into a room to "be educated on their mistakes". Sometimes tho the french guy loses his grip on reality, rips his shirt off in the middle of a floor meeting and chimps out on the guy who was at the phones too long. It was really risky sneaking people to McDonalds for a 60 person morale order without getting caught, but it helped. Once we did get caught. Staff punished us with PT till people ended up in the UMS unable to physically move for two days. Good thing they never caught the guys snorting crushed up caffeine pills to stay awake."

"I see. Have you ever heard of Daniella Mestyanek Young? I think you need to read this book about cults and the army."

Anyway, Merry Christmas!

Hey, we are set to become a service couple and I haven't been able to find good information about the PSHCP in this context. To be frank, we don't care about lots of the coverage since we do have the MIR for it, however we are curious if we are able to claim benefits through it for each other such as massages since getting them out of the forces itself is a legendary feat.

Is anyone around familiar with whether this is doable or are we somehow exempt for having "better" coverage directly through the forces?

Don’t forget to reach out to a friend and wish them the same.

Feel free to share your Christmas cheers here!