Well, it's official, last Friday (May 7) I secured one of the ACS Tech positions I mentioned in my last blog, A Small Course Correction: From AVN Tech to ACS Tech. I got a call Friday morning from one of the recruiters down at the recruiting centre wishing to speak to me about something. I wasn't home at the time, so my mum took down a message for me to call them back. When I had finally gotten in touch with somebody I was told that the Air Force had made me an offer for one of the positions. Naturally, I took the offer.
Afterwards, the recruiter I was speaking to asked me a few questions such as whether or not my medical status had changed in any way since I had taken my medical (no), what my marital status is (single, obviously), whether or not I have any dependants (I think it's safe to assume I haven't fathered any children), and whether or not I'll be taking my oath on the Bible (no thanks). He told me that my initial contract would be for 5 years, which is nothing I hadn't already known. But, most exciting of all was, finally being given a concrete date for when my Basic Training will begin. I'd already been told that the next Basic Training course would be in either October of November, but I wasn't sure which; now I know.
My Basic Training will begin on November 1st, which is absolutely perfect! I have all the time I need to prepare myself both physically and mentally. Sure I've already had a lot of time, but I've never had a concrete date, which makes a big difference. Personally, I'm quite pleased to be able to do my Basic during the Winter rather than the Summer. Not only that, I've the added bonus of having the Christmas break smack dab in the middle of my course, which means the Canadian Forces is going to be so kind as to pay me for to sit around and be with my family for 15 day! You can't beat that! All that's left now to make everything official is for me to be sworn in, which, most excitingly, I was also told will be taking place October 20 at 10:00. Given the fact that it'll be a significant day in my life I'll even be able to bring my family along; I wouldn't have it any other way.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
A Small Course Correction: From AVN Tech to ACS Tech
Last September I opened this blog with an entry titled A New Beginning in which I mentioned having decided to join the Air Force to become an Aviation Systems Technician, otherwise known as an AVN Tech. A lot has happened since then, and, nearly a year after beginning the process, I still haven't gone for my Basic Training. The process, which I've always known was going to be long, started one morning last July after making my first trip to the recruiting centre to pick up my application. At first I was told that my G.E.D., which is equivalent to a high school diploma, wasn't recognised by the Forces as being equivalent to Grade 12; I was told it was only equivalent to having Grade 10, and there were questions as to whether or not I was going to even be able to apply for the AVN Tech trade.
I left the recruiting centre that morning feeling quite downtrodden, but still hopeful due to the fact that even if the folks down at the recruiting centre weren't sure if the G.E.D. was considered equivalent to a high school diploma, I was. Plus, even if it were only considered equivalent to having Grade 10, according to the Canadian Forces website, Grade 10 was all one was required to have to become an AVN Tech, anyway. So, I wasn't too worried at the time, though I've recently learned that I should have been more worried than I had been, which I'll get to later.
Not long after my first trip to the recruiting centre I came to believe that there were no problems with the fact that I had a G.E.D. and that I would be able to continue with the process. I sat down with my Recruiter to go over the application, and before long I was on my way home with it to begin filling it out. If I thought I had come across a few formidable applications while seeking a job in retail, they were nothing compared to the application to join the Forces. It was huge. So much so it took me at least two hours to fill out.
After I had gotten all my references and had taken my paperwork in to the recruiting centre, the next step was for me to write the Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (often called the C-FAT) to determine which trades I qualified for within the Forces. Given the fact that I was looking to become an AVN Tech, which is a specialised trade with some very technical aspects, I was required to score at least 50% on the aptitude test, and anybody who's taken it will tell you it's a very formidable test. I finished the CFAT feeling as if I had completely and utterly fucked it up, but, as I learned within half an hour of finishing it, I apparently scored rather high on it. How high, however, I can't really say, as it is the Forces' policy to refrain from sharing an applicant's CFAT score with them. All I know is I would absolutely love to know how well I did.
Having filled out my application and taken it in to the recruiting centre as soon as possible, it then became a waiting game. At that time, a month after the beginning of the fiscal year, most of the Air Force trades had long since closed, so I was going to have to wait for the trade to open up again, which I was told would either be January or February, April or May. And so many long months passed, and before I knew it the New Year had come, the winter had nearly completely passed, and I was getting calls from the recruiting centre to go in for my medical. Unfortunately I was about to hit my first real snag.
In early March I made my way down to the recruiting centre once again, this time to see a medic to determine if I was physically and medically fit to join the Forces. For the most part everything went well, but while I was there the medic had gotten a couple high blood pressure readings and she was unable to give me a clean bill of health. However, having mentioned that every time I have my blood pressure taken my heart would tend to start racing, she asked if I had ever been investigated for White Coat Syndrome, which is a psychological condition of sorts which results in one's blood pressure rising very quickly whenever it is being taken. I told her I hadn't been investigated for the condition and left the recruiting centre with a form requesting my doctor to provide them with a bit of my medical history, his diagnosis of my problem, and his prognosis. All in all, whether or not I was going to be able to get into the Forces hung heavily on whether or not I would be diagnosed with White Coat Syndrome or not. Thankfully, a month later, I was indeed diagnosed with the condition and my prognosis was good, as well. All that was left to do was to send my doctors' note to the Medical Office (MO) in Fredericton.
Unfortunately, during the month in which I had been held up by my medical issue, the AVN Tech trade, which had opened in early March, had closed. However, just a few days before I got my diagnosis it had opened again, which meant that I was going to have to have my doctors' note sent to the MO as quickly as possible in hopes it would be cleared so I could grab one of the positions. Weeks passed, and I still hadn't gotten any word as to whether or not it had been cleared by the MO. Then, just two days ago (April 4) I got a call informing me that, once again, the AVN Tech trade had closed.
Not long after, I spoke to my dad about it on the phone. Having been in the military himself for many years he has been my constant source of advice. He told me not to worry about it too much and to not get down because, though it meant I would have to wait longer, perhaps even a year longer, the trade could open up again at any time. He also let me know he'd get in touch with his buddy down at the recruiting centre to find out anything more he could about the situation.
Later that afternoon, when he had gotten home from work, Dad had a lot of information for me to think about, not to mention some decisions for me to make. First of all, he told me that it was a possibility that my AVN Tech trade may not open for a long time. The Air Force only needs so much personnel for each trade, and it so happens that the AVN Tech trade is currently up to 99% strength, which means it may not even open next year at all. Secondly, though I had believed my G.E.D. was all that was required for me to get into the Forces, it seems it was not. Apparently, given the fact that I had been home-schooled and had "only" gotten the G.E.D., they didn't expect I was going to be able to get in. It seems the only reason I've gotten as far as I have is because, after scoring so highly on my CFAT, I was granted a waiver which allowed me to continue with the process despite not having an actual high school diploma. This wouldn't be a big deal but for the fact that the Forces change their policies all the time, and it is very possible that that waiver could be pulled at any time.
In the past I've been advised to stick with what I wanted to do, to not be swayed from pursuing the trade I've wanted, but given the new information I've learned – the fact that AVN Tech is 99% up to strength and that the waiver that I was granted could be pulled if they were to change their policies, which happens all the time – I had been advised to start looking at another trade. AVN Tech may have closed, but the two other specialised trades which work along side AVN Techs, Avionics Systems Technician (AVS Tech) and Aircraft Structures Technician (ACS Tech), were both open. So, I had a decision to make. I could wait for AVN Tech to open up again and risk my waiver being pulled and having any chance of getting into the Forces squashed, or I could grab one of the ACS Tech or Avionics positions.
Avionics is out of the question for me. It is too highly advanced. I do not have the mathematical skill required to guarantee I could get through through the course successfully. Sure it would be wonderful to be able to say in the future that I take care of the electronic systems of aircraft, but it is known to be a very difficult trade, and without going back to school to take math courses until the cows come home, I don't feel it is wise for me to take it on. ACS Tech, on the other hand, is a different story. It is, though not simple by any stretch of the imagination, the simplest of the three trades and has a much shorter course then the AVN Tech and Avionics trades. And so, after weighing my options, I elected to take one of the ACS Tech positions instead of waiting for the AVN Tech trade to open up again.
Seeing as I had also just been declared medically fit by the MO, I was able to call the recruiting centre yesterday and have them work on securing me a position as soon as possible. That aside, that doesn't mean I'll be leaving for my Basic Training next week or anything like that. The next round of Basic Training will be in either October or November, so I'll be waiting a little while longer, yet. But that's alright. So long as I've got a position, I'm going, and I won't have to worry that I'll suddenly find that my waiver has been pulled. It has been a long process, but despite that, I am finally only a few small steps away from finally being sworn in and going for my Basic Training.
I left the recruiting centre that morning feeling quite downtrodden, but still hopeful due to the fact that even if the folks down at the recruiting centre weren't sure if the G.E.D. was considered equivalent to a high school diploma, I was. Plus, even if it were only considered equivalent to having Grade 10, according to the Canadian Forces website, Grade 10 was all one was required to have to become an AVN Tech, anyway. So, I wasn't too worried at the time, though I've recently learned that I should have been more worried than I had been, which I'll get to later.
Not long after my first trip to the recruiting centre I came to believe that there were no problems with the fact that I had a G.E.D. and that I would be able to continue with the process. I sat down with my Recruiter to go over the application, and before long I was on my way home with it to begin filling it out. If I thought I had come across a few formidable applications while seeking a job in retail, they were nothing compared to the application to join the Forces. It was huge. So much so it took me at least two hours to fill out.
After I had gotten all my references and had taken my paperwork in to the recruiting centre, the next step was for me to write the Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (often called the C-FAT) to determine which trades I qualified for within the Forces. Given the fact that I was looking to become an AVN Tech, which is a specialised trade with some very technical aspects, I was required to score at least 50% on the aptitude test, and anybody who's taken it will tell you it's a very formidable test. I finished the CFAT feeling as if I had completely and utterly fucked it up, but, as I learned within half an hour of finishing it, I apparently scored rather high on it. How high, however, I can't really say, as it is the Forces' policy to refrain from sharing an applicant's CFAT score with them. All I know is I would absolutely love to know how well I did.
Having filled out my application and taken it in to the recruiting centre as soon as possible, it then became a waiting game. At that time, a month after the beginning of the fiscal year, most of the Air Force trades had long since closed, so I was going to have to wait for the trade to open up again, which I was told would either be January or February, April or May. And so many long months passed, and before I knew it the New Year had come, the winter had nearly completely passed, and I was getting calls from the recruiting centre to go in for my medical. Unfortunately I was about to hit my first real snag.
In early March I made my way down to the recruiting centre once again, this time to see a medic to determine if I was physically and medically fit to join the Forces. For the most part everything went well, but while I was there the medic had gotten a couple high blood pressure readings and she was unable to give me a clean bill of health. However, having mentioned that every time I have my blood pressure taken my heart would tend to start racing, she asked if I had ever been investigated for White Coat Syndrome, which is a psychological condition of sorts which results in one's blood pressure rising very quickly whenever it is being taken. I told her I hadn't been investigated for the condition and left the recruiting centre with a form requesting my doctor to provide them with a bit of my medical history, his diagnosis of my problem, and his prognosis. All in all, whether or not I was going to be able to get into the Forces hung heavily on whether or not I would be diagnosed with White Coat Syndrome or not. Thankfully, a month later, I was indeed diagnosed with the condition and my prognosis was good, as well. All that was left to do was to send my doctors' note to the Medical Office (MO) in Fredericton.
Unfortunately, during the month in which I had been held up by my medical issue, the AVN Tech trade, which had opened in early March, had closed. However, just a few days before I got my diagnosis it had opened again, which meant that I was going to have to have my doctors' note sent to the MO as quickly as possible in hopes it would be cleared so I could grab one of the positions. Weeks passed, and I still hadn't gotten any word as to whether or not it had been cleared by the MO. Then, just two days ago (April 4) I got a call informing me that, once again, the AVN Tech trade had closed.
Not long after, I spoke to my dad about it on the phone. Having been in the military himself for many years he has been my constant source of advice. He told me not to worry about it too much and to not get down because, though it meant I would have to wait longer, perhaps even a year longer, the trade could open up again at any time. He also let me know he'd get in touch with his buddy down at the recruiting centre to find out anything more he could about the situation.
Later that afternoon, when he had gotten home from work, Dad had a lot of information for me to think about, not to mention some decisions for me to make. First of all, he told me that it was a possibility that my AVN Tech trade may not open for a long time. The Air Force only needs so much personnel for each trade, and it so happens that the AVN Tech trade is currently up to 99% strength, which means it may not even open next year at all. Secondly, though I had believed my G.E.D. was all that was required for me to get into the Forces, it seems it was not. Apparently, given the fact that I had been home-schooled and had "only" gotten the G.E.D., they didn't expect I was going to be able to get in. It seems the only reason I've gotten as far as I have is because, after scoring so highly on my CFAT, I was granted a waiver which allowed me to continue with the process despite not having an actual high school diploma. This wouldn't be a big deal but for the fact that the Forces change their policies all the time, and it is very possible that that waiver could be pulled at any time.
In the past I've been advised to stick with what I wanted to do, to not be swayed from pursuing the trade I've wanted, but given the new information I've learned – the fact that AVN Tech is 99% up to strength and that the waiver that I was granted could be pulled if they were to change their policies, which happens all the time – I had been advised to start looking at another trade. AVN Tech may have closed, but the two other specialised trades which work along side AVN Techs, Avionics Systems Technician (AVS Tech) and Aircraft Structures Technician (ACS Tech), were both open. So, I had a decision to make. I could wait for AVN Tech to open up again and risk my waiver being pulled and having any chance of getting into the Forces squashed, or I could grab one of the ACS Tech or Avionics positions.
Avionics is out of the question for me. It is too highly advanced. I do not have the mathematical skill required to guarantee I could get through through the course successfully. Sure it would be wonderful to be able to say in the future that I take care of the electronic systems of aircraft, but it is known to be a very difficult trade, and without going back to school to take math courses until the cows come home, I don't feel it is wise for me to take it on. ACS Tech, on the other hand, is a different story. It is, though not simple by any stretch of the imagination, the simplest of the three trades and has a much shorter course then the AVN Tech and Avionics trades. And so, after weighing my options, I elected to take one of the ACS Tech positions instead of waiting for the AVN Tech trade to open up again.
Seeing as I had also just been declared medically fit by the MO, I was able to call the recruiting centre yesterday and have them work on securing me a position as soon as possible. That aside, that doesn't mean I'll be leaving for my Basic Training next week or anything like that. The next round of Basic Training will be in either October or November, so I'll be waiting a little while longer, yet. But that's alright. So long as I've got a position, I'm going, and I won't have to worry that I'll suddenly find that my waiver has been pulled. It has been a long process, but despite that, I am finally only a few small steps away from finally being sworn in and going for my Basic Training.
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