Canadian Military Career Questions?

Im 18 years old and was considering the canadian forces after I complete my degree. So I have a few questions that someone with canadian army expeirance can answer.
What are the requirements to join the army?
can you leave the army when you please or is there a certain amount of time you must serve?
Is a career in the Canadian forces rewarding- like fulfillment, happiness?
Is it adventurous like some people say?
Is it really hard to join?

3 comments to Canadian Military Career Questions?

  • joey.edw

    unless you do drugs and have a bad criminal record, it sounds like you meet the requirements. you have 2 serve 3 years, but it sounds you could be a lifer. yes very rewarding, no matter if its a year or for life. yes a big adventure, take a video cam with you no mater where you go and when ever possible get videos, memories for life.hard yes, and hard for the 1st while but once that is over, it is a great life

  • lg

    Well, the easy answer is to see your local recruiting office, but i guess you want a little more.
    yes it is rewarding, adventurous and every thing people says about it, but it is also hard work and lots of time aways from home. i would do it again in a heart beat.
    Depending what trade you want to join, officer or rank and result in school, it shouldn’t be difficult to join.
    here a few tips, keep in shape, see a recruiter to adjust your schooling to whats required for the trade you are looking for, join a reserve program if you have time (beside the pay you will gain experience and get ahead in your training), and basic and phase training is all in mind games, keep your head cool and you should have no difficulty at all or almost.
    At any time in training you can quit or be thrown out if not successful with that training. once out of training you signed a contract (depending your trade) which unless your a bad *** you will have to completed before leaving. but that could have change so again, see a recruiting officer.
    good luck.

  • Randy B

    The requirements are well stated on the website and at the risk of providing wrong info I won’t go over them again here and will suggest that you confirm them yourself.
    When you join you sign an initial contract to serve. Depending upon the trade you choose that contract can be anywhere from 3-5 years depending upon what amount of training they are investing in you and what they want from you to recoop that training and make it worth while. With that having been said, technically they will hold you to that contract but in many cases they may choose, and I stress MAY choose, to allow you to break that contract early if you want to get out. The rule of thumb is, count on having to do that initial contract at least. If you can break it early then thats a bonus for you.
    Like any career, one in the CF can be as rewarding and fulfilling as you want to make it. YOU make your career, not your career manager or supervisor. I have seen people go to really exciting and fulfilling places (in my opinion) and hate it, failing to take advantages of the personal and career opportunities they have. I have seen people go to really quiet and/or small bases “in the middle of no where” and have a great time. They have been able to make a difference in their job and come out of that initial posting with wonderful experience and job reviews that have well positioned them for promotions. Its what you make of it.
    Adventurous? Sure, it can be depending upon what is going on. During the “decade of darkness” when the CF was neglected and morale was low things were quiet but depending upon the trade you choose there can always be opportunities both for travel, employment and deployment. If you think every day is going to be like a recruiting commercial then you will be disappointed but if you know that there is plenty of time for training to perform you job and then opportunities to do that job then you will be fine. In my 23 years I’ve served in Poland, Spain, Greece, Bosnia and area, Afghanistan and area, Hawaii, numerous locations in the US, 5 bases across Canada and have traveled to (short term of a week or less) to at least a dozen other countries. Regardless, it’s always been an adventure. Was it filled with action, terror and stress? At times, but very few times. All in all though, it’s been very rewarding and interesting. I couldn’t envision doing the job I do in the civilian world. Always doing it in the same city, for the same company, for all those years.
    Hard to join? Hardly. The standards for being hired are there. If you meet them, and the trade you want has vacancies (which they all do), then you shouldn’t have a problem. Recruiters will always be willing to speak with you so take some time to give them a call or drop in to see them. Nobody is going to trick you, you won’t be knocked out and awake to find yourself in uniform, they won’t lie to you just to get a recruitment bonus for signing you up. They will give you the info as they have it or as they have seen it based on their personal military experience so listen, ask questions and make up your own mind.
    Good luck

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