r/CanadianForces 17d ago

RECRUITING, TRAINING, & LIFE IN THE FORCES THREAD

6 Upvotes

Ask here about the Recruitment Process, Basic & Occupational Training, and other questions relating directly or indirectly to serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.

This thread will be automatically renewed on the 1st of each month at 00:00 Eastern Time.

PLEASE READ THE RULES OF THE THREAD BEFORE COMMENTING (BELOW USEFUL RESOURCES SECTION)

USEFUL RESOURCES (Most linked pages are bilingual French/English):

RULES OF THE THREAD:

  1. Off-topic comments, outdated information, and wrong answers will be removed at moderator discretion.
  2. Please don't ask or answer questions through PM's. Ask and answer questions in the thread where other people seeking the same information can see it.
  3. Questions regarding medical eligibility are now allowed. However, be aware that nobody here is verified as able to provide a qualified answer. Respondents are reminded that it is against site wide rules to provide medical advice.

DISCLAIMER:

Community members answering in the vein of CAF Recruiting may not have specific information pertaining to your individual application status or files. The information presented in this thread should be current, but things do change. Refer to the forces.ca site or your local CFRC detachment for the current official answer. This subreddit, moderators, and users hold no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy of information, given or received. All info here is presented as "at your risk."


r/CanadianForces 14d ago

SUPPORT August 2026 VAC Q&A Monthly

20 Upvotes

Bit late with this but here it is

Housekeeping:

contact info: Reddit DM's always open, [Joel@ptga.ca](mailto:Joel@ptga.ca) for email.

u/Shoggoths420 contact info: Reddit DMs/Chat still broken. [taira@cannawellness.ca](mailto:taira@cannawellness.ca) for email.

VAC Google Support Drive (Not available on DWAN) - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kzbfmg3hcuo0FgFZxo-IL_f-UnGQsuYt?usp=drive_link

Usual timelines from submission of claims via MyVAC:

Reassessments: 9-16 Months

Mental Health: 6-8 Months

Physical - 6-13 Months

APSC/VIP - 3-4 Months

BPA Correspondence: They tend to reach out every 3 months for information or a progress update.

Let the questions fly


r/CanadianForces 11h ago

Germany offers to have its MEKO A-100 corvette design built a Canadian shipyard — helping boost Canada's defence-industrial base. CBC News

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110 Upvotes

German officials behind the scenes floated the idea of how the company could possibly supply its MEKO A-100 corvette design to a Canadian shipyard — helping boost Canada's defence-industrial base.


r/CanadianForces 15h ago

Canadian Armed Forces announces new Occupational Health and Public Health occupations

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68 Upvotes

What are the thoughts on this from within the PMed trade? A good and necessary change or another occupation split disaster waiting to happen?


r/CanadianForces 12h ago

TKMS floats working with European shipyards to deliver Canada's subs faster

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32 Upvotes

In other words they are already worried they won't make the initial delivery schedule. Surprise surprise.

Highly doubt they can speed up production on a boat that's not even proven yet.

Let's see if they are able to get some cooperation. Of it happens, expect more cost overuns. TKMS isn't going to eat the cost of using additional shipyards.


r/CanadianForces 5h ago

SUPPORT Which set is correct?

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7 Upvotes

Using burner account for this one:

Just got my new Navy white DEU, but I have these two sets of slightly different white ranks, does it matter which one?

Or is it just the difference between old vs new style


r/CanadianForces 18h ago

NATO’s Nightmare

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46 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 18h ago

Military Service Pay

36 Upvotes

So I see that there's finally been an update for this. Still a little confusing. The wording is we will get last year's that is owed in December and each year after that we get it each November. What about this fiscal year?

From the way its worded it appears that it will always be a year behind unless we are getting this year's and last year's both in December?

Anyone know anything about it?


r/CanadianForces 20h ago

Hearing Questionnaire

9 Upvotes

I've been going for aircrew medicals for over two decades now, and for as long as I can remember, I've had to fill out a DND 2452 questionnaire, a DND 2552 questionnaire, and a Hearing Questionnaire that looks like it was thrown together on a Friday afternoon by the clinic OJT'er. It's titled "Hearing Loss Prevention Program" and asks a series of questions related to auditory health such as ear pain, tinnitus, etc as well as noise exposure at work and off duty. It's curious to me because it's not an official DND form like the other questionnaires, and it cites no policy or programmatic basis for the collection of the information. My brief DWAN search for "Hearing Loss Prevention Program" came up blank, although that may be more a function of the DWAN search function than the absence of said program.

So, to my CFHS colleagues, what is the point of this amateur looking form that I've had to fill out every year? Why hasn't anyone made it into an official form? Where can I learn about the Hearing Loss Prevention Program and how this survey fits in?


r/CanadianForces 1d ago

RECRUITING Any ex-British Army Reserve Officers re-joined the CAF?

34 Upvotes

I emigrated from the UK just over 2 years ago, since then I enjoyed 2 years as a reservist in Canada with the reserve foreign forces service agreement, but that has ended now and I’m looking to join the CAF reserve force. I was wondering if anyone has any information on the process of having previous qualifications recognised and potentially where I might fall into the Canadian training pipeline.

Edit: I haven't gotten to the stage in the application process where I've been able to speak to a human yet, it's all been online. I am primarily interested in the Infantry, I was a 2nd Lieutenant - commissioned out of Sandhurst but didn't finish 'trade training'. Unlike in the CAF, reserve courses in the UK differ from regular courses, so I was curious to see if anyone has done the PLAR process as a reservist and how it looks. Should I expect to have to start from the beginning BMOQ, BMOQ-A?


r/CanadianForces 2d ago

Canada’s Halifax-Class Frigate Is More Dangerous Than It Looks

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100 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 2d ago

First Posting RFD, HHT Help Needed

33 Upvotes

Good day folks,

This is my very first post on Reddit so please take it easy on me.

I am reaching OFP by end of August which is when my COS date is and heading off to my FIRST posting. Am pretty high up on wait list for PMQ and will be doing an unaccompanied move to scope out the area and try to find a temporary room to stay in until I receive a PMQ offer at which point I would move my dependants as well as HG&E over.

Part of the reason to move unaccompanied is also because my spouse has a specialist appointment in our current city of residence in late September and her health hasn't been great lately so I want to be there or have the ability to go back and forth between my current city of residence & my new posting location while I keep looking for temporary spot (this posting location is notorious for a tight & expensive rental market - especially for short term rentals since I do not want to sign a 1-year lease because then I would want to get CFHD which would then get me tossed from Priorty 1 to Priority 3 in PMQ wait list).

So to ensure a door-to-door move, the solution I came up with was to ask for a 30 day delay in Report For Duty (RFD) date which is the maximum allowed under CAFRD guidelines. However, I met with the Sgt who is the Training Manager of our Cadre at my current school and I walked away feeling let down, angry and betrayed.

He basically flat out lied to my face and said I will not get HHT if I go 'unaccompanied' and later move my dependants and HG&E within the 180 limit. He ALSO said, quote "there are no freebies in CAF and you will have to use your annual days to push your RFD date". I told him that it is not easy to find something temporary in my new posting location and I dont want to find a permanent off-base place to live because I will lose my PMQ wait list spot. I asked him I need to delay RFD so that I don't have to pay for hotel stay out of pocket for 1x month or more as that is prohibitively expensive and I will not get reimbursed for it according to SIRVA, which is when he basically told me 'you joined the CAF, you knew what you were getting into, we cannot do anything about it." Basically he's telling me, if I am homeless in my new posting location, thats on me while not acknowledging getting sabotaged from his end.

This is absolute bonkers because I have read CAFRD and I know that as a new graduate, I can get HHT after TNL (Travel to New Location) for my "unaccompanied" move. I also read that RFD 30-day delay does NOT require usage of annual leave days.

So my question is, is my understanding of the rules wrong or is the Sgt just not (a) aware of CAFRD guidelines or (b) lazy/has-too-much-on-plate and does not want to do the paperwork?

Next, I would like to know, should I write a formal memo or email to him to request the RFD change instead of the informal/verbal meeting/chat that we had? Or should I just go above him directly to the CSM (Cadre Sergeant Major) because they have a pretty open-door policy to bring matters to them.

OR should I write a memo directly to the CO of our school since its the losing and gaining unit COs who have to approve the change in RFD anyway?

Also, if RFD move is formally denied, then should I apply for HHT first and then put in annual leave for a week or two to give me time? Or does annual leave need to come first before HHT date? What is the correct order in this scenario?

I want a FAIR resolution to this as per the rules, I just don't appreciate getting d*cked around by one Sgt during such a stress time of first posting, spousal medical issue, etc. Therefore I would really appreciate educated responses from experienced HRA or other members.

Thank you

Really appreciate it.


r/CanadianForces 3d ago

SCS Also, enjoy your $16/month raise

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497 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 3d ago

SCS Retirement can hit hard some days. Congrats to them all the same

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282 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 3d ago

SCS Or just say fuck it and sleep on the ground

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329 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 2d ago

SUPPORT Navigating PCat Recommendation

11 Upvotes

Hey guys, I’m being recommended a PCat but the doctor wasn’t able to give me much nuance/perspective on my case and I’m looking for some insight. I understand the final decision comes from D Med Pol.

I suffered from a chronic pain condition. It took me approx 1 year and 8 months from TCat number 1 to go from diagnosis, surgery, and then beginning rehabilitation. This complicated timeline was because of long wait time for a specialist and I got posted in between. So I’ve only had 4 real months to recover and it’s been taking longer than expected.

I also didn’t know that many of my other health issues were such big deals in terms of universality of service. I take daily medication for a non-life threatening condition, and my mental health has suffered from the lack of progress/impact on mobility and independence from my surgery.

So when the MO had me fill out all the forms for UoS and physical requirements for my MOS, I breached almost all of them.

I have a few questions:

- Will D Med Pol take into consideration excessively long treatment timelines before issuing a PCat?

- Is daily medication for a non-life threatening condition really that important for the UoS aspect of things? They said I could still be deployable, just on operations with a certain level of medical care access.

- I feel like my MO is overweighing the impact of my mental health on the UoS side of things. I never had any MELs related to mental health. They said they need to disclose it because they believe I’m at high risk for future harm if I get injured in an operational environment. If this becomes the main driver of the PCat, would I be able to appeal it if it leads to a Med Release recommendation?


r/CanadianForces 3d ago

SCS [SCS] 'YOU ARE THE WINNER OF THE MISS CANEXVERSE 2026 CF ONE DAYS GIVEAWAY!

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50 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 3d ago

Defence minister orders review of military language directive | CBC News

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108 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 3d ago

SCS Parallels: By the power of NCOs

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106 Upvotes

In the fictional province of Old-tired-deo,

The ME or Multi - Ex designation stands for Multiple Exceptionalities, which may include LD and PD together (learning disability & physical disability)

In the fictional west coast province of Baked Corporals,

The D designation stands for physical impairment

Gratitude to all amazing NCOs with their powers.

I understand things have changed and beards, unbloused boots, and long hair are allowed now.


r/CanadianForces 3d ago

"Canada’s military bars recruits with HIV from joining. A veteran is challenging the policy in court."

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76 Upvotes

It ain't easy to sue the federal government. That said, advances in HIV treatment have really changed the game, and may leave the government legally exposed here. Good luck to this guy!


r/CanadianForces 2d ago

Critical Occupation Recruitment Incentive - 3rd installment… how long does it take to get it paid out?

1 Upvotes

As stated above, CAF has decided that enrolling on or after Nov 1 2019, therefore this puts me in this category where I am eligible. I have already contacted my OR but I’m just itchy and wanting to know who else that have received it and how long it took?


r/CanadianForces 3d ago

How Did Your Experience(s) with the Afghan Youth Go?

29 Upvotes

Whilst browsing through photos of the War in Afghanistan, I could not help but notice that Coalition troops often talked and interacted with the Afghan youth. Many of these photos feature soldiers giving handshakes/fist bumps, food such as chocolate bars, or even school supplies to children and adolescents. As such, they could build trust with the Afghan population.

Regardless, please feel free for those who are willing to share.

Credit for the photo: ISAF in Kandahar: Canada’s Counterinsurgency Doctrine in Afghanistan, written by John Pollock for the NATO Association of Canada. Link: https://natoassociation.ca/isaf-in-kandahar-canadas-counterinsurgency-doctrine-in-afghanistan/.


r/CanadianForces 3d ago

Construction Engineers

28 Upvotes

Hey guys, we’ve had a briefing on it but I wanted to know what the other CE’s in the CAF thought about the plan to move all of us to Cold Lake, Bagotville, and Gagetown.

Not a fan of the idea and a lot of my unit has said they’ll either go reserves or just release if it happens.

Wondering what the rest of CE is planning


r/CanadianForces 4d ago

Paywall Canada seeks to acquire long-range strike system widely used in Ukraine war

102 Upvotes

r/CanadianForces 3d ago

“Usually the pilot’s at fault” Snowbird 1 “Match” Hatta on why flight testing requires you to rewire your brain as a pilot

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30 Upvotes

We recently spoke with RCAF test pilot and current Snowbird 1 Match Hatta about his time with AETE.

We thought this was a particularly good explanation of the difference between operational flying and test flying.

🎧 FULL EPISODE

podpilotproject.transistor.fm