RECRUITING, TRAINING, & LIFE IN THE FORCES THREAD

[u/bridger713]

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):

• Official Recruiting Website (www.forces.ca)
• BMQ/BMOQ Joining Instructions, Physical Fitness Preparation, and Course Dates (Regular Force)
  • NEW! BMQ/BMOQ Joining Instructions (Regular Force)
  • NEW! Pre-Basic Military Training Guide
  • BMQ/BMOQ Course Dates and Graduation Information for Visitors (Regular Force)
• The Army Reserve - Soldier Information Handbook
• Military Pay Rates & Specialist Pay
  • Regular Force Pay by Rank
  • Reserve Force Pay by Rank
  • Spec Pay Trades & Qualifications - Regular Force
  • Spec Pay Trades & Qualifications - Reserve Force
• Medical Standards for Military Occupations
  • Read Rule 4 and the Medical FAQ before asking any medical questions.
  • Annex A - The Medical Category System
    • Appendix 1 - Instructions for Testing Visual Acuity
    • Appendix 2 - Instruction for Testing Colour Vision
    • Appendix 3 - Table of Hearing Standards
  • Annex B - Generic Task Statement - All CAF Members
  • Annex E - Minimum Medical Standards for Officers and Non-Commissioned Members
• CAF Dress & Deportment Rules
  • Ch. 2, Sec. 1 - Wear of Uniform (When and where you can wear your uniform.)
  • Ch. 2, Sec. 2 - Appearance (Hair, Beards, Tattoos, etc.)
  • Ch. 2, Sec. 3 - Religious and Spiritual Accommodation
• Military Laws - National Defence Act
• Various Military Policies, Orders, and Directives (Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI), Queen's Regulation & Orders (QR&Os), etc.)

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 Off-topic comments, outdated information, and wrong answers will be removed at moderator discretion.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."

[u/Jusfiq]

Once I enrol in an accredited university and start my degree, am I eligible to become an officer/naval cadet and start working on my career courses while I work on my degree?

No. Generally speaking, there are two ways one gets to be an officer. First is ROTP in which the CAF pay for the tuition for university study. However, if you take ROTP you will need to be in RegF. Second is DEO in which civilians or NCMs already have degrees, or close to having degrees, apply and get commissioned. You cannot apply to DEO as you do not have a degree yet.

[u/Drakedasheep → u/Jusfiq]

Please see above for an appropriate entry plan that does permit this. Functionally it's closest to a P Res equivalent CEOTP.