m.k said:
Well, my story starts in July of 2010, when I made my first attempt at applying to the Canadian Forces. I was informed by the recruiter that none of my selected trades were open and that in fact no viable trades for my individual level of education were open. I was disappointed, but I had hope that in March/April of 2011 I could get the ball rolling and potentially start BMQ in the fall of 2011. This was not the case. After completing my aptitude, interview and medical, I was informed that I did not meet the cutoff line for infantry due to it's competitiveness and that it was unlikely that I would be given one of the TWO nation wide positions for artillery, considering I did not possess an advanced math credit from high school. Disappointed once again, the summer made it's transition to autumn and I began to make secondary plans. I got into college for January, filled out a lease/paid a rent deposit for a place in Barrie and was beginning to find comfort in the concept of continuing my education in college. I even started making plans for university afterwards, finally acknowledging that although it was entirely possible, I may never get into the Canadian Forces, especially for a Combat Arms position.
Then today, months after my last contact with the recruiting centre, I received a phone call at 3:28 PM from a corporal at the recruiting centre in Kitchener informing me that I had been selected for Artillery, and was to begin BMQ at the end of January. The most unexpected phone call of my life has engraved in my mind that a lot of the time in life (and dare i say the Canadian Forces?), EXPECTATIONS don't matter. Just because you're a fantastically qualified individual does not mean you will get the position, just like it's entirely possible for a mediocre candidate such as myself to be given a job offer out of the blue after having been previously informed that there were no more positions available this year.
Point I'm trying to make for future/current applicants: Don't lose hope and don't get cocky. Anything can happen, at almost any point in time. I learned this today after ALMOST losing hope. Good luck to y'all
Recruiting Centre: Kitchener, ON
Regular/Reserve: Regular
Officer/NCM: NCM
Trade Choice 1: Infantry Soldier
Trade Choice 2: Signal Operator
Trade Choice 3: Artillery Soldier
Application Date: Sometime in December 2010
Aptitude Completed: March 7th 2011
Interview Completed: July 28th
Security Check Completed: August 3rd
Medical Completed: August 22nd
Merit Listed: September 9th
Position Offered: November 25th (Field Artillery)
Enrolment Ceremony: January 10th (Kitchener)
BMQ Begins: January 30th
