Signals Officer

[PuckChaser]

Wow, that salary actually sounds better than what I expected an NCM to actually make. After doing some thinking, I think I'm going to stick to my original plan to apply for Signals Officer as I like the idea of having the satisfaction that comes with making a successful plan that gets done correctly and because I feel like Signals Officers have a decent balance between being out in the field and not being in the field.

Thanks, you have really given me some insightful information on Signals Officers. 

Good luck on your training if you are successful in your application.

 

[Swingline1984]

...I think I'm going to stick to my original plan to apply for Signals Officer as I like the idea of having the satisfaction that comes with making a successful plan...

:rofl:

Good luck with that.

 

[purplepropwash]

Hello All,

(Obligatory: This is my first post and I've tried my best to ensure I've done my due diligence by reading the terms of reference, searching past posts -- I apologize in advance if I'm asking questions that have already been asked and I understand if I need to be told to google/use search again better. EDIT: I have checked / skimmed all the links on this [search](https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=site%3Aarmy.ca+signals+officer&gbv=2&oq=site%3Aarmy.ca+signals+officer&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=3&gs_upl=1141l8295l0l8529l38l38l2l24l0l1l453l1516l0.5.2.0.1l8l0))

For some context: I am currently a recently graduated from post secondary specializing in computer systems and specifically network security. I currently work for a large telecommunications company but I'm considering my next steps, and specifically towards either (A) Joining the Reg Force as a CELE Air officer, or (B) joining my local Army reserve unit as a Signals Officer (39 Signal Regiment - 744 Sqn) as there are no close RCAF reserve units that require / are open to a CELE Air Officer.

To better guide my decision making process, I wanted to ask about being an Army Signals Officer and see if there's any more information I could gain outside of the CAF recruiting page.

I wanted to ask:

[list type=decimal]
[*]What are the "Day-To-Day" activities of a SigsO?
[*]What types of activities / responsibilities do they have on exercises / deployments?
[*]What percentage of the job involves I.T / NetSec?
[*]What are some of the best / worst parts of the job?
[*]What does career progression for a SigsO look like? (i.e. What does / would a Sigs O be doing 1,3, 5 years into the job?)
[/list]

Appreciate any information / opinions / feedback in advance !

 

[PuckChaser]

You have to ask yourself this question: do you want to be doing IT or network security work, or do you want to manage the people and policy of those doing IT or network security work. If you want to manage, be a Sigs Officer. If you want to do the hands on, you need to be looking at ACISS or ATIS which are NCM only.

 

[purplepropwash]

Thanks PuckChaser,

You bring up a good point and at the end of the day, I do believe that is what I want to be. Naivete and optimism aside, I want to be someone that is an enabler for a team / group of technical operators and believe that my strengths are in planning, coordination and management.

 

[RocketRichard]

You have to ask yourself this question: do you want to be doing IT or network security work, or do you want to manage the people and policy of those doing IT or network security work. If you want to manage, be a Sigs Officer. If you want to do the hands on, you need to be looking at ACISS or ATIS which are NCM only.

Hello:

Contact 39 Sig. Regt. and make an appointment to see a Sig O and pose the questions to her or him. Perhaps they can take you on a tour of the Squadron as well. Good luck.

Cheers.


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[kimbrian]

If any Sigs O can share knowledge regarding general career progression in the trade? I'm starting ROTP in 2018 at UBC and since I'm married and hoping to have kids, just want to do a little bit of planning out.

From my understanding from research... (please feel free to add from your experience / knowledge)

BMOQ PLAR
BMOQ-L (CAP) next Summer, Gagetown 10 weeks
SLT and CAFJOD (7 mods) while still in school
GRADUATION AND COMMISSION in May 2021 ---> 2Lt

BSOC / SOTC mod 1 and 2 (Tp Comd, DSO), Kingston 5 months ---> Lt
ISSO, 2 weeks
2 years in rank as Lt, probably some OJT's between graduation and Capt
SJSO
Capt (hopefully within 3 years after commission)

AJSO (Army Junior Staff O)
AOC (Army Operation Course)
What others?


Feel free to go ham!

 

[winnipegoo7]

The military doesn’t seem to give SLT to everyone  so you might have to take French classes at university if you want to learn French.  Only RMC students require SLT  and people who’s trade course is in their second language, ie a French pilot will be given SLT in order to attend pilot training.

Edited: because I misread.

 

[RocketRichard]

If any Sigs O can share knowledge regarding general career progression in the trade? I'm starting ROTP in 2018 at UBC and since I'm married and hoping to have kids, just want to do a little bit of planning out.

From my understanding from research... (please feel free to add from your experience / knowledge)

BMOQ PLAR
BMOQ-L (CAP) next Summer, Gagetown 10 weeks
SLT and CAFJOD (7 mods) while still in school
GRADUATION AND COMMISSION in May 2021 ---> 2Lt

BSOC / SOTC mod 1 and 2 (Tp Comd, DSO), Kingston 5 months ---> Lt
ISSO, 2 weeks
2 years in rank as Lt, probably some OJT's between graduation and Capt
SJSO
Capt (hopefully within 3 years after commission)

AJSO (Army Junior Staff O)
AOC (Army Operation Course)
What others?


Feel free to go ham!
[/quote

BMOQ A can be in Wainwright as well.


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[Hucker]

You are missing ATOC (Army Tactical Operation Course) after the AJSO. AOC is done as a senior captain.

Also, I don't know if they changed it, but I never managed to get on CAFJOD as an Officer Cadet : I always got an email stating the course was full and priority was given to higher rank.

 

[sidemount]

You are missing ATOC (Army Tactical Operation Course) after the AJSO. AOC is done as a senior captain.

Also, I don't know if they changed it, but I never managed to get on CAFJOD as an Officer Cadet : I always got an email stating the course was full and priority was given to higher rank.

Same, never got one as an OCdt, preference given after you are trained in your trade

Sent from my S8 using Tapatalk (expect typos)

 

[kimbrian]

If any Sigs O can share knowledge regarding general career progression in the trade? I'm starting ROTP in 2018 at UBC and since I'm married and hoping to have kids, just want to do a little bit of planning out.

BMOQ PLAR
BMOQ-L (CAP) next Summer, Gagetown 10 weeks
GRADUATION AND COMMISSION in May 2021 ---> 2Lt

SLT (if needed)
BSOC / SOTC mod 1 and 2 (Tp Comd, DSO), Kingston 5 months ---> Lt
ISSO, 2 weeks
2 years in rank as Lt, probably some OJT's between graduation and Capt
SJSO
Capt (hopefully within 3 years after commission)

AJSO (Army Junior Staff O)
ATOC (Army Tactical Operation Course)
CAFJOD (7 mods)
AOC (Army Operation Course) *Snr Capt

What others? Feel free to add with your knowledge/experience with updated info you have about where, how long, etc..

Thank you all!!! Amended in this quote with correct info for other readers' benefit.

 

[211RadOp]

You won't get OJT between graduation and promotion to Capt.  You will be posted to a unit and will be, probably, employed as a Tp Comd. 

You may get OJT between Mods 1 and 2 depending on when they are scheduled.  If back to back, or close to it, then you will remain at CFSCE.  If not, you will get OJT somewhere, usually a field unit.  The school will attempt to find you OJT close to your family.  If OJT at a unit cannot be found, you will get it at CFSCE.

 

[kimbrian]

I'm looking for BSOC/SOTC DL but cannot find it... I know how searching courses on DL can be without knowing the right codes or names.
Does anyone know what to search to get to it?

Also, for benefit of any junior Sigs, listing down usual career progression for Army Signal Officers 00341, not personalized as above. Feel free to add and amend in between or past AOC please!

BMOQ Mod 1, done Summer before 1st yr for ROTP, St Jean X weeks (multiple serials each year)
BMOQ Mod 2, done Summer after 1st yr for ROTP, St Jean X weeks (multiple serials each year)
BMOQ-Army, aka CAP or Phase 2, done Summer after 2nd yr for ROTP, Gagetown 10 weeks
GRADUATION AND COMMISSION 2Lt
Second Language Training, if needed
BSOC / SOTC Mod 1 (May-Aug) Mod 2 (Sep-Nov), 6-7 months with gaps, 3 serials each year?
Promotion to Lt (eff end of SOTC graduation)
ISSO, Kingston 2 weeks
First posting for 3-4 years as Tp Comd (Ottawa, Kingston, Valcartier, Petawawa, Edmonton, or others), 2 years in rank as Lt
SJSO (Signal Junior Staff Officer) as DP2
AJSO (Army Junior Staff Officer)
ATOC (Army Tactical Operations Course) before or after Capt
Promotion to Captain
CAFJOD (DL, 7 mods)
AOC (Army Operation Course) as Snr Captain

 

[macarena]

We have lots of ACISS members with college or university degree. It's a highly technical field and the education is not wasted.

You can top your DP1 course, and then all the COs will fight for you to go to their unit. There are 9 HQ and Sigs postings, and a couple for JSR/EW out of 40 or so candidates. The course is run once a year. The math is not good to get a field posting, being in the top third is a good way to get where you want to go.

Hi, mates!
Thanks, PuckChaser, for the intel about the IT & Communications related units!
Only to be sure, please: Is the DP1 course, the BMOQ period?



For who it can be interesting, I did a short resume of these related four trades (I hope ti will help others candidates):

ACISS
Army Communication and Information Systems Specialists
https://forces.ca/en/career/army-communication-and-information-systems-specialist/
ARMY
NCM
Signing bonus 10K

ATIS
Aerospace Telecommunications and Information Systems Technicians
https://forces.ca/en/career/aerospace-telecommunication-and-information-systems-technician/
AIR FORCE
NCM

CELE
Communication Electronics Engineering Officer
https://forces.ca/en/career/communication-electronics-engineering-officer/
AIR FORCE
OFFICER

SigsO
Signals Officers
https://forces.ca/en/career/signals-officer/
ARMY
OFFICER

 

[PuckChaser]

DP1 is your trade course,  after BMQ or BMOQ.

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[Phwaker]

Hi all,

Sorry, I'm just a bit confused about the training pipeline for SigO. On the CF website there seems to be three things included:
1. BMOQ (know this one haha)
2. Available Professional Training (in Kingston)
3. Available Specialty Training
4. Specific Army Training

Could anybody help put a time frame on each of these and let me know what order they're done, if we have any breaks in between, and where they occur.

The only thing I found in this thread similar to what I'm curious about was about ROTP so I'm not sure how much of that applies.

Thanks everyone!

Oh also, can you stay in military housing during your training when you're hopping around different locations? I thing Gagetown and Kingston afaik but would staying off base be an option for Officer trades?

 

[211RadOp]

Hi all,

Sorry, I'm just a bit confused about the training pipeline for SigO. On the CF website there seems to be three things included:
1. BMOQ (know this one haha)
2. Available Professional Training (in Kingston)
3. Available Specialty Training
4. Specific Army Training

Could anybody help put a time frame on each of these and let me know what order they're done, if we have any breaks in between, and where they occur.

The only thing I found in this thread similar to what I'm curious about was about ROTP so I'm not sure how much of that applies.

Thanks everyone!

Oh also, can you stay in military housing during your training when you're hopping around different locations? I thing Gagetown and Kingston afaik but would staying off base be an option for Officer trades?

1. You already know this one
2. Your Signal Officer training is broken into 4 mods for a total of 109 training days.
3. It depends on the course.  For example Formation Signals Operations Course is 10 days of DL followed by 12 days residency. This will be done later in your career.
4. Again depends on the course. For example, your BMOQ-A, which you will take following BMOQ, is 55 days and is done in Gagetown.  Other Army courses will be offered at various times in your career.

While at Kingston for your SigO course, you normally live in barracks, however there are sometimes concessions made for married members.  While waiting training, you will do OJT at a unit or at CFSCE.  For FSOC and other SigO and Army specialty courses, if you are not posted to the location the training is taking place, you will live in barracks.  If you are posted there you will live at home.

All courses have different lengths, so it is difficult to predict how long you will spend in formal training, and not all courses will run back to back.  Expect around a year for BMOQ, BMOQ-A and SigO training which you will attend consecutively before you can take any other courses.

Edit to add other requested info and for clarity.

 

[HiTechComms]

Great Info.

I am going for Medical and Interview in a couple days.  My chosen career was Sig.
Sounds like I will be back like in University living on Campus.

 

[211RadOp]

Great Info.

I am going for Medical and Interview in a couple days.  My chosen career was Sig.
Sounds like I will be back like in University living on Campus.

Not quite, having lived in dorms at University and having lived in barracks while on training.  There is a much higher level of professionalism required for you military courses than for university courses.

Also, Sig is a generic term for Signaller as well as what a Pte in the RCCS is called.  Generally only NCMs are referred to as Sig while officers are referred to as SigO. Your Tp WO will sort you out on this during your first posting  :nod: ;D