Ok bear with me as the question I have is multi faceted and pertains to the small details based on direct information I’ve read on the CAF website . I also will ask all this through the official channels of the CAF at some point , but I have been burned before by assuming the direct professionals I’m talking to actually did have the correct end all be all info . I feel like In some of the scenarios Im outlining it’s possible there is not a hard line in the sand , and I’d benefit from your experience so to better navigate my options and eventual conversations .
The questions are all to do with entering the CAF Under the role of a Biomedical Electronics Technologist (BMET) . I’ve kinda set them up In order of “ if the method above doesn’t work , then what about this as another option”.
1.Firstly , the requirements say I need to complete one year of on the job training, but further down under the “entry“ info it says you need a diploma from an approved/ accredited school and you can get into the NCMSTEP to get said diploma. So what comes first, do I need to apply for the NCMSTEP and be accepted before I can be offered a spot as a BMET ;or do I apply normally by selecting BMET as my preferred trade and do the CFAT, then If I get offered the role do I then do 1 year on the job training before being sent to get a diploma through the NCMSTEP program ?
2.Secondly the confusion stems from the required education to apply for this role . Do I just need what the civilian college that the CAF recognizes as a trusted school (Centennial College Of Applied Arts and Technology) requires for entry into their diploma program ? I would be considered a mature student so I’d need to have my grade 12 college level math and grade 12 college level English , or even write an equivalence test and prove my worth that way . But in the “paid education brochure “ from the CAF it kinda makes it sound like I need the same level of requirements as people applying to the actual royal military colleges , which is 6 university level courses from your grade 12 year .
3 . If all else fails and they won’t take me on for the NCMSTEP program out right , it says I can also enter the program if I get an unconditional acceptance from the approved College ….would the CAF 100% accept me into the BMET NCMSTEP with that paper work from that college , or is it still up for review? Would I firstly get a conditional offer from CAF, saying if I go apply for this school as a civilian and they say yes, then the CAF will basically just pay for it / offer me a BMET role? Not sure at all about this unconditional acceptance aspect and I very well may have this all backwards and you need that regardless to even enter the NCMSTEP and it’s not a secondary method to do so .
If all that fails ….. The direct entry route says if I go to an accredited college and complete the schooling I can enter the CAF as a BMET ( if I apply within 12 months of getting the diploma I don’t need work experience in that field) and CAF will put me into 1 year on the job training… is this a guaranteed entry , will they 100% take me into the CAF as a BMET? Would it be instant , or have to wait for an opening to get an offer , or could they just maybe look at the grades and me as a person and be like “ nah bruh “ . This route would suck because that colleges diploma program is 36 months , but if the CAF sends me there it says it’s only 24 months . Plus Id be paying for tuition and not receiving the yearly salary as a student . Dam that would suck …
If all of that fails …. I seen you can also be a BMT in the reserves … but here I am really confused as it says nothing about required schooling ( either previous high school classes or a diploma in that field ) . In fact it just says i would just go right into 1 year of on the Job training after typical reserve BMQ and stuff ….Is this true , will I be trained the same as a full time member that just went to school for 24 months and got a diploma ? Then it says I would be able to “serve part time at health services clinics or full time in positions at some some units for fixed terms” …. Can anyone clarify what that means exactly .. are these strictly CAF positions/ facilities , or civilian establishments as well ? Am I prohibited from ever working full time as a BMET if I’m actually in the reserves but had no civilian commitments ? Would I be potentially recognized as a trained BMET for civilian employment opportunities / would I get any paper work stating I’ve been trained, like an apprenticeship basically ( I think by law in Ontario you need to have the diploma to work in government run healthcare as a BMET ,but potentially I’m thinking I could maybe gain work with a private manufacturer or facility ;if i can’t work full time with the CAF that is ? ) …..
If I couldn’t get into the CAF full time as a BMET in none of the listed ways above . How about this method : If I got that 1 year on the job BMET reserve training , could I then flaunt that to the CAF and see if they would then accept me into the full times as BMET ? I wouldn’t expect to be considered fully trained / educated , but at least do you think they would accept me into the NCMSTEP program and allow me to go do the 24 months schooling so I could return and be full time in the CAF as BMET ?
last question , I understand how the “owed service “ for NCMSTEP works.. but if I had to go direct entry route , is there any owed service for that one year of on the job training , or what In general would be the commitment expected for a direct entry BMET
If all this fails I may still pursue the profession as a civilian , but I have read numerous times that the schooling coupled with the on the job training from the CAF is unparalleled. BMETs in the real world say CAF BMETs know so much more as they are trained to work on all types of equipment and not pigeonholed into what ever the civilian gig offers .
Thank you, I know this is a danged novel , so I appreciate any tidbit on any of the numerous questions .