Military Education and Trades Training

Military Recruitment Programs

The military recruitment process has not changed significantly over the years, adapting from a time when you could join the CAF after dropping out of high school to the requirement for a high school diploma are some of the changes the CAF has gone through. The CAF has also recognized the importance that Colleges can play in training military members before they begin full-time work at one of the many bases across Canada. Over the next few sections, the different routes of training in the CAF will show how one goes from being a civilian to becoming a trained military professional. The first recruitment program that will be introduced is the non-commissioned member subsidized education and training plan, a program that allows prospective CAF recruits the option of attending college and be employed by the CAF.

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Non-Commissioned Member Subsidized Training and Education Plan (NCM STEP)

The NCM STEP program allows a recruit the opportunity to have their college education paid for while being paid by the CAF to attend the post-secondary institution that offers a program suitable for their trade. Below is the list of occupations that are currently eligible for this program.

Occupations Eligible for NCM STEP

• Aviation Technician
• Avionics Technician
• Biomedical Electronics Technician
• Cook
• Cyber Operator
• Dental Technician
• Marine Engineering Technician
• Medical Technician
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Medical Radiation Technician
• Operating Room Technician
• Vehicle Technician
• Weapons Engineering Technician

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Post-secondary institutions that wish to have their program approved to accept military students from the NCM STEP program are required to submit their curriculum for evaluation to the Canadian Armed Forces Education, Experience, and Equivalency (CAF 3E) department to ensure that it matches at least 70% of the learning outcomes in the equivalent CAF career course.

During the summer months, military members who are a part of the NCM STEP program will carry out their military training starting with the Basic Military Occupation Qualification (BMOQ). Once BMOQ is completed the member will carry out on the job training.

Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Process

The first step in the recruitment process is heading to the recruitment center for a Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (CFAT). The score on the CFAT will determine what trades a potential recruit have the aptitude to perform. After completing the CFAT you will sit down with the recruiting officer and discuss the trades that you are interested in. Once you have an idea of the trade you would like to sign up for you, you submit your application and wait for the CAF to give you a job offer.

Once you accept your job offer you go through the swearing in process, you are then given a date and you report to Saint-Jean Sur Richelieu for Basic Military Occupation Qualification that lasts for ten weeks. During this course you will learn all the basics of the military including:

• the military process
• chain of command
• dress and deportment
• introductory leadership

It is hoped that these basics instill the military ethos of respect the dignity of others, serve Canada before self, and obey and support lawful order, as well as the core military values: accountability, courage, excellence, inclusion, integrity, and Loyalty.

Once completed you are posted to your first unit, where you will complete on-the-job training until you are loaded onto your trades training course.

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this page was created by Jason Kerr and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0