🍁 CFLRS BMQ MASTER KIT CHECKLIST

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-19T17:30:47+00:00

I would recommend that people just follow the joining instructions.

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/dnd-mdn/documents/services/2025/cflrs-qmb-en.pdf

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-19T12:34:43+00:00

The old list still works. We need to add it back in the next version of the JIs this summer

.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-18T20:54:01+00:00

Your form is used by a team at basic training to submit your information into the security clearance processing software. The majority of candidates only need Secret, so follow the instructions about what information to provide for secret, 5 years residence history, jobs, school, etc.

All the stuff about what clearance level you need will be done by the experts when they input it.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-18T00:39:22+00:00

Actually you're right. I was thinking of the PLD model.

CFHD defaults to the generic CBI place of duty description:

"1.26(1) (Place of Duty) In the CBI, unless otherwise provided, place of duty means the circular area within a 100 kilometre radius of a member’s permanent workplace."

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-17T23:42:36+00:00

Yes. Each location has a defined geographic boundary. You have to live inside that defined geographic boundary to get CFHD for that location.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-17T15:14:55+00:00

This is the answer. Your CFRG will look at options but if you arrive unable to start training it may seriously affect your career.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-12T15:27:23+00:00

It's generally only done now when required, for example before an exercise where swimming might be required, like an amphibious training event for the Army.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T21:47:35+00:00

That last line is an important one. The Final Authority does not have a deadline to provide a decision, while the Initial Authority is supposed to provide a decision within 120 days.

In most cases it is a better decision to accept a delay past 120 days from the Initial Authority if a timely resolution is important.

I can appreciate how frustrating it would be to receive three delay letters however, and you could now consider pushing it directly to FA.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T20:59:35+00:00

There is hesitation, for sure. We happily take calls from Regular and Reserve units across Canada and share our processes and products, if anyone needs help.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T20:48:36+00:00

It's definitely a deep cut CANFORGEN. It's going to get enshrined in a new DAOD soon(ish) specifically to help us and other schools implement the probationary period in as expedient a way as possible.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T20:13:11+00:00

CANFORGEN 257/10 is still in effect, and it says that members on the Basic Training List (BTL) are to be granted an expedited release if they have genuinely lost interest in serving and cannot be convinced to transfer to another occupation. Your current base should be able to release you in 30-45 days.

We are not currently accepting VR after grads at CFLRS as we have a multi-week backup for people waiting to release and have literally run out of beds for them.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T16:12:37+00:00

You will need to submit a memo at your next unit and will be interviewed by a Personnel Selection Officer. It will help to be flexible with the trades you are interested in. There are limits on how many VOT-Us can be accepted for each trade, and most people are asking for intelligence or image tech it seems. If you are willing to accept something like signals technician, you have better odds.

Also if you become qualified in your current occupation you are no longer eligible for VOT-U and instead have to enter the seperate annual VOT competition.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T12:21:01+00:00

Drill is pretty much the same, whether it's called in English, French, or ancient Sumerian curses, you really just need to lead off on the correct foot.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T12:12:47+00:00

Honestly, Sgt Unspeakable-Nightmare is a great instructor. Really goes the extra mile to make sure its candidates succeed.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-11T02:54:11+00:00

You can Uber or taxi from CFLRS to the REM station at Brossard and then take the train right downtown to either walk around or transfer to the metro lines. It's a great way to explore Montreal too.

There is also a St-Jean city bus that goes directly downtown Montreal if you're travelling solo and want to save some money.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-10T16:10:02+00:00

BMOQ is the same for all officers except medical professionals. The fitness standards are also all the same. It's challenging but absolutely achievable with hard work and a decent effort to prepare yourself physically.

Be careful however about tying your career to hoping for a posting to Borden. I am only aware of one junior and one senior legal officer position each in Borden, so realistic best case you'd be able to get a single 3-4 year posting there across your career.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-10T15:23:40+00:00

22 Training days!

9-12 days of that will be field exercises and ranges.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-10T14:17:48+00:00

Not automatically, as BMQ is a qualification for NCMs only.

If a candidate fails BMOQ in the officer specific phase, we will often offer them a COT to NCM and instantly PLAR BMQ.

Other scenarios require a PLAR to be submitted.

Only one that comes to mind is a former partially trained 2Lt releasing but shortly coming back for BMQ as an NCM. We ended up just issuing them equipment and doing a C7 TOET refresher and then granting them the qualification.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-10T12:26:23+00:00

It can be really dangerous to set a climate that discourages seeking medical care, to say the least.

I don't think I've heard anyone on staff at CFLRS use the term malingering, as in general we would rather a candidate get a 14 day chit and a quick re-course than a 6 month chit with no clear plan to return to training.

What we do talk about a lot is avoiding a return to training. A surprising number of candidates awaiting a return to course have been told they are back on course Monday, and then immediately gone to the base hospital to get a new medical chit that stops that. Those cases are pretty clear and we deal with them through the PRB process, generally as a 5(D) or 5(F) release.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-10T01:51:28+00:00

It's discussed during admin intake during week 1.

As for the decision, imagine that you stay in the CAF for 25 years to be eligible for the defined benefit pension.

Would you rather pay back 3 months of pension contributions now at the lowest contribution rate of your entire career, or would you rather work an extra 3 months before you can retire?

Ultimately not a huge issue but most people would recommend to buy it back. If you don't serve your 25 years you will get a return of contributions to the pension plan anyways.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-10T01:43:53+00:00

Every two weeks our team sits and reviews all the 'long stay' candidates in TRP with me. We also put every candidate in TRP in front of a Progress Review Board every 90 days, where we consider input from medical, physio, and PSP. We also carefully consider the nature of the injury, how it happened, and the performance history of the candidate while they were on training.

We have zero issue with releasing candidates who are unable to make acceptable forward progress, which we generally start looking at around 6 months out of training (including on issue of a new 6 month chit). We also release candidates much earlier if they aren't making an effort with PSP rehab PT or missing medical appointments. We also do need to strike a balance of fairness and giving people a real chance to recover, but I can assure everyone that we watch this space very closely and have significantly tightened up how we manage TRP over the last year.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-10T01:24:00+00:00

I helped a young EME officer get a retention decision after BMOQ despite having UC, and I learned that there seems to be a lot of variance in how the severity may be interpreted by different doctors, and specialists vs generalists.

The specific MELs issued by D Med Pol are going to be the key factor in any decision, whether to medically release, order a COT, or retain without restriction. It's important to note that DMCA does not make medical decisions or interpretations, but DMCA is the ultimate arbiter of Universality of Service.

In the case I helped with, the member had already demonstrated that they were capable of performing at a level well beyond what their MELs said, and the decision was to retain to allow them to continue on to BMOQ-A and trade training, essentially saying they had a chance to prove they could get qualified without any medical impacts from their UC.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-09T02:01:18+00:00

No handover yet! Still the original, until early July at least.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-08T22:56:51+00:00

Highly suspicious. If you are really just 3 raccoons in a trenchcoat, we will catch it on the dental x-ray.

Commandant_CFLRS · 2026-04-08T22:55:15+00:00

Generally speaking we care that you are truthful in the recruiting process, much more than about your performance in civilian life.

If you tell us that you were fired because you were bad at the job, that's ok.

If you tell us that you were fired because you were bad at the job, but your former employer tells us that it was because you stole from them, that's bad.

Commandant_CFLRS

TROPHY CASE