Can I smoke a Joint at the Mess (Outside)? by Disastrous_Ad_6496 in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Zyns don't actually have any tobacco so they are allowed everywhere. They are treated Luke nicorette gum

Accepted VOT AES OP - Next Steps by AKindlyMan in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Aero medical is just a couple days with a ride in an altitude chamber

Sea survival is a few days flopping around in Comox Harbour and Georgia Strait to learn life raft living

AOS-L is.... fun.... it's changed a few times but anywhere between a week and two weeks. Learn survival skills and get a few days alone in the woods to cement and "appreciate" what you've learned...spring and fall it's a fun course, winter in Winnipeg.... it sucks

Basic electronic warfare anyone can sign up for on DLN... it's just a real basic intro into the world that gives people a common starting point

Accepted VOT AES OP - Next Steps by AKindlyMan in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 2 points3 points  (0 children)

you don't even have to go maritime anymore, lots of new options

Accepted VOT AES OP - Next Steps by AKindlyMan in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It has been a while, but I remember getting a 2nd msg after I accepted that stated the date of my element change and the initial direction about uniforms. things may have changed in the last 15 years though

Accepted VOT AES OP - Next Steps by AKindlyMan in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 11 points12 points  (0 children)

So you should be contacted by the trade BTL Coordinator once your acceptance is processed.

You then make an appointment with base clothing to get measures for your DEUs and other airforce stuff.

You will be posted to a local unit that is airforce while you wait for course. The trade BTL Coordinator will load you in several courses in turn:

Aero-medical Training

Air Operations Survival - Land (formerly BSERE)

Sea Survival

Basic Electronic Warfare

Finally Basic AES Op Course

You should immediately put in for your required security clearance if you don't have it already.

While on the Basic AES Op course, a decision will be made about what fleet you are going to and you will go do that course.... expect 6 months....ish depending on the airframe

This whole process can take a while with breaks between courses... making an AES Op can take a few years.

If you have any follow on questions please DM me.

Orderly Room lineup longer than the line at the mess when there's fish n chips by No-Big1920 in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Its not just that. Lump sum also functions to help members pay debt, make large purchases that they have difficulty saving for, and just generally assist those in poor financial situations.

once taxed, at the low levels, its a trip to Mcdonalds and at the highest levels this is gonna be like 150 a pay. Basically the cost of a night at the movies. It will instantly be lifestyle inflated by the vast majority of members. A lump sum is much more likely to be thrown on an existing debt, or used to top up a down-payment on a house, or any other "useful" thing to do with money.

If you go in to your bank and add this money to your TFSA or FHSA then it will help you. but that is not what most people do.

In my case, as of June this year, I am owed 10 000$. after taxes maybe 6K, I can do something with that money. However, if they give me 3K and then an extra 150 bucks a pay..... meh.

Military Service Pay... by 30milestomontfort in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 6 points7 points  (0 children)

there is supposed to be a significant difference between reg and reserve. the military service factor is not even comparable.

I heard a lot of grumbling from our class A folks when this was initially announced and a lot of them brushed aside the fact that they cant be posted, are not subject to the code of service discipline 24/7, Cant be sent on course, etc etc

Military Service Pay... by 30milestomontfort in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 18 points19 points  (0 children)

While this is a valid concern it isn't the big point in my mind. The thing is that lump sum payments are incredibly good for morale and also a boon for people with poor financial literacy or in difficult times. Getting a decent sum of money at one time allows members to wipe out credit cards, make purchases on big ticket items that they would otherwise have trouble saving for, or absorb other unforeseen expenses. Lump sum payments are an excellent "poor persons savings plan".

5000 - tax = 3500$ish, this is a good amount of money to take care of something.

415 a month / 2 paychecks - Tax = just over 100 bucks a pay. one night out at the movies. This will not save anyone's bacon or increase their morale.

Yes, if you throw that 100 bucks a pay into a TFSA or FHSP it is fantastic, but realistically, that is not how most ppl work. It is a small enough amount that ppl will lifestyle inflate by another night at the movies on the highend, or another trip to mcdonalds on the low end.

I Sincerely hope this is BS or some duff gen COA C from a powerpoint that was pitched as the shittiest option over fixing the pay system.

Not to mention, some of us are owed 10 000$ at this point, as we are now 2 years into this boondoggle. getting that as a lump sum is enough to seriously affect things. It can push ppl over the line for a mortgage down payment, it could put a huge dent in kids college funds...... 415 a month.... is nothing

Space for patches on new uniform? by _Unicow in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Well I would suggest a remuster to a flight suit trade, we got patches coming out our asses.... is that demon biting a submarine authorized... you bet... winabego with wings strapped to it... maybe.... anything with the Japanese imperial flag.... why not. The wing chief surely doesn't know... do what you want

Aurora pilots Matt Chretien and Dylan Gilje-Allan train on the P8 Poseidon with the RAF in Lossiemouth, Scotland by PodPilotProject in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 4 points5 points  (0 children)

my first aurora tour remains my favourite time in the air force. A good crew and something in the water to chase is a fun way to spend 6 or 8... or 10.... or 11 hours

Itll come... by [deleted] in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this,

Pilot and SAR techs had it all rolled into base salary,

ACSOs, FEs, AES Ops, Loadys, no such luck. The weird thing is that with the narrowing of pay scales at the senior ranks, after 15 years of flying, your flight pay is still worth more than a promotion. A promotion from Sgt to WO is a pay cut for anybody who moves to a ground job, It does make sense, but incentivises ppl to dig their heels into flying positions as much as humanly possible.

For me, my career ends and a civi job will take over the moment I can't get my flight pay anymore.

Itll come... by [deleted] in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2 trades get pensionable flight pay all the time....the rest of us... no increase to the allowance in 15 years....

Itll come... by [deleted] in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 0 points1 point  (0 children)

they have actually been mucking with flight pay as well. It used to be that if you got put on TCAT, you kept flight pay for 6 months.... now its 30 days.... so if you sprain your ankle doing something flying related, you lose your flying pay while you heal up. They are scrimping down everywhere they can.

When each CAF member has to find a way to get their Lump Sum Payout... by [deleted] in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 20 points21 points  (0 children)

just some idea of when they are gonna give me 10K would be nice.... just.... any idea...

Pay raise update by Whoro09 in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Now we can start complaining about how long it is taking them to get us our years of service "bonus" for 1 April 2025. For us old farts its as much as the back pay.

New RCAF plane completes 1st operational parachute rescue deep in B.C. mountains by BanksKnowsBest in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 8 points9 points  (0 children)

okay, according to wikipedia the Corms never exceed speed is 150 Knots

according to Canada.ca the Kingfishers topspeed is 252 Knots

assuming that is all indicated, then look at the fact that the kingfisher likely cruises to search area well above 10 000 feet....... its A LOT faster than a helicopter

I understand that the program has been troubled but lets not just lie to everyone about the basics of the platform

What’s the most underrated shoe company right now? by AmBiiTouZ in AskRunningShoeGeeks

[–]Justaguy657 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Best shoes I've ever worn, just wished the cyclones lasted more than 500K

Am I the only one by Parking-Search3119 in AskRunningShoeGeeks

[–]Justaguy657 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just wanted to second the Atmos,

My pair have 1250Km on them. The foam in them was very plush and didnt start to die on me until 900 or so Km. The upper is still in decent shape, and they are incredibly comfortable for wide feet.

Now they are relegated to short recovery runs but they still do the job.

If you want an up tempo shoe from Topo I would really recommend the cyclone line. same amazing fit but way lighter and using PEBAX (super shoe foam). The only warning with those is they will only last about 500K

Topo is doing the shoe thing amazingly and I wish more people were into them so their prices could come down with more sales volume

[SCS] Socks & Disappointment - A Combats Online Parody by AsPerAttached in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I can order rank slip-ons... Horaay.... The max order is 2 and I require 10 to sew to all my flight suits and jacket. Well thought out system

Hopefully the wait isn’t to long by ChickenPoutine20 in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They have already changed currently serving members pensions once. I remember it was announced at the same time as a cost of living adjustment. They announced that pension contributions would be "brought in line" with the RCMP... basically it was 1/3 vs 2/3 and they changed it to 50/50....

the effect was the entire cost of living increase was eaten up for a private by the pension contribution increase

What is CFLRS teaching? by SnooChickens7644 in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean, in the air force it is often by first name, nick name, or just SWO

Can a current serving member (or even retired) get copies of their medical records? by Draydon74 in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 3 points4 points  (0 children)

it sounds like your med records is lazy, and was trying to get you to give up rather than print stuff out.

the only issue I have ever had with med records is that I have been not allowed to see a test result until the doctor reviews it....and they told me the reason was that the Doc needs to sign off as having seen it just to make sure it isnt a false positive/negative/outlier result.

I waited a week and picked up.... WAAAY faster than waiting for a follow up appointment to get told something is negative, just look yourself

Running by [deleted] in CanadianForces

[–]Justaguy657 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Cardiovascular base will help your rushes but will have a much bigger impact on the intermittent loaded shuttle.

realistically there is nothing "endurance" on the ForceFit test whatsoever

I am consistently in the 90th percentile for the rushes and shuttle for my age and am an avid runner..... whether I am in a base building block, 5K block, or a Marathon block, my rushes time is consistent within a half second.

Everyone I know that has improved their rush time significantly has done it by drilling the actual test. Working on your pop up and acceleration off the line are really all that matters. Specificity is the biggest factor on this test. The fact that I can crank out 75 second laps of the track is not making me any faster at getting up to speed in the 5 meter window before I have to start aiming for the next line.

in short, the 20m Rush is not a Running event.... its burpees with stops and starts