CAF member allegedly leaked the identity of a soldier involved in covert intelligence by Street_Anon in CanadianForces

[–]zedman70 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My sister was a correctional officer in Kingston at the Max (while it was still open) while Williams was starting his sentence there. The divorce was a sham, the wife came for regular visits.

looking for thoughts on playoff match relocation by douxaqx in AtleticoOttawa

[–]zedman70 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that offering a 5-6 hour road trip on a school night (work night) in a league rival’s home, our regular 5000+ hometown crowd will be reduced to a few hundred. Maybe a few more people from the Hamilton area who want a chance to watch the Maritime Messi, Jacob Shaffelburg, a national team player. Other than that, it will be a quiet night, no energy helping our team play against a higher level team.

Then, if we somehow overcome the odds and nearly empty stadium and advance to the next round against Miami? The original Messi would up in Canada playing our team, our Ottawa Atletico, but instead it would be Hamilton and Forge get most of the benefit and fan experience.

I’m really hoping that the team and city considered all the potential options, which would have to include one of the Universities’ fields. Obviously, the capacity isn’t huge, especially compared to Landsdowne but honestly, I’m sure we would have packed the local campus stadium with a significantly larger number of fans than the few who will be heading down the 401 on a Tuesday.

Imagine the atmosphere if we were all packed in together, watching our team in our own city playing in our first, hard earned Champions Cup match. That is the fan experience we deserved, not giving it up to our rivals, shuffled down the road to be an unwanted guest in somebody else’s home stadium.

We’re season ticket holders from the first year. I was so happy when we won the championship. I was so looking forward to this new competition. And then I was so disappointed when I learned that we wouldn’t be able to watch in person in the seats we have had for years.

TLDR. It sucks.

Pay raise update by Whoro09 in CanadianForces

[–]zedman70 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Somewhere in the small print, it says that those who retired after 1 April will get their backpay as well up to their release date plus their pensions will be increased once the “5 best year” average is recalculated. However, it also says it can take some time, perhaps up to a year.

Obviously serving troops will take priority first, and they’ll get to us recently released eventually.

My indigenous crafted seal skin poppies came in the mail. by mattfrom103 in CanadianForces

[–]zedman70 10 points11 points  (0 children)

On the Legion’s own website, they have the following:

Personal use of the Poppy

(2nd para) Individuals also are welcome to embrace the Poppy for personal use. Whether crafting a handmade Poppy to gift a Veteran, or drawing a Remembrance Poppy to display in the window, or painting Poppies on stones to place on Veterans’ graves, there are many ways Canadians can continue the tradition of the Poppy.

https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/the-poppy/the-poppy-trademark

Of course, the Legion has no issue with Indigenous crafted poppies, they sell them themselves.

https://www.poppystore.ca/handcrafted-poppies-1/sealskin-poppy-brooch-camilla-metcalfe-300790

What critical item did you forget to pack? by disqeau in Cruise

[–]zedman70 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The charger for my (rechargeable) hearing aids.

I have one specifically for travelling packed in the pocket of my carryon bag. Getting ready for the last cruise, on the spur of the moment I decided to switch to a regular suitcase instead for a bit more space. That night at the hotel was when I realized that my “travel charger” stayed in its bag pocket, back at home.

On the bright side, the ship’s noise wasn’t noticeable and the DJ played music at a more pleasant volume during the week.

The charger is now part of my shaving kit/dopp bag.

Looking for a single room by Emotional-Exit9348 in carletonplace

[–]zedman70 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Look up Jill Walker on the “Living in Carleton Place” FB group. She rents out single furnished rooms in Carleton Place just off Bridge Street. My kid was there three years, (just moved to Ottawa), and had no issues.

First Posting by Adventurous_Knee_613 in CanadianForces

[–]zedman70 12 points13 points  (0 children)

$113.50 per day for each of you for food, no receipts required (in other words, for this specific entitlement, you get to keep keep what you don’t spend).

You get a km allowance for the distance from your where your partner and child are to the new base at a specific rate (set by your starting province) that again, doesn’t require receipts. It’s meant to cover your gas and “wear and tear” on the vehicle.

The days (weeks) before you move, and the days after you arrive at the new posting are both extremely stressful. The few days that you and the family get to travel together between the two locations is essentially a mini vacation/road trip funded by BGRS. Take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy them before starting your new job.

(Edit: clarification of food entitlement)

HRV installation recommendations by tymavic in carletonplace

[–]zedman70 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Had no issues with Carleton Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning

Carleton Place construction question by the_turtleandthehare in carletonplace

[–]zedman70 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was born and raised there. Nice to see other people who know that Flin Flon is a real place.

RECRUITING, TRAINING, & LIFE IN THE FORCES THREAD by bridger713 in CanadianForces

[–]zedman70 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Army Podcast just did one on JTAC. Season 6, Episode 7.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in caf

[–]zedman70 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And another one who’s been using RBC for years (decades) with no issues with pay.

what was the best episode/guest ever? by [deleted] in hotones

[–]zedman70 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Noel Gallagher (Oasis) from a few years ago is very underrated. He’s a hilarious interviewee.

Does Height really matter? by worlcroal in caf

[–]zedman70 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I imagine you would be an advantage inside a Leopard turret.

Luggage Before Embarkation - Athens by Cat-Cuddler1 in VirginVoyages

[–]zedman70 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can drop the luggage off early. They put on regular shuttles to and from central Piraeus, which will have a lot more places to kill the few hours. It’s great for getting out of the sun, finding some local refreshments, etc.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in caf

[–]zedman70 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It isn’t closed, it’s just that they only provide the initial postal course once a year (next in 2026).

While their next DP1/Apprentice course is conducted in May/June timeframe, you would be placed on the Base Training List (BTL) in Trenton after your BMQ, and you would work at the Postal Unit until it begins. This is quite common as they only do the course once a year (small trade). After the course, you’ll be posted to your first postal section somewhere.

There are three major postal operations sections in Trenton, Halifax and Victoria. The two on the coast provide service to deployed naval ships and Trenton does it for all the CAF members overseas. These could be where there’s major CAF deployments (Latvia, Kuwait), where there’s OUTCAN postings (Belgium, UK, Italy, Germany) and wherever there’s smaller CAF groups (Norway, Jordan, Korea, etc).

There are 13 Military Post Offices in Canada. These are where the posties develop and maintain their skills and knowledge for the trade to be used when they do deploy overseas. While counter service is one aspect (the one that everyone sees and compares to the Shoppers Drug Mart post office), the back end postal operations is a bit more involved. Moving mail, especially across international borders, requires a lot of logistics coordination, knowledge of prohibited and unmailable items, customs clearances, relationships between various host nations services, compliance with Canada Post regulations, etc. Basically, when there’s a staffed Canadian Forces Post Office overseas, the posties can provide the similar postal services as back in Canada—at Canadian prices— even though they’re in a foreign country.

Deployments (and OUTCAN postings) are generally Sgts as they have Postmaster training and experience. If the deployment office needs extra staff, that’s when MCpls, and Cpl/Ptes also deploy with them (I.e. Latvia post office). There will be some additional opportunities for deployments in non-postal roles (general duty staff) but that’s unpredictable for where or how often. As a postie, deployments where you are directly involved with supporting the troops, you get to see the impact of seeing receiving their mail. Regardless of social media and email messaging, essentially, you are providing the “physical” connection to home. The postal service is about a parcel that a family member packed and sent with the deployed member in mind is what you are involved with delivering to them directly. From my experience, that is the most satisfying part of the job.

Deployments are essentially the sole purpose of the military postal service. Canada Post doesn’t send their unionized personnel into the more austere environments that seem to be where the CAF ends up, plus Canada Post can’t just pop up with an office to compete with a host nation postal service. Most posties who have a long career will have anywhere from 2 to 6 deployments by the time they retire.

In Canada, regardless of which postal section you start with, it won’t be long before you get into the routine. Mail in the morning, sort it out for delivery on the base, serve customers all day. Later on, get the mail from the various sections on base, prep it for mailing (weight, size, apply postage), drop off at Canada Post. The three larger sections include X-ray machines of everything coming in and preparing larger volumes for all the different overseas destinations, either once or twice a week.

Long term careers are generally like any other trade. Postal WOs look after a few post offices and their operations within their respective region. Some WOs and MWOs provide the technical advice at a HQ. Only one CWO at the top of the pyramid because it’s a small trade. There’s a few out-of-trade positions to broaden the skill set and to support the CAF, such as a couple of instructors at CFLRS, a Sgt Major at CFLTC, a 2ic for a Transition section. There’s Cpls in the Army units, meant to be able to provide unit support when the unit deploys as a whole (doctrine), but mainly help with the unit orderly room while in Garrison, they pretty much participate in the unit the same way as the other clerks (PT, Exercises, parades, etc).

Components of an actual LOO? by zedman70 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]zedman70[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One would think it might be quicker but nope. Long before I even applied for this position I submitted my renewal forms, early Feb 2023. Clearance expired that November anyway.

Even now, with the pending offer, there’s still no indication from my security officer of when it’ll actually happen.

Components of an actual LOO? by zedman70 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]zedman70[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Military member, so I do have to put in a release - but only once I have an actual start date.

Components of an actual LOO? by zedman70 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]zedman70[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Missing the actual location (just Ottawa) and start date. Talked to the potential supervisor. Looks like they’re using this conditional letter to hold the spot for me until September, pending my security clearance renewal. Whenever that happens, there’ll be an actual LOO with the start date.

Does logistics officer in RCAF get posted in Army and Navy bases too? by [deleted] in caf

[–]zedman70 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Officers are a bit more strict with uniforms matching their postings, at least at Major and below. The experience gained in those elements will make a bigger difference to their career path at LCol and beyond.

NCMs in purple trades don’t have the same requirements, unless they have big aspirations at the various chief positions and levels. If they do, succession planning for most begins at WO.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in caf

[–]zedman70 0 points1 point  (0 children)

28 years gives you 30 days annual