RCMP

[ace13]

Sporto,

APRIL 2003!!!!  Holy crap!  That's a long time!  I have to run the PARE on June 3rd.  From what I heard from Depot, if I pass everything, and all goes well, I could look at going to depot after Christmas.  But I am not counting chickens before they hatch!  I really really want to pass, so I am taking things one step at a time.

Keep us posted.
Ace13

[[e-mail]]

Wow! My application is moving at lightning speed compared to Sporto's.

wrote RPAT Dec. 2001
received results Jan. 2002
received application package Apr. 2002
ran PARE May 1 2002
And about one hour ago, my recruiter phoned me at home to say my interview is next week on May 15. She also told me that departure for Depot could come as early as this September. So now with one week until my interview, my nerves are going into overdrive. This is the part I've been dreading since I began. I always put a lot of pressure on myself to do well in interviews. I've got to find a way now to relax and be myself. But its all riding on this 2-3 hour slice of my life. Do well on the interview and I hopefully will find myself on a plane to Regina in a few months. So.....anyone have any pre-interview tips to calm the nerves?? Thanks.

DT

[[e-mail]]

Nice work DT!! My interview was 4.5 hours long. The longer the better. Just go over everything in the pre-interview sheet they have given you and just be yourself.It is stressfull but if you have what it takes you will roll with it no problem. Get lots of sleep and don't think about it the night before if you can. Good luck to you.

Slider

[[e-mail]]

Slider2, did your interview include both the suitability and security parts? I probably won't need the security interview as I already have Top Secret clearance with the RCMP. Thanks.

DT

[cpl_mike]

While on patrol I ran into an officer from Vancouver B.C ( he's on vacation with his girlfirend and they were enjoying Sunny So.California-that was the "scary" part to me ! LOL)Anyway, he basically bore out what you poor candidates have been posting here for quite awhile-IT IS HARD TO GET HIRED IN CANADA!But as fire and the blacksmiths hammer tempers a sword, so too should your resolve be strengthened! Encourage one another, pass one the tips,tragedies,successes, and stay determined-for all of you that endure, the badge on your chest will be a heavy burden, but one you'll wear with pride.!

[sporto]

Hey DT, what province are you applying from?  If you are from BC I can understand why your application is going so quick.  I heard they are dying for officers.  Is anyone else here applying from Alberta?

Good luck on your interview DT.  This is going to sound stupid but try to get some rest the night before and take your minnd off things by watching a movie.  At a minimum, read the paper the morning of your interview and the day before.  They will ask you about current events and what your take is on them.  You will do the suitability interview first.  It should take about 2 hours.  They then let you go for lunch and sweat for a while.  They don't tell you until after lunch whether you passed the suitibility portion and can proceed on to the security portion of the interview.  Just a warning, it will be the longest lunch of your life (if you can even eat)!  Your stomach is going to be tense so I would take something light and high energy for lunch so you don't feel sluggish for the security interview.  The security portion also takes about 2 hours.  

[fredcailloux30]

Hello Sporto !
I don't know what's happened with your application but (in QC) I called my Division and she told me that my departure for Depot could come as early as this September or november...

So, good luck  

fred

[sporto]

Hey Fred,

Here in Alberta I was told they are taking about 100 Alberta candidates up to November 2002 and around that number after November.  They currently have a list of around 110 passed and completed applicants and are working on a list of around 50 applicants trying to finish their background searches, etc for post November.  I think I am in the list of 50 so I won't be going to after November sometime.  I find it dificult to understand why they separate everything by province?  We all signed up for this with the understanding that we could be posted anywhere at all in Canada.

[[e-mail]]

Sporto,

my application is in Ontario..Ottawa specifically. I have no idea how many cadets from Ontario they are looking to send.  Thanks for the interview tips.

DT

[ace13]

DT,

I was speaking with my friend who's a cop with the RCMP and she told me that not to panick about the interview.  She told me that she was freaked about hers too when she did it, but it wasn't too bad once she was in there.  She said that the interviewer makes you feel very comfortable and questions are general so that anybody can answer them.  She said that the best thing to do is to go through the guideline sentence by sentence and write down a situation that applies to that sentence.   She said that they are just looking for honest replies that confirms that you suit the characteristics for a police officer.  Honesty is especially important in the security interview.  Good luck and keep us posted.  If I pass the PARE on June 3rd, I'll hopefully be in your boots soon and then I'll need tips from you!

Ace13

[[e-mail]]

Thanks Ace13. I have heard the the interview preparation guide they provide is a valuable tool to use. I've also heard before that they try to relax you as much as possible to reduce the nervousness. Like I've mentioned before, my recuiter said I shouldn't have to do the security interview since I already have Top Secret with the RCMP. If thats the case I'm probably looking at an interview of about 2 hours or so. I'll post a report next Wednesday.

DT

[ace13]

DT,

I'd love to test run the PARE, but it would cost $40 to test run and then $40 to do the actual run  . . . and I'm not even sure if you can test run it, if you are in the process.  Does anybody know?  I've been trying to simulate the push-pull, I can simulate the pull with one side of a cable crossover machine, does anybody know how I can simulate the push?  

Thanx

[sporto]

Hey there Ace,

Wear tightly tied, good gripped shoes and keep your center of gravity LOW for the push/pull portion.  Skootch your bum down when pulling and try to push slightly up and into the push arms when pulling.  You are going to need your body weight to aid your push/pull.  Don't hesitate to scream and get a little mad at the push/pull section.  Work yourself up and don't give up.  Keep thinking "I am not going to let this stand between me and a career I always dreamed of".  Always remeber too that it is only 4:45 minutes of pain for a potential lifetime of happiness as an RCMP officer.  Before people start running the PARE ask the instructors if you can test the weight of the push/pull machine.  They let us try it out before we ran.  It feels alot lighter when you are pumped up during the test so don't get pshyched out.  During my PARE I saw a girl approximately 5'4" tall and about 110 pound do the PARE in 3:40!  Good luck and kick a#%!

[ace13]

That's another concern that I have with the push and pull, it involves my height and weight!  I am 5ft2 and weight apprx. 118 pounds.  I heard that the push is set up for a 5ft8 person, so it's awkward when doing it, if you are short.  I have been working out now for a while, and always have before the RCMP.  I can bench press about 110 pounds, so hopefully, I will be able to push it out in a different direction!  Thanks for the tips Sporto.  I will definitely keep the board posted on how it goes.  I'd say I will difinitely have more questions between now and June 3rd as well!    

[[e-mail]]

Ace,

just to put your mind a ease a little. I will be 43 years old this coming October. I am 6 feet tall and weigh
about 165 lbs. Although I carry very little fat, I'm not what you would call a big or heavy guy. I did my official PARE in 3:20. Now I had two practice runs over a couple of weeks prior because I can use the gym at HQ and every Wednesday night it is set up for PARE training. The first time I did it I was completely by myself and just pushed my stopwatch and I was off and running. I did it in exactly 3:30 Then I later found out that I was doing the controlled fall after hurdling the high bar incorrectly. All six of my falls were onto my chest. You have to alternate falling onto your chest with falling onto your back. I find it takes longer to recover from falling onto your back. And yet for my official PARE I shaved 10 seconds off my first time. For the offical run the administrator walked us through the course and allowed us a chance to try the push/pull to get a feel for the weight. You should have that opportunity too. It really isn't that difficult to push/pull. The training I did to get ready for the PARE was Taekwon-Do 4 times a week plus 2 sessions of interval spinning (biking) classes. I also did weight lifting in my basement twice a week. I limited my exercises to squat, bench press, shoulder press, pull-ups and abdominal work. I'd throw in the odd jog or long but quick walk with the dog.

So yes, you want to prepare for it but as long as you are in pretty good shape already you will do fine. Remember...do not take off like a bat out hell. You must pace yourself. I aimed for 25 seconds to complete each cycle of the obstacle course. The administrator was very encouraging the whole time and let me know my time after completing each cycle. Starting off with that pace may feel slow to you at first but you have to do 6 cycles. You must have enough gas in the tank to get you to the push/pull so that you are not exhausted. Make sure you clear the broad jump mat, do not knock any bar off on the low jumps and do not let the weight drop to the floor in the push/pull. Each of those infractions is a penalty and you will have time added on to your completed time. Its not that bad and just think..its only about 3 and 1/2 minutes out of your entire life. Give it your best and you'll be fine. Good luck!

DT