RCMP

[journey2cps-redux]

Guest1,

Unfortunately I can't say... ...Non disclosure and all.
All I can say, is if it's not asked don't tell. They only need the info that they ask for...Infer what you like.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Rexina]

dalex, great improvement on your PARE time! Sounds like you've got it beat. ;D

Dragon, I'm so sorry to hear about your interview. I'm glad that you had an interviewer with a positive, encouraging attitude though; that makes all the difference. They know you have the right stuff, and want you back! ;D That's great that you can rewrite Nov next year, is there no minimum deferral there? 16 months seems a rather odd number, can you shed any light on that?

As to the Depot expenses issue, from what I hear DaveTO is spot on about the shoe polish! There's also dry cleaning, kits, toiletries, classroom supplies (pens, paper, binders), textbooks. Someone mentioned to me that it costs $30 to get your spurs "chromed" so you don't have to polish them. Time off-base is a sanity essential, so there's what you would spend on the occasional movie, dinner out, or couple of beers with your troop. I guess it depends on how much sanity you feel you need! All these things are small, but I guess it adds up over 22 weeks.

On another "expenses" note, is it true that each troop pays for their own graduation dinner/party?

Rexina

[journey2cps-redux]

Rexina,

I think the troops do have to pay for that...but I'm not 100% sure...Mrs Jamaf or Ace 13 would be able to say for sure. I think I recall Jamaf, saying they had to pay for their own grad party, but not sure about the dinner....

[Longshot]

Guest-guest said:

Illegally downloading a song from the internet is no different than stealing the single from a record store. How do you differentiate between the two.


I agree that it is "fairly" minor in the scheme of things but to post that you don't have to disclose things of that nature is wrong. If asked specifically whether you downloaded MP3's you should say yes (if you have). Withholding that info might come back to bite you in the butt later.

Aren't there a bunch of lawsuits from the record companies sueing the little everyday people like you and I in the states right now? It may be coming here.

Also, I would not disclose anything freely in your interview unless specifically asked to do so. Maybe that is what you meant Maverick?

This is a non-issue. You better also talk about all the books you photo-copied in college, all the sheet-music you illegally copied in high-school band, the TV shows you recorded on your VCR, etc. These are all minor technical violations. Just don't distribute or make money from it and you're fine. And as for getting sued in the States, RIAA is only targeting people who are offering copyrighted mp3s for distribution.

[Guest1]

Thanks for the reply J2D. I understand your position with the non-disclosure.

Thanks again!

[DaveTO]

I'm sure that there are going to be times when the cafeteria serves mystery meat for dinner, and you are craving some swiss chalet. Figure on eating out once per week minimum, and going through a tin of shoe polish at least once a month.

Unless you are really good with the iron, you will get your shirts dry cleaned, and you'll need a criminal code (and other textbooks) for class. Gun cleaning kits, shirts/socks/toiletries all add up.

I think the most expensive part is if your training overlaps winter break, and you have to go home. You know you'll get the last-minute rip-you-off rate from Air Canada!

At least you get a tax credit for the time that you're at Depot. I think it's $400 per month...

[Maverick]

I agree with longshot, this is a non-issue, let's move on to something more interesting to talk about, debate is always fun, but I think we've beat this one to death

[macguy9]

Tax *credit*?? I was under the impression is was a taxable benefit, that's what it says at the RCMP website.

If it's a taxable benefit, that means that you pay tax on it at the end of the year... you don't get a credit for it. They consider it as something you're getting for nothing, it's almost like an earning. And the taxman has to have his bite of that.

At least that's how it works with the taxable benefits I get at my workplace.

[journey2cps-redux]

It's the exact same form you would get if you were attending post secondary. Depot is considered a post secondary institute and therefore "students" can apply for student loans/lines of credit. They will also receive a taxable benefit from the govt for the year(s) that you attended school. Bottom line...makes for a really good tax return, since you aren't working for six months of the year. ;D

[macguy9]

Well, hot damn! That makes life a lot better! I was under the impression that I'd have to go without earnings for half a year, pay for the 'incidentals', maintain a mortgage and whatnot, and STILL get reamed at the end of the tax year because of these 'taxable benefits'. I'm glad that's not the case! ;D

At my workplace, if we take university courses in our spare time, the workplace pays for it, and gets the tuition credit. At the end of the year, we also get taxed on the value of the courses we took, even though we didn't get the tax credit for it, because it's a 'benefit' to us in that we get the free education. I assumed depot would be that way too. I may have to speak to my friend to ask him what happened to him when he went through depot.

Oh yeah, and apparently he got posted there as an instructor! They told him he's leaving in a few weeks, so now he's in mad panic mode, trying to sell the house and find accomodations in regina. You can just imagne what that house hold must be like right now!

[Bas]

macguy9,

After hearing about your friend, I am glad I'm a 23 single and a renter now

Speaking of debts, I will be graduating from University next April with my bachelors in Computer Information Systems. I figure I will have roughly 20k debt by then. Does that create problems in the application process with regards to debt load? A few pages back I thought I read that someone got deferred based on their current financial situation, possibily has to do with credit card debts, car and mortgage payments.

Bas

[ace13]

Hi guys,

I haven't checked in for a while ... missed the whole debate about myself ;D

Anyway, I just figured I'd let the board know ... which I'm sure that you already do . . . I do not know the answers to everything. I'm new at this job and I'm learning alot. I do not believe for one minute that people of this board think that what I say is gospel. People ask questions, I give the best answers that I have ... just like when I asked questions and people gave me answers.

I found this board quite helpful throughout the process and I would hope that others find it just as helpful.

I do not dare to compare Surrey Detachment to any other detachment ... that's not my style. I know that I am busy and I'm sure that other detachments are as well. I can only post what I know ...

With regards to depot being easy ... I wouldn't say that it was easy for me. I had struggles and I had to work very hard to get through. Depot is very demanding and requires hard work and dedication. But, it is a goal that can be conquered if you work hard. I am proud that I have made it through.

Once again, I do not believe that I sugar coat any facts. The RCMP recruiting process is long and stressful and there is no way to sugar coat that. I, personally, believe that if you have a positive outlook on life ... you will be a happier person! Thus, that's why I tend to have a positive attitude and offer positive advice!

Take Care and good luck to all applicants.
Ace13

[Maverick]

I'm confused about the taxable benefit too. "Taxable Benefit" is not a good thing, it's one of the boxes on your T4 but it is not a deduction. What we want is taxable credit but they didn't word it that way....I'm confused. Maybe a grad can come on and help us figure it out.

[rebel2232]

It sounds like you recieve both a taxable benefit and a taxable credit.

The benefit being your room and board is paid for by the RCMP, and the credit being that you are enrolled in a full time credited institution.

[Storm]

HOLY WOW!

I missed the debate, I got to stop by more often! To bad some people left after starting their debate.

Ace13 answers back with style and elegance not a lot sarcasm and verbal smack down (unlike how I would have answered).

Ace13 in her modesty did not mention that her "mall cop" rft investigations included being involved in a variety of violent crimes, I will not go on to mention them in detail.

I actually took offence more than Ace did to Bull's comments. He strikes me as a full-of-himself-know-it-all either fresh off of RFT or a been in a while been-there-done-that member who is not getting what he wants. WHere we came from a 3.7 would not get you an interview. I found Depot demanding and required time management, I guess some people are much better equipped for the task or better at cutting a corner here and there.

He was quick to fire his shots, hmmmm, but funny he did not stick around long to hear the rebuttals, I guess the major sprawling crime area of Burnaby was calling him.

Anyway, I had my 2 cents worth. I am posted to Richmond, I am no where near as busy as ACE13, but I take serious offence to anyone who says my RFT is no different than being a mall cop. LAst time I checked mall cops don't wear body armor, carry tasers, pistols and have to clear houses at 2am, hmmmm, I wonder what exactly Bull (right name for him) did while an rft?

Storm