postings

[Lance]

I have serveral questions to ask. I apologize ahead of time if they have been answered in previous threads.

How much choice do you have on where you will be posted?

What is the chances of being posted back in your home province?

If your first posting is undesirable....how long before you can request a transfer?

If you like where you've been posted....Can you stay there or should you expect to be transferred every few years?

Thanks in advance for your time in responding,

Lance

[RyanSales]

Lance,

While you are at Depot, the first thing you get to do is put in a wishlist for your DIVISION. Some of the main factors in determining what division you go to are:

1. If you are from Ontario or Quebec, you'll only go back home if you are selected to go to a federal section.

2. Some provinces will NOT take their own recruits back. Others want their own recruits back. All depends. As well, some divisions are closed to new recruits due to fiscal restraints or staffing issues. This changes from a week to week basis sometimes.

3. The majority of new recruits are coming to Western Canada. When I went through, about 50% were going to E division alone.

4. If you are from atlantic Canada, chances aren't the greatest (still not bad, but not the greatest) as they often do not take a lot of recruits.

As far as whether or not your first posting is undesirable, it all depends on how long you can wait. If you are at an LDP, you are probably going to have to stick it out for the length of the LDP. If you are at a regular positing, usually they won't start entertaining the idea of a transfer until you've done 3-4 years. It costs an average of $30,000 to move us, and when you sign on the dotted line saying you agreed to be transfered anywhere, that's what you agreed to. That's not to say you couldn't ASK before 3-4 years....it's all a matter of whether or not they will entertain your request.

And as for staying longer, there are some members that have been at their particular detachment for 15+ years. The force just released a new Longevity strategy, so I'm not sure how things will be now, but in the past there were opportunitites to stay longer. This isn't guaranteed though, as there are numerous factors that staffing and personell must consider.

I hope this sheds some insight into the matter.

Cheers,
RY