Military is a pretty good job, be it full or part-time
By Bill Rea
Canadian Forces need personnel, and they are trying to attract both volunteers to join, as well as encourage employers to cooperate with staffers who wish to be reservists.

Sub-Lieut. Carmella Harrity and Lt.-Cmdr. Bob Gwalchmai were chatting Friday on the deck of HMCS Fredericton.

HMCS Fredericton was in the area late last week as part of Operation Connection, which is an initiative to connect with Canadians through a range of co-ordinated communitybased activities.

The problem, according to the Forces, is many Canadians are not aware of the many unique opportunities, benefits, challenges and rewards of military service.

Fredericton took a cruise in Lake Ontario Friday, carrying a host of passengers, as well as several guests of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council. Many of them were business people, who the council was trying to encourage to support employees who volunteer to be reservists.

Reservists are considered members of the Forces, usually serving part-time, while they hold down jobs or go to school.

"Through their military training, they acquire

Fredericton's captain, Commander Gilles Couturier, addressed the passengers taking the cruise on his ship

abilities that are valuable to all employers; management skills, work values, and trade and occupational training," according to material issued by the council. "Reservists bring the benefits of their military training directly to the civilian workplace and become more productive, more capable and highly motivated employees."

The service people greeting visitors aboard Fredericton had lots of information about the attractions of the military, although they were understandably on the side of the navy.

Schomberg resident Lt.Cmdr. Bob Gwalchmai, training officer of HMCS York in Toronto, observed that people in the army might get a tent or a hole in the ground, but things are different on the naval side of things.

"You always know where your bed is," remarked SubLieut. Carmella Harrity.

They both stressed there

part-time

is a lot more career mobility than one might expect in the military. A person in the navy could be assigned to Army or Air Force work. "A lot of people don't realize that nothing's written in stone," Harrity commented.

For the entertainment of the guests on board, Fredericton did some high-power figure-8s in Lake Ontario Friday, causing the ship to list a number of degrees.

Gwalchmai added a person can aspire just about any assignment they want, provided they can meet the physical requirements. It's even possible for one to change specialties.

They both tried to counter the idea that pay is very bad in the Canadian military. Harrity has about three-and-a-half years in the service, and she's making about $52,000 annually. She said she's a direct-entry officer, having come to the forces from university. She added she's hoping to eventually return to school and earn her MBA.

Gwalchmai added some might perceive the pay is bad because men with wives and children might start their military careers in their 30s, so they could have trouble making ends meet at entry pay. For others, it's pretty good. As well, he said people in the naval service get extra pay when they go to sea.

"I think it's a pretty good living," Harrity said.

"And it's an honourable living," Gwalchmai added.

He agreed that a lot of kids would not find it attractive. "It's not a cool thing to do," he remarked.

"They don't know enough about it, and they're not willing to learn about it," he lamented, pointing out it's not a bad career path. "There's another option for employment in society."

"They only have to find out about it," he added. "That's the key."

As well, he said it's secure employment. A 35year-old man with kids could be laid off in the private sector.

"If you do your job in the military as best you can do it, you will be guaranteed employment," he said. "Where else have you got that job security?"

Lt.-Col. James Sullivan stressed the benefits to employers of letting their people take time off for reservist work in the forces. Most of the time, these reservists are able to fulfill their obligations after work or on weekends, but training often requires more time, meaning they have to give up their vacations. That can be rough on families. He added there are a number of tools and programs available to facilitate this process, and Sullivan stated employers can do their part for the country by having a military leave policy.

Sullivan said he himself is a reservist. He's employed by Air Canada, which does have such a policy. In fact, during the ice storm in eastern Canada in the late '90s, he was able to get the services of six pilots for two weeks at full pay.

Bolton resident Col. (H) Bill Coyle, Ontario vicechair of the liaison council, pointed to the degree of professionalism and readiness that was demonstrated on ship.

"I think that should make you kind of proud," he said, adding the level of training on ship is comparable to what the reservists get.