Army overflowing with recruits, but air force short

Of course the air force is short the odds of getting to become a pilot with such a small fleet of aircrafts just isn't worth it

If we were fighting the Battle of Britain right now, then the air force would be overflowing with recruits.

However, because we're in Afghanistan, and the lion's share of the annual budget goes to the Army, recruits want to join the Army, not the air force or navy.

Pilots make up a VERY small percentage of Air Force staff, I wouldnt be supprised if it was in the >5% range.

Airforce is made of mostly tradesmen (ie Contruction Engineers, Photo Tecs, Fire Fighters) with several aviation trades thrown in for good measure (ie Air Traffic Control, Aero Space Engineers). Not to mention that if you go for a trade which supports all three branches ( MPs, Cooks, Clerks ect).

That is unusual some folks think that the airforcr is more glamorous than the army. If you a pilot that's true.

That is because pilots are officers, they are supposed to live well.

Case of more people looking to get some than to serve the country.

Huh?

If you happen to be a pilot, yeah. There is no better job that flying some super fast and very manueverable jet with weapons on it! but if you gotta get stuck with repairing airway roads or stuck behind a desk looking at air traffic. I imagine you'd be day dreaming about being in the Army where you almost always get to do something worthwhile.

I myself though find the army to be more glamorous though, being the CAF almost never gets called upon and they fly aging jets. They will almost get no luck getting government support to raise money to replace those aging jets being even the army is having though love as well. If I had the skills to be-able to apply and get in the CAF. I would still choose to be in the Army as a Combat Engineer or even Inf.

Nothing is warming in the winter than a blue berret. My backup plan, if something was to happen and I couldnt do my job anymore, would be to go blue as a Photo Tech. Hell I know of several Combat Engineers who said 'Fuck this' and went contruction engineer.

The problem is the same as with all Canadian Military recuiting, they dont sell the jobs enough. Your adverage Canadian citizen is completely ignorant of the military, and they like it that way. Until you change that you are going to get recuiting short-falls.

Canada has to become more flashy with their military if they want the ranks to swell.

I'd just be happy if I COULD get into the CF, even if it was just a desk job

Sadly I'll never get that chance.

Why not?

Traffic-tech.....now that's a job! In the RAF it was anyway! See the world, shag chicks of every colour and ethnicity.....the odd angry shot now and then.....living the dream!

Per Ardua ad Astra.