How to Join the Canadian Army

Canadian flag

If you're a Canadian citizen who's at least 17 years old, with a minimum grade 10 or Secondary III (Quebec) education, you may be eligible to join the Canadian Army. In addition to being a soldier, you'll have access to educational and employment opportunities in a variety of fields including medicine, research, engineering, computers, mechanics and several others. Non-commissioned members must stay in for a minimum of three years, while officers provide nine years of service.

Things You'll Need

• Birth certificate
• Educational transcripts
• Trade license (if employed in a trade)

Instructions

1. Submit your application. Apply in person at a local recruitment center or online through the National Defence and the Canadian Forces website. Once you've completed the online application, you'll still need to print it out, sign it and either mail it or bring it in to a recruitment center. To find a recruitment center near you, call [phone].

2. Take the electronic Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (eCFAT). This test tells your military career counselor what jobs or positions you're best suited for.

3. Submit to a thorough medical examination. While you won't automatically be disqualified because of disease or disability, you may be restricted in the type of work you can do.

4. Consent to an enhanced reliability check. This is a background check to make sure that you're a reliable and trustworthy person.

5. Prepare for your employment interview. A military career counselor will help you decide what type of work you'd be best at. To prepare for this interview, talk to a Recruitment Officer about the career opportunities available. They're trained to give career advice to new recruits.

6. Be interviewed by a military career counselor. Arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment. Be ready to talk about your educational and work background, as well as any activities you've been involved with. The counselor will discuss the position you're interested in, where and how long the training is, what you find most and least appealing, and how you'll handle job difficulties.

7. Accept the enrollment offer if it is given, and participate in the enrollment ceremony welcoming you into the Canadian Army.

References

• Enrollment Eligibility
• Employment Application
• Preparing for Your Interview