Alberta Paramedics

[mariomike]

Saw this in another thread. Will reply here.

How well does serving as a medic in the CAF transfer into civilian applications?

I would just like to know all of my options and possible career pathways before I dedicate my 20s to servitude in the CAF,

I would not consider time in the CAF as "servitude". You may wish to consider the CAF as your career choice.

But, if one's ambition is to get out of the CAF - before you even join the CAF - you should know that Alberta Paramedics are unionized.

So, you may wish to inquire if the Senior Qualified process is applicable to becoming a Tactical, TEMS or ETF Paramedic with your desired future employer.

ie:

Senior Qualified Process: job postings shall be filled on a senior qualified basis.

Kang_13

would serving in the CAF provide any significant advantage towards beating out the competition for TEMS?

Depends if the Senior Qualified process is applicable.

If it is, and you "dedicate my 20s to servitude in the CAF", you may find younger candidates beating you out of the competition for TEMS.

Typically members join straight out of college.

Being older, but with less departmental seniority than younger members, you will be at "a significant DISadvantage towards beating out the competition for TEMS."

But, only if there is a Senior Qualified process for staffing their Special Operations Division ( Tactical being only one the the Division's specialties ).

You should contact your future - post CAF - employer of choice for guidance.

 

[CBH99]

Saw this in another thread. Will reply here.



I would not consider time in the CAF as "servitude". You may wish to consider the CAF as your career choice.

But, if one's ambition is to get out of the CAF - before you even join the CAF - you should know that Alberta Paramedics are unionized.

So, you may wish to inquire if the Senior Qualified process is applicable to becoming a Tactical, TEMS or ETF Paramedic with your desired future employer.

ie:



Kang_13


Depends if the Senior Qualified process is applicable.

If it is, and you "dedicate my 20s to servitude in the CAF", you may find younger candidates beating you out of the competition for TEMS.

Typically members join straight out of college.

Being older, but with less departmental seniority than younger members, you will be at "a significant DISadvantage towards beating out the competition for TEMS."

But, only if there is a Senior Qualified process for staffing their Special Operations Division ( Tactical being only one the the Division's specialties ).

You should contact your future - post CAF - employer of choice for guidance.

The above is fair advice, especially that last sentence.

With AHS, I know from personal experience, finding any information that's truly helpful to potential applicants is next to impossible. One thing AHS is absolutely terrible at is recruiting (I could easily suggest this applies across the board, but it's very true when it comes to EMS)


If you are looking at getting into Tactical EMS, they are with the Public Safety Unit. Typically folks have to work for AHS for a minimum of 2 years prior to applying - the PSU guys tend to send out an invitation to apply twice a year or so via email.

Will the CAF experience help? Absolutely it will!

But the PSU crew tend to have a lot of ex-military guys (currently have a former CSOR medic in the unit) so if you're planning on getting into the CAF, getting qualified as a Med Tech, and then leaving to try and fast track your way into PSU...think again.


Get qualified with ACP. Get hired on with AHS (you might have to be a casual at first for a while - I can't emphasize enough how truly fucked up our HR department is)

Once you get your foot in the door by getting hired by AHS, you can always reach out to them to see what they are looking for. You could even ask to sit in on some of their training days if you wanted, which also helps your face be remembered when they want some peeps to apply.


There may be a formal program in place for you to apply to, but everybody I know on the PSU (EMS side) had some informal discussions with PSU before they made any formal moves to apply for PSU.

(And I think I know them all...)



Short Answer - having CAF experience certainly won't hamper your chances...

 

[CBH99]

Saw this in another thread. Will reply here.



I would not consider time in the CAF as "servitude". You may wish to consider the CAF as your career choice.

But, if one's ambition is to get out of the CAF - before you even join the CAF - you should know that Alberta Paramedics are unionized.

So, you may wish to inquire if the Senior Qualified process is applicable to becoming a Tactical, TEMS or ETF Paramedic with your desired future employer.

ie:



Kang_13


Depends if the Senior Qualified process is applicable.

If it is, and you "dedicate my 20s to servitude in the CAF", you may find younger candidates beating you out of the competition for TEMS.

Typically members join straight out of college.

Being older, but with less departmental seniority than younger members, you will be at "a significant DISadvantage towards beating out the competition for TEMS."

But, only if there is a Senior Qualified process for staffing their Special Operations Division ( Tactical being only one the the Division's specialties ).

You should contact your future - post CAF - employer of choice for guidance.

One thing I can and do absolutely give Toronto EMS credit for (basing this purely on your past posts) is they run their EMS hiring in a similar way to how law enforcement agencies out here run theirs...

Apply. Write an aptitude test. Interview. Fitness test. Board interview. Selection committee. Recruit classes. In house training. Graduate from recruit class. Probationary period. Graduate probationary period & are good to go.

Almost like there is an actual pipeline people have to make it through, and applicants know where they are at in the recruiting process.


...

With us?

No aptitude test.

A 1 on 1 interview to ensure applicants have completed the required training & generally assess the applicant. Applicant provides proof of certifications for any required.

No fitness test.

I've never heard of someone having to do a panel interview.

Get a job offer - usually to be a casual first (so unpredictable and tend to be fairly low hours.)

(AHS is cheap and would much prefer to run with fewer ambulances on the street than actually call in any casuals. We have long lists of casuals who barely get called in despite a very clear need for there to be more available, because "The fire department is there to help cover things off when we find ourselves a bit short...")


Once hired, AHS does run a 2 week orientation to review codes, run an EVOC (emergency vehicle operations course), review the various pieces of kit again, and learn the lay of the land. Then you get partnered up with a senior medic for a while


We do