/r/CanadianForcesSOs

Photograph via snooOG

This is the place to get answers, advice and support. Having your SO in the forces can be hard and stressful, it requires sacrifices and patience. It also brings joy of the knowledge that you are there to help those who work so hard for this country.

This subreddit is for the sharing of advice, support, and information for the significant others of current and past military members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Although content is Canadian-centred, all are welcomed as long as they are here for support or to support. We aim to be an inviting and loving place for those of us who miss our loved ones.

Resources:

Canadian Forces Personel and Familly Support Services

Life in the CF for Families

Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs)

CF Family Resources Site

CF Appreciation Program

Canadian Military Families Magazine

Canadian Forces Slang

Military Abbreviations from WW1 to the Present, Canada and the Commonwealth

Related Subreddits:

/r/CanadianForces

/r/LongDistance

/r/USmilitarySO

/r/Military

/r/MilitaryFamilies

/r/MilitaryHistory

/r/LongDistance

/r/CanadianForcesSOs

594 Subscribers

4

Confirm SO's Employment Status

My apologies if this is the wrong place to post this, but I want to verify the employment status of someone I am dating. For the six months we've been seeing each other, they've told me that they're in the CAF. I am starting to wonder if that is actually the case and would like to independently verify this.

I have asked questions like:

  • Where is your uniform?
  • Can I see your military ID/badge?
  • Can you show me your paycheque?

I haven't yet received a satisfactory response to these questions (e.g. my uniform has to be left at the base due to COVID protocols, I leave my badge with my uniform, I can't access my paystubs...). I've been pushing those more lately as I no longer trust my SO. It just seems like if they wanted to prove it to me, it would be easy. Because they can't, I'm now assuming that they are lying and I am planning to break up with them. That said, I'd like to get confirmation that they're lying, even just for my peace of mind (so I know I'm not losing my mind).

Is there any way for the public to get confirmation of servicemember's employment status without the servicemember consenting to the release of the information?

Thank you!

2 Comments
2021/10/18
16:21 UTC

7

Can anyone briefly explain what happens when you retire "early" (25 yr contract)

My husband has a job offer that is for way more (like at least 4x's) what he makes in the CF in a field he is very familiar with. Plus he's not happy with this new unit he's in so he just wants to call it quits sooner than later.

He is 49 and will have 25 years in at age 54. We read over the pension information and his work said to contact Pensions Canada via their online form (or chat) but it has been down for a while.

He will call pensions when he gets a chance (he works long days) but I still want to hear from others who have spouses who retired early and how it went for their pension. I mean, he knows he has options but it seems taking a pension at 50 is kinda dumb, since you lose SOOOO much $$ and since he will be working there's no need. But if this job doesn't work out he wants to know his options.

He will rejoin (was in for a couple years before reg force) the reserves as he enjoys the being in the RCAF for the most part. So I'm curious if anyones spouse here retired around age 50 a few years shy of their 25 years and how things have been.

Is there a CF pensions calculator online? I know he has to request one from the pensions when he calls them. I'm just curious for my own interest.

Sorry if my post is all over, my brain is fried right now.

3 Comments
2021/07/21
17:09 UTC

3

Military housing question

Hey everyone, we’re new to military life and I’m wondering if when it comes to military housing that we bring our own appliances (stove, fridge, washer, dryer) or if they’re included in the rental?

2 Comments
2021/05/03
12:15 UTC

4

Hi! Is anyone here from the Canadian Facebook military spouses group?

Hi! I saw there was a post on the Facebook “Canadian Military Spouses” Facebook page! Happy to connect with other military spouses! Where’s everyone located?

5 Comments
2021/04/15
17:20 UTC

4

New family to the military - questions

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a ton of questions in regard to life for families and wives of military spouses.

My husband is moving to competition list but I have some questions. Some background, we’re in our early/mid 30’s with two young kids. I currently work full time in a position that I can relocate and work from home and we have family support where we currently are. The position he’d be training for and has been approved (accepted?) for is MSE Ops.

I’m very supportive and am really excited to help him as much as I can I just don’t want to inundate him with a ton of questions and make him think I’m questioning him. He’s very, “when it happens we’ll deal with it”, while I’m a planner (clearly lol).

My questions currently are as follows:

While he is in BMQ are resources are available to the family?

Hours long will he be away for the first year if he’s mse ops?

Should I move in with my parents with the kids and just focus on the kids? Ie not work? Work part time? (I work in a position that is shift work and without him home at night it’s a lot on my parents. I have the ability to go part time if needed and go back to full time whenever as well)

Do they pay for myself and the kids to move to be at his posting when the time comes or is it a reimbursement basis?

How long after BMQ does someone usually know where they’ll be posted to?

Would he be coming back home to help me with the move or would that be my responsibility?

If there’s a wait between bmq and his training, would he be allowed to come home?

Is he paid less during BMQ and training than when he’s finished? He assumed he’d be charged for food and lodging while in BMQ and training.

Any insight, thoughts, suggestions, for a family transitioning to this life would be much appreciated.

Thanks so much!

2 Comments
2021/01/11
00:27 UTC

4

Getting ready for The Big Sail- anyone know how they’re coming along with the wifi in the ships common areas? Or is that also a broken promise?

He’s on the Freddy and it’s certainly not something they have yet :/

1 Comment
2019/08/29
15:10 UTC

9

Get to see boyfriend soon!

2 weeks until I get to see my boyfriend. It's been 2.5 months apart, he's just completing BMQ so I know there's more to go but I am so excited! I literally cannot wait to see him!

0 Comments
2018/10/10
21:38 UTC

5

Carepackage

0 Comments
2018/07/01
18:16 UTC

1

Boyfriend in Gagetown

If he’s in Gagetown for training right now, how likely is it to get posted close to home? He’s from Edmonton so that would be Lord Strathcona’s Horse. Would he be more likely to be posted here?

5 Comments
2018/05/05
05:32 UTC

7

Advice for nurse who is a Canadian military spouse

Hey everyone,

I found out my husband might be getting posted to gagetown. I've lived in Ontario my whole life and am a fairly new RN. I know absolutely nothing about health care in different provinces. Can someone give me a quick blurb about what health care in different provinces is like?

If anyone out there is a military spouse nurse who has changed their registration in a different province give me a shout!

Thank you so so so much!

1 Comment
2017/07/13
00:39 UTC

4

Anyone in Cold Lake?

So my husband got offered Cold Lake at his career manager meeting today, and I'm looking for a run down on what it's like to be posted there. We still have to do the screenings and get an actual message, but I like to be prepared.

I've heard that the area is expensive to live in. Is that true? Does that mean groceries and bills are higher? What is the shopping like?

Thanks in advance!

2 Comments
2015/02/23
23:07 UTC

5

Met a forces boy

Hey guys and gals,

So I have been dating a airforce member for a while now and I was wondering if you guys have any advice we are getting very serious and I am getting a bit nervous about all of this. He is still on course and a year from now he will be reposted. I want to go with him and just have no clue what its like being a military partner. Advice?

1 Comment
2014/06/23
03:53 UTC

2

Ideas for care packages?

Care packages seem to be the best way for me to cope with tours, so does anyone have any ideas for what I can send? I have lots of ideas for my partner but everything I've read online suggests that I send stuff he can share with his friends, and I'm totally at a loss.

My best idea is meatballs. Please help.

0 Comments
2014/03/01
19:34 UTC

10

Welcome All!

Hi and welcome! If you have any other resources or information I might have missed please post it and I will put it in the sidebar. Also any suggestions are more than welcome.

7 Comments
2013/03/13
17:08 UTC

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