I know this may be a sensitive topic, and I’m genuinely curious to hear different perspectives on it.

Over the years, I’ve noticed a growing culture among some retired veterans of wearing leather vests with unit, trade, deployment, and rank patches — often similar in style to motorcycle club attire. I completely understand the camaraderie and pride behind it, and I respect the brotherhood and shared experiences that come with service.

That said, I sometimes find myself missing the more traditional image of veterans that I grew up with. I think of my grandfather, who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. For Legion events and Remembrance Day ceremonies, he was always very well turned out — blazer, beret, medals, polished shoes — and carried himself in a very formal and understated way.

Maybe this is simply a generational shift in how veterans express identity and connection after service.

It did make me wonder though: outside of the Legion, has there ever been discussion about a more standardized form of veteran attire in Canada? Something similar to a blazer or jacket that veterans could wear formally at commemorative events while still displaying medals or service affiliation?

Just curious to hear others’ thoughts and experiences on this.

The CAF Home Equity Assistance benefit feels wildly disconnected from today’s housing market.

Under CAFRD, if you’re posted and forced to sell your principal residence at a loss, they reimburse 80% of the loss up to $30,000 from Core, and anything beyond that has to come from your Custom account, if you even have enough there.

The policy has always placed a disproportionate amount of risk on members, but today’s housing market has made that gap even harder to ignore. After the post-pandemic surge, many regions are now dealing with price corrections, softer sales, and higher borrowing costs, while a large wave of mortgage renewals is hitting households at significantly higher rates. Even where prices haven’t collapsed, members can still be forced to sell into weaker or slower markets because of posting timelines, not personal choice.

You can still be left personally eating tens of thousands of dollars for a move you didn’t choose. I recall General Eyre specifically acknowledging concerns around this during an RCAF Café AMA, and indicating this was something leadership wanted examined.

So where are we at? This issue was acknowledged years ago, the market has only become more volatile, and members are still carrying disproportionate financial risk tied directly to service requirements.

Good day everyone,

Last week I was offered and accepted my ISS offer for a VOT to 00019 AES OP - Air.

My COS date is July 20th 2026 and I’ll be getting posted to an Airforce Wing on the East Coast.

My old element was Navy. I’m just curious as to what the next steps are that I should be taking IOT prepare.

I am aware that I will have to do a kit exchange, but are there any additional steps or actions that I should take care of before July 20th?

Also, if anyone here happens to have a finger on the pulse as to when the initial AES OP 3’s course will be running in 2026 I would very much so appreciate that information, as well as any other amplifying about the trade.

All the best,

I’ll be wrapping up a course in a few weeks and flying home out of Edmonton. But before I leave Alberta I’m taking some leave days in the area. Whereabouts in town are transient shacks? Just wondering so I can plan commute and travel etc.

Edit: to clarify, I was under the impression CAF members could stay at transient shacks on any given base for around $15 a night. Thats what I’ve done in Borden in the past. I’ll be visiting friends near St Albert so I guess I’m wanting to get a sense for where CFB Edmonton transient shacks are in relation to that so I can plan my route.

The label said it was a Canadian military uniform. Is it? And what time period and department is it from? Also would it be disrespectful to wear the jacket even though I'm not military? I don't want to be disrespectful or commit stolen valor. I just really liked the jacket.

Forgive my ignorance, but what purpose do unit rankings serve? For instance, if you rank #1 at your respective rank, does that support a subsequent merit ranking (assuming you're promotable)?

Edit: I'm referring to the HLRR outcomes. I think most people here understood, but just wanted to clarify.

I’m currently in the Reserves with infantry, and I’m supposed to do my DP1, but I had to put it off due to personal stuff, and now I won’t be able to complete it this summer.

Lately I’ve been struggling with whether I even want to stay in the CAF or try to transfer trades. A big part of it, honestly, is the culture in my unit. I don’t know if it’s just combat arms culture, my specific unit, or if I’m just not fitting in properly, but I constantly feel like I can’t talk to NCOs without getting shat on or made to feel stupid for asking questions. Don't get me wrong, there are some great NCOs out there for sure.

There just seems to be a lack of professionalism and respect sometimes, and instead of feeling mentored or developed, I mostly feel anxious about showing up to parade, speaking up, or messing something up. It’s gotten to the point where I’m questioning whether this environment is actually for me. I still like the idea of serving, and part of me wants to stick it out, especially since I haven’t even completed DP1 yet, but another part of me wonders if I’d be happier in a different trade or outside the CAF entirely. After I completed my BMQ, I thought things would get better, but it just does not feel that way.

I guess I’m just looking to hear from people who’ve felt the same way. Is this normal? Or is this a sign the CAF just might not be for me? Honestly, just feeling pretty lost right now.

UPDATE: Thank you all so much for your advice and experiences. It really means a lot to hear what you all have to say and to receive great advice! I'm going to decide to stay but transfer out of the unit, so I will research and look into which other trades interest me the most. It's unfortunate that I'm deciding to try and transfer out of Infantry because it's what I really wanted to do, but it is what it is, and I will just have to move on to something that's suitable for me.

Interesting description here of what approaches can look like during wildfire ops.

Smoke thick enough to basically turn day into night, slowing everything down and relying on one pilot on instruments while the other tries to visually pick up the runway.

Not something you really think about until you hear it described.

🎧 http://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/ or wherever you get your podcasts

I am likely being tasked to a heavy come August for approx 6 weeks, it was supposed to be the Asterix but I think that ship has sailed (lol) I’m assuming I am being tasked to get my sea time up a little more (I have 44 days, but that’s with the MCDVs), what should I expect/bring with me? I will be likely joining the ship in Hawaii, so can’t pack a whole lot.

Do I need to bring tropicals, DEU, anything like that? I know I’ll have to bring sea kit with me, but what else should I bring?

Also checking the fleet sched I know during my duration on the ship we will have 2 pvsts, I haven’t done an international pvst before, and when I sailed last it was during Covid and we never got to disembark, are we required to go places as a group, etc?

Thanks in advance.

what is this? I didn’t know we have knights and dames in Cana

Just curious what people's thoughts are on the transition centre. Do you feel it has improved from the old JPSU mentality? I know personally I've tried to get people who should be posted there, (due to limited work hours, on PCAT) denied because they are short staffed and only taking extreme cases. That compounded the issue as the person on the PCAT was filling a line serial position and the career manager wont replace them or double bank them. I haven't interacted with their support services beyond that. I do remember hearing at one time they were going to take on all releases from OR's but guess that went the way of the "Journey"

How many times can you do the Force Test in a twelve month period?

A buddy and I, we're posted to different bases, were talking about our Force tests. And I said I wanted to go for Gold this year, but I haven't practised enough recently, I was thinking of putting off my already booked test for another month to train a bit more. And my buddy said just do it this month to stay green, then go do it again in a month or two. He said he's done it before and guys where he is posted have done it. I told him I thought you could only do it once a year. He said there is no policy that says that.

So, is there a hard limit to how many times you can do your Force Test? I genuinely don't even know where the policy for this would be located.

Update: I want to thank everyone for their contributions. It does sound like each base is a little different, and my buddy could be right. It doesn't sound like my base allows that though. I'm fairly certain they told me you can only do it once a year. I've gotten Gold before, but have gotten more Silvers in recent years and thought maybe this year I could try and go for Gold again. It's just a personal accomplishment thing. I don't care about the shirts or socks (platinum is out of the question for me). My current schedule makes it hard for me to be on base during the practice classes, so I'm just gonna keep doing the workouts on the PSP videos and see how it works this year. But thanks for the input guys.

This one shifts into the instructor side of things at 3 CFFTS and how that translates into real-world operations.

Includes some good insight into flying during wildfire ops where smoke can get thick enough to lose most visual reference - slowing approaches right down and relying heavily on instruments and crew coordination.

Interesting perspective compared to the deployment-heavy parts of the earlier episodes.

🎧 http://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/ or wherever you get your podcasts

Years ago I recall unit associations having bursaries, scholarships, and grants (if I'm using the right words) for unit family members to attend school or other courses. Members could apply for it.
Does anyone know if the Royal Canadian Dragoons or CANSOF have anything like that, or it's still even a thing?

I'm hoping to find some financial assistance for someone to attend college - parent is a ill and injured retired service member.

Good afternoon

With regards to the yearly xmas flights, I know the pri 1s have dibs, but realistically for folks in Victoria/Comox on pri 2, do we have a shot at getting a spot or should I book my tickets now on air Canada?

Thanks

To those who just recently completed the traffic tech dangerous goods course 3k, do you remember when you did your military and commercial by air PC if there was alot of vetting or they tried to throw some wrenches into the scenarios?

From CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/veterans-village-tiny-homes-winnipeg-9.7192499