From: nusbache@epas.utoronto.ca (Aryk Nusbacher)
Subject: Canadian officer training programmes
Organization: University of Toronto - EPAS
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 22:09:09 GMT

Somebody asked about Canadian officer training programmes, so I
brought a recruiting handbook to my office.
	Lt Walker:	You want to take a Recruiting Handbook home?
			You shouldn't be reading that **** nonsense!  You
			should be reading the Section Commander's
			Handbook!
	2Lt Nusbacher:	Yeah?  Get me one.

Now I'm being sent on the Recruiting Officer's Course.  Whee!
	
This is a partial quotation from the _Recruiter's Handbook for the
Canadian Forces 1992_.  Because this is selective quotation, _none_ of
this should be taken as authoritative.  For authoritative statements
on Canadian Forces recruiting or training policy, inquire at a
Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre or Detachment, at National Defence
HQ in Ottawa, or at a Canadian diplomatic mission.  This handbook is
not classified or otherwise restricted.
	
So here are the options:

Reserve Entry Scheme Officer (RESO)

The purpose of the RESO is to provide military training, leading to
commissioned rank in the Primary Reserve, to selected undergraduates
attending Canadian post-secondary educational institutions.  Officer
Cadets in RESO are paid for participating in military training.  They
are not subsidized for their post-secondary education, nor are they
obliged to serve in the Reserve Force after graduation.  To be
eligible, an applicant must meet the basic enrolment standards for an
officer in the Primary Reserve.  Must attain at least 17 years of age
in the calendar year of enrolment.

This is the closest to American ROTC.  The main difference is that
instead of being part of a campus-based detachment (in the old days
there used to be something called COTC, which was campus-based),
nowadays RESO officers are based in local milita, air reserve, or
naval reserve units.  After their first summer of training at CFB
Gagetown in New Brunswick, RESO cadets are generally commissioned as
2Lts.  By the time they graduate, if they stick to all the training
phases, they are generally Lts.  (In the Navy, 2Lts are Acting
Sub-Lieutenants and Lts are Sub-Lieutenants).

Officer Cadet Training Plan (OCTP)

Enter as an Officer Cadet (OCDT).  Promotion to 2Lt rank takes place
when he or she completes the training required for commisioning in an MOC
(comparable to an American MOT).  Training for regular ROTP candidates
includes a seven week basic training course at Canadian Forces Officer
Candidate School, CFB Chilliwack, followed by leadership and language
training at CFB St-Jean, Quebec.  Type and sequence of reserve ROTP
training is determined by command HQ's.  Candidates must have a high
school diploma with certain courses specified, and be at least 17
years of age.

Direct Entry Officer (DEO)

Enter as a Second Lieutenant (2Lt).  Applicants must have an
undergraduate degree or technologist diploma.  Applicants to certain
specialties (e.g. chaplain, legal, medical) must have appropriate
degrees.  Candidates enrolled Pilot or ANav must serve five and four
years respectively after wings graduation.  All DEO's except doctors
attend phases I and II basic officer training followed by second
language and MOC training.  Doctors ... aw, you don't care about that.

CFCCEP(PLT) is the community college entry plan (pilot).

Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP)

To develop selected civilian candidates for service as career officers
in the Regular Force.  This development is carried out at the Canadian
Military Colleges or at selected Canadian universities and affiliated
colleges.  Minimum age for enrolment is 16 years.  Unmarried cadets
must undertake to remain single for the duration of training at a
college unless released from this undertaking by the Commandant...five
years of subsidy...this is all comparable to the American military
academies except 1. there is no differentiation between the three
Canadian military colleges on the basis of service (Royal Roads
Military Collge, College Militaire Royal de St-Jean and Royal Military College
are all-service academies), 2. Courses can be taken at civilian
universities for things like science, engineering, nursing, pharmacy
and physiotherapy.

Reserve Entry Training Plan (RETP)

To educate and train selected Primary Reserve candidates at the
Canadian Military Colleges to become officers in the Reserve Force and
to become candidates for possible transfer to the Regular Force.  RETP
Officer Cadets receive the same academic and military training as
officers of the ROTP.  RETP academic training is not subsidized and
candidates are required to pay college fees.  Admission standards are
the same as for RETP.

Medical Officer Training Plan (MOTP)

Entry is between last three years of med school and second year of
internship.  MOTP students are enrolled as OCDTs, and immediately
commissioned as 2Lts, promoted Lt on commencement of internship,
promoted Capt on completion of internship.  MOTP students are
subsidized in school, with obligatory service depending on the length
of subsidized study.

Dental Officer Training Plan (DOTP), similar to MOTP

Military Diatetic Internship Training Programme (MDITP), who cares?

This list does not include commissioning from the ranks, which is a
complicated affair.  Former Regimental Sergeant Majors (Chief Warrant
Officer) are frequently promoted to Capt after their term is
completed.  Other ranks can also become officers through the
abovementioned programmes.  This year, several Ptes and Corporals from
our regiment are being appointed Ocdts, one in the Navy.

Cheers,

Aryk Nusbacher, 2Lt
ASST REC O
48th Highlanders of Canada

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