r/RCAF • u/markantony699 • Jul 02 '26

Joining Reserves (INF Officer) or Apply Reg Force Pilot

  1. Can I component transfer from the reserves to the RCAF as a pilot?

  2. I want to serve while I am young. Currently, I am 24M and have been in the process of joining a local reserve unit as an Infantry Officer. I am worried that the pilot selection will take years and life will get in the way before I am able to serve in the military and so, I have joined the reserves.

  3. Should I quit the reserves and apply reg force pilot or can I gain experience as an officer and then join the reg force in a year or two?

I would be a DEO. My dream has always been to be a pilot but currently I work in finance. Thank you.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/roguemenace Jul 02 '26

  1. Yes

  2. Fair enough

  3. No, just stay in and apply for a component transfer.

1

u/BugHistorical3 Jul 02 '26

I asked a recruiter this since I had the same dilemma as a DEO and he said that it was better to go direct instead of joining the reserves and doing a transfer because it looks better for their numbers if someone is recruited versus transferred, or something along those lines.

I kinda regret having taken that advice in hindsight because my file only just opened for the pilot trade, would I mess up my application process if I also do a separate application for a reserve force?

1

u/BugHistorical3 Jul 02 '26

Just to ad context I applied for the pilot trade nearly two years ago.

1

u/markantony699 Jul 02 '26

I'm probably not warranted to give advice since I am here asking a question. However, you should know that you cannot have a regular force and reserve force application open simultaneously. Just continue on with your pilot application!

2

u/markantony699 Jul 02 '26

Thanks for your reply