Topic: MSE Ops

[ChopperHead]

Well Im considering becoming a trucker, There is somewhat of a lack of info on the trade though just alot of generic sorta stuff. Im just wondering if someone in the trade could give me the No BS Ins and outs of the trade. I have heard that it gets quite boring, does it or is more of an individual preferance type thing? what would a typical day be like?

How much flexiblity do you have on the vehicles you operate? I mean like do you just drive whatever is needed at the time or do you stick with a certain vehicle or vehicle type say the MLVW for instance?

How much field time does one get in an average year? alot or mostly just on base sorta stuff? Also how much opurtunity for Deployments are there? I know that every tour needs support but I mean do many MSE Ops want to go over or is it if you want to go then your going sorta thing? Oh and Whats the viablity of people from this trade getting on courses not related to driving in particular like say Advanced Winter warfare for examble.

Also are there any MSE Ops serving in CFS Alert?

I have more questions but i'll stop for now and let someone answer these for me first.

thanks in advance.

[TN2IC]

Well Im considering becoming a trucker, There is somewhat of a lack of info on the trade though just alot of generic sorta stuff. Im just wondering if someone in the trade could give me the No BS Ins and outs of the trade. I have heard that it gets quite boring, does it or is more of an individual preferance type thing? what would a typical day be like?

How much flexiblity do you have on the vehicles you operate? I mean like do you just drive whatever is needed at the time or do you stick with a certain vehicle or vehicle type say the MLVW for instance?

How much field time does one get in an average year? alot or mostly just on base sorta stuff? Also how much opurtunity for Deployments are there? I know that every tour needs support but I mean do many MSE Ops want to go over or is it if you want to go then your going sorta thing? Oh and Whats the viablity of people from this trade getting on courses not related to driving in particular like say Advanced Winter warfare for examble.

Also are there any MSE Ops serving in CFS Alert?

I have more questions but i'll stop for now and let someone answer these for me first.

thanks in advance.

Wow this is a handful...

The trade has it's things... depending on where you get posted... Base TN I find is bleak.... but a field unit is always fun. Also you get more chances on going on those type of courses if you are with a field unit. So a field unit can be 1 SVC BN(Reg) to 33 SVC BN (PRes)

As for vehicles you drive... at the base you rotate threw the sections... ie SPV for a year or whatever... then you might go to Buses... then to tractor... that is at base TN... correct me if I am wrong anyone. I really hav'nt gotten into the part of the field.

Now as a field unit, you can drive all the SMP's.. MLVW...HLVW... zoom boom... PLS system... stuff like that. I find it fun as a young guy. And in the field you still get to run around with your bang stick... good old fun.

As for deployments...I am speaking for a PRes MSE Op...and we are always needed... so if that is what you want...then give er... I had buddies over in Asia... east and west asia... Haiti...Germany.. Yugo area... Goldan Heights (sp?)...all over the place..


And I hav'nt myself seen a MSE Op in Alert... but I am sure there is... we also do snow removal on all the bases.... I know...I was about to be sent to YellowKnife to do that for 3 years... but it did'nt go threw.... meh..

I hope I answer some of your questions on the issue..

Enjoy...
And welcome to MSE Op..
TN2IC

[Guy. E]

i researched MSE in the regs and res.

i was told if i go MSE, be prepared to go to a service batallion as said above ^. (lots of time away from home) i was also told it is possable to get a job at a Canadian embassy and just as well as heavy equipment op in 'Cool' places like CFS Alert. when i was looking at MSE i was also looking at Clerk and Cook.

now I'm definitely going ACS Tec in the AF.

Ive never waited for a phone call so long in my life...

[TN2IC]

Whatever floats your boat... best of luck with it.

[ChopperHead]

Thanks fot the replys guys.

Im looking at reg force by the way.

couple more questions.

Do you guys do anything else besidies driving and the corresponding paperwork?

Do you ever get an opputunity to say drive cross country or anything long distance like that?

Are the licenses and qualifications you get tranfereable to civi world?

Do you do more like office, paper work type stuff then actuall driving?

once again I got more questions and will post more once i think of them.

thanks again

[TN2IC]

Thanks fot the replys guys.

Im looking at reg force by the way.

couple more questions.

Do you guys do anything else besidies driving and the corresponding paperwork?

MLOC, surport postions at schools, snow plowing, engineer work (chimo) with run ways

Do you ever get an opputunity to say drive cross country or anything long distance like that?

Yes, if you are with the tractor tralier section. I believe they run from Altantic Canada to Ont...then to Man. then to BC... each or every other day... they make sure the supplies are running around without the use of Day and Ross or some other shipping company.

[/quote]Are the licenses and qualifications you get tranfereable to civi world?

Your Air Brakes and Danger Goods course is good... but you need to write the civie version of the test afterwards to get on it on civie street.

Do you do more like office, paper work type stuff then actuall driving?

Paper work is more for the Setion Commander and Dispatcher...

once again I got more questions and will post more once i think of them.

thanks again

No probelm... happy to help.... give me more.... lol..

[ChopperHead]

Well im fresh with some more questions for ya 

is there much growth happening in the trade?

Do many people stay in the trade for their career or at least a good chunk of it?

have you ever comepted in the CF Roadeo or CANADIAN FORCES PROFESSIONAL DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP as it's offcially called now? what are the requirements to participate in this event? ( sry about the caps but I copy and pasted it so w/e)

how long does it take from the time you walk out of BMQ to your posted to a unit and qualified to start doing your job?

do you ever drive anything with some armour on it like say a beaver or........ something

also do you do offroading and stuff like on ATV's and G-wagons etc?

Thanks
Kyle

[TN2IC]

Well I'm fresh with some more questions for ya 

is there much growth happening in the trade?

Do many people stay in the trade for their career or at least a good chunk of it?

have you ever competed in the CF Rodeo or CANADIAN FORCES PROFESSIONAL DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP as it's officially called now? what are the requirements to participate in this event? ( Sr about the caps but I copy and pasted it so w/e)

how long does it take from the time you walk out of BMQ to your posted to a unit and qualified to start doing your job?

do you ever drive anything with some armour on it like say a beaver or........ something

also do you do offloading and stuff like on ATVs and G-wagons etc?

Thanks
Kyle

For the trade itself, if you are not gun ho then it's a good spot for you. I know tons of people that made a life out of it... but then I know personal have re muster to 935 from Infantry or some sort...

I have been offer to join the Rodeo before, but I did take one at my unit to get my skills up. It is a time trail with different tasking for you and your truck, like figure 8 backing up turnings. Or backing in an off set alley...and I do that in a HLVW... fun fun... good old times... I love it.

Well CFSAL is running your trade training all year around so once you get off... you"ll get slapped with that course. After that, once you get to your posting, you"ll get OJT and practical training/work.

As for armour.. we are here to insure the Canadian Forces is moblie. So if that includes moving a LAV III or C2 then yes...

As for off roading... we do tons of it if you are with a field unit...and your trade training too...

Hope this helps...

[George Wallace]

Well im fresh with some more questions for ya 

is there much growth happening in the trade?

 It is a good question to ask the Recruiters.

Do many people stay in the trade for their career or at least a good chunk of it?

 Been answered pretty well already.

have you ever comepted in the CF Roadeo or CANADIAN FORCES PROFESSIONAL DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP as it's offcially called now? what are the requirements to participate in this event? ( sry about the caps but I copy and pasted it so w/e)

 (see the Rules on MSN Speak and then on good writting habits for this site.)  It is a competition, for which each Base will select their best drivers to go on.

how long does it take from the time you walk out of BMQ to your posted to a unit and qualified to start doing your job?

 After you BMQ, you will have to do Trades Training as a MSE Op.  To get your CF 404 (Military Driver Licence), you will have to do Crses for every vehicle, and family of vehicles, that you will be driving.  You will only be allowed to drive the vehicles marked on your 404 and recorded in your 416.  You may land up spending another 6 to 12 months after BMQ before actually working in a MSE Section.

do you ever drive anything with some armour on it like say a beaver or........ something

 NO!  Combat Arms people drive the Armd vehicles.  You may have the opportunity to drive the Flatbed Heavy Equipment Transport, if you can get into that part of the MSE Op Trade.

also do you do offroading and stuff like on ATV's and G-wagons etc?

Again, that is mostly for the Combat Arms people and the MSE Ops who are posted to Field Units like a Svc Bn.

[TN2IC]

George Wallace .. in reference to the Armour idea.. I have seen MSE Ops operate LAV III's and bisions.. wouldn't that be declared armoured?

I am a bit left in the dark, or I just misunderstood your message.

Cheers,
TN2IC

[George Wallace]

If you have, it is a very rare sight.  They may have been former Cbt Arms, now MSE Ops, who may have had to move a vehicle a very short distance.  Other than Cbt Arms and Mechanics, you are not likely to see anyone else drive a LAV.  You may find Sigs and Medics qualified on Bisons, but again, it is usually Cbt Arms people.  It is very unlikely that you will find a MSE Op driving an Armd Veh Tactically or Administratively on any Exercise or Deployment.  When it comes to Tracked vehicles, it is the Cbt Arms (Armour, Inf, Arty, and Engrs) who will be driving them.  In most cases, on a Base, it is the Engineers who operate most of the Heavy Equipment.  MSE Ops will operate various pieces of Airfield Heavy cranes, etc. and wheeled Heavy Equipment like Graders and Forklifts, in certain locations.

[TN2IC]

Ah right on, thank you for leveling this out. I"ll stop beating a dead horse now.

Cheers,
TN2IC

[a Sig Op]

Combat Arms people drive the Armd vehicles. 

I know a number of truckers from the local service batallion who spent their summer in Gagetown driving the T-LAV, as well as having done a crew-commander course... not that it's somthing they do/drive on a regular basis, but they're definitly qualified to do it.

[TN2IC]

Danke Just a Sig Op

[ChopperHead]

I know it's a hard comparison to make but do you think you could give me a comparison between 935 and 011. Those are the 2 trades I'm Torrin between right now.

I LOVE driving and I love vehicles, I'm just worried that I might get bored with MSE Op as people have told me it gets really dull. Armour sounds cool in that you get alot more field experience and more interesting jobs as they say but I'm just not really sure if I want that or not as I really just want to drive. so I don't know I need an outside perspective on it.

Thanks
Kyle.