RECRUITING FAQ
The Ň5th (British Columbia) Field
Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery BandÓ is our full name, but we will answer to Ň5
Field BandÓ too. We are a unit of the Primary Reserve (PRes) of the Canadian Forces
(CF), consisting of approximately 40 musicians, including paid Reservists,
volunteer Associate members and a Bandmaster/Director of Music. We are primarily a
Concert Band, but within the Concert Band are smaller ensembles such as a Parade
Band, a Mess Dinner Band, a Brass Quintet, a Woodwind Quintet, a Stage Band, and a
Jazz Combo. There are no full-time members of the band, so our members are students,
teachers, freelance musicians, civil servants, a doctor, a nurse, a marketing director, a
bookkeeper, an airline pilot, some former Regular Force musicians, and a few
full-time parents, amongst others!
Have a look at the official job description for Regular Force musicians, or click here for Reserve Force musicians.
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The BandŐs mandate is to provide musical support to CF units all over Vancouver Island, and sometimes the mainland, when they request it. For example, if a unit is having its annual dinner, we could be asked to play atmosphere music while they dine. At the end of such dinners, there is traditionally some ceremonial music we would be required to play, such as national anthems or regimental marches for guests of the dinner.
We also provide music for military parades, where there is a lot of pomp and ceremony. Our marching band plays for the troops on parade and performs salutes, anthems, inspection tunes and marches.
We often support activities in the civilian community, as well. We play at special occasions, dinners, and ceremonies, such as Remembrance Day and Canada Day. Our annual Spring Concert is held every April, and in August, the band plays on Sunday afternoons at Fort Rodd Hill, where the Regiment once manned the guns.
In order to maintain the high standard for
which we are known, we rehearse one night a week, from September to June. A
second night is available for smaller ensembles to rehearse and to take care of
the administration required in running the Band.
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As a Reserve Musician, you are required to attend rehearsals on a weekly basis, in uniform, and you are expected to participate in engagements as they come up. Depending on your availability, and the musical needs of the band, you may be excused from a service without penalty. We understand that this is a part-time job and we all have lives outside of the Band, so there is some flexibility, as long as you demonstrate your willingness to participate when it comes down to the crunch.
Because the Band performs the majority of its
own administration, most enrolled members are assigned a secondary duty which
may not be musical in nature. Secondary duties include: Administration, Finance,
Library, Recruiting, Training, and Supply. If you come in for work a second night
per week, your pay will double.
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What can I expect in return from the
Canadian Forces? What are the pay and allowances? What benefits are available to
me?
Salary:
All enrolled members of 5 Fd Band are paid twice a month for the work they do, according to their rank and training. You will start at the entry-level rank of Private Recruit (Pte(R)), and throughout your career, you will progress through the ranks and your pay will increase with each change of rank. Each rank is divided into five Incentive Pay Categories (IPC), as well, so each year that you are at the same rank, your pay will increase. The starting pay rate for a Pte(R) is currently $43.57 for a routine rehearsal or concert. If any work period exceeds 6 hours, your pay doubles to $87.13. If you want to think of it in terms of an hourly rate, a Pte(R) makes $14.52 per hour (including PILL, see below) for a three-hour rehearsal or concert. The working rank of the PRes is Corporal (Cpl), and senior Cpls are paid $22.42 per hour for a three-hour service (including PILL). In the Musician trade, a Pte who has completed Basic Training and his/her first instrumental Qualification Level is eligible for promotion to Cpl one year after enrolment. Currently, the maximum hourly rate for an R871 Musician is $34.63 per hour. See also the current chart of pay rates for more rates.
Vacation Pay:
All reservists receive 9% vacation pay, called Premium In Lieu of Leave (PILL), on each paycheque
Employment Insurance:
All reservists have EIC premiums deducted.
Reserve Force Retirement Gratuity:
Much like many civilian organizations, the CF offers retirement benefits. Currently, a lump-sum retirement gratuity is available to those PRes members who release after a minimum of ten yearsŐ service. It is equal to three and a half daysŐ pay for each year of service (i.e. thirty five daysŐ pay if you have ten yearsŐ service). The amount of the gratuity increases by three and a half daysŐ pay for each year of service up to twenty years of service, when it doubles. Members who have more than 20 years of service in the PRes when they release, receive seven daysŐ pay for each year of service (i.e. 140 daysŐ pay for a member with twenty yearsŐ service.) This could be a lump payment of over $40,000!
Reserve Force Pension:
Legislation is
currently being passed by Parliament to provide CF PRes members with a pension
upon retirement. Details are yet to be announced, but it is due to be
implemented in March 2007.
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Other Compensation and
Benefits:
Dental Plan:
For members of the Primary Reserve, the Great West Life Dental Plan covers 90% of most basic dental services. You are required to pay a deductible of $25 each calendar year, and then the remaining 10% of your dentistŐs charges.
Tuition Reimbursement:
One of the newest additions to the list of compensation
and benefits for PRes members is that the CF will reimburse you 50% of your tuition,
up to a maximum of $2,000 in a year, for tuition for any qualifying post-secondary
education you undertake, provided that you are successful at school and you
participate regularly with the PRes. The maximum career benefit is $8,000.
BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) Premium
Reimbursement: If you pay your own MSP premiums, the CF
will reimburse you up to 50% of your premiums for the previous calendar year,
depending on how much work you do with the PRes. Commuting Assistance: If you live more than 16 km away from Bay
Street Armoury, where we rehearse, you are eligible for a travel allowance. Travel, Meal and Lodging Allowances and
Per Diems: When you are required by the CF to travel
somewhere for training or for other employment, you will be compensated in
tax-free allowances. Automobile travel will earn you a rate per kilometre, air
travel will be arranged and funded by the CF, ferry, bus and taxi fares will be
reimbursed, etc. If you are required to travel over a meal hour, or to stay
overnight in a hotel, you will be reimbursed. When you are employed for more
than seven days, you are on a different class of service, and are entitled to a
per diem. Currently it is a tax-free $7 per day, plus a phone call allowance
for each day!
More information on Reserve Force Benefits can be found on the official site.
YouŐll play in full band rehearsals at
least one night per week, for the school year. With engagements and other
training (small ensembles, administration, first aid, driving courses and other
optional courses), that could amount to about 55 (fifty-five) half days per
year, or about $300 per month (before deductions), on average, for a senior
Corporal. No. Once you are enrolled, you decide when
you want to leave. There is no minimum time required for you to serve, and the
compulsory retirement age is 60. If you just need a break, you can apply for a
leave of absence with no penalty. You can also transfer to other bands in
Canada, if you move for work or studies, as there are bands in almost every
province in the country. As a PRes Musician, you cannot be
automatically sent to an operational theatre without your consent or unless you
want to volunteer. The Musician trade (R871) is considered one of the
non-combat trades and maintains a very basic level of combat preparedness.
After your Basic Training, further combat training may consist of a voluntary
refresher-day on the rifle range or a day of classroom instruction, but it is rare, if not unheard
of,
that PRes Musicians are asked to volunteer for an operational combat role.
Because one of the other roles of the Primary Reserve is that of "aid to
the civil power", members may be solicited or tasked for such local emergencies
as search-and-rescue after an earthquake, fighting wildfires, or assisting
authorities in the event of an icestorm or other natural disaster. Yes. All new recruits are required to
complete basic training to remain in the CF. It consists of training common to
all CF trades such as military drill, physical fitness, military history,
weapons-handling, work on the firing range, and an overview of the CFŐs
administration procedures and organization. Generally, the course is held in
the summer in Western Canada and lasts about four weeks. Basic Training is a
crucial element of life in the CF. Its ultimate purpose is to provide guidance
and practical experience in being a member of a team and working together well
to achieve a goal. This is valuable asset to have in all aspects your life, not
just in the CF. Yes. Part of your Basic Training experience
will include not only learning, and perfecting, your rifle drill on the parade
square, but you will also spend some time on a range, learning about, and
practicing, the safe operation of the principal weapon of the Canadian Forces,
the C7, northern cousin of the American M16. The good news is that Musicians
traditionally outperform even the combat trades on the rifle range because of
our ability to control our breathing and to concentrate. Do you have to fire a
rifle? No, you GET to fire a rifle! Here's a hint to make your Basic Training easier: never
refer to your rifle as a "gun". It's a "weapon" or a "rifle". You'll find out why... Yes. There are several opportunities for
summer employment varying from one week to four months in length. Employment
could include membership in the Band of the Ceremonial Guard on Parliament Hill
in Ottawa, or training at the CF Music Training Company at CFB Borden near Barrie,
Ontario. The Music Training Company in Borden is the national Reserve Musician
training establishment in the country. There, our musicians undergo training in
such courses as Instrumental Qualification (individual and ensemble instruction
and assessment), Theory, History, Conducting and Arranging, Band Administration
and Drum Majoring. The facilities in Borden are state-of-the-art, having opened
in the summer of 2002. There are other summer bands that can provide
employment, including the Atlantic Militia Area Band, in Nova Scotia,
and the Naval Reserve National Band, in Ontario. Yes. In fact, you will be issued four
different uniforms. The CF provides you with two general-purpose uniforms (one
for dress, and combats for everyday wear), and the Band provides you with two
uniforms (one for concerts and one for parades). In general, the CF will supply
you with all the clothing you will require for participation in its activities. Yes. The Band can supply you with an
instrument. Our membership consists of many professional musicians and students
who use their own instruments, but instruments, accessories and supplies are
available to those who need them. When you are working under the auspices of
the CF, the CF will see that you are able to accomplish your musical goals. It depends how long your hair is! For both sexes, there are
standards to follow for the appearance of your hair. For males, you will have
it short on the back and sides, not longer than one inch long on the top, away
from the ears and tapered on the back. For females, you are permitted a short
style, or long with a bun or with two braids. In general, there are clear
standards for the wearing of hair, jewellery, tattoos, sunglasses, and
religious accoutrements while in uniform. Don't worry, you will find out all
about it on your Basic Training! In addition to the four Qualification Levels (QL) you will attain on your instrument, each more challenging than the last, and after Basic Training, the
next course you will encounter during your
career progression is Primary Leadership Qualification (PLQ). This is done at the rank of Cpl, and is required for the Master Corporal (MCpl) appointment. It is an introduction to leadership,
including lesson-planning and teaching, giving drill on the parade square, and working as a team member and a team leader. It prepares you for supervisory roles and within the band. There is
also a Senior Leadership Course (SLC) done as a Sergeant (Sgt) and provides further leadership and administrative training. It is required for promotion to Warrant Officer. Here is a chart of
the career courses you will encounter:
Qual Description Done as Required for QL1 Enrolment Civilian Private (Recruit) QL2 Basic Training Private (Recruit) Private (Trained) QL3 First Instrumental Qual Private (Trained) Private (Basic) QL4 Second Instrumental Qual Private (Basic) Corporal QL5 Primary Leadership Qual Corporal Master Corporal QL6A Third Instrumental Qual Master Corporal Sergeant SLC Senior Leadership Course Sergeant Warrant Officer QL6B Fourth Instrumental Qual Sergeant Warrant Officer QL7I Conducting, Arranging Warrant Officer Master Warrant Officer QL7II Band Administration Warrant Officer Master Warrant Officer Other trade courses available to you are Drum Major and Band Administration courses. Almost all of the musician courses are offered exclusively during
the summer at the CF Music Training
Company, at CFB Borden, in Ontario, while the Basic Training and Leadership courses may be offered anywhere in Western Canada. Depending on how prepared you are in gathering the required documentation, your personal history, and your level of physical
fitness,
enrolment can take anywhere from two months to a year. While you are in the process, you are welcome and encouraged to play with the band in rehearsal and concert, but
you
cannot be paid for these services. Once you are sworn in to the CF, you will start being paid immediately. In addition to completing an aptitude test, a questionnaire on your medical condition and history, and being interviewed by a
Medical
Officer, you will be tested on your level of physical fitness by performing push-ups (19 for men, 9 for women), sit-ups (19 for men, 15 for women), aerobic level (e.g.
2.4 km run in less
than 11:56 for men, 14:26 for women), and a hand-grip strength test. Chin-ups would be a good idea too (6 for men, 3 for women), but you are not tested on them. Check here for a detailed intro to the CF fitness standard. There are many trades available to you as a Reservist in the CF. If you find that belonging to a top-notch professional military
band is not
your thing, you can apply to "remuster", or change trades. Depending on the trade you choose, you may be required to attend training at another location in Victoria,
or
elsewhere on the Island. Other trades include Artillery, Infantry, Administration/Finance, Medical, Communications, Security, Cook, Steward, Engineer, Vehicle
Technician,
Weapons Technician, and more. You may even feel that the Army is not where you want to be, but that the Air Force or Navy offer a trade that appeals to you. In that
case you
would be applying for a transfer of element. You will find lots of information on the different trades at your local CF Recruiting Centre, or at the Canadian Forces Job Explorer. The required playing standard is fairly high for enrolment in 5 Fd Band in order to maintain our professional standard. You should
have had
several years of private study and a few years of concert band or orchestral experience under your belt. This is because you will not only need to be proficient on
your
instrument, but you will need to know how to integrate yourself into an instrumental section musically and socially. In terms of Royal Conservatory levels, you should
be playing at or above
a Grade 6, with or without the actual certificate. Of course, your knowledge of basic theory should be solid, too. We are particularly interested in senior high school
students
intending to study music at univeristy or college here in Victoria, and current university or college students in a post-secondary degree or diploma programme in
Victoria.
Students studying outside the greater Victoria area may also be considered for enrolment, under the proviso that they are prepared to travel to Victoria weekly. See Auditioning for more
information on our auditions. You can be enrolled at the age of 16 with consent of a parent or guardian. You must also be a Canadian citizen, and have completed
Grade
10. Don't see your question here? Email it to
us!
Back to topHow much work can I expect?
Back to topAm I signing on for a fixed length of time?
Back to topWill I be sent to war?
Back to topDo I have to do basic training?
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Do I have to fire a weapon?
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Is there summer employment?
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Do I have to get a haircut?
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What other types of training can I receive?
In general, you are required to spend two years at
each rank, before you are eligible for promotion. The exception to this is Pte, where only one year is required. Also, when appointed Master Corporal, your IPC does not change, so your pay
increases hugely!
In addition, there are non-trade-related courses available to you as a Reservist
including Standard First Aid and CPR,
customized for the CF by St. John Ambulance, and a course in Light Urban Search and Rescue
(LUSAR). Given that Reservists can be called out in aid to the
civil power, LUSAR training might be useful. There are also courses in driving military- and
civilian-pattern vehicles, including a Defensive
Driving Course. When you have completed the driving course, you are licensed by the CF to operate
the type if vehicle on which you have trained and qualified.
This can come in handy when the band travels and needs a driver! Also, as part of your Basic
Training, you will undergo instruction
in SHARP, or Standard for Harassment and Racism Prevention. The DND maintains a VERY STRICT
zero-tolerance policy on harassment of any kind, and SHARP
training will be invaluable to you in all aspects of your life.
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How long will the enrolment procedure take?
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What are the physical fitness requirements for enrolment?
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Can I change trades or transfer once I am enrolled?
If you are moving away from Victoria to work or study, you may
be able to
transfer to another Reserve Band in that city, if there is a vacancy. There are many other Brass/Reed bands in Canada from Vancouver to St. John's, NL. Toronto, alone, has four bands! Having
the ability to transfer to another
band is a great way to get a head start in a new city. You will have a part-time job before you even arrive! Go here to see a list of all the CF bands in Canada.
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What kind of musical training and experience are you looking for?
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What are the minimum enrolment requirements for the CF?
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