Transfer between CFBs??

[Wildland81]

Hey guys,
For those of you working as a Firefighter on a CFB, is it possible to transfer to another base in the country? Once you put in your "time" that is. If so, how hard is it, and how much time do you feel should be put in? I would really appreciate help with these questions and hope you all understand that I would not be even asking this if not for a family obligation.
Thanks!

[Inspir]

As you will find out in the forces "Home is where the military sends you". I suppose you could request it but will you get it? It all depends where they need you. They ask you for you’re three top choices of posting but it’s not a gaurentee. What is guarantee is that you will end up in either Halifax or Esquimalt sooner or later and be a firefighter/sailor :P

[Wildland81]

Thanks for your reply. The position I've applied for is Civilian Firefighter with a particular base. They did not discuss involuntary transfers. I believe this only occurs on a temorary basis for training purposes.
Have there been any Civilian Firefighters on a CBF that have transfered to another base? Any info would be helpful.
Thanks.

[pasitew]

I know of some guys that have went from one base to another as a civ firefighter. I think there has to be a position open thats needs to be filled and they applied for the transfer. Not sure, but I think they moved to the front of the hiring list because they were DND staff already.

[fueler]

We had one guy transfer from our base to another but it wasn't a fun process. Lots of red tape. If a base closes down or down sizes than those guys go to the front of the line as in the case when CFB Chilliwack BC shut down.
Cheers!

[Wildland81]

We had one guy transfer from our base to another but it wasn't a fun process. Lots of red tape. If a base closes down or down sizes than those guys go to the front of the line as in the case when CFB Chilliwack BC shut down.
Cheers!

....base closing down? How often does that happen? Know you got me worried!

[hmckay91]

Wildland81

DND from the civilian side is a great opportunity (I did 17 years but not in Emergency Services). I caution you to prepare yourself for Federal Government Red Tape wrapped around a DND system that is generally unfriendly to Civilians. Further, the "culture" is different among all three services, with the Army being the most formal and rigid. (A friend of mine transferred as a civilian programmer to Suffield: they expected him to call his Captain "Sir" and they were never permitted to wear jeans, a big change from the Air Force. lol)

Having said that DND training and equipment is normally top notch.

As for "transfers" firstly, DND Civilians are not "posted" or moved around (other than temporary deployments and training) by DND so you are there until one of three things happens:
You make a transfer (lateral or otherwise) to another position at another facility. This requires that a vacancy exist, that you discover this vacancy, and that you are eligible to apply. The process is much like the one you followed to get the job initially, and expect to put in the same amount or even more effort. There are normally geographic restrictions on internal (public service only) and external (everyone) competitions (e.g. Prairie Region, Atlantic, NCR).
You are subject to workforce adjustment, which means your position is eliminated and they "attempt" to find you another Federal Public Service position. In this case, you have priority over most other applicants.
You retire.

[uzbek]

....base closing down? How often does that happen? Know you got me worried!


I don't think it has happened recently. Big round of cutbacks and base closures in the 80s (Summerside and the Pinetree Line radar stations) and 90s (Chilliwack, London, Chatham, etc.)

I met a guy at CFB Borden who was transferred to Ontario from Cornwallis when that base was shut down in the 90s. I think he was hoping to make it back, but thought he would have to wait until retirement. I'm 99% sure he was civilian.