OK OK OK..... (warning, long read)

[HAL9000]

Geez... few people open thier trap and let it all out... guess I shoulda kept my mouth shut LOL

For those of you that don't know, or haven't figured it out yet... On June 4th, I will know whether I have made the cut to be recruited with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It's been a long battle having originally put my application in in January of 2003. The first part was the RPAT (aptitude test). A three hour exam that tests your mind on just about everything. A score of 3.2/5 or higher was required, I scored 3.68.

It was a long wait from there. I didn't hear ANYTHING from them until September 26th. During that time I had my eye testing done and obtained my St. Johns Ambulance first aid certificate.

September 26th came along and I saw the huge envelope in my mailbox... now the fun of the paperwork comes along. They want references like you wouldn't believe and I had my scheduling for the next steps.

The next step was the psychologica evaluation on October 10th. Well, I arrive on time that day and the guard at the gate turns me away with no explanation saying that it was cancelled. I'm like what the heck... lemme guess.. this is a psych eval, you're seeing how I react. Well.. later that day, I found out they had a huge norwalk virus breakout and had over 70 people sick on base. My evaluation was delayed until all days, October 31st. Well... went to the exam... what an exam... 567 true and false questions and it took about 3 hours to get through as well.

Next step was on to my nemesis, the PARE (Physical Abilities Requirement Exam). First try was Nov 22nd.. I've lost a lot of weight and have been working out, but my cardio sucked. First run I had a time of 4:43 (needed to beat 4:45), but added to it were 3x 5s penalties for not clearing the 5 foot distance jump on 3 out of the six laps. Now the bad news about my cardio... 20 minutes after running, my heart rate was still 172 beats per minute and I darn near passed out after completing it... I now know what the moment before blackout is like.

The PARE exam


Time for run number two on January 24th. Well, my good old 5 foot jump came back to bite me again. While my time improved to 4:32, I had the exact same 3x 5s penalties as I did the first time putting me 2s over the allowed time. Well, a little better news on the cardio this time. 15 minutes after my run, my heart rate was down to 120... I still felt like puking, but not passing out. I almost think I should have delayed this run as two weeks before it, I had a rather nasty cold. I thought I was fully recovered, but nope.. right after the run, within minutes, I was sneezing and dripping my nose all over the place.

Run #3 was scheduled for March 20th. Well, luck would have it, just days before, I came down with a nasty chest cold. Knowing what happened the last time, I figured I better delay it as after you run, you develop fluid in the lungs and a nasty cough as it is... don't need to be trying to run it in that kinda shape. They didn't have a new date available yet, but I got put first on the wait list.

April comes along and I take off to Oregon to visit long time internet friend Don (dldz). Well, I spent my week there doing everything I shouldn't.. eating greasy burgers and drinking every day. I was coming home on the 14th and on the 13th, my wife calls me to let me know I got my new PARE date... I'm thinking late May, or June... nope.. April 30th... I'm thinking oh oh... I'm not ready.

Well, April 30th comes along and under the advice of a guy that saw me run the second time (he administers the exam for city police), I practiced that 5 foot jump for days as he told me my approach was all wrong. Well, my run day comes and I fly through with no penalties and a final time of 4:33. The best part, only 10 minutes afterwards, my heart rate had recovered to 108 and I was cleared to go home.

As you know, I recently received my interview date for June 4th. In preparation, I got my required passport sized photos and today I went to get fingerprinted for security clearances. This will be the make or break date. After the interview, I will immediately know whether I'm in or out. If I'm in, it will be about a 3-6 month wait to be assigned to a troop as they will still have to do background checks, security clearances, a medical exam and a dental exam. If I'm out, I can re-apply in two years which I surely will should that happen.

So if all goes well, I'm looking at a start date for training around September-December. It will be 22 weeks in duration and I have yet to figure out how we're gonna survive financially as I will be without an income during that time.

This has been more work than I have ever done in my life as it is probably reflected by my lack of posts over the last year... I just haven't had time and realistically, it isn't going to get any better any time soon. Once in training, I just won't have time for the internet and will be pretty much disconnected with the exception of free time on weekends.

I doubt I'll ever completely say goodbye to PCMech. I've probably learned as much as I have written here over the past 4.5 years.... but realistically, it will be time for me to move on. I'm looking forward to moving, looking forward to the change... but will surely miss everyone I have come to know here at the Mech.

There.... you all know... but no picture until I graduate... I'll be posting a picture of the "before" me, and another in full uniform.

[Force Flow]

Best of luck to you, hal!

[mikezel]

Wow hal, good luck! If you've made it this far, I'm sure you'll pass the interview. You have been a great help to me and to many other here an I'm sure we can all agree in wishing you the best of luck in your future.

Mike

[Panama Red]

Excellent work so far, Dave! You've set a great example for all forum members who dream of something different or better in their lives. I wish you well with the rest of the process. Hope you achieve your dreams. I'm sure you will.

BTW, is the "M" part of RCMP still valid? Didn't see anything about horses in your testing so far!

[doctorgonzo]

Wow, HAL, a Mountie! That sounds like a truly interesting career and a fantastic opportunity. I wish you the best of luck on your interview. You'll definitely have to let us know what you will be doing if you make the cut, and I'm sure you will.

[juppy]

The next step was the psychologica evaluation on October 10th.

Considering we're talking about HAL here, I would've figured the psychological part would've been alot harder than the PARE test. I mean, he has to prove to them that he's sane? That's a tough one!
Just kidding HAL! You know I can't help picking on you dude. Good luck with the interview, but I got a feeling your gonna pass it too!

[lil Jimmie]

I wish you the best of luck Dave and I hope getting mounted is really what you want.

[SonicVanguard]

I knew it! Good luck to you - and for the record, I guessed correctly.

[bigandy]

Good luck man. I'm sure you'll do just fine.

[Cricket]

'Bout time you told us what you were up to...talk about making a major career change! About as major as you can get too...going from a computer tech to an officer of the law, and with the RCMP to boot.

I'm sure you'll make a fine officer... mountie... cop... lawman... whatever ... I'm real happy for you.

Don't be a stranger...and be careful out there.

Cricket

[Karnevil9]

That's great! Good Luck to you Hal. I sort of figured that was what you were up to, by all the hints that were being dropped here, and my own knowledge of Law Enforcement application tests and procedures.
My understanding is that the RCMP handles just about all Goverment related Law enforcement and Protection. Is this correct? I wish we had that here in the states. Here we have a different agency for everything and everyplace.
I also understand that their training is very tough. I never heard of an agency doing a three hour interview, unless they want you to fill out a lot of paperwork for the background investigation.
Good Luck again and keep everyone posted. If you got this far, I think the rest may be easier. Everything except the waiting

[HAL9000]

Thx everyone... I've had a lot of support and I hope everyone that I know will support my wife and daughter while I am gone for 22 weeks. I MIGHT get the occasional weekend to come home during that time. Once I graduate, we have real decisions to make as I may be posted anywhere in Canada. we'll either have to make the decision to all move wherever I'm posted... or only I go and work my way back home over the next 4 or more years.

As for the "mounted" part.. The RCMP still uses horses, but for show only.. primarily for parades and "The Musical Ride".

Yes, the training program is very tough.. they cram a lot of info into you in 22 weeks plus physical training, self defense, firearms, driving, etc. I'm looking forward to tossing the car around. I live 5 minutes from the training facility for Canada and have watched them burning around the track. It puts a lot of race car drivers to shame.

Three hours for the interview is nothing. I spent about 4 hours filling out paperwork to take to the interview, had to get two passport sized photos and then today, fingerprinted (two copies). I had to supply 5 personal references of friends that I have known for 5 years or more. They will each get called for a one hour interview background investigation on me. On top of that, I had to supply three general references and every place I have lived over the past ten years with listings of my neighbours.

I still don't know how I passed the psychological evaluation Juppy LOL..... actually... yes.. I do know. The evaluation isn't to determine if you're "crazy" thank God.. but rather it determines if you are suitable for this kind of job. They don't want to invest the money into you in training and then have you not be able to cut it after one or two years.

As for what the RCMP is... they cover a really broad range really from general duties of a police officer to what you would consider to be the equivilant of the FBI.

[LawyerRon]

Hal,
Good luck.

[coolcps]

Good job on passing the PASE, it must be nice to see the improvement and finally get past that obstacle on the way to your new career. Good luck to you in the future!

[Markoman01027]

Good luck Dave..you can do it!

[Karnevil9]

My experience has been that rookies here in the states, get the worst assignments. So where you go after training is probably some place where you will need to dress real warm. Do you remember the show Sgt. Preston of the Yukon
I think Highway response and Skid Pan is about everyones favorite.

[pam123]

Good luck HAl !!

[Statica]

Well I figured as much, (I did guess it was a law enforcement agency), and my congratulations to you and wishes for continuing good luck.

I dont know how good of a cyber-crimes/cyber-terrorism division the RCMP has, but I sincerely hope that they will also use your "digital" knowledge to their advantage - I mean that is if you dont particularly want to get away from all of that. I think its something that should perhaps be strengthened in this country.

[HAL9000]

I would like to get into air services... but at the same time, they will assign you where THEY think is best. I've heard from plenty of people that as soon as they find out you have a bit of knowledge of computers, that's where they toss you. I wouldn't mind getting into that either... I think it would be far more enjoyable than what I do now.

[Statica]

Excellent! Soon I can PM you my little ole router logs and ask you to scare any guy who wants to ping me!!

I've heard the same as you, about people with ANY knowledge of computers being channelled over to that end; personally I like the prospect of finding out about someone who knows a LOT about computers getting into this!

[Redfallon]

Good luck Hal! Thanx for all your help in the short time I've been here

[raftero]

good for you, i understand the money problem, i had a chance to get into Texas highway patrol soon after i got out of the navy but with a wife,one child, no money and a 350 mile trip and a 2 or 3 day stay for the exam i couldn't afford it,so i went into air traffic control for the FAA. that was interesting also and probably almost as exciting.hope everything works out and don't be a stranger.i'm suprised the mounties take someone with only one electronic eye HA

[homer15]

good job, hal... if that is your real name! this whole time i kept the secret that you were going to work for via, pcchips, and amd a secret, and they were all untrue!

[Propain]

And please note, that you had stated that if this goes thrue, we get a PIC of you eh! and not a rabbit pic eh. or back of your head eh.

cheers and good luck

[HAL9000]

LOL Statica... well... they provide full training on the job... so if the computer field is where I go, thats where I go. I would like to go into air services as I have always wanted to fly... but we'll see what happens.

Yes Propaine.. you will get a legit, unobstructed, untouched pic.... actually two pics.. one of me at 280- 290 pounds (always said about 270-280, but found out my scale was 10 pounds too low) on my way to 300 and a heart attack and a second, leand out, hair shaved down to less than a 1/4 inch (it's been shaved to about 1/2 already... gettin used to the concept) and moustache gone for the first time in my life.

[mairving]

Oh wow, good luck fighting Snidely Whiplash. Wouldn't that be something if you spend all that time and effort getting into shape and then get a job sitting on your butt all day. Have you told your Boss yet?

[HAL9000]

Ya... he knows about it.... I don't think he's too impressed with me leaving on what will be short notice...they give up to two weeks, but as little as 48 hours.

As for sitting on my butt... well.. I doubt that will happen too fast (this is government remember). After 22 weeks of training at Depot, you have to have a minimum of 1 year of field training. Then depending on their needs/demands, it could go even longer.

[Lord Prism]

Good luck

[Cheryl]

Best of luck to you, Hal!

[mystvearn]

Good luck Take some photo's too if you can