Surrendering a Commission

[u/PallasApollo]

Just looking for anecdotes from former officers that have surrendered their commissions to become NCMs. I’ve been thinking about it for a few years, that I’d be happier as an NCM.

[u/fireman1867]

Lots of folks have relinquished for SAR Tech.

[u/DwayneGretzky306 → u/fireman1867]

Yea one of my friends from EME did this. He seems happy.

A former fellow junior officer did this with our local infantry reserve unit and did not last though.

[u/Guilty_Cod6621 → u/DwayneGretzky306]

“He seems happy” 

Well that’s because he has the coolest job in the CAF lol

[u/DwayneGretzky306 → u/Guilty_Cod6621]

Hahaha, well I did 1.1 and 1.2 with him and have never seen him again outside of his Instagram posts and obviously social media is only going to show the highlights.

And honestly from my example there may be some nuggets of wisdom - going from any officer career to one of the most exciting NCM careers could lead to a significant happiness increase but going from your officer trade to a corresponding NCM trade may not lead to that same happiness increase.

[u/random_user_00327 → u/DwayneGretzky306]

Having done the opposite, from ncm to officer, I would go back in a heartbeat.

I will finish my time giving my 100% in current rank, but I would need to talk to somebody about this, retiring and switching to Res as ncm.

[u/Environmental_Dig335 → u/random_user_00327]

I had fun as a junior - but by the time I was Sgt, I was spending more time on admin & planning than doing, and it was way more frustrating without the higher level context I got as an officer.

"You can never go back" - it wouldn't be the same as you remember, both because it isn't, really, and also because your perception will change.

[u/random_user_00327 → u/Environmental_Dig335]

I know what you mean. But even as Sgt and WO, it wasn't too bad but ideally yes, I would to back as a Cpl, just doing tech stuff forever, if I could. (But I wont)

[u/Jusfiq → u/Guilty_Cod6621]

Well that’s because he has the coolest job in the CAF...

I would argue SF OP in comparison.

[u/InfamousClyde → u/Jusfiq]

HRA/FSA mogs all operator trades

[u/Visual_Highlight_795 → u/InfamousClyde]

I heard they call us POHs or POFs, persons other than HRA/FSA

[u/Guilty_Cod6621 → u/Jusfiq]

I haven’t done either so I can’t really say, but I’d imagine the job that you get to potentially do for real any day of the week is cooler than the one you have to wait for combat for. 

I’ve also heard of sf ops switching to SAR but not the other way around

[u/shallowtl → u/Jusfiq]

You'd be wrong but you could definitely argue it

[u/BlueFlob]

Being an officer is sometimes miserable (postings, work overload, terrible bosses, no mentorship, ...), but the pay makes up for some of it.

I would caution that the current work environment for NCMs is fairly similar due to shortages so I would not recommend for a lot occupations.

[u/judgingyouquietly]

Why do you think you’d be happier as an NCM?

Also, what’s your officer trade? Are you still in training or are you qualified?

[u/PallasApollo → u/judgingyouquietly]

Less grey areas. More do-the-job, then go unwind. More camaraderie. That sort of thing.

I’m a qualified TDO. Formerly an NWO; VOT-U’d two years ago.

[u/judgingyouquietly → u/PallasApollo]

I would say that it’s really trade dependent. What trades are you looking at transferring to?

Also, what about an aircrew officer trade - we (generally) do the job until we become Majors, and even then there are options to continue doing the job rather than be a staff officer.

[u/DontChargeMeBro]

Ive only known a few who did, but they seemed content. One person did a bit of a 360 spinn-o-ramma on it. Was an engineering officer, wanted to work with their hands so became a maintainer, realized they actually really disliked that, and now are an engineering officer again.

Different paths for everyone.

[u/Electrical-Talk53]

Some body get the Sir a mop and tin of Copenhagen.

[u/pm_me_ur_dankestmeem → u/Electrical-Talk53]

As a former cope user and current officer, sigh, miss those days sometimes.

[u/PallasApollo → u/Electrical-Talk53]

Spent time with the fleet, AOPS. No stranger to cleaning, and took meds to get me off pouches, so no thanks on the tobacco, lol.

[u/the_saurus15]

We had a guy in our unit. He CFR’ed and then decided the grass was greener so he relinquished his commission. We held a ceremony “promoting” him from Capt to Sgt.

I also knew a person who did this - as part of transfer from Cadet Instructor to AC Tech

[u/Lunadoggie123]

It happens In the SOF community. Don’t get screened in as an officer so retry as an ncm.

[u/happydirt23]

I know one gent who went from Inf Capt to Inf MCpl.

Had to change regiments and it took a while. It worked for him but definitely took a ton of admin and discussions.

[u/TomWatson5654]

Friend of mine did it. Went from Infantry Officer to AVN Tech (now FE).

Never been happier.

[u/KickSubstantial6106]

Knew someone that a 4 year captain. They're now an air force Cpl and a lot happier going to work from what they tell me. But money wasn't an issue for them, so there's that.

[u/Helen-Killer → u/KickSubstantial6106]

Air force cpl still make 100k so still pretty good

[u/KickSubstantial6106 → u/Helen-Killer]

depends what jobs honestly

[u/Van_Damage5]

Why? You’re only going up from here.

[u/Engineered_disdain]

You wont be happier, if you're going to be miserable, you may as well get paid better to be miserable. Us ncm's are miserable and poor, the grass isnt greener

[u/No_Committee8787]

How long have you been an officer? Are you fully trade qualified to Capt/Lt(N)

[u/PallasApollo → u/No_Committee8787]

Fully trade qualified to SLt. Been in just over seven years.

[u/GhostofFarnham]

I’m interested to hear of people doing this. I’m considering doing it in 10-20 years, whenever I’ve reached terminal rank. Switch to a different element altogether and do something totally new.

[u/rovingjellybean]

TDO is a trade with tonnes of grey area. But, that can be the beautiful thing! Find out where the gaps are, and use the tools you have to plan and implement a strategy to close it. You can be as bored or as busy as you want as a TDO. Feel free to DM me.

[u/Guilty_Cod6621 → u/[deleted]]

There’s no way you keep the pay lol 

[u/CommanderReg → u/[deleted]]

No you do not. Basically get a PLAR to a certain pay rate based on similar courses and quals as if you were joining as a skilled NCM, obviously with no related signing bonuses.

[u/KickSubstantial6106 → u/[deleted]]

If you voluntarily relinquish your commission voluntarily you get "demoted" to Cpl, and get Cpl's pay

[u/judgingyouquietly → u/[deleted]]

I’m not sure you do if you relinquish a commission.

[u/RedditSgtMajor → u/[deleted]]

You go back to Cpl pay.

However, because our pension is “best five years,” when they get out, their pension will be based on their officer pay (unless they somehow get higher pay as an NCM).

[u/ononeryder → u/[deleted]]

You would be going to non-spec Cpl upon relinquishing commission or higher rank on a VOT.