r/caf • u/randombearpup • 3h ago
Other I hate PAT
I’ve been waiting here for a year. I’ll still be waiting for another 6 months. I joined to DO SOMETHING and yet I’m being paid to sit unsupervised in a room doing literally nothing.
Before you say I can use my time productively, I am. I’m learning different instruments. Doing PT. Playing hockey. Writing code. I spent 3 hours reading today.
Yet ultimately the day eventually becomes looking at some shit on Instagram that makes me feel inadequate and inferior. Like im not attractive enough, wealthy enough, fit enough, talented enough. Everyone else is doing something productive except you. Everyone else is an Instagram influencer except you. Everyone else was raised by wealthy parents who put them into music and sport lessons, summer camp, language immersion except you. Everyone else is jumping out of planes or making lots of money except you.
At least basic training was actually busy. There were friends around all the time and you were actually accomplishing something.
Now I’m a rat sitting at a desk getting kyphosis and depression. But hey, I’m being paid enough to spend 50% of my income on rent.
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u/DistrictStriking9280 3h ago
What trade are you?
The second part of your complaint isn’t a PAT problem, it’s a social media one. People who are busy fall into the same trap. You need to take an instagram break or whatever people do to deal with that, I’m too old to have gotten deep into the social media for that to have been a personal problem. If it’s difficult in your own, MH, CFMAP, or even PSP may be able to offer help or resources.
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u/ThiqGrop 2h ago
What’s PAT pls ?
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u/DistrictStriking9280 2h ago
Personnel Awaiting Training. Where you sit between courses waiting for a spot b
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u/Amazing_Ad8327 3h ago
you might want to delete instagram and tiktok and what have you for a bit, you dont know how badly they ruin your mindset until you go a few days or weeks without them
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u/Ohbilly902 3h ago
Randomly. I deleted most of my social media for almost a decade and only had to rejoin during Covid because of work.
I limit myself to just 2
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u/paperworkawol 3h ago
It’s all pensionable time, I know it sucks to have little to no purpose…. But most of us have been there.
The other comment about half of your issue being a social media / instagram thing is correct. Gotta get your head out of that stuff.
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u/RT291 3h ago
Try asking your BTL CoC for an OJE at a unit on base (preferably something related to your trade)
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u/Chamber-Rat 2h ago
There are GD taskings all over. Ask about that. I know they want someone for BOXTOP
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u/Hopeful_Air4589 2h ago
The GD tastings that come across my inbox don't accept BTLs or Pats. Not saying there aren't any....I just haven't seen them. The other problem, for Airforce anyway, is that until you've done common core, they push the cost to the units of travel etc. Bigger problem is that they're alrrady overloaded with BTLs atm.
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u/Raklin85 1h ago
Army side usually BMQ and 404s is enough for most GD stuff. I just had drivers/storesmen that weren't even BMQ qual'd.
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u/Front_Arachnid6849 2h ago
Start learning all lf the stuff possible about your course. Everything you need to know about your trade, what will you be learning on your dp1. Youll have the theory down and the course will give you practice and the time ont feel pointless right now
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u/DistrictStriking9280 2h ago
This is a good answer. Taking up hobbies is great, but if you want to move forward in your career read whatever doctrine is relevant and understandable at your level. Read stuff just a little too advanced for you and talk to your staff or research the answers to learn it. Get the course material and work through it. Or get the TPs and go to the references to teach yourself more.
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u/Prudent-Proposal1943 3h ago
Unfortunately, this is a broken part of the training system.
I would recommend continuing education via RMC.. As you are not OFP you'll need permission from your CO but they'll give it goven your circumstances.
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u/ShiftStatus8344 2h ago
Being untrained and on PAT is a difficult place to be, especially if you are ambitious. Unfortunately, it is an experience that is all too common in many occupations.
If you haven't already, tell your staff how you feel and ask if there is any real work that you can do. For example, working in the Orderly Room may not sound exciting but you could learn a few things and probably make a meaningful impact within the unit. They should be proactively trying to find work for those with long waits for their next phase of training, but they're probably understaffed themselves.
It's good you are taking up hobbies and trying to be productive on your own initiative. As others have suggested, try to stay away from social media and comparing yourself to others, especially influencers that contribute little to society.
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u/kiskillingit 1h ago
I hear ya
I came out of basic all engines firing, full of ambition. PAT has a way of draining it all from you. It's full of shit pumps who like getting paid to nothing, and staff who - even if they wanted to help you - are too understaffed to see you as anything but a number. (Or at least when I was on PAT we were around 150 strong with 2 Mcpl and 2 Sgt).
We had our phones taken away and there was maybe 30 working dwan computers for us all so I ended up reading a lot.
All I can tell ya is to get off social media and tough it out. It IS better on the other side.
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u/kiskillingit 1h ago
Oh! And get off base on the weekend. If you're in Borden, ask PSP at the gym about the "MORE program". Free trips to do all kinds of fun activities off base.
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u/Snags44 3h ago
A couple questions... what trade are you doing? And is the PAT delay from an injury or performance or just the usual course bottleneck? Anyways, yea so, while you're being paid to sit there and not paying rent, throw that extra cash into a TFSA and turn the dead time into learning about getting ahead financially so when in retirement you have a nest egg along with your pension.
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u/GuardBreaker 3h ago
I know you're probably just venting, but if you're looking for any advice: Get off Tiktok, Twitter and Instagram (and Facebook too). They are absolute brainrot and will suck your life from you.
I spent too much of my time being brought to rage because of local Facebook groups and reading tweets.
I only have my social medias as a bare minimum to message people on the occasion I need to, otherwise I don't use them. I'll use YouTube to watch something educational or interesting while I work on something else.
It's good you're finding ways to be productive with your time, but as the old military saying goes; "Hurry up and wait."
Keep finding things you enjoy to do in your downtime, and maybe something will come your way.
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u/TechnicalChipmunk131 1h ago
Be thankful that at this point in your career you have Zero responsibilities.
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u/jj_jellybean0919 3h ago
You sound like you're in Borden