CNA helps military retiree adjust to civilian life
1/10/2011 1:34:19 PM
Contrary to popular belief, not every student attending College of the North Atlantic comes straight out of high school on their way to a rewarding career. For many, Newfoundland and Labrador’s public college system is the starting point for their second go-round, some after they’ve served their country in the Canadian Forces.
After 21 years in an air force uniform, Rodney Stroud found himself facing ‘retirement’ at the age of 41, while he was stationed at 9 Wing Gander. But although his military career was coming to an end, the Glovertown native knew that his working life was far from over.
“Being that the military pension is what it is, you’re going to need another career to continue on in life,” he says. “It just so happened that my favourite choice was offered at College of the North Atlantic.”
Partway through his military service as an aviation technician, or aircraft mechanic, Stroud had decided to change trades, so he applied for a career change, or ‘remuster,’ and listed flight engineer and non-destructive testing (NDT) as his preferences. When the flight engineer opportunity was offered first, he took it, but he never really closed the door to his other interest.
Stroud knew the military’s Second Career Assistance Network (SCAN) offered a variety of programs and supports to help him transition to civilian life. He also qualified for financial support for schooling to prepare him for a new career or trade.
Captain Pamela Pahl is a Personnel Selection Officer with the Canadian Forces, and oversees the SCAN programs in Newfoundland and Labrador. She says CNA’s programs are a valuable tool for retiring service members.
“We’ve got a fantastic educational reimbursement program within the CF and (CNA’s programs) are a chance for them to increase their skills and education before they leave,” she says.
Stroud applied for the Non-Destructive Testing program at the Port aux Basques campus and started classes after he was officially retired. “NDT is the inspection of materials by using non-destructive methods like X-rays, ultrasonics, magnetic particles and liquid penetrants,” Stroud explains. “It’s a great program because you get a lot of hands-on experience.”
Stroud has plenty to say when he’s asked about the quality of the training he received at CNA.
“The instructors were totally down to earth and very informative,” he says. “They had tons of patience with students and that’s important because it’s progressive learning – it’s hard to move onto another topic if someone doesn’t understand the topic you just learned.”
Stroud says the program also has a strong focus on practical training, which other programs don’t have.
“There’s lots of hands-on and great test facilities,” he says. “A lot of people that write the exams for NDT, all they have access to is literature. They go in to write their exams and they haven’t got a clue what it’s like to actually do the things they’ll have to do on the job.”
Looking back on his time at CNA, Stroud says being a student was more than an educational experience; it was also a valuable life experience. “I enjoyed the year off (from the military), going to school and meeting new people,” he says. “Going to school helped me adjust to life outside the military. My first job will tell me how well I’ve adjusted.”
That job might well be alongside others from this province who’ve found success in Alberta’s oil and gas industry. “There’s 100 per cent potential for employment with this trade – they’re crying for them out west,” he says, explaining that a friend who’s a foreman there, and who also happens to be a graduate of the CNA program, is helping him find a job.
Like many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who move away for work, military or otherwise, Stroud’s plan has always been to come home to stay.
“When I retired there was no doubt I was going to stay in Newfoundland,” he says. “So it was nice to be able to learn the trade I wanted here at home.”
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Media Contact:
Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca