Canadian Armed Forces showcase aviation careers at Fanshawe College

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Air Maintenance Branch Air Attractions Team (AMB AAT) visited the Fanshawe College Aviation Centre at London Airport.

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Air Maintenance Branch Air Attractions Team (AMB AAT), accompanied by a CF-18 Hornet, visited the Fanshawe College Aviation Centre at London Airport on Monday.

The goal was to engage with students in the school’s aviation programs.

“We are a military connected college so any chance we get to actually meet up with the military and bring in their hardware it motivates our students,” said Jason Burt, associate dean with the Wolf School of Aviation and Aerospace Technology. “It serves the military as well because we consider them an industry partner.”

The visit was in support of efforts to attract new Canadian Armed Forces members to aviation technical trades specifically, Avionics Systems Technicians, Aircraft Structures Technicians and Aviation Systems Technicians.

Students heard presentations by experienced RCAF technicians, saw and learned about the aircraft up close, and spoke with recruiters.

“I took the same path as a lot of these college students,” said Trisha Chipman, an avian technician with the RCAF. “It’s good to be a role model and show them what a career in the Canadian Armed Forces could look like.”

Students also learned about the Non-Commissioned Member Subsidized Training and Education Plan (NCM-STEP), which offers full-time paid training or education at Canadian colleges, universities, or other post-secondary establishments for authorized courses of study related to military occupations.

Members of the RCAF said there is an increasing demand for these skillsets. They are ‘optimizing incentives’ such as recruiting allowances, additional pay incentives and subsidized education opportunities.