The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have announced that permanent residents, which includes a large number of Indians, will now be allowed to enlist, as the military struggles with low recruitment levels, according to a media report.
The move also comes five years after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced that they’re changing their “outdated recruitment process”, means allowing permanent residents who have lived in Canada for 10 years to apply, CTV News reported.
Permanent residents were previously only eligible under the Skilled Military Foreign Applicant (SMFA) entry programme, which was “open for individuals … that would reduce training costs or fill a special need … such as a trained pilot or a doctor,” according to the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia, a not-for-profit association of retired and serving members of the CAF.
Right now, candidates must be citizens of Canada, over 18 years old (or 16, providing they have parental consent), and have a grade 10 or grade 12 education depending on if they plan to enlist as an officer. These criteria — except, of course, the citizenship requirement — will also apply to permanent residents.