WEBVTT 00:00:03.837 --> 00:00:06.673 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% I'm Private Vicky Laplante-Beaulieu, from Burnaby, B.C. 00:00:06.673 --> 00:00:10.135 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% I'm a Postal Clerk with the Canadian Armed Forces Postal Unit, posted at CFB Trenton. 00:00:11.136 --> 00:00:16.266 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% Sending and receiving mail for 100,000 personnel in a timely manner is a critical job. 00:00:16.266 --> 00:00:20.228 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% That's why Postal Clerks have an integral role in the Canadian Armed Forces. 00:00:20.228 --> 00:00:25.024 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% They go where the Forces go - and they send mail to virtually every continent, 00:00:25.024 --> 00:00:30.196 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% often to locations where getting the mail to the right place, on time, is a difficult task. 00:00:30.905 --> 00:00:33.241 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:120% We'd receive the mail every morning around 7:30. 00:00:33.241 --> 00:00:36.161 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% And then from there we would X-ray it to make sure there's no illegal contraband, 00:00:36.161 --> 00:00:39.539 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% no aerosols, or anything that would otherwise be dangerous goods. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:43.543 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% And from there we sort it to each mission, making sure that they go to the correct one. 00:00:43.543 --> 00:00:46.129 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% And then from there we just bag them up and send them off to Transport 00:00:46.129 --> 00:00:49.340 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% so they can get that sent out on service flights or commercial carriers. 00:00:49.883 --> 00:00:52.927 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% Postal Clerks ensure families stay connected overseas 00:00:52.927 --> 00:00:55.889 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% and that every letter or parcel gets to its destination - 00:00:55.889 --> 00:00:59.934 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:75% be it the middle of the ocean, the desert, or the Arctic - 00:00:59.934 --> 00:01:02.645 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:75% anywhere Canadian Armed Forces personnel happen to be. 00:01:02.937 --> 00:01:06.191 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% Right now, we have 25 active missions, but they change every day. 00:01:06.191 --> 00:01:10.403 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% We can get more in the next month even, so there's a lot of missions and a lot of mail. 00:01:11.529 --> 00:01:14.783 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% Besides the obvious operations section where we send it overseas, 00:01:14.783 --> 00:01:17.577 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% we have members who work in the retail post office. 00:01:17.577 --> 00:01:20.455 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% So that's the one where people are more familiar with, with the customer service, 00:01:20.455 --> 00:01:23.625 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% the counter, where you can buy stamps and send your parcels. 00:01:23.625 --> 00:01:26.336 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:105% So that is more what "inside Canada" does; 00:01:26.336 --> 00:01:30.423 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% overseas members also do the same type of roles but of course, 00:01:30.423 --> 00:01:33.009 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% they're dealing with international mail and parcels. 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:37.180 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% It may seem old-fashioned, because you think postal clerks, you think old-school mail, 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:40.683 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% but you know what - it's always evolving. You get to see new things every day. 00:01:44.687 --> 00:01:46.356 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:68% We take care of the morale. 00:01:46.356 --> 00:01:49.192 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% So our job is to make sure that our members overseas get their mail, 00:01:49.192 --> 00:01:52.862 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% they receive all the hand-written drawings from their kids, letters from their wife, 00:01:52.862 --> 00:01:56.950 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% and just - it makes them happy, and so I feel like our main job is the morale of the troops. 00:01:57.909 --> 00:01:59.828 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:70% My favourite part of the job is definitely the people - 00:01:59.828 --> 00:02:01.871 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% both the customers and the people that I work with. 00:02:01.871 --> 00:02:03.665 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% They're different, unique people every single day. 00:02:03.665 --> 00:02:05.250 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:55% So you can't go wrong. 00:02:05.250 --> 00:02:09.003 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% There are just so many different stories that you get, so it just makes for an interesting day. 00:02:18.429 --> 00:02:20.682 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:113% After completing their training requirements, 00:02:20.682 --> 00:02:24.727 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% Postal Clerks are posted to a military post office across Canada, 00:02:24.727 --> 00:02:27.522 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:108% the Canadian Forces Postal Unit in Trenton, 00:02:27.522 --> 00:02:29.858 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:98% or on the coast in a Fleet Mail Office. 00:02:30.316 --> 00:02:33.570 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% You get to work for usually about a year in that type of scenario, 00:02:33.570 --> 00:02:36.906 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% and then you come back to Trenton and then you get to complete your financial training. 00:02:36.906 --> 00:02:41.035 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% And from there, you're able to handle the cash, and all the stamps... 00:02:41.578 --> 00:02:42.996 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:75% You're always a soldier first. 00:02:42.996 --> 00:02:46.124 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% So regardless of the training you get as a Postal Clerk, when the time comes, 00:02:46.124 --> 00:02:50.628 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% if you need to put on your tack vest and get your weapon, you are good-to-go, you're ready. 00:02:51.588 --> 00:02:55.341 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% Later in their careers, Postal Clerks also work in Central Registries. 00:02:55.341 --> 00:02:58.553 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% That's where they control and distribute official correspondence, 00:02:58.553 --> 00:03:00.889 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:83% both classified and unclassified, 00:03:00.889 --> 00:03:03.975 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% as well as process message traffic and official files. 00:03:04.350 --> 00:03:05.852 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:75% There's lots of possibilities. 00:03:05.852 --> 00:03:11.232 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% You can become the Central Detachment Warrant, you can move up to the unit Sergeant Major, 00:03:11.232 --> 00:03:12.901 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:110% you can even go all the way up to the Chief. 00:03:13.276 --> 00:03:18.031 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% And, Postal Clerks can be also deployed overseas to support current military operations. 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:22.619 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% Having a positive attitude and willing to learn new things is going to get you far, 00:03:22.619 --> 00:03:24.913 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% not just this trade, but in the military in general. 00:03:29.375 --> 00:03:32.295 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:108% This is so different, but so, so rewarding. 00:03:33.338 --> 00:03:37.759 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% There are so many benefits to being part of this community that you can't go wrong. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.929 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% It's a career you can be proud about, something you can do for the rest of your life. 00:03:40.929 --> 00:03:42.680 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:90% You get a great pension, benefits... 00:03:43.598 --> 00:03:46.142 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% It's everything I could have asked for - I wish I had joined earlier.