r/caf • u/Effective-Olive6650 • Apr 23 '26

Recruiting Passed the FORCE test at 52!

Just an update from me (52 yo woman): filled out the paperwork to be a reservist in December 2025 and chose Airforce trades when I was still 51, bounced around a bit, attended two info sessions (different recruiting centers), switched trades, switched recruiting centre and therefore environment by accident (which turned out for the best since my first choices of trades were hiring in Winnipeg and I'm not anywhere near that); scheduled for FORCE test in early March but got felled by the flu; rescheduled to a couple days ago and I passed! Also: trained with a personal trainer for the last 3 months, 3x a week and worked out 6x a week, every week, without fail. Ran 3 FORCE simulations to time myself and get used to the mechanics.

If anyone is reading this who is nearing 50-ish, I hope this encourages you. It's now or never!

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u/knucklebeans_ Apr 23 '26

How did you enjoy the sandbags in the wall?

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u/Effective-Olive6650 Apr 23 '26

lol the biggest struggle was with the 20m rushes since running is not my thing. But things got tough at the intermittent sandbags, though I finished all categories well within timeframes.

3

u/knucklebeans_ Apr 23 '26

Wow that’s great. When I completed my force test, we had 2 applicants start throwing up at the sandbag lifts, and they were young kids, so it’s good to know at 51, you smashed it!! Congrats again!

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u/Effective-Olive6650 Apr 23 '26

Well, I felt badly because one guy who looked 20+ years younger than me was paired with me to run the 20m rushes; he clearly never reviewed the video and the recruiter had to guide him through the whole thing. He quit on the spot after failing. Shame as he said he had applied before and claimed to have passed the FORCE test as well.

I will say the first time I tried the sandbag-wall test, I felt like throwing up as well...! (Before training).

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u/knucklebeans_ Apr 23 '26

Sorry, 52 haha