A future with the Canadian Armed Forces

[imported_LoKe]

I'm sitting here with the application forms for the Canadian Armed Forces. Sometimes I wonder how I got to this point, thinking that I must have failed at life for the army to be my last resort. But that's not really the reason, is it? Why did I think the army was the last resort?

I started to look at it this way...

I'm indecisive. I couldn't choose a career path, and because of that, I never went to College/University. Teachers, friends and family have been telling me that I could do anything. I never really accepted this and kind of...dropped back and kept to myself. I never pushed myself to try to do more. What options did I have, a year or two behind all of my friends? I had already missed two years of High School and I'd spend the next 5-10 years catching up, but for what? So that I can work a 9-5 job until I'm 65 and can retire without a significant savings, depleted pensions and all?

Work to live, not live to work.

So, still here with this application. The next 25+ years of my life will be committed to the army. I'd like to think that I'm doing it for my country, but I would be lying to myself. Simply put, I'm doing this for me. I'll leave everything behind so that I can live comfortably and happily once I get out. Who knows, I might advance to a position outside of the army before too long. All the while, I get an education, good money, great work and life experience and I get to do anything. Anything. So, what will I do?

I had to make a decision as to where I would focus my efforts. Which part of the army would be best for me? I picked an area that I have a little bit of knowledge and experience in. Communications Research (Comm Rsch). From there I get two choices. I could choose the technical side, working with tools that allow me to intercept and analyze foreign communications, or I cold choose the logistics portion and learn a few new languages. Linguistics it is. I've always had a passion for languages and I figure that since I'm already bilingual, I shouldn't have too hard of a time picking up new languages. Plus, I like learning so I don't think it'll be too bad. I figure they'll even look good on a resume when I decide to move up to CSE/DND/CSIS.

For those who have bothered to read all that, I have some questions.

1. Could anyone with experience give me a general idea of what to expect during training?
2. Aside from running and push ups, what should I do to prepare myself?
3. I know all bases are different, but in general, what are you allowed to take with you?
4. I've got a lot of hair and shaving with a regular blade/disposable takes too long. Would they allow me to bring a straight/safety razor?

For those who didn't read the post...
Cliffs
1. Joining the army, communications research.
2. 25+ years.
3. ???
4. Profit all the while?

 

[gamepad]

Your application involves a 25+ year commitment?

Edit: Or are you just planning to stay 25+ years?

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: gamepad
Your application involves a 25+ year commitment?

Edit: Or are you just planning to stay 25+ years?

I assumed he was planning on making a career out of it.

Either way, good luck dude. :thumbsup:

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: gamepad
Your application involves a 25+ year commitment?

Edit: Or are you just planning to stay 25+ years?

I'm not sure what the contract will be, but I predict to do something like 3 years. But I hope to be able to stick around for 25 and end it there.

 

[Jimmah]

Where are you applying from? I have to re-apply for the reserves soon, its a good paying part-time job and gives you a sense of pride. I have lots of friends in it right now, some have been to Afganistan a few times too. Good luck, you won't regret it

 

[Steve]

I was thinking about it too, when I was 17, 18 (and living in Canada). I do remember being told I'd go through 25 weeks of hell known as Battle School.

In the end, I decided I wanted to go for an education anyways, even though I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life (I had thought of becoming a teacher, but I eventually chose not to).

I ended up moving to the US and going to college here on a music scholarship. While in college, I started learning about computers, found I liked what I was learning and that I liked helping people. Despite not finishing my English degree, I'm still able to get tech support related jobs (actually, no more helpdesk for me now!) and enjoy myself.

Anyway, I have a lot of friends "back home" that are in the CF (including a couple of guys deployed in Afghanistan), I'd be glad to get you in touch with them. Just look through my Facebook friends list, you're in there

 

[imported_Imp]

Good for you. Hopefully, in 3/4 years I'll be in the same position. Unlike you though, joining CAF is my primary choice and I'm finishing up college (1 year left) to get a step up so I have a better chance of making it in.

As for requirements, I haven't been to the website in about 3 years, but there use to be a forum at the official CAF site. Lots of helpful FAQ too, and since you're already filling out the application, talk to your recruiter. I googled this quick, and it's not the same forum I went to way back when, but it should be a start:

Link

Probably a bunch of people with the same questions. Training stuff should be on their site. From what I remember, aside from push ups, running, there's a grip test with both hands and sit ups. Also hope your eyes aren't crap (mines are), but you're not going frontline so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Good luck.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

woa when did LoKe get back? Last I had any contact w/ this dude was when he flamed me on youtube :Q

anyways, best of luck to you, and if you must do it, then just do it. Your self-justifications do sound sound. As for reassurance from us, most of us will say go for it, since it is a decision that is well respected.

you won't know until you try right? It may not be the best of lifestyles, but it does beat your other alternative. Just make sure you work your tail off on whatever you ultimately decide to do, and live with the decision knowing why you did it in the first place.

good luck.

 

[BoomerD]

Canadia has armed forces?

OMG! call out the Marines...let's invade. After all, they have oil up there in that frozen wilderness...


I knew a few Canucks during Vietnam. Good bunch of fellows. Well trained, great discipline in their units.

 

[RichUK]

Fail!

 

[Beev]

I feel the same way as you, OP. If I personally ever, EVER sign up for any armed forces it will be because I failed at everything else. It actually seems like that's what a lot of people do...

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: Sraaz
I feel the same way as you, OP. If I personally ever, EVER sign up for any armed forces it will be because I failed at everything else. It actually seems like that's what a lot of people do...

that's harsh.... I've seriously considered the armed forces through ROTC. I applied, but got denied for reasons I weren't told (maybe bad eye sight, family's history..etc..no idea).

I wanted to join because, for one, they provide great benefits, and it looks good in the resume. There's so many benefits to it.

It really beats out the typical 9-5 grind, and anyone who wants a little bit more twist in their lives should pursue if given the opportunity.


It shouldn't be viewed as something as a last resort. It is a legitimate career path. A ton of my engineering peers have considered ROTC, and a few actually went through with it.

You will get respect in life for joining, and they give you invaluable experiences that a lot of jobs and training paths do not provide.

Maybe that is why I work for the government also. I travel the world to assist oceanographic researchers with their depressing research (lol, i say that because a lot of it is bad news haha ). I like my job so far (but being in a research vessel most of the time does get old haha). But it's different, and refreshing. Maybe I will settle down for a more conventional job, but as of now, while I am still young, my like my job despite its lower pay.

 

[Mucho]

Conscription by starvation still rules.

 

[rudder]

Just remember..... Russia is trying to lay claim to some oil rich Canadian territory.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Doing it for yourself and not your country, in all seriousness, is not the way you will be thinking once out of boot camp. At least if they do it right in Canada.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: Jimmah
Where are you applying from? I have to re-apply for the reserves soon, its a good paying part-time job and gives you a sense of pride. I have lots of friends in it right now, some have been to Afganistan a few times too. Good luck, you won't regret it

London, Ontario. I'll probably end up in Leitrim once I've gotten in. I was told I would likely be deployed to Afghanistan, which doesn't bother me.

Originally posted by: Imp
Link

Probably a bunch of people with the same questions. Training stuff should be on their site. From what I remember, aside from push ups, running, there's a grip test with both hands and sit ups. Also hope your eyes aren't crap (mines are), but you're not going frontline so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Good luck.

Found lots of good information there. There are parts about how to avoid/stop cramps, blisters, etc. Definitely going to have to remember that. Thanks!

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
woa when did LoKe get back? Last I had any contact w/ this dude was when he flamed me on youtube :Q

I get excited sometimes.

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Canadia has armed forces?

I knew a few Canucks during Vietnam. Good bunch of fellows. Well trained, great discipline in their units.

Apparently Canada is home to some of the greatest snipers. While our armies might not be massive, they're most likely well trained.

Originally posted by: RichUK
Fail!

Not an option.

Originally posted by: Sraaz
I feel the same way as you, OP. If I personally ever, EVER sign up for any armed forces it will be because I failed at everything else. It actually seems like that's what a lot of people do...

Then you don't feel the same way as me. I've decided to do it out of the best interest of my future, not because I couldn't do anything else.

Originally posted by: rudder
Just remember..... Russia is trying to lay claim to some oil rich Canadian territory.

Is the North Pole actually Canadian territory, though? I thought not one had it.

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
Doing it for yourself and not your country, in all seriousness, is not the way you will be thinking once out of boot camp. At least if they do it right in Canada.

I'm not so weak minded that I'll let my opinion be changed.

 

[Martin]

I thought about joining the military so I can get a free university education in the Royal Military College, but luckily I didn't go through with it. Way too much bullshit to put up with for a few bucks - definitely not worth it.

If you haven't sent them in already, I'd tell you to reconsider.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I lol'd at the title...Canadians with armed forces.

 

[dennilfloss]

Might want to consider this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...c&mode=related&search=

 

[Colt45]

Send us a postcard from Afghanistan.

 

[Bateluer]

Why does everyone think joining the Armed Forces of their country is a last resort? There are undoubtedly people who do, but the majority of people in the USAF and USN are there because they want to be there. The training and experience gained is invaluable. I can't comment on the USMC or USA, so I'll let other members comment there.

Aside from working on your physical fitness, familiarize yourself with rank insignia of at least the branch you are joining in as well as military history. Also, study the jobs available and try to get a slot reserved at something you want to do. I'm not sure the Canadian service works, but the USAF allows you to reserve an AFSC slot, to enter as open Electronic (Mechanical, Admin, etc), or as entirely open.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Why does everyone think joining the Armed Forces of their country is a last resort? There are undoubtedly people who do, but the majority of people in the USAF and USN are there because they want to be there. The training and experience gained is invaluable. I can't comment on the USMC or USA, so I'll let other members comment there.

Probably has something to do with not *requiring college education and risking your life. My parents say the same thing about police, firefighters and garbage men (ok, first 2 were serious). The holy grail is the 9-5 grind, massive overtime, a shotgun wedding and 2.4 children. I've done the 9-5 grind for 5 years, full-time and part-time sitting in an office; if this is my future, I'm jumping out the nearest window.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
familiarize yourself with rank insignia of at least the branch you are joining in

I was an Army Cadet back in the day. Off the top of my head:

NCOs:

Private >
Corporal >>
Master Corporal +>>
Sergeant +>>>

(Tilt your head 90 degrees to the left, the >'s are down-pointing chevrons and the +'s are maple leaves.)

Note that sergeants are not junior ranks like the first three, they are seniors alongside warrants (WOs). Also, in artillery: Private = Gunner, Corporal = Bombardier, Master Corporal = Master Bombardier.

Warrant Officer: Tudor Crown
Master Warrant Officer: crown w/ olive wreath
Chief Warrant Officer: Cdn. Coat Of Arms

Officers:

Junior:
2nd Lieutenant: |
Lieutenant: ||
Captain: ||

Senior:
Major: |||
Lt. Col: |||
Colonel: ||||

Generals: (+ is a maple leaf)

Brigadier Gen: +
Major General: ++
Lieut. General: +++
General: ++++

One other thing I noted in my time is that army and air personnel liked to pronounce 'lieutenant' as LEF-tenant, while navy folk pronounced it LOO-tenant.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: LoKe
I'm sitting here with the application forms for the Canadian Armed Forces. Sometimes I wonder how I got to this point, thinking that I must have failed at life for the army to be my last resort. But that's not really the reason, is it? Why did I think the army was the last resort?

I started to look at it this way...

I'm indecisive. I couldn't choose a career path, and because of that, I never went to College/University. Teachers, friends and family have been telling me that I could do anything. I never really accepted this and kind of...dropped back and kept to myself. I never pushed myself to try to do more. What options did I have, a year or two behind all of my friends? I had already missed two years of High School and I'd spend the next 5-10 years catching up, but for what? So that I can work a 9-5 job until I'm 65 and can retire without a significant savings, depleted pensions and all?

Work to live, not live to work.

So, still here with this application. The next 25+ years of my life will be committed to the army. I'd like to think that I'm doing it for my country, but I would be lying to myself. Simply put, I'm doing this for me. I'll leave everything behind so that I can live comfortably and happily once I get out. Who knows, I might advance to a position outside of the army before too long. All the while, I get an education, good money, great work and life experience and I get to do anything. Anything. So, what will I do?

I had to make a decision as to where I would focus my efforts. Which part of the army would be best for me? I picked an area that I have a little bit of knowledge and experience in. Communications Research (Comm Rsch). From there I get two choices. I could choose the technical side, working with tools that allow me to intercept and analyze foreign communications, or I cold choose the logistics portion and learn a few new languages. Linguistics it is. I've always had a passion for languages and I figure that since I'm already bilingual, I shouldn't have too hard of a time picking up new languages. Plus, I like learning so I don't think it'll be too bad. I figure they'll even look good on a resume when I decide to move up to CSE/DND/CSIS.

For those who have bothered to read all that, I have some questions.

1. Could anyone with experience give me a general idea of what to expect during training?
2. Aside from running and push ups, what should I do to prepare myself?
3. I know all bases are different, but in general, what are you allowed to take with you?
4. I've got a lot of hair and shaving with a regular blade/disposable takes too long. Would they allow me to bring a straight/safety razor?

For those who didn't read the post...
Cliffs
1. Joining the army, communications research.
2. 25+ years.
3. ???
4. Profit all the while?

ahh.. 'dudley Do Right' royal mounted police

 

[ultimatebob]

Will they let you drive the tank?