armed forces?

[the virgin gary]

Has anyone here ever served in canada's armed forces? I'm thinking of joining the reserves. To be honest I'm 25, I work construction, and have no real ties here (gf, home ownership). Physically I think I could do basic but I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Any discussion would be great.

I also have no plans for post secondary education which seems to be a big selling point. I have my first two years of carpentry.

 

[greatshark]

sign up if you want, but you know Harper (or Ignatieff) will send you to Afghanistan. There you will fight and maybe die defending a corrupt Karzai government and his warlord buddies (Karzai' own brother is a big time warload drug king). You will not die fighting for anyone's freedom, but the multi-national corporations and corrupt Afghan government, and Harper won't even blink an eye.

You will likely die if you serve long enough - the death rate for Canadian soldier is 100 times that of the American soldier in Iraq. And as you admit, you aren't the sharpest guy, so you can count on being the one who is put in the more dangerous situations like sweeping for road side IEDs.

The forces are desperate for recruits.

Go ahead and sign up if you don't think your life is worth very much.

 

[threepeat]

Are members of the reserves getting sent to Afghanistan these days? Don't forget The Virgin Gary is only looking to join the reserves, not the reg forces.

While I agree with most of concerns of the above posters, I worked with a woman who was reg forces for nine years in a service battalion and was one of the nicest people I've ever met. I don't believe she ever saw combat though.

I personally wouldn't join the forces, but that's just because it seems like a lot of work to me. Why do you want to join, Virgin Gary?

 

[InTheBum]

Are members of the reserves getting sent to Afghanistan these days? Don't forget The Virgin Gary is only looking to join the reserves, not the reg forces.


I personally wouldn't join the forces, but that's just because it seems like a lot of work to me. Why do you want to join, Virgin Gary?

I hope he isn't joining for some action in his life...

Maybe try working more hours in construction and pumping more whores...

Or start your own business...

Personally, I don't recommend it, for all reasons people mentioned above...you will be a pawn and used until you die or lose limbs or testicles...

 

[chilli]

I was in the reserves years ago. There are good points and bad points. The good points are the training, discipline and genuine feeling of being part of great team. You'll also get some chances to do shit you couldn't possibly do in civilian life. I'm a bit of a patriot and can't believe some of the bullshit I read in the other posts.

I joined in a similiar economic time. There were no jobs and the tiny amount of money they paid for coming out on weekends and doing one night a week came in handy.

The downside, taking orders from idiots is hard. You had better be in decent physical shape to start. You will occasionally wonder why you are prepared to risk your life while the Canadian government is sending you out with sub-standard equipment. We used to suffer from weapon envy every time we did a joint exercise with the Americans. I was 17 when I started and my weapon was 4 years older than I was! The FN was a great weapon but heavy as fuck, Even the handle was wooden.

Back then our mission was peace keeping. Places like like Cyprus and the Golan Heights were not as dangerous as Bosnia or Afghanistan and the mission was clearer.

I don't it's ever a bad choice to serve your country. Every moron on this board is having his right to be a dickhead protected by those who serve. I don't think Iran, Iraq or Saudia Arabia would tolerate a Perb.

Although I admire your patriotism, and most of what you post is true, what people are against is our involvement in Afganistan.

A waste of time and money.

Despite our good intentions, we shouldn't be in Afganistan. It's gov't is corrupt.

It's got nothing to do with us, and every single Canadian who dies over there is dying for no good reason.

I would die defending this country if we were invaded, or there was another Germany, but not for some corrupt backwater ignorant dubious state.

 

[uncleg]

Gary, go for it. Cadman has probably given the best comment here so far on the forces. Ceasar, I suggest you ignore totally, he's just a F&8king idiot.
My SO joined the Reserves in her 40's and she made it through BMQ and SQ so you should make it. She was the second oldest person in each of those courses. The drop outs or those that were RTU'd were mostly young guys. Out of 30 she went to BMQ with, 13 didn't make it. That was four years ago. The last BMQ being run by the reserves here had a drop out rate of about 40%, last summer. Being fit is one thing, but there is a mental toughness you have to have as well. As a reservist, the forces will not send you anywere you don't want to go.Currently there are 130 reservists from B.C. deployed to Afganistan, the largest such deployment since Korea and everyone of them asked to be there. My SO recently came back from her deployment and she's fine with it. Some things did bother her, but we can talk about it because I have also been in the same place, just a different time and war. Holly's client, if he had problems with what he saw, probably just never had a chance to get it out of his system. Some people can't handle that shit, but that's something you have to learn or know about yourself.

If you do join up, and pick a trade in the forces, then you can work fulltime under what they call a B contract. You are employed as a regular soldier, with regular pay and benefits, but as a reservist again you don't have to worry about being deployed anywhere you don't want to go, and that includes within Canada.

So I'd say go for it, if it turns out you don't like it you can always ask to be released.

 

[the virgin gary]

Wow thanks for all the comments specially cleg and cadman more are welcome. I'm going to talk to a recruiter tommorow or after new years depends when they're avalible.

I couldn't say why I want to go. I've never really been outside of Saskatchewan (save edmonton, northren alberta) just training in Borden and seeing Ontario, Quebec, ect. would be fun for me. Figure I need to shed about ten pounds as well and having something to do on weekends would be nice pick up some extra cash as well. I'm not a social butterfly no kids or gf or roots really. I'm actually staying with the folks right now. Used to hard work outdoors. Still nervous though.

 

[bcneil]

You wont get sent to Afghanistan. Only a tiny tiny percent of our overall forces are there, and they all wanted to go.

 

[myselftheother]

Wow thanks for all the comments specially cleg and cadman more are welcome. I'm going to talk to a recruiter tommorow or after new years depends when they're avalible.

I couldn't say why I want to go. I've never really been outside of Saskatchewan (save edmonton, northren alberta) just training in Borden and seeing Ontario, Quebec, ect. would be fun for me. Figure I need to shed about ten pounds as well and having something to do on weekends would be nice pick up some extra cash as well. I'm not a social butterfly no kids or gf or roots really. I'm actually staying with the folks right now. Used to hard work outdoors. Still nervous though.

Hey, Gary....

No one can tell you what to do. Do what you feel you need to do, and there is a show on the CourtTV station that's called Duty Valour or something like that....they follow a different Canadian Forces group around...interesting stuff. Take a look at the different branches of forces, whether Army, Navy or Air Force.

But never mind what the wags here say, myself included. Do what you feel you need to do, it's your life.

 

[uncleg]

Wow thanks for all the comments specially cleg and cadman more are welcome. I'm going to talk to a recruiter tommorow or after new years depends when they're avalible.

I couldn't say why I want to go. I've never really been outside of Saskatchewan (save edmonton, northren alberta) just training in Borden and seeing Ontario, Quebec, ect. would be fun for me. Figure I need to shed about ten pounds as well and having something to do on weekends would be nice pick up some extra cash as well. I'm not a social butterfly no kids or gf or roots really. I'm actually staying with the folks right now. Used to hard work outdoors. Still nervous though.

What's a cleg ? Only training you'll get in Borden is trades training once you are in the reserves or regular forces. Reserve training is usually by the reserve units themselves. Here in B.C. there's usually a summer course out in Chilliwack that runs back to back, so you do it all in 70 days. If you can't make that then they run weekenders over a period of a few months. I don't know how many reserve units there are in your area, so if they can't get enough people for regular training courses in your area they may ship you all off to train with other units at Borden, but it's not something I have heard of.
Depending on the trade you go in for would also dictate where you would go for advanced training.

 

[wolfpath]

If you want to join that is a personal choice. Make sure you are going in with as much information as possible and as stated before pick something that would not only challenge you but something where you can learn a trade. I'm a current member of the reserve force and have been for quite awhile. There has been a lot of incorrect comments made here which is typical for people to comment on something that they know nothing about. You won't be sent to Afgan or anywhere's else unless you choose to do so. The opportunity is there if you want. A large percentage of reservists have gone over and continue to support operations both at home and abroad. Joining up can also give you lots of opportunities as I have travelled lots on the "Queen's dollar" and have loved it. The biggest item I can probably mention that hasn't been mentioned is be prepared to commit your time and energy into it other wise it's not worth going into. Good luck.

 

[uncleg]

You wont get sent to Afghanistan. Only a tiny tiny percent of our overall forces are there, and they all wanted to go.

OOOOOOKKKK. Canada's land forces ( Army ) including regular and reserve is about 35,000 and change, with close to 3,000 of them in Afganistan at any one time that's about ten percent. At any time there are probably twice that many in pre-deployment training. So as much as 30% of the Army is commited to Afganistan at any one time. I'd say that's more then just a tiny tiny percentage. Also, not all of them wanted to go. For the reserves it's a choice, for the regular forces it's not an option.

 

[HeMadeMeDoIt]

If some of the posters are any indication of what Canadians have become then we all have reason to be be ashamed and disgraced

I'm glad its not this douchebag generation that had to liberate Europe and help protect the World from tyranny!

Gary go for it! Good luck I'm sure you'll make us all proud

 

[bcneil]

OOOOOOKKKK. Canada's land forces ( Army ) including regular and reserve is about 35,000 and change, with close to 3,000 of them in Afganistan at any one time that's about ten percent. At any time there are probably twice that many in pre-deployment training. So as much as 30% of the Army is commited to Afganistan at any one time. I'd say that's more then just a tiny tiny percentage. Also, not all of them wanted to go. For the reserves it's a choice, for the regular forces it's not an option.

The Canadian Forces have approx 65,000-70,000 regular personal.
25,000-27,000 primary reserves and about the same number as secondary reserves.
Or about 115,000 to 120,000 total membership. As my comment refers to overall forces

The OP only spoke about joining the reserves, nor did he say he wants to join the land force itself. So no he won't be forced into battle.

 

[bcneil]

If some of the posters are any indication of what Canadians have become then we all have reason to be be ashamed and disgraced

I'm glad its not this douchebag generation that had to liberate Europe and help protect the World from tyranny!

Gary go for it! Good luck I'm sure you'll make us all proud

No kidding hey.

 

[HeMadeMeDoIt]

Jingoist.

Englebert Humperdink

If being proud of the history and achievements of our armed forces, what we've stood for as a country and what our forces have done to repel oppression against the less fortunate is jingoism then I'm GUILTY !

 

[FloridaGuy]

Its a great idea. You will learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible - what your limits are, how deeply you can dig. You will come out a more aware and a more confident person. And, you contribute to your country, as opposed to just being a leech.

Reservists cannot be sent overseas. They have to apply for a position on a tour of duty - so you are in control. As well, there are several hundred different jobs you can apply for - yes there are the well-known ones like infantry or armoured or artillery - but there are engineering trades, medical trades, logistics trades, clerical trades, etc. You could be an air force plumber if you want, or a navy refridgeration technician.

Everyone has a different experience with the military, most are good. The equipment these days is world class - the gear you wear will be better than what most Americans wear. It can be fun, but it can suck, and it can be boring and depending on what you do, sometimes stupid. But if you rise above the whiners and pussies, you will have a great experience that will make you a better person.

ps. ignore the hateful posts. Anything those guys know about the military was gained by watching Vietnam movies or MASH. Their comments do not reflect reality in the Canadian Forces today.

 

[sdw]

There are 2 sides to how Canadians feel about their military.

A team of 5 snipers were awarded the Bronze Star with "V" in 2002 also a company of 3PPCLI had most of it's Officers and Non-Coms awarded the Bronze Star for a separate series of actions.

None of the 5 snipers was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces when the medals were finally awarded in 2008.

What the snipers had done is clear away al Queda snipers and mortar platoons. By doing so, the snipers had assisted the survival of an American Company. During the week-long action, the longest kill shot by a sniper was attained by one of the Canadians. He hit a member of a al Queda mortar team at 2,430 meters.

When the snipers came out of the Afghan hills from their highly acclaimed action, they were sent back to Canada in disgrace and eventually released from the Canadian Armed Forces. Why? Because the gun film shocked and dismayed the REMF.

The staffer had copied the gun film to the media who demanded the snipers be disciplined for "desecrating human bodies". The snipers were court martialled and finally cleared of even the more outrageous accusations.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1044931218374_82//

In fact, the ceremony where the 3PPCLI members were paraded to receive their medals from the American Ambassador was mostly attended by fellow unit members and their families.

http://www.canadaka.net/article/449-30-canadians-awarded-bronze-star

Just as in the USA, what you get if you become a member of the military is disdain. You will not get the medical attention you will need if you do see action, you will not get the pension you will need if you do see action. You will find yourself only admitting that you served to people that served with you, because you will be so tired of being called a "baby killer" or worse having some idiot ask if you ever killed someone and hoping for a blood splatter description. Drop by drop.

 

[oldguy49]

Good Stuff

If some of the posters are any indication of what Canadians have become then we all have reason to be be ashamed and disgraced

I'm glad its not this douchebag generation that had to liberate Europe and help protect the World from tyranny!

Gary go for it! Good luck I'm sure you'll make us all proud

Thank you!

 

[FloridaGuy]

Just as in the USA, what you get if you become a member of the military is disdain. You will not get the medical attention you will need if you do see action, you will not get the pension you will need if you do see action. You will find yourself only admitting that you served to people that served with you, because you will be so tired of being called a "baby killer" or worse having some idiot ask if you ever killed someone and hoping for a blood splatter description. Drop by drop.

Way to take one isolated incident that involved a couple dozen people, tops, nearly a decade ago, and use it as an analogy for an entire organization. Baby killer?? Good grief. Vietnam was an American war, you know, over 30 years ago. Drop by drop?? You've got issues. Whatever your personal experience was or wasn't, it doesn't represent the experience of the other 99.8% of people in the CF who never pull a trigger in anger, and get a lot of positive experience out of their military stint.