Mountain Operations Course

[--Metalhead--]

Hey, I am pretty old to this forum, but I just decided to finally make a account and ask a few questions. Heres my first...   The search button is taking me awhile to use, and I know this was brought up, but I need a direct answer... How long does it take just for my application form to process in order to be accepted into the Canadian reserve and start basic training in the Canadian Reserve? I had a Canadian reserve/army recruit team come over to my high school last December 2004, and had set up a booth, as it was a course carousel type of set up in my cafeteria to get a feel of what courses I should taking next year. Anyways, they handed me a slip of paper, that questioned something like " Are you tough enough?..." and stated all the requirements to join the reserve, specifically the 32 Canadian Brigade I think it was. Anyways, they got me thinking in joining the reserve for just basic training during the summer. I am currently in grade 10 by the way.

My 2nd question is... If I do join the Canadian Reserve next year, 2006, would it be possible to get a discharge right after I finish my Basic training? Form what I heard, if it takes a while for applications just to be processed in order to join the Canadian forces, will they screw me over and take their sweet time in processing my discharge? Anyways, I want to do basic training during my summer, right before I start grade 12, September, 2006... my parents are nagging me not to join (they will send you off to war, blah, blah, blah), but I want to do basic training because it sounds fun and cool... good exercise and discipline. Thanks for your replies. My other question is, if they do not discharge me/or If I don't discharge before school starts again for me, do I have to work during the weekends? or weekdays too? Because I have school, and that would be no fair to me if they work me like a dog... I need the time to study as I will be going to University.            

 

[Love793]

The reserves training year is based around the school year.  We primarily train, one/two night(s) a week and 1 or 2 weekend(s) a month.  It's similar to other part time jobs in that manner (with better pay and less "abuse" than "MC Garbage", "Burger Prince" or "Tammys").  If you wait until you're 18, your parents can't legally say anything regarding your enrollment.

 

[JBP]

If I do join the Canadian Reserve next year, 2006, would it be possible to get a discharge right after I finish my Basic training?

Why bother joining up if your just going to quit? It's a waste of your time, the ARMY's time and taxpayer's money... Someone useful could have the thousands of dollars of training put into them enstead.

If your afraid of a little weekend work and 1 night a week, do yourself, and more importantly, the army a favour and don't bother. You have to be serious about this kind of thing, it's not your everyday job and they need people who are dedicated! It's the ARMY, not Slim Jim's Burger Flop House...

Not trying to ruffle your feathers kid, just trying to wake you up abit.

 

[Sharpey]

Plus if you tell them you are just quitting after your basic training, the CFRC will probably just tell you to blow smoke and be off with you. Perhaps Love793 could elaborate on approx. how much it costs to process a new recruit. I do belive on the average, it costs a Regiment $10,000 to send a troop off on a course. They won't benefit from you quitting after summer training at all, so they will probably tell you to blow it out your ear aswell.

 

[Ty]

Joining the Army Reserves is a commitment that you should take seriously.  Your initial training period would be pretty intensive over the summer months- which would be ideal for a student attending high school/university.  The pay is decent and the job is very rewarding.  During other times of the year you would be expected to attend parade nights (usually once a week) and weekend exercises (1-2 weekends a month)  You get paid for both.  As my CO recently explained to me, your career, education, and family take precedence over the Reserves- however, you are making a commitment to the latter and should seriously consider the all other things in your life beforehand.  You can quit the Reserves at any time (there is no contract), however, doing so after a very short period speaks volumes about your character.

You've mentioned that you wish to pursue post-secondary education- there are plans to have the Reserve pay for that education as well as potentially giving you a commission as an officer.  You've mentioned that you want to improve your physical fitness, BMQ will certainly get you on that path.  You've mentioned that you want more discipline, working in a regiment will certainly achieve that goal for you.  However, you must be able to meet the minimum expectations of your unit.  The CF is not a summer camp- if we do go to war, you become obligated to serve.  Take this very seriously when making your decision.  I'd recommend you contact a unit near you and ask to speak with their recruiting NCM/Officer and go from there. 

Good luck.

 

[GO!!!]

If you are going to skool, the militia is ideal, most of the long commitments are in the summer, and as a reservist, you only have to show up if you feel like it (unless the war measures act is invoked)

<MODERATOR EDIT:  THIS IS WRONG: CONTINUED POSTING OF FALSE OR MISLEADING CLAIMS MAY RESULT IN MODERATOR ACTION>

 

[dutchie]

If you are going to skool, the militia is ideal, most of the long commitments are in the summer, and as a reservist, you only have to show up if you feel like it (unless the war measures act is invoked)

WRONG!

You must parade regularly. Minimum is 1 out of 3 weeks (IIRC - I show up for all commitments, so I could be off on the exact minimum). Some units hold their members to a higher standard, but that is the minimum.

GO!!: based on your grammar, spelling, and punctuation, I think 'skool' is a good idea for you as well.

 

[Love793]

Plus if you tell them you are just quitting after your basic training, the CFRC will probably just tell you to blow smoke and be off with you. Perhaps Love793 could elaborate on approx. how much it costs to process a new recruit. I do belive on the average, it costs a Regiment $10,000 to send a troop off on a course. They won't benefit from you quitting after summer training at all, so they will probably tell you to blow it out your ear aswell.

Exactly, CFRC wont tell you to pound salt, but I as the unit recruiter will direct you else where (Navy perhaps).  The CO would hang me if I allowed a kid to join, knowing that he was going to leave immediatelly after BMQ/SQ, and not transfer.  $10 000 is the rough cost to the unit to send someone on ARC BMQ/SQ, add to that processing costs, instructors wages, transport etc...

 

[Dogboy]

when I was at the recruiters offish I was told a 75% attendance is the requirement. if you cant make that you should think about why your joining.

 

[Sharpey]

when I was at the recruiters offish I was told a 75% attendance is the requirement. if you cant make that you should think about why your joining.

Bingo! If you can't make it for a year after BMQ/SQ, then go on ED&T. That way you can come back to the Military and be of benifit.

 

[JBP]

I think the nickname Metalhead would be more appropriately titled "Meathead" and this thread is finished. He hasn't responded, probably not liking our words...

 

[Greasyoldman]

I have no idea if you will actually read this or not, but I have answered these questions to many people before who were looking into joining the reserves. 1st, your application process can take any length of time. It took me about a month to join, while I've seen other people wait for over a year. Most of it depends on whether or not all the paperwork is in order, prior to sending it off to CFRC. That should speed up the process significantly. Now, your second question. There is no minimun time that a reservist has to stay in. I've seen soldiers join get sworn in on a Thursday night, and quit the next Saturday for whatever reason. Normally the staff tries to discourage quitting, but ultimately it's up to the individual. Once your basic training is complete, you can quit if you like, but I honestly I do see the point in even joining if that's the plan. If you do plan on staying around a bit, here's what you're likely to expect. (this is the way my unit operates, other units may may be different depending on SOP's). Normally, as others have stated you will be required to attend one training night a week, (varies between units which night), and one weekend a month. Ours is Thursdays and usually the second to last weekend in the month. Now, if you're going to school, or have plenty of school work, you can request to have some time off. A simple memo requesting to have a certain weekend off because you have 2 finals on Monday or whatever reason should be suffice. Normally you'll be excused from training and there will be no repercussions. If for whatever reason you decide not to show up whitout prior notice, you will probably be counselled in one for or another, but usually nothing serious for your first offence. Normally attendance for training weekends is taking in advance so the unit knows how many people to provide ammo/rations/quarters for. If you say you are going to attend, I suggest you attend, if not, let them know. Now, with our unit, if you miss more then 5 training sessions in a row, without being excused (a weekend counts a 3, Fri/sat/sun), you'll be placed on the NES list (Non-Effective Strength) and you name will go to the bottom of the list for courses and tasking. If you attendance continues to be poor, your release papers will be started. Normally you're threatened with a 5F (Dishonorable Discharge). That's where you have to make the choice, normally people will come in and take a voluntary release and hand in there kit. If you're planning on doing the basic training, I suggest you stick around for awhile afterwards because you owe it to your unit. 1000's of reserve soldiers balance high school, university, civilian careers and the militia on a regular bases, I don't see why you can't.

Ty

 

[sm0ke]

...as someone who's about to apply to the reserves, it's a complete mystery to me why a person would apply to any job, no exceptions, if they don't plan on making the maximum commitment possible to that employer.   No employer would accept the level of commitment you're offering, nor the attitude it displays ~ certainly not the military.

 

[Tpr.Orange]

If you dont mind me asking what school are you from? and do you remember what unit the recruiters came from?

Just trying to figure out if its guys from our recruiting team. Helps us track our progress in schools.

 

[George Wallace]

...as someone who's about to apply to the reserves, it's a complete mystery to me why a person would apply to any job, if they don't plan on making the maximum commitment possible to that employer. No employer would accept the level of commitment you're offering, nor the attitude it displays ~ certainly not the military.

.....of course you know the only reason is to get that CADPAT uniform for free and wear it downtown and look cool and pick up chicks on a Friday night........free cool cloths.....why work when my parents give me an allowance.......then I can collect welfare....... and then Old Age Pension.....Socialism rules....... :

GW

 

[sm0ke]

lol...chicks dig cadpat?   I can't wait.

 

[pi-r-squared]

Question.  Is it true that when rappelling down a cliff face, one would walk down rather than jump but while rappelling off a helicopter, one would push off of the skid with a large jump?  I heard a WO mountaineering instructor say that, but I heard in a physics classroom that jumping is more beneficial in aspects of tension.  Of course I would listen to the WO because he knows what he is doing, but I wonder if anyone else qualified can back up the claim?

 

[MJP]

Question.   Is it true that when rappelling down a cliff face, one would walk down rather than jump but while rappelling off a helicopter, one would push off of the skid with a large jump?   I heard a WO mountaineering instructor say that, but I heard in a physics classroom that jumping is more beneficial in aspects of tension.   Of course I would listen to the WO because he knows what he is doing, but I wonder if anyone else qualified can back up the claim?

You have to jump off the skid so your head doesn't meet the steel, which is usually not recommended.  As for walking down a cliff, it really depends.  Most likely he is refering to the fact that out in an actual mountain face the rock usually isn't the flat smooth surface we are use to on the tower.  Jumping around on an uneven surface isn't exactly the best for the ankles.

 

[Mikhala]

When rappelling down a "cliff face" you want to move slowly and steadily with NO bounces or leaps.  By walking you are able to get a feel for the rock under your feet and keep your pace under control.  By bounding you obviously hit the wall with some force each time you impact.  That force can easily knock away rock, debris and even big slabs.  The faster you descend more heat and stress is placed on the rappel system.  I know from personal experience.  The last thing your brake man wants to see when he looks up is a 200 pound piece of mountain coming down on him.

An outstanding book to have if you have any interest in mountaineering:

MOUNTAINEERING
The Freedom of the Hill Edition 7
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/item.asp?Item=978089886828&Catalog=Books&N=35&Lang=en&Section=books&zxac=1

 

[GO!!!]

It's really nice that so many people have an "interest" in mountain ops, and that they would like to go on the course. However, the units that run them restrict spots to people that will actually use them - like the light Bns and their supporting medics, sigs etc.

Having said that, the reason we have attached medics in the first place, and qualify them BMO, Para etc is so that they can accompany us on ops. Their passing interest does'nt help us a whole lot. If the good medic's troop would like to come to a light Bn, chances are he will go on a BMO quite soon. If he just wants the qual, he should look elsewhere. As for putting him on AMO, good luck. AMOs are for advising Cdrs on Mtn Ops and traning and supervising BMO troops. Not exactly a medics ball game.

If you want to do infantry stuff - join the infantry - and all that it entails.