Why am I joining the CF?
I have several important reasons, all of them I think are valid reasons for signing up for the military for a few years. I hope to go into the Combat Arms as an Infanteer, and I'll be dropping by the Missisauga recruiting centre on Thursday. I hope, however, that I will be heading off for Basic in September 2006 after my 19th birthday. My plan is to go either Regular Combat Engineer or Infanteer.
The first reason is more or less about tradition.
Both my parents were in the military, were married in the military, and lived in the military. My brother was born in an obscure town called Wakka(sp?), and I was born in Calgary before the CF base Dana was closed down(My father was EME, my mother part of Supply). From that we moved to Kingston and my father graduated from RMC with honours, and then we left.
But, as for family, I've had most of my relations in the armed forces both in the military from my parents to my great grandfather. My brother was looking at joining up, but opted for College instead. My aunts and uncles were in the military, as well as my grandparents on both sides. There's only one or two relatives that didn't join. As far as Combat Arms goes, only a couple of my relatives have been either Infantry or Artillery (My one uncle was part of the Airborne, but was dishonourably discharged for some unknown reasons
)
So I thought that I would more or less carry on the family tradition from here, hoping that I inspire my own generation to do the same.
Another reason would be to give something back to my country. More or less I feel as if I owe it for what it has given me for my eighteen years of life. I am proud of being Canadian, and I have no problems making sacrifices to ensure its survival. I have no issues with following orders, obeying commands, and when I am set with a task in the CF I will not complain and always give my 160% best.
As far as leaving Canada for deployment, I don't think I'll have many issues leaving the country (though the destination might be tricky) as I never had issues with moving. That is, after doing so many times in my life that everything's a change of scenery.
A final reason, before I have to head off to work, would probobly be the most important reason for me.
I think that joining the CF would be a physical and mental challenge, that forces me to change and adapt to a new enviornment. Overall, I think that going through the Army will allow me to open new options in my life, as well as make me a better person as a whole. I think that the skills I learn in the Army will help me later on in life, and that it will give me plenty of good experiences and skills that will stay with me forever.
Overall, that's the sum of my reasons. I'd go further into why if I didn't have to speed off in order to get ready for work (more or less, walk through this blasted snow for forty minutes).