First off, kudos on considering Service. I (and anyone who knows what's what) has great respect for Canadian soldiers and their military.

I wish I could tell you about the specifics of the deals they have, but I don't know the Canadian Forces payment/benefits plans at all. However, I can tell you something I'm virtually sure is true for any voluntary service across the board: the more years you agree to give them, the sweeter the deal is for you. For example, in the US Army, the general active duty term is 4 years is you do what's called ADSO-ing for an extra two years (for a total of 6 years active duty), they will pay you to get a Master's degree. As in, all tuition paid, you get full active duty pay, but have no military obligation for those two years other than getting your degree.

Between military and education...it really depends on what you want to do. If you're looking at the military as a career, then I would say go for it. You can get your education while you do your 20 years. If not, its still worth considering (18 is certainly the time to do your stint, if that's what you decide), but it makes the decision a bit harder because you have to consider what you want to do when you get out, and if not getting your degree at this point in your life will set you back. If possible, maybe consider looking into something like the ROTC program we have here in the states--let you get your BA and learn about the military (at least here there's no military obligation for two years. If you do sign up, they have sweet scholarship deals.)

As for what its "like," I can probably speak a bit better to that. First and foremost, you mentioned this already but I'm going to emphasize and re-emphaisze: GET IN SHAPE. I mean, GOOD shape. I'm not sure about CF standards, but for US Army boot camp I would advise a man (standards are different for women) to be able to do 50-60 push-ups, 70-80 sit-ups (both within a two minute time limit), and run two miles in at least 15:30. Now granted, most people don't show up to boot camp in that kind of shape. I know I didn't. By the third week I sure wished I had though. You do NOT want to be the guy lagging behind on runs, or worse, sent to the "Fat Platoon" to loose weight and meet the requirements. Be aware that you are going to be told what to do, how to do it and when--and there's no argument or smartassing back. You CAN do that, but you'll be miserable if you do. Keep in mind too that even once out of boot camp, once you're in the Army, you're *in*. Its not like another job you can just quit if you don't like your boss or the tasks you get. Then of course there's the ever present chance of deployment, and real, serious fighting. (With the kind of battles we fight nowadays, no job in the Army is a "safe" one.) None of this is to deter you, but do go in with your eyes open, and understand what you're committing to.

Now, if you're still interested after all that, I can go into more details about other stuff. I've gone on long enough for now though. Feel free to ask further questions or for elaboration though--if there's one thing I love discussing, its soldiering. Mine's not the only POV of course (nor is the stuff I remember to say the only stuff worth considering) so I hope others will chime in to help you out as well.

ross_rifle113 wrote:

Wait, you guys respect our military??? First I've heard of this. I mean you should , but I thought the three of us were a big joke hahaha.

Sure there are jokes. But my service, Army, gets shit all the time from the Marines, who think we're wusses. And EVERYONE makes fun of the Chair...er...Air Force. We might tell jokes, but any soldier who doesn't really respect others who serve doesn't deserve to carry the title imho. Sure there are individual soldiers not worthy of respect, but to seriously talk down about a whole service (to say nothing of a whole country, especially one of our closest and most dedicated allies) is not kosher. Servicemen (and women) around the world put their lives on the line and make the same sacrifices, regardless of their country or color of their skin. That demands respect.

Anaexe, I'm glad you have time to decide. It's not a good decision to make in haste lol. And don't be too afraid of joining the Reserves. They might not be as hardcore or as disciplined as active duty guys all the time, but they fight just the same when they're deployed. At one point, something like 65 or 75% of US forces in Iraq were Reserve or National Guard. As long as you aren't stupid and are willing to work hard, and prove you can shoulder your share of the load, you'll earn respect from other guys.

As for boot camp, it does suck, but as long as you go in with the right mentality you'll be fine. Boot camp is there to break you down, and rebuild you as a soldier. As long as you understand that, and allow the process to happen, its not so bad because you understand that all of the yelling, petty punishment and "meanness" is there for a reason, serves a purpose, and might very well save your ass someday. It's the guys who fight against it, rather than going with it, that wash out or have a truly horrible experience. And the fitness thing is annoying--HUGE emphasis placed on that in the US military--but it is doable as long as you're willing to put in the work. Again, its one of things that's there for a reason and could save your life. Plus, believe me, coming from someone who was in incredibly sucky shape going into the Army...you feel like a million bucks being that fit once you get there. Totally, totally worth it even if you never join.