Canadian Military Advice

[peter12]

So I know that a number of respected posters on the board are veterans, and have a great deal of experience and knowledge about serving with our armed forces.

I just joined up with the Seaforth Highlanders as a commissioned member. I passed my FORCE certification last Thursday. So far, it has been an incredible experience, and I feel privileged to be initiated into such an incredible group of men and women who have given so much to our country's historical, and present circumstances.

I wanted to start this thread as a place for advice or stories about serving in the Canadian military.

[CaptainCrunch]

Congratulations on doing that. Its a great thing, and really great experience.

To me, I did reg force and then transitioned out by working with Reserve Units, for some reason I had a lot more fun with the Reserves.

To me the biggest thing is to put as much time as you can into the experience, learn as much as you can and become a great officer. Also volunteer for deployments if you can, unless its to Somalia, hopefully we don't go to any of those Peacekeeping Tours.

As an officer, your going to be leading men, and often young men, Make sure you lead from the front in terms of effort and commitment and the willingness to do work, if you lead right it becomes easy because your charges will do anything for you, and put their faith in you.

Also, don't eat the corned beef hash, if its still there. Man its terrible.

Also when it the field if you can sit sit, if you can lie down, lie down, if you can sleep, sleep.

[CaptainCrunch]

oh, and watch for unfilled latrine holes.

Ugh.

[peter12]

I'm pretty excited to be as salty as you, Captain.

[CaptainCrunch]

I expect that you've gotten the what is your job speech right.

Young officers always get asked what they're job is.

Usually they give the standard lines of leadership and preparation and all of that stuff.

And then the hammer falls.

As a new young officer, your job is to do whatever your senior officer tells you to do, but he's too busy to hold your hand, so your job is to do whatever your senior NCO tells you to do.

Basically for a young officer, sh%t doesn't slide down, it comes from every direction.

A Warrant officer, Sergent and even a Master Corporal is going to think that your the dumbest weakest most ill prepared person on the planet and that they're going to have to nurse maid you so you don't make them look bad. The officers over you will show up whenever you screw up, but when you do well they're no way to be found.

I had friends who were officers and they all said the same thing about the first year, its a combination of terrifying and exhilarating as you learn.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by peter12

So I know that a number of respected posters on the board are veterans, and have a great deal of experience and knowledge about serving with our armed forces.

I just joined up with the Seaforth Highlanders as a commissioned member. I passed my FORCE certification last Thursday. So far, it has been an incredible experience, and I feel privileged to be initiated into such an incredible group of men and women who have given so much to our country's historical, and present circumstances.

I wanted to start this thread as a place for advice or stories about serving in the Canadian military.

Thank you for your Service peter12, and any other CP members (CC).

[Vulcan]

I joined the Seaforth Highlanders reserves when I was about 15. A few of my friends signed up so I went along too. I had some good experiences, such as going to Nanaimo for the weekend for war games? but I'm one of those who can't keep time, either marching or beating on a drum, so I packed it in after a few months.

[squiggs96]

When I saw the thread starter, I thought it was going to be a thread where peter gave the military his advice.

[Slava]

A) Thank you for your service

and for the board can we look forward to your thoughts on the uniform, footwear and the like?

[undercoverbrother]

Congrats on joining possibility the second best highland regiment in Canada.


Advice?

Don't judge the value of an individual or their opinion by what you perceive to be their intelligence or formal schooling.

Understand your position and what it entails. To my mind the best officers are soldier first officers. They routinely place the welfare of their soldiers ahead of their own or their own career. You have taken on a serious ####ing job, don't forget the lives of others will often be directly affected by what you do and the decisions you make.

Weak and poorly focused leadership results in nothing but bad, sadly I have witnessed many...I have also witness many excellent leaders: MWO Palmer, CWO Donovan are but 2 that jump to my mind.

That being said, enjoy yourself. As CC mentioned take the opportunity to go on taskings and deployments.

Also, hot sauce, pick a favourite and never be without it. Hot sauce fixes all food.

Make sure you are always keening aware of your current LCF.


Ducimus

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Congrats on joining possibility the second best highland regiment in Canada.


Advice?

Don't judge the value of an individual or their opinion by what you perceive to be their intelligence or formal schooling.

Understand your position and what it entails. To my mind the best officers are soldier first officers. They routinely place the welfare of their soldiers ahead of their own or their own career. You have taken on a serious ####ing job, don't forget the lives of others will often be directly affected by what you do and the decisions you make.

Weak and poorly focused leadership results in nothing but bad, sadly I have witnessed many...I have also witness many excellent leaders: MWO Palmer, CWO Donovan are but 2 that jump to my mind.

That being said, enjoy yourself. As CC mentioned take the opportunity to go on taskings and deployments.

Also, hot sauce, pick a favourite and never be without it. Hot sauce fixes all food.

Make sure you are always keening aware of your current LCF.


Ducimus

This is how old I am, when I was in, every field ration pack had two cigarettes and a book of waterproof matches. The Cigarettes were almost like currency.

I didn't start smoking until after I left the Mililtary, but because of those Smokes, I would always be able to get extra cookies.

[Northendzone]

at least we know that one poster on this board has a proper haircut that you could set your watch to

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by peter12

I just joined up with the Seaforth Highlanders as a commissioned member. I passed my FORCE certification last Thursday. So far, it has been an incredible experience, and I feel privileged to be initiated into such an incredible group of men and women who have given so much to our country's historical, and present circumstances.

I wanted to start this thread as a place for advice or stories about serving in the Canadian military.

I currently serve as an officer and work in the G3 (operations) Branch. In two years, I will have been in for 25 years. So, if you have any questions, fire away. Hopefully your recruiting process doesn't take too long and you can start your training this summer.

Your BMQ will be a breeze. Do what you're told, work hard, and help others. I can't emphasize the latter enough. Offer assistance and seek assistance.

Know that the Common Army Phase (CAP) will challenge you like never before. There is nothing difficult, but the aim is to introduce stress in order to see how you react. Speak to your Reg F Officer and Warrant Officer as they can help you prepare for that course.

Track down the following books:

- Small Unit Leadership by Col (Retd) Malone, US Army

- Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior by Dick Marcinko, retd SEAL commander.

- Maneuver Warfare Handbook by William S Lind

The former two will help you immensely with leading your platoon. Marcinko's book hits home the idea that just do your job and forget the politics. As others, above, have mentioned that means looking after your soldiers.

The latter is an excellent resource for platoon and company-level attacks.

Do you think you might transfer to Reg Force? In my opinion, the opportunity to lead troops in the Reserves diminishes once you are a Company Commander (Captain/Major) for the sole reason that there aren't that many soldiers to command. You go from leading soldiers to managing budgets and planning mess dinners.

Good luck!

Arte et Marte!

[NuclearFart]

Obviously nothing wrong with your choice, but I am interested as to the reasons why a middle aged metropolitan man who already has a career would chose to do this?

Again, not judging here, just legitimately curious.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Obviously nothing wrong with your choice, but I am interested as to the reasons why a middle aged metropolitan man who already has a career would chose to do this?

Again, not judging here, just legitimately curious.

Well, I'm 30, so not middle-aged (yet).

As for the reason, challenge, excitement, putting some skin in the game.

I should also add that I was an aboriginal engagement and conflict resolution consultant for many years, so while I talk up the nice shoes, and suits game on here, in real life, I am more than used to slogging through miles of devil's club and alder with a bunch of people whose safety and success I was responsible for.

Moving to a more desk-type job has made me realize how much I missed that part of my life.

[automaton 3]

Congratulations peter12, that is excellent news! Look forward to reading about your experiences.

My experience is only as a cadet but hopefully applies the same.

You will come to see your unit members more as family, not as co-workers.

Hurry up and wait will become a way of life.

Don't hesitate to step forward if they ask for volunteers. It might be something lousy, but if you don't do it, some of your friends will need to do it without your help.

Some of the boxed meals are not bad. There is one in particular that I thought was horrible, sorry can't remember which. You'll figure it out quick when someone asks you to trade lol.

Don't lock your knees when standing at attention.

Good luck!

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

putting some skin in the game.

I thought you joined the army not the navy.

[icecube]

Try not to get fragged.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by icecube

Try not to get fragged.

This isn't far off.

Goggle Warrant Officer Matt Stopford.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

Obviously nothing wrong with your choice, but I am interested as to the reasons why a middle aged metropolitan man who already has a career would chose to do this?

Again, not judging here, just legitimately curious.

I figured the answer to this question would be that he gets to blow stuff up