Army Reserve - Looking for Advice

[TDIGZ]

Hi guys,

I thought this might be a good place to seek some advice on becoming a reservist with the Army (infantry).

If there's anyone with direct experience who has some time for me, it would be much appreciated.

Background:
-Bachelor's degree
-Master's degree (in process - 12 months)
-lots of experience playing rugby, leadership roles
-ran my own business through undergrad
-family service history
-age: 26
-live in London for the next year, GTA after that
-was in cadets when I was young(er)
-passionate about current political events, serving, and of course being proficient with firearms

Cheers,
T.

 

[sandermar]

You can PM me if you like.

 

[ColassalEntry]

Are you going officer?
your good to go?

If your going NCM you only need to have grade 10 education and pass the aptitude and physical... which sounds like you can do that anyway. Mr. smarty pants with a athletic background.

I'm infantry; PM me if you'd like.

 

[Winz]

Hi guys,

I thought this might be a good place to seek some advice on becoming a reservist with the Army (infantry).

If there's anyone with direct experience who has some time for me, it would be much appreciated.

Background:
-Bachelor's degree
-Master's degree (in process - 12 months)
-lots of experience playing rugby, leadership roles
-ran my own business through undergrad

Would be assets which may stream you towards becoming an officer. However, as you are interested in the reserves, you must consider if you want to become an office the time for your training. Your courses will eat up blocks of your time, ie say summers. NCM training is sometimes quite varied. Some run through proper blocks of training. Others run "courses" over series of weekends where candidates pack up on Sunday back to their lives.

-family service history

??? Not sure what this suggests.

-live in London for the next year, GTA after that

You should attend an info session at Wolseley Barracks

-was in cadets when I was young(er)

It's a question on your application but ultimately means very little.

-passionate about current political events, serving, and of course being proficient with firearms

Cheers,
T.

Being interested in political events, social matters and etc are important. Being 'proficient with firearms' means nothing to get you in.

 

[JBD]

Hi guys,

I thought this might be a good place to seek some advice on becoming a reservist with the Army (infantry).

If there's anyone with direct experience who has some time for me, it would be much appreciated.

Background:
-Bachelor's degree
-Master's degree (in process - 12 months)
-lots of experience playing rugby, leadership roles
-ran my own business through undergrad
-family service history
-age: 26
-live in London for the next year, GTA after that
-was in cadets when I was young(er)
-passionate about current political events, serving, and of course being proficient with firearms

Cheers,
T.

I started in the Ranks and then switched to officer training when I was going to university. The Ranks was a lot more fun. It was you work hard and you play harder. Also everyone is in it together.

Infantry officer training was more intense. When I was in it was run by a bunch of NCOs who understood that one day they would be saluting the grads so they would not let any through that they were not confortable in doing so. Attrition rates then were like 75%. I had a friend that worked in Personal. He did not understand how every officer canditate that he was processing out was so happy that they broke thier leg or arm or whatever. They were just glad to get out of there.

Also there was zero comradarie. Everyone was pretty much in it for themselves, very much unlike the ranks.

This was almost 20 years ago so perhaps things have change now.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

I started in the Ranks and then switched to officer training when I was going to university. The Ranks was a lot more fun. It was you work hard and you play harder. Also everyone is in it together.

Infantry officer training was more intense. When I was in it was run by a bunch of NCOs who understood that one day they would be saluting the grads so they would not let any through that they were not confortable in doing so. Attrition rates then were like 75%. I had a friend that worked in Personal. He did not understand how every officer canditate that he was processing out was so happy that they broke thier leg or arm or whatever. They were just glad to get out of there.

Also there was zero comradarie. Everyone was pretty much in it for themselves, very much unlike the ranks.

This was almost 20 years ago so perhaps things have change now.

The officer corps choses who it wants. Gen Hillier's books describe the eat-your-weakest-man philosophy. There is no shame in soldiering in the ranks. I know a well educated, operationally experienced, highly placed guy in the public service who is a MCpl and seems to like not get promoted out of his billet. Reservists can refuse promotions; intelligent leaders recognize the reasons.

 

[TDIGZ]

Would be assets which may stream you towards becoming an officer. However, as you are interested in the reserves, you must consider if you want to become an office the time for your training. Your courses will eat up blocks of your time, ie say summers. NCM training is sometimes quite varied. Some run through proper blocks of training. Others run "courses" over series of weekends where candidates pack up on Sunday back to their lives.



??? Not sure what this suggests.



You should attend an info session at Wolseley Barracks


It's a question on your application but ultimately means very little.



Being interested in political events, social matters and etc are important. Being 'proficient with firearms' means nothing to get you in.

Thanks for the constructive response.

 

[greentips]

How about posting in the correct forum? You know, situation awareness is kind important in the military. This is a "service rifle forum". We have moved it once, and we are not doing it again.

And, you don't get credit for submitting your master thesis into the incorrect professor's mail slot.