OK I'm going into my last year of the undergraduate Commerce program at University of Toronto. I had thought about military/RMC after highschool ... but my mom wouldn't let me. She thought she'd lose her only child

I like the finance world, and I've worked summers in corporate office environments. However I'm definitely not fulfilled. It's the combination of mental and physical work in the military appeals to me. So I was thinking of joining the reserves during my last year of uni. Any advice for me? Is there a particular area of the Reserves I should go into given my background? should I apply as an officer applicant? To be honest I know little to nothing about the army.

I also plan to apply for law school in the fall. Would I be required to train throughout lawschool (assuming I got in?) I'm guessing there are probably quite a lot of professionals in the reserves (doctors, lawyers, engineers) and I'd be interested to hear about this too.

   

Yes , start with a combat arms trade like infantry, armoured or artillery. It gives you a solid grounding in soldiering and prepares you for any other trade.



Stay away from the things you do civvies side. Ie, if your a mechanic don't bother being a mechanic in the army because you'll just be doing at night what you do in the day and you should have variety. People who join up with similar jobs civvie side get bored quick.



Canada has the highest ratio of officers to NCOs in the world at 23%. The next highest country is Brazil at 13%. The Americans by contrast hover around 5%. So no, we don't need yet another whistlehead. Also, you will require much more extended training to be an officer and unless the reserves is a status thing for you, stick to the fun and that is in the lower ranks.



The reserves will give you extended time off for whstever. Remember, this is a selfless act for God and Canada. It will require time.

   

Honestly you can ask here for advice. But, your best bet is to talkto a recruiter nearest to you(if your in a major city theres one). They would be able to help you out more than anyone else here Just make sure you ask them a million questions and when your doen the'll give your there number and you can call at anytime with questions. Also, see if you can find a local reserve unit (recruiter can help with all that) and get in contact with them. See if you can go down on a regular parade night and see what its like (I'm biased though being reg force and all).

PS I think you should really look into RMC if your going to go to law school (education free through them) either choice you make if you follow through its is a way different experince

   

Sounds to me like his undergrad work is a done deal. RMC doesn't have a law program of its own, sadly. I was hoping they did, so that I could get both experiences at once, myself.

I'd suggest talking to a recruiter, too. They know their beans.

Shame there aren't any urban nationalist paramilitary groups in Canada these days. They made it easy to march and study around your own schedule.

   

My bad Mosleyite. You just refreshed my memory about the law courses and RMC (namely lack there of). Thanks!

   

Another serious question you should ask yourself is what is the level of your committment?

Do you want to join the reserves, take advantage of the training and never deploy? Are you willing to shoot or be shot at? Peacekeeping is a lie fed to the Canadian public. I do not know of a single soldier who thinks of himself as a "peacekeeper". Everything in the army has been designed to facilitate the killing of other human beings from your boot laces to the APC you roam in there is only one purpose. I can't remember what the turnover rate is for reservists but I believe 50% quit in the first year and 90% pack it in within three.

If you are already asking yourself "what's in it for me?" You're probably not the kind of guy we need.

But I understand the lieberals are recruiting and they are always good for a patronage appointment or two.

   

if you're really interested and you're thinking about infantry look into the Queens Own Rifles since you're in Toronto But ya, consider what grainfedprairieboy said.

   

Try army.ca and use the search function ALOT. Good luck.

   

has anyone heard of something whereby the army will send you through a civilian law school?

   

I just started my RSS (Reserve Support Staff) Posting after doing 17years in the Infantry......which I will go back to after this posting.
Reserves are great if that is all you really want to OR are able to commit to.
The unit I am on the Staff with is an Infantry unit and as mentioned that is the best bet for what you have told us you are looking for. A Combat trade.

Yes, you will have to do some summer training and most weeks put in 1 night worth of training.

Everything that has been already mentioned is true....go and see a recruiter AND go and see the nearest unit to you, to watch them for a few nights. Ask the soldiers themselves and they will tell you what type of unit it is. Right now, there is more work for a Reservist than ever before.

Good Luck!

   

I want to join the reserves when im 16 , i'm in air cadets right now.Can you go from reserve to reg force , often do you get to go on bush weekends , and how often do you get to fire your weapons?

   

I'm not sure where you've drawn your figures from, Grain Fed. The ratio of officers to enlisted personnel in the American military, for example, stands at over 20%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_o ... ted_States

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy.asp?id=146