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Well, I've been sitting back and reading on this website for a week or so now, carefully avoiding asking many simple questions that pop to mind and instead using the often neglected 'search' function. I thought then that my first post would belong here, as a personal story, so I can post about my initial goals, get advice and maybe be able to look back on this thread some day and see how things had changed.
So I'm 22, from Hamilton, Ontario, and I've been considering the Reserves since I learned about the Dieppe Raid in my grade 10 History class. I'm now attending University here in Hamilton at McMaster, for History, admittedly not a great degree for employment but it 'is' what interests me the most, learning about our past and our conflicts, hopefully learning not to make the same mistakes our parents did.
In the last few years I went from a full time student to a part time one, as various problems at home started to interfere with my focus and my goals. I should be finishing the degree off in the first semester of next year (if all goes to plan), but it has started to just feel like work for works sake, and the University setting has lost its excitement for me. I want to finish the degree, I have spent too much time on it to give up now, but it is definitely time I started looking outside of school for a direction in life.
It is my hope that I can successfully apply to a reserve infantry unit here in Hamilton, and make a commitment that will start me off on the right foot for life outside of the school system. I have an application from the central recruiter and have filled out most of the package, leaving some fields to go over with unit recruiters when I can arrange to meet with them. I'm going to get in touch with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlander of Canada either tomorrow or the next day, and see if they are in need of any officer recruits. Even if they aren't looking right now I'm hoping to meet with them on their parade night, see how things go down at the armouries, learn what I can about the process. I'm looking at the Argylls because they are a Highland regiment here in Hamilton, and as I come from Scottish roots I thought it would be an honour to be able to wear their tartan.
As far as training goes, I've begun a rudimentary system of pushups and sit ups and the like, as well as taking advice from these forums about eating better. For cardio I've been spending time on the escarpment stairs here in Hamilton, which are just a long set of steadily steepening metal stairs the climb the Niagara escarpment. It sure gets the chest heaving after a few goes, I'm off to buy proper running shoes this week and start more distance running, hopefully mixed with some cycling, whatever I can do to mix it up and keep myself active. I'll be honest and say I'm not there yet with the fitness, but I'm very close, I'm not sure what the timetable is on the application process but it seems to be sometimes lengthy, I'm hoping I will have the time to be able to exceed the fitness minimums by a fair margin.
If theres one thing I've learned from reading some of the posts here it is that aiming for the 'minimum standard' is not the right mentality to have and will likely lead to trouble in one way or another. I'm looking to do better, and I'm looking to push myself and set a path for myself and my future. Now the reserves may not be a full time career, but I feel if I pursue this I can really better myself while I'm searching for the right thing. I'll try to keep this updated as I go along through the process, good or bad, and I hope people will feel willing to offer their advice and experience in a post or two, since I am utterly new to all of this and would appreciate your perspectives.
Thanks
So I'm 22, from Hamilton, Ontario, and I've been considering the Reserves since I learned about the Dieppe Raid in my grade 10 History class. I'm now attending University here in Hamilton at McMaster, for History, admittedly not a great degree for employment but it 'is' what interests me the most, learning about our past and our conflicts, hopefully learning not to make the same mistakes our parents did.
In the last few years I went from a full time student to a part time one, as various problems at home started to interfere with my focus and my goals. I should be finishing the degree off in the first semester of next year (if all goes to plan), but it has started to just feel like work for works sake, and the University setting has lost its excitement for me. I want to finish the degree, I have spent too much time on it to give up now, but it is definitely time I started looking outside of school for a direction in life.
It is my hope that I can successfully apply to a reserve infantry unit here in Hamilton, and make a commitment that will start me off on the right foot for life outside of the school system. I have an application from the central recruiter and have filled out most of the package, leaving some fields to go over with unit recruiters when I can arrange to meet with them. I'm going to get in touch with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlander of Canada either tomorrow or the next day, and see if they are in need of any officer recruits. Even if they aren't looking right now I'm hoping to meet with them on their parade night, see how things go down at the armouries, learn what I can about the process. I'm looking at the Argylls because they are a Highland regiment here in Hamilton, and as I come from Scottish roots I thought it would be an honour to be able to wear their tartan.
As far as training goes, I've begun a rudimentary system of pushups and sit ups and the like, as well as taking advice from these forums about eating better. For cardio I've been spending time on the escarpment stairs here in Hamilton, which are just a long set of steadily steepening metal stairs the climb the Niagara escarpment. It sure gets the chest heaving after a few goes, I'm off to buy proper running shoes this week and start more distance running, hopefully mixed with some cycling, whatever I can do to mix it up and keep myself active. I'll be honest and say I'm not there yet with the fitness, but I'm very close, I'm not sure what the timetable is on the application process but it seems to be sometimes lengthy, I'm hoping I will have the time to be able to exceed the fitness minimums by a fair margin.
If theres one thing I've learned from reading some of the posts here it is that aiming for the 'minimum standard' is not the right mentality to have and will likely lead to trouble in one way or another. I'm looking to do better, and I'm looking to push myself and set a path for myself and my future. Now the reserves may not be a full time career, but I feel if I pursue this I can really better myself while I'm searching for the right thing. I'll try to keep this updated as I go along through the process, good or bad, and I hope people will feel willing to offer their advice and experience in a post or two, since I am utterly new to all of this and would appreciate your perspectives.
Thanks