Hi everyone, I'm a 17 year old boy living in Vancouver, BC. It's been a dream of mine to be a member of the CF since I was 10, and today I went down with my father to the nearest recruitment center to ask a couple of questions and just get to know what I was getting into. I talked to the recruiter and he warned me that the application process could be lengthy and that it could take well over a year before I get accepted let alone start BMQ. The main issue was my hair ;( Now I do not keep my hair for religious reasons, nor is it a tradition for me to do so. Actually, my hair isn't even super long; it's only about down to my shoulders, much shorter than that of some of my friends. I was told that if I got in, I'd have to cut it. To be honest, I wouldn't mind doing that. A little trim here and there wouldn't be so bad, but then I found out that I can't have any hair on my forehead, nothing covering my ears etc.. and my heart just sunk. Now, before you start calling me a hippie or sissy or anything of the sort, I want to mention that as a child up until the age of 12-13 my mother and father would make me go in for a haircut every couple of weeks, and each time I did, I would come back with the smallest amount of hair you could imagine. Not bald, just a very short buzz cut. I have big ears, and my face is weirdly shaped, and because of this, I was bullied throughout elementary school, mainly grade 6 and 7. People would call me elephant ears, tell me I have dinner-plates on my head, just anything to make me feel bad. Now, since starting high school, my parents haven't been forcing me to cut my hair and my self-esteem has gone up I can talk to people and I'm not scared anymore. My long hair covers my ears and evens out my face. Again, I have no problem with cutting my hair, but when it has to be cut THAT short, and I've seen pics online too, it scares me and all those memories come back. I understand it is just hair, and it will grow back. But I want a career in the CF. I go to high school, and I'm starting university in the fall. I also have acne, so I know it will look worse than last time. Joining the reserves is the only thing I want right now, but I'm afraid of the verbal abuse I'll take at not only school, but possibly from other people in the army, though I'm not sure about that last one. Can anyone relate to this or understand where I'm coming from?