I sacked up and committed to a lifelong dream

Fuck yeah. 

Awesome

Awesome man.  You're about to learn so many valuable things that most people will never understand - discipline, focus, strength, among so many other successful skills and attributes.  Congrats on making this happen.

Thanks guys, I'm really excited about all of this. Been dreamin' about something like this since I was a kid! I'll be definitely looking forward to all the life experience this will hand me.

Do you guys know if it would be possible to shift forces later on? I was thinking after college if I were to try something else, maybe I could? For example, going from the Navy to the Air Force? Not sure if anyone has ever done that.

that sounds amazing, all the best. 

You should be looking forward to the entire expreience and drop all the resistance you may have when you get there.

yes plenty of people have done that. You'll have to see the requirements, openings etc. at that time.

Ah okay, thanks for the info on that man. Right now what I did was both apply to the Army and Navy and I'll pretty much take whatever accepts my application/has openings first. Navy is looking good from the sounds of it. (Talked to the recruiters for a while)

I'm stoked on either. I have a love for the sea though, so I feel like the Navy would be a perfect fit.

Grappler how old are you? I thought you were currently in college. Haven't you considered going in as an officer. Do Navy not Army, a lot more educational opportunities. Even a trade/skill. Really cool 

Well I'm 20, but I am turning 21 in June. I am in college as well, but I signed up as part-time for the Navy and I applied for the Boatswain position. I know our Navy is desperately looking for recruits so the outcome is looking good and I absolutely love the idea of all this and I really want to do this for myself.

I was however curious as to how things do work after school. I plan on going in full-time after I finish this Psychology degree but I still have like 3 years left. 

As well, I'm super stoked just to start this next chapter of my life. Lots of support from the family minus my mom.. lol she's pretty choked but that's expected. Moms worry...

When I looked at the officer positions, it said they were commissioned members and they needed a college degree to become one, I don't have my degree yet so I don't know if I'd be able to do that

You could do Navy ROTC. 

I think it's ROTP in Canada.. I'm not sure, I will look it up some more. Is it also possible to switch from one position to another later on in your career? For example, Boatswain to a Military Officer?

I was thinking that could be cool as well. I was told Boatswains are like the SWAT team of the ocean by the recruiter as well as great sailors.

Omfg. I think they're fucking with you

Really? LOL I would rather sign up for the Military Officer instead under the Navy tbh. I can still change my application as well. I was watiing for one more reference from my old work places. I have my final midterm in the morning and was going to go speak to her afterwards. Maybe I should switch to the Military Police. I love the sounds of it. I saw the video and info given on the forces.ca

Military Police - http://www.forces.ca/en/job/militarypolice-75

Military Police Officer - http://www.forces.ca/en/job/militarypoliceofficer-74

Having trouble deciding one of these two. Leaning more towards the MPO, I should make the change to my application before I fully submit it. 

Stop talking to recruiters talk to the rocp office. Do a search for the one closest in your area and just walk into the office.

Okay I'll do that.

This guy I used to train MMA with, I looked up to him quite a bit, he was an Infantry Soldier for a few years and I think he did a couple tours, he's a SWAT officer now but he suggested that for the experience and I'm still considering it.

While I'm attending school, I guess I could work on the reserve then after I grab this degree do a year or two full time and then go back to school potentially. I truthfully want the full experience, the excitement and action. I've always wanted to be a badass, straight up fighter, I've had it in me since I was a kid. Practically grew up on contact sports, watching war movies, etc. Which is why I'm considering something similar to or the Infantry Soldie itself.. 

I'll have to speak to rocp's first. I'll make a point to do that.

Yeah I get that, I was a tanker/cav scout ;). Urban ops trainer. You give me any sort of weapon including my fists I still rape. A couple buddies just made the mistake of taking me paintballing a couple weeks ago down in Colombia. They tried to take me 2 on 1 it still didn't work out for them. The thing is tho.. you want to look at the training opportunities. Pretty sure Army is always limited in those, lol. #grunt 

Looking back I would have preferred some more technical/technological training. 

That's pretty bad ass. I have a couple friends in Infantry as well. They seem to love it. I do hear a lot about it being quite a bit of grunt work, lots of hard work. Definitely think it'll keep me in shape that's for sure. I like the technical/trade aspect as well but it just doesn't appeal to me the way fighting does. Not sure why it's like that for me but maybe it just boils down to personality and taste? 

'k but there's no war right now. So you won't have any "fighting" to do. And then there's that movie "Jarhead". 

Yeah that's true, I guess it would be a lot of grunt work, training and stuff like that. In a way it could be great, gives me tons of time to work on marksmanship, basic defence stuff and just prep.

Lol.. no. You don't get to just decide you're going to grab a gun and go down range for some fun. That's not how it works papi ;) 

I would say joining the infantry in time where theres no war is the worse case scenario..lol 

Unless you join Special forces and hope to go fight some missions in the Middle east but that seems extremely unlikely right now. 

Yeah I guess that's true, I do know working on the reserves is a lot of grunt work as well but if I'm still going to school it might be all I can do atm. I'll have to do a bit more research. I also gotta go talk to some officers as well and get their take on everything.

If you have the opportunity to go in as an officer, that should be your main objective.  And don't listen to recruiters.

Battle and killing people sounds like fun, but I highly doubt you'd enjoy it if you were there experiencing it.

I guess it's something I need to stop and think about before submitting this application then. 

dont die on me alex

LOL shutup Max

Jk brah. I am proud of you. I know the guys are geting on your case, but I think itll be a positive experience.

I don't think they get it nor do I think they will... Especially well I don't want to say his name here but haha you know..

Just experienced a full out fit thrown by both my parents as if they were thinking me joining was some sort of joke. Not sure what pisses me off more the fact that they didn't believe in me, pin my mistakes on me or they have these alterior motives and/or misunderstandings of how I want to live my life.

I've never seen my dad throw a fit and act so god damn reactive before. I'm beginning to think money is upmost concern to him whether he admits it or not. I'm already going to be working two jobs this summer and he's more concerned about me not having pocket money to spend come the September semester which doesn't quite make sense to me. I'm pretty sure the Army has a program in which they pay for your schooling once you sign a contract to serve them time. It's quite clear they'd rather me have some sort of office job, since he tried to get me to apply at like 4 different places.. which I declined.

I just was calm and collected the whole yelling match and instead I didn't yell, freak out or act up. Just stern, strong tone and said my part to the point where he just sat there upset and quiet after screaming and swearing at me for minutes.. lol to be honest I couldn't take him seriously. What is he scared for me? Why would be be on board two weeks ago and so against it now. Maybe he doubts my capabilities, but it just shows me that both of my parents don't really know anything about the sort of character and drive I posses especially when it comes to something I'm super passionate about.

I think what bothered me the most is that I've always had a hard time choosing what was right for me in terms of career path growing up and they pinned that on me and to add to that they brought up my mistakes lol. Honestly, I didn't expect that from them, but it goes to show you that not everyone is the same as you or has the same intentions as you do.

Lol that's funny. Any update on the ROCP? 

Yeah, I don't even feel mad now but I don't see my dad as that rock solid figure anymore after that...

Weird.

I'm going in this week actually. I just called and asked if I could set aside some time to speak with them and they told me to come in whenever during office hours.

Hey MW,

As a ROCP when you served, did you get to do deploments as well and see some battle or were things different. I've been researching the position more in terms of responsibilities and training it sounds bad ass. I just want to learn more about the career and experience itself.

wait is ROCP the reserve officer training program for canucks?

ROTP ** My bad, it's the regular officer training program.

I think I'm going to do either a military police officer in the Navy. Eventually work towards the goal of JTF2 or CSOR. Big goals, better get started.

The thing is, since I'm in school, I need to call tmr and clarify whether I should go with the reserve option or regular option. Since I'll be applying for the paid education as well, I'm not sure what the appropriate choice there is. 

But after much research, definitely going with your suggestion.

I think RETP is the reserve training program. They only let in like 15 people a year as well. I think, if you're in school you're supposed to choose regular and it turns into that when you graduate. I'm not sure, I'll call tmr and double check and send this bad boy in.

Ok so back home we had 1 year of conscription from the day you turn 18 so after talking to alotta people with experience doing military service  i decided to go to a highly reputable business school abroad instead. Because most of these guys were pussies anyway, and i think i would hate having someone tell me what to do every day during a year, or more. 

But if i move back home (which i probably won't), i have to do it. I  see there's alotta talk about this stuff on the forums. So how does it exactly benefit you? Im talking more about the mental part, not technical. I've been dealing with guns and survival training (no combat lol) since i was 10.

Cholo what do you do? What are you involved in right now. 

Im in college of business

That's not enough of an answer. That's about as impressive as "I courtesy flush." 

Well im in my first year of economic studies, lifting weights and training kickboxing during my free time. Going out on the weekends and ocasionally working as a bartender.

Ok so the decision to go back and do the conscript thing is years away anyway.. sounds like you've got everything on lock right now for sure.