Wow, this topic is really interesting.
As a current RMC cadet I would just like to make a few points that may or may not have been touched on (i dont have time to read 14 pages of posts)
When I first learned of the existance of RMC I was intrigued to say the least. I have always had a fascination with the military. One of the things that was really built up in my head from recruiters and also the RMC webpage was the professionalism of the institution and its cadets. This is also the main thing that shocked me when arriving for IAP in St-Jean and then again, but harder the second time, after the completion of FYOP at the college. I was definately shocked how some people managed to make it to basic in the first place (and also shocked when they passed). The entrance criteria is based on two scales, academic and military potential. I am not ashamed to say that I am one of those who floated in easily on a high academic potential with only an average to upper-average leadership potential. I have now that a lot of my prespectives on everything have changed. I am (if others here are not) greatful for the experiences afforded to me hear to improve my leadership skills.
Anyway, back to my point, I found that once the viel of the isolation of the First Year Orientation Period was lifted that the level of maturity and professionalism in the college was much lower than I had come to expect. This has been reinforced numerous times over the past year, including this morning with a can of water leaning against another cadet's door. The disciplinary actions at the college are inadequate for helping the cadets develop a high standard of self discipline, albeit that the system is currently undergoing review and change. It is still shocking to see the actions of 4th year cadets who are now just a litte over 6 months of phase training away from being placed in their units. I do hope they grow up very quickly.
As for the cocky attitude of "ring knockers" i can say nothing as my experience is still limited. It does not seem like something that is unlikely to some graduates, although I do know many people here at the college that do take a much more professional approach to things as I do. To say this is a quality of RMC cadets only seems extreme to me however. While I have personally witnessed a lot of unimpressive behaviour from RMC cadets, they are only acting as anyone their (and my) age would. This type of behaviour is common to most of the current young generation and was something that i had hoped to get away from by going to the college.
on a lighter note, there was a comment on Queen's girls not being impressed by RMC guys. I can say that i know a lot of guys with Queen's girls, and the girls still like the uniforms (heh, the first year Queen's girls don't know any better yet). I cannot speak from personal experience however, as I am one of the few with a girlfriend at the college (we met during IAP). For anyone looking at attending RMC, it is very hard to leave family and friends behind and I would suggest that if you do end up at the College try to find one or two close friends you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings with. The support will go a long way to helping you deal with the stresses faced on a day to day basis. It is a huge life change and a huge sacrifice to join the Forces, but I do feel that it is worth it.
I noticed a comment earlier about having trouble to get people to go to RMC. All I can say to that is that approx. 250 cadets were accepted this year from over 1500+? applications (i have heard various numbers, this being a more conservative one, but all quite large relative to the number selected). Although, we did have one fellow cry and quit the second day of IAP when he was the first CPC (cadet platoon commander) and got yelled at and fired by the Sgt.. I believe the first 5 got fired, which was very planned out, as most of the things in IAP are, to create worry and stress.
As for comments on officers being strictly commisioned from the ranks, I believe that to be something both impossible and unnecessary, especially for trades outside of the combat arms or outside of the Army. IAP is designed to give us a taste of what it means to follow. A common phare was "you must learn to follow in order to lead". Although some people had a difficult time with the concept of followership and coursemanship, and in the process often bladed fellow coursemates. It might be desireable to give officers more of a taste of what it is like to be commanded, however there are also good leaders here that don't require that experience and I am sure they will make good officers (although they are in the majority). My complaint is with the overall maturity level at the college, but what can you expect with examples being set like a recent incident with a squad com getting really drunk at the Christmas Ball and doing a lot of things best left unmentioned here. There are differences in how we are treated from private recruits though (they make more money for one,
). Right from the start we are guided and expected to figure things out on our own as apposed to being told how and when to do everything. It was a favorite game of our PO1, Sgt and MCpls to change information on us or not provide enough of it to see if we could coordinate or think of and ask the proper questions.
As for the RETP program at the college, it is a very difficult life. The service commitment, or rather lack thereof, is nice for some people. However, with the mounting costs (although low tuition compared to many universities) and inablility to work part time (at least in first year) it can be difficult financially. What they dont tell you ahead of time is that to get the reserve education money (some thing like $762 for the year this year) in your final year you must be a member of a reserve unit and you cannot apply for it until september to ensure that you have a commitment to the forces. I would also like to clarify that the service commitment for ROTP is now 5 years not 4, and I believe that it is 7 for aircrew.
RMC has shifted towards a high focus on marks and academics. The mil wing however has become a part of the weekly school schedule. Wednesday mornings (as apposed to the former system of every other weekend) are dedicated to Professional Miliary Training, which encompasses a wide variety of things from leadership to drill (in fall and spring). There is also a military psychology course built into the core curriculum, 1 semester for Sci/Eng and 2 for Arts students. While this may seem like very little, it is a lot more military exposure than ROTPs at civi U's are getting. RMC provides a great opportunity, combined with summer phase training, to develop your leadership skills as well as academics (esp. with the small classes, much unlike other Us), but you have to want to develop yourself. A common problem is that rather than developing useful things cadets become very good at cutting corners without being caught. And as my squadron Sgt says, "You cut corners and infantry die!"
Perhaps it is the need for junior officers that prohibits more thorough screening of cadets to tell those who are just here for a free ride from those who are serious.
That is basically what I have come to learn about the college in the past year. It is not necessarily the college (and its policies) tself but some of the people here that create problems. I believe that RMC still produces more capable Jr Officers than instituitions like Westpoint who have a very different approach than RMC (which places emphasis on self discipline). I do feel that there are changes that will develop over next few years, hopefully for the better for the college and the CF. It is also possible that stereotypes have developed against RMC "ring knockers" because more is expected of them simply because they come from RMC. Anyone who feels they are a superior officer for having attended RMC and flaunts the fact is not a good officer. There are however many good RMC officers too. I see a lot of speculation in a some posts. Trust me when I say you dont know what its like until you get here, and dont be surprised if its not what the recruiter said.
All of that being said, I am proud to say that I attend RMC (albeit less proud at some moments) because it is an excellent educational institution and I hope that after I graduate that my experiences here at the college will have at least helped to give me an idea of the concept of leadership. Personal developement is really up to us as individuals, and it is too bad that some people don't take that as seriously as they should, but don't automatically assume that all RMC graduates are useless.
- An Ossifer Kididiot
