Anyone face this problem Re : wife & trade

[RTaylor]

Yeah I get arguementative, my bad. Just don't like people talling me what I do and don't know and having it come across as pretty rude.

 

[lou-reed]

RT,

In one of your earlier posts you wrote you were working the angle of staying in shape...

Why do you need to work an angle...Who are you trying to convince - your wife or yourself?

If you haven't already done so you need to talk to your wife about why you want to become an Engineer and forget about working the angles.  Be honest with her and tell her to be honest with you. 

20 or 25 years can be a long time if you do not have the support of your family.  Lets face it, every trade in the CF has its dangers - even photo techs.

In the end if you are both honest with each other you will make the right decisions for you and your family. 

I just retired after 20 years (yes 20 years as I was grandfathered before the new TOS) and I always had the support of my wife.  She did not always like or agree with certains things but we were always honest with each other.

Good luck 

 

[Nfld Sapper]

CDN Aviator, I am aware of what instructors do as Im not retarded, it's 100% common sense that if they are awake coming into your room tossing some arty sims to wake you up (yes I have had this done many times, fun fun fun) then they've already been up for about 30 minutes, and since they are with you all day until you go to bed then, well now, I think it's prudent to say that their day doesn't end until yours does, and even then it may be longer if they have paper work. Don't think that because Im a civilian I'm in the dark.

I've worked with handicapped kids for several years in the public educational system developing programs to learning, correcting papers, etc, trying to get things done, so I know what goes on in an instructor position (maybe not military but definitely civilian). You haven't seen nothing until the government has mandated that your student has to know X material or be able to do Y activitiy or you lose your job. Pretty horrid situation I'll tell you, but I enjoyed it immensely. Being an instructor has always been something I've really enjoyed and I can pretty well tell you that being in any instructor is basically the same, it just depends on where you're instructing.

And I didn't say I didn't know what being a combat engineer would be about, what I said in the OP was that my wife was hearing a bunch of stuff from a load of disgruntled fear mongers. I didn't join the forces on a whim nor pick my trade from a hat full of random choices, I did the research, asked questions and so on. I was in the reserves for 2 years and I've seen enough to give me a few clues and many people here through PM's and chats have answered alot of questions for me to fill in the blanks.

I have an appointment on the 28th in Halifax for my medical so when Im up there Im going to see if my wife can speak to someone about what life is going to be like (besides her aunt who was married to a weapons tech for 22 years who was about the only one who said not to listen to others).

And yeah Geo..forgot its 25 years now, I think that's a recent change since 3 or so years ago when I was going to sign up it was still 20 (changed my mind for whatever reason). Still sounds better than the alternatives.

First of all PYROTECHNIQUES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED ON BASE PROPER MUCH LESS IN THE SHACKS!

Now if you are in the field that is a different story.

 

[RTaylor]

lol Sapper, this was around 8-9 years ago. And they used em a few times in the crappy old shacks.

And it's not an angle Im trying to work, it's more the fact that there's a few people that are loading my wife up with unnecessary fears and panick because they got a hate on for the forces. (And I'm comfortable with my current fitness, it's only improving ). As for my family, they just don't want us leaving if there's even a remote chance of me getting into the Airforce and posted to Greenwood.

I think once she talks to some of the folks at the recruiting center she'll understand it a bit more. That and some more auntie talks.

 

[geo]

First of all PYROTECHNIQUES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED ON BASE PROPER MUCH LESS IN THE SHACKS!

Now if you are in the field that is a different story.

Sapper,

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in a world far, far away - things like that DID happen.
I clearly remember what, at the time were known as "the Beaudin Blitz".
Not saying it was legal - even then.... but it was done by Korean war vintage NCOs... it was part of our learning process.... permitted instructors to observe how candidates responded under stress...

 

[RTaylor]

I WILL tell you it was the most awesome way to wake up lol. They also used megaphones, blanks in the C6 and all sorts of inventively fun ways to wake us up. I can honestly say that we all loved it lol...seems crazy but it lent a bit of fun and change to the routine.

Too bad they wont do it nowadays...I think one of the things Im going to miss most is being called names and being cursed at. Some of that stuff was so inventive I still remember it to this day (drop your c0cks put on your socks, time to wake up *bang bang bang*)

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Sapper,

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in a world far, far away - things like that DID happen.
I clearly remember what, at the time were known as "the Beaudin Blitz".
Not saying it was legal - even then.... but it was done by Korean war vintage NCOs... it was part of our learning process.... permitted instructors to observe how candidates responded under stress...

I guess and that's why they don't do it now. Oh well now you are giving me ideas for the upcoming BMQ FTX  >

 

[RTaylor]

LOL Sapper, first time it happened I almost pewped my pants, but it was awesome. There's all sorts of ways to get around things if your creative.

Bagpipes at the foot of your bunk wakes you up FAST lol.

As a side note, when they knocked down the old barracks we used to sleep in, they have to close down that prt of the base because of Asbestos and loads of bird feces. Had some biological assessment unit come in to check it out too.

I guess arty sims and flash bangs in the AM were the least of our worries ;D

 

[Nfld Sapper]

True, can't wait to see the environmental clean up here when they finally tear down all the buildings at CFS St. John's as all the buildings date back to when the Americans occupied the area as Fort Pepperrel.

 

[geo]

RT... bagpipes are not played at the foot of your bed,  they are played immediately outside of your window.
(this gives the piper a bit of a head start - by the time you are out the door & after him, the piper is behind a protective cordon of his cronies OR.... far, far away)

PS - I am talking from experience....... but I did get the piper with a bucket & water one morning (after having been harrassed a couple of Half past very early).  Thereafter, we had respect for each other >

 

[PMedMoe]

When I was a Tfc Tech, we took our courses at Griesbach in Edmonton.  The Airborne was there (at the time) and when they were running a Para course, they used to get the guys to stand outside the female shacks at oh-dark-thirty and yell "Good morning, ladies!"  Even on Saturdays!!  ;D

 

[Roy Harding]

When I was a Tfc Tech, we took our courses at Griesbach in Edmonton.  The Airborne was there (at the time) and when they were running a Para course, they used to get the guys to stand outside the female shacks at oh-dark-thirty and yell "Good morning, ladies!"  Even on Saturdays!!  ;D

Sorry 'bout that 

If it makes you feel any better we occasionally did the same thing to the "Force Commander" (SSF) in Petawawa.

 

[PMedMoe]

That's okay, Roy.  I used to get a laugh out of it and just be glad it wasn't me out there doing PT!

 

[RTaylor]

So my wife and I talked about it (nice talk) and I've actually decided, due to her fear of explosives, to change my MOC to my 2nd choice : Signals Operator.

Even though I wanted Combat Engineer and it does look interesting, I think this decision will make my wife feel that much better which in turn will make me feel more relaxed for a long term committment. Who knows, I may get posted with a Combat Engineer regiment  ;D

 

[aesop081]

, due to her fear of explosives, to change my MOC to my 2nd choice : Signals Operator.

:

Has your wife ever handled explosives ? I must be very lucky to have survived 11 years as an engineer and i still have all my fingers.

Does your wife understand that the bad guys use explosives against our troops, even Sig Ops ?

Does she have a fear of bullets too ? Because the bad guys use those too !! As a matter of fact, so will you.

We'll talk again in a few years when you figure out you decided on Sig Op and thats not what you wanted.

 

[RTaylor]

It's actually my first choice, but due to the fact that the sig op can be transferred from unit to unit at any time was sort of a drawback for me. I know it can happen in any trade, but from what I've read and discussed with people it happens more often in the SigOp trade.

I still have 110% respect for the Combat Engineer, and would love to be one, but comprimises sometimes have to be made.

 

[vonGarvin]

I still have 110% respect for the Combat Engineer, and would love to be one, but comprimises sometimes have to be made.

And that, my friend, is one of many ingredients to a long and  happy marriage!

 

[Kat Stevens]

Your name tags are already in at the QM...

 

[Rodahn]

Your name tags are already in at the QM...

And now we know why Kat is

A. single;
B. divorced;
C. seperated; or
D. All of the above.......  ;D

 

[RTaylor]

lmao