Barracks?

[bojangles]

Can anyone tell me what life is like living in the shacks or barracks? I hope to be in soon and I have been told that I must live in barracks for a minimum of 6 months because I am single. I am ok with that but have a few questions as to what I should expect.
How much is deducted from your pay to live in them?
How many people do you share your quarters with?
Is it like a college dorm type of a deal or is it a large room with lots of cots? I have no idea what they are like and to be honest I have lived on my own for that past 14 years and wonder what type of adventure this is going to be?
Any help is appreciated.

Bojangles

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Its like living in a collage dorm atmosphere wise.
If your lucky you could have a room by yourself, if not between 1 and 3 other roomates.
There are beds with desks normally and some furniture.
Last time I checked it was around $70 a month but it all depends if your on course, in BN with roomates, size of the room etc.
Many have communal bathrooms and showers but the newer ones are having 2 pers share a bathroom. 
There are many different types of rooms out there.

 

[bojangles]

WOw only around $70/month. That's dirt cheap! I might be able to pay off that loan of mine faster than I thought! ;D
I also heard that you cannot cook in them, is that true? No kitchen then I suppose?

Bojangles

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Many guys have microwaves but they don't want hot plates there.  When I lived in I had a microwaze and bar fridge.

 

[atticus]

Are your roommate(s) randomly chosen? I remember when I was taking my reserve BMQ in Edmonton we lived in the basement of one of the newer barracks and there was a pay-phone on each floor and a little computer where you had to pay a loonie for ten minutes but I never got to see the inside of one of the rooms; does anybody happen to know if you can have your own stuff (I have my own computer and book shelf for instance)?

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

It all depends.  When I was in the Shacks if you didn't like your roomate you would try to change up with another guy.  If there are a bunch of empty rooms you'll be in luck however I think the barrack warden usually assigns a room to each member at random.  I had a queen bed, bar fridge, microwave, stero entertainment system, and computer in my room.

 

[ps387]

Last time I checked it was around $70 a month but it all depends if your on course, in BN with roomates, size of the room etc.

Don't they also charge you for "rations"? The figures I've heard for Q&R are closer to $350-400 depending on the course and location.

 

[who980]

Upon reading QR&O 208.505 â “ DEDUCTIONS FOR PROVISION OF RATIONS

http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/admfincs/subjects/qr_o/vol3/Ch208_e.asp#208.505

It looks like they have a formula for calculating the cost of rations per month.

I remember it being around 350-400$ a month to be on ration strength at Nelles block in Esquimalt.  If we didnt want rations deducted from our pay, we could chose to de-link from our rations and would just have to pay cash every time we ate at the galley.  People claimed they were saving money doing it this way.

Ryan

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

you used to be able to live on and just pay for the room.  Rations is a whole nother story.

 

[Kurhaus]

As for rations, depending on where your posted, some bases have gone to the pay as you go meal card. (at least they have in Shilo)   Instead of paying a flat rate for meals, you only pay for what you eat.  That is probably the same as being delinked from rations only instead of paying cash, you have a meal card that charges the meal to your pay account. It is something to look into if you plan on eating out a few times a week and you wouldn't need cash to go to the messhall.

 

[Glorified Ape]

You're REQUIRED to live in the shacks for 6 mos?

 

[Inch]

You're REQUIRED to live in the shacks for 6 mos?

Only NCMs, Officers can do what they want. I lived in until I was MOC qualified which was about 4 years.

You will have to live in the Mega during SLT, sometimes you can live out but it's not very common. You'll also be in shacks for all of your Phase training. Once you're posted you can do what you want, for Officers that is.

 

[pipesnake]

I lived in the barracks for about a year before moving out. For me it was like living in an asylum. My first day there I was introduced to the personal weapons cache of those in the shacks. I won't tell you what they had but we could have left and started our own army. There was a lot drinking and carrying on. Not the place to be if you enjoy your privacy. We use to have a fun little game of bobbing for beers in a barracks box. After you drank one you would smash it and put the glass in the box. The bobbing got more precarious as it went on... Anyway the rule about living in the shacks for 6 months is stupid. You're old enough to have the responsibility of taking someone else's life in your hands, but not old enough to live on your own (aka take your own life in your hands). The irony is just too much.

 

[bojangles]

This maybe a stupid question but i would assume that they would put females together or would I have to share my room with "boy germs".  ;D

Bojangles

 

[pipesnake]

When I was in they would absolutely not mix ranks. That was 14 years ago but I can't see them changing that. Imagine the results. Oh but in basic training you may be mixed in the same barracks but you will have your own floor most likely.

 

[brin11]

Bojangles,

whether or not you are mixed with males in garrison or not, be prepared to share your tent/hootch/modular/truck with males.  It is common practice in the field to mix males/females.

 

[bojangles]

well ok....but only if he's cute! 

Bojangles

 

[MJP]

that I must live in barracks for a minimum of 6 months because I am single

If you really wanted to move out of the shacks before 6 months( or not even move in at all), all it really takes is a memo outlining your reasons.   In most cases that I have seen, as long as the troop in question wasn't a complete moron, they were allow to live out.  

 

[atticus]

In most cases that I have seen, as long as the troop in question was a complete moron, they were allow to live out. 

Do you mean as long as he's not a complete moron? Or do they not want the morons mingling with the rest of the troops?

 

[MJP]

LOL...BOTH

That's what I get for typing while my son is playing cars on the computer desk.