Common Army Phase

[Quag]

Alright, you guys want the low down on CAP?

Here it is:

1) It's not as hard as everyone will make it out to be.  The old military tradition of saying how "hard" it was when they went through seems to really show through on this "super tough" course.  Everyone wants to toot their own horn after having completed the course, thinking its sooooooo hard etc....  Don't buy the hype.  It's a challenging military course, but one that can be easily obtained if you have the right mind frame.  It's slightly more than average when it comes to both mental and physical demands.  Don't let anyone fool you, this is by no means a "hard" course, nor for the combat arms people will it be their toughest course.

2) Keep a positive attitude and prepare for the worst.  This way, when something comes along, its not as bad as you thought it was going to be.

3) Have fun.  CAP was the most enjoyable course I've had.  Keep and open mind, and you will excel and have a blast on the course!

Cheers!

 

[DannyITR]

I was just wondering if anyone can see a change happening in the amount of time spent on course for training? I'm a reservist with a wife and a kid on the way. There is no way I could leave for 3 months. The max I would do is one module of two weeks at a time but even then, two weeks leaving a pregnant wife at home alone is unacceptable to me and will probably result in me never completing training.

What would be acceptable is Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 and then when you really need to sleep in the field you sleep in the field for a few nights. I understand this is the army and war isn't accommodating but I also understand that the army is looking for soldiers - good soldiers who have an education and who probably could make it pretty well in the private sector and these people can't get away from their families so easily. There is no reason the training couldn't be re-organized as described above and be just as effective in my opinion. 

 

[George Wallace]

I was just wondering if anyone can see a change happening in the amount of time spent on course for training? I'm a reservist with a wife and a kid on the way. There is no way I could leave for 3 months. The max I would do is one module of two weeks at a time but even then, two weeks leaving a pregnant wife at home alone is unacceptable to me and will probably result in me never completing training.

What would be acceptable is Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 and then when you really need to sleep in the field you sleep in the field for a few nights. I understand this is the army and war isn't accommodating but I also understand that the army is looking for soldiers - good soldiers who have an education and who probably could make it pretty well in the private sector and these people can't get away from their families so easily. There is no reason the training couldn't be re-organized as described above and be just as effective in my opinion. 

I can't believe what I just read.  I remember being a Reservist.  I remember being on Phase Training.  More than one summer.  Three months was the norm.  No Hotels.  No Tennis Courts.  No Golf clubs.  Lots of long hours, hard work, and driving the body. 

If you can not find the time and dedication to be a Reservist and become a Trained Reservist, then perhaps that is not the Part Time Job for you.

Remember, one of the main purposes of the Reserves is to augment the Regular Force.  If you can't do that, then it is time for you to find something else.

Commitment.  Dedication.  Choices that everyone has to make.  What are your priorities?  Will you be able to commit to the CF as a useful member, or will you have to place your priorities into some other endeavour?  Your choice.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

I have to say, I agree with George on this one 100%.

There are many reasons why;  if you really want to hear them, I'll post them but I think most of the people who think the same way here *get them* and they don't need explaination.

If you want to be a part of the CF but can't commit to the Reserves and its training, maybe you could serve as a CIC Officer.

Train the way you fight; fight the way you train.  That does NOT include what you described above DannyITR.  Reserve soldiers, NCOs, WOs and Officers are fighting alongside their Reg Force comrades in places like Afghanistan.  There should be as close a situation to 'one standard' as possible.

I think you have a personal choice to make.

*edit

I took a look thru your posting history...and in it, I found this one sentence I thought was relevant to this topic.

The first you are taught in the military is keep the same standard. Makes sense to me

 

[DannyITR]

Thanks for the replies. You both make a lot of sense and it seems I have some decisions to make.

 

[navygirl/armywife]

All the MODS are 2 weeks long and there is a total of 5 MODS. Alot of reservists do come for a mod here and a mod there. I would not recommend this way though. If you are with the course for all 5 mods you will get more out of it and you will  work better cohesively as a team if you do all the mods at once. And just a bit of advice, you only have so long to complete the course, you can't take your sweet time about it and say " Well I won't go on Mod 3 this year, I'll do it next year." I believe you have 5 years to complete it. And as for your spouse being pregnant, wait until she has the baby if that is your concern. I managed just fine being pregnant while the hubby was playing in the sandbox, not easy by any means, but manageable.

 

[Redeye]

Doing things that slowly simply won't work.  You could in theory get all the checks in the boxes, but as an officer in the Reserve you're looking at something like 26 weeks of training.  In two week blocks it will take you forever.  There are people who go through that way (and I had to do part of my Phase III course in two week blocks because of my day job - but I fought hard to get to finish it in one shot and I'm glad because I got a lot more out of it that way. 

As a Reservist, while you may have a lot more flexibility than a member of the Regular Force you are still expected to be able - and most importantly - willing to step up and do the job should the need arise.  If you think being away from your pregnant wife for two weeks is a really intolerable hardship then I suspect you really, truly have a lot of thinking to do before you decide if this is the right course of action for you.  It is part of the nature of the beast.  It's not just a social club after all - we have the task of being a force generator for the Regs, including trained officers.  If you can't see yourself able to make such a small commitment then you really have to assess whether tyou can meet the expectation.

I further suspect if you spent that long in the training system, you'll just become bored (because you're not all that useful to the unit) and quit anyhow.  I've seen it happen quite a bit, guys show up all keen but can't/won't make the sacrifices to get trained so they just pack it in.

Thanks for the replies. You both make a lot of sense and it seems I have some decisions to make.

 

[Infanteer]

There is no way I could leave for 3 months. The max I would do is one module of two weeks at a time but even then, two weeks leaving a pregnant wife at home alone is unacceptable to me and will probably result in me never completing training.

What would be acceptable is Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 and then when you really need to sleep in the field you sleep in the field for a few nights. I understand this is the army and war isn't accommodating but I also understand that the army is looking for soldiers - good soldiers who have an education and who probably could make it pretty well in the private sector and these people can't get away from their families so easily. There is no reason the training couldn't be re-organized as described above and be just as effective in my opinion. 

You need to reevaluate the term service and what it means to put on the uniform....

 

[exgunnertdo]

In many ways it does need to be a family decision. 

My husband went to Bosnia when our son was 19 days old.  He was gone on predeployment training for a lot of my pregnancy.  It was just sheer luck that he was there for the birth, as our son was 5 weeks early.  My sister was going to be my labour coach, I had parents and friends lined up for help.  It can be done.

We still travel a lot for work and there is always the potential for deployments, of course.  But in contrast, my neighbour can't fathom our life - her husband has never spent a night away, and the only nights she hasn't been at home with her kids is when she was in for surgery last year, in eight years of parenting.  (not military, obviously)

If military life will not work for your wife, then don't do it!

 

[jeffb]

Back to some questions about CAP...

- Does anyone know what the CAP course dates are for 2009?
- I'm on the Jan. BMOQ ending 17 April, as it seems that there is generally a May CAP, I would presume that the idea is to go from BMOQ to CAP a couple of weeks later. However, I can also imagine that there might be a backlog of people from earlier BMOQ's awaiting CAP.  In short, if the answer to my first question is May, then should I expect a May course or should I expect to spend the summer in a PAT platoon?

Thanks in advance.

 

[navygirl/armywife]

There will be CAP courses ran starting in January/Febuaryish, May/ Juneish,  then some more in September.  Usually 2 to 4 per every winter, summer, fall serial. As for the exact month and day they start I don't remember off the top of my head. I couldn't begin to remember all the start times of the CAP crses if I tried.  ;D

 

[BullDog]

Some CAP dates, according to the 09/10 Draft Army National Calendar:

• 20 May - 24 July
• 1 Jun - 7 Aug
• 15 Jun - 21 Aug

The next CAP courses after these are slated to begin in September.

Hope this helps.

 

[JesseWZ]

JeffB
I had guys on my CAP this past summer that finished BMOQ in Winter (Jan or Feb I believe) and were in Holding at Gagetown or wherever their trades school was until 1 June when our course started. Its possible that you could be assigned the 2IC Photo Copier Paper Replacement Platoon position for quite awhile until they can slot you in.

 

[littlelizzard]

:yellow: I have a question regarding CAP and moving a family! First of all I am told CAP will start May 01 then I hear it will start May 20 when is the start date :

Then I hear they won't move your family until your finished CAP but yet the Garrison says yes they move your family due to the fact you have a posting in Gagetown so what is the real story, does anyone seem to know :

 

[frostvelun]

I was wondering if anyone had access to the updates and/or final CAP dates for this summer to fall. (IE. May - October start dates). I am currently away from the unit and our OPs WO is busy like crazy - emails have thus far not been replied to.

As well, I was wondering what the order of the modules was and the basic info they consisted of? I have heard of Mod 5 being taught first but that seems counter-intuitive. Searches on army.ca haven't been super effective yet either.

If anyone could help out, I'd be grateful.

 

[George Wallace]

Off the top of my head, having booked candidates, I know that there are two Serials starting on 15 June (Mod 1 to 5) running through to mid August.  There are a couple Franco Serials starting at the same time I think, and they begin with Mod 5 then do Mod 1 to 4.  It could be due to availability of Trg facilities.  As for all the other Serials being run, someone with access to the Army Trg Lists will have to come online and fill you in.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0905 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 15/Jun/09 26/Jun/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0905 DP1 REG/PRES 1/Jun/09 12/Jun/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0905 DP1 REG/PRES 13/Jul/09 24/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0905 DP1 REG/PRES 29/Jun/09 10/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0905 DP1 REG/PRES 20/May/09 29/May/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0906 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 15/Jun/09 26/Jun/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0906 DP1 REG/PRES 1/Jun/09 12/Jun/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0906 DP1 REG/PRES 13/Jul/09 24/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0906 DP1 REG/PRES 29/Jun/09 10/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0906 DP1 REG/PRES 20/May/09 29/May/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0907 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 29/Jun/09 10/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0907 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Jun/09 26/Jun/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0907 DP1 REG/PRES 27/Jul/09 7/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0907 DP1 REG/PRES 13/Jul/09 24/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0907 DP1 REG/PRES 1/Jun/09 12/Jun/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0908 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 29/Jun/09 10/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0908 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Jun/09 26/Jun/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0908 DP1 REG/PRES 27/Jul/09 7/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0908 DP1 REG/PRES 13/Jul/09 24/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0908 DP1 REG/PRES 1/Jun/09 12/Jun/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0909 (SQFT) (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 22/Jun/09 4/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0909 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 6/Jul/09 17/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0909 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 20/Jul/09 31/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0909 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 3/Aug/09 14/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0909 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 8/Jun/09 19/Jun/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0910  (SQFT) (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 22/Jun/09 4/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0910 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 6/Jul/09 17/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0910 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 20/Jul/09 31/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0910 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 3/Aug/09 14/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0910 (SQFT) DP1 REG/PRES 8/Jun/09 19/Jun/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0911 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 13/Jul/09 24/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0911 DP1 REG/PRES 29/Jun/09 10/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0911 DP1 REG/PRES 10/Aug/09 21/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0911 DP1 REG/PRES 27/Jul/09 7/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0911 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Jun/09 26/Jun/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0912(Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 13/Jul/09 24/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0912 DP1 REG/PRES 29/Jun/09 10/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0912 DP1 REG/PRES 10/Aug/09 21/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0912 DP1 REG/PRES 27/Jul/09 7/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0912 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Jun/09 26/Jun/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0913 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES BIL 26/Oct/09 6/Nov/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0913 DP1 REG/PRES 13/Oct/09 23/Oct/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0913 DP1 REG/PRES 23/Nov/09 4/Dec/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0913 DP1 REG/PRES 9/Nov/09 20/Nov/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0913 DP1 REG/PRES 28/Sep/09 9/Oct/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0914 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 26/Oct/09 6/Nov/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0914 DP1 REG/PRES 13/Oct/09 23/Oct/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0914 DP1 REG/PRES 23/Nov/09 4/Dec/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0914 DP1 REG/PRES 9/Nov/09 20/Nov/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0914 DP1 REG/PRES 28/Sep/09 9/Oct/09

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 1001 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 1/Mar/10 12/Mar/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 1001 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Feb/10 26/Feb/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 1001 DP1 REG/PRES 29/Mar/10 9/Apr/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 1001 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Mar/10 26/Mar/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 1001 DP1 REG/PRES 25/Jan/10 12/Feb/10

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 1002 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES 1/Mar/10 12/Mar/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 1002 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Feb/10 26/Feb/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 1002 DP1 REG/PRES 29/Mar/10 9/Apr/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 1002 DP1 REG/PRES 15/Mar/10 26/Mar/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 1002 DP1 REG/PRES 25/Jan/10 12/Feb/10

COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 1003 (Mod 5 Runs First) DP1 REG/PRES FRANCO 15/Mar/10 26/Mar/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 1003 DP1 REG/PRES 1/Mar/10 12/Mar/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 1003 DP1 REG/PRES 12/Apr/10 23/Apr/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 1003 DP1 REG/PRES 29/Mar/10 9/Apr/10
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 1003 DP1 REG/PRES 8/Feb/10 26/Feb/10

 

[George Wallace]

Now isn't that as confusing as f**k!  Trying to navigate that, makes my head spin.  Crse Codes and matching dates bounce all around the friggin place.  Couldn't someone with a few clues ( and not the guy with two clues; one being lost and the other out looking for him.) have written that so that the dates ran concurrently for each Crse Code?

For example; Does a candidate start with something like this after BMOQ in London ending 14 Jun 09: 

CAP Mod 5 0911  DP1    REG/PRES  15 Jun to 26 Jun  - - -      (runs first for some reason)

CAP Mod 1 0907  DP1    REG/PRES  29 Jun to 10 Jul

CAP Mod 2 Mod 2 NOT AVAILABLE  13 Jul to 24 Jul

CAP Mod 3 0907  DP1  REG/PRES  27 Jul to 7 Aug

CAP Mod 4 Not available until perhaps 2011 ?


No wonder people are confused.






[EDIT TO ADD]



OR  is it something like this:



COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 5 0911  DP1  REG/PRES  15/Jun/09  26/Jun/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 2 0911  DP1  REG/PRES  29/Jun/09  10/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 1 0911 (Mod 5 Runs First)  DP1  REG/PRES  13/Jul/09  24/Jul/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 4 0911  DP1  REG/PRES  27/Jul/09  7/Aug/09
COMMON ARMY PHASE - MODULE 3 0911  DP1  REG/PRES  10/Aug/09  21/Aug/09

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Now isn't that as confusing as f**k!  Trying to navigate that, makes my head spin.  Crse Codes and matching dates bounce all around the friggin place.  Couldn't someone with a few clues ( and not the guy with two clues; one being lost and the other out looking for him.) have written that so that the dates ran concurrently for each Crse Code?

For example; Does a candidate start with something like this after BMOQ in London ending 14 Jun 09: 

CAP Mod 5 0911  DP1    REG/PRES  15 Jun to 26 Jun  - - -      (runs first for some reason)

CAP Mod 1 0907  DP1    REG/PRES  29 Jun to 10 Jul

CAP Mod 2 Mod 2 NOT AVAILABLE  13 Jul to 24 Jul

CAP Mod 3 0907  DP1  REG/PRES  27 Jul to 7 Aug

CAP Mod 4 Not available until perhaps 2011 ?


No wonder people are confused.

Mr. Wallace did you forget your morning coffee  ;D

Why would you have a member bounce from course serial to course serial?

i.e. you have him start on 0911 then move to 0907?

 

[George Wallace]

Mr. Wallace did you forget your morning coffee  ;D

Why would you have a member bounce from course serial to course serial?

i.e. you have him start on 0911 then move to 0907?

Trying to get the candidate through the summer with consecutive dates.  Try it.

Confused yet?