From Ft. Benning to St. Jean ... at 46.

[Mainz]

I served in the US military in the mid 80's. Went through infantry basic training at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Harmony Church), then on tour a tour of duty with 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry in Mainz, West Germany. After a couple years I received an 'early out' as my mother was dying of cancer.

Never did make it back in. Became involved with raising 5 children and just never made it back in. About a year ago my son (13) joined a Cadet Corp here in town. Taking him back and forth, and spending time around the Canadian military reawakened my desire to serve.

So.... at 46 years old...

I aced the CFAT, passed all medicals, the PT test (!?!), background check, FBI, and interviews and such. Swear in mid November and tentatively head off to IAP and BOTP in January. Looking forward to it. A little nervous perhaps... but just the appropriate amount. I'm guessing that, the same as Benning in '85, it will kick my ass for the first 2 weeks, then the ole bod will gear in. Mentally, not worried about the 'chicken shit' head stuff. It all has its purpose and place.

Oh, forgot to mention... Naval Reserves. I was interested in army reserves, but in interviewing with them, they wanted me to stretch out the entire process over three years, the reserve way. With the Naval reserves, I can get through the initial training in a much more 'field expedient' manner.

I guess the main question I have, at this point, is ...

what are my chances, on coming out of BOTP, of volunteering for Afghanistan? In reading of the infantry shortages in the news lately, the mention of bringing people from other branches, into infantry, seems to be a reoccurring theme.

I have the MARS training coming up at some point after the BOTP, and am looking forward to training and serving in that function. I guess once a ground-pounder, it just always in your system. Part of me still wants to put on the 'leather personnel carriers' and hump out across the sand.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[navymich]

Congrats on joining the Naval Reserves!!  Don't take any of the joking and bashing that you'll receive on here to heart...they are all just jealous.  8)

For more info on MARS training, check out this thread: http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/48307.0/all.html

 

[Mike Baker]

Don't take any of the joking and bashing that you'll receive on here to heart...they are all just jealous.  8)

You may like me for this but I was planning on joining the army, but now im looking at the navy 
By the way, congrats Mainz, good luck.

 

[kincanucks]

what are my chances, on coming out of BOTP, of volunteering for Afghanistan?

You can volunteer all you want but you are not going anywhere as an untrained reserve naval officer.

 

[Mainz]

Okay.

Just thought they might train those who volunteer. My mistake.

Guess I've been watching to much TV news where they're talking about, (in order to not extend infantry troops tour) pulling non-army personel and sending them in country for infantry support positions.

--------------------------
"(CP)

    OTTAWA — Canadian sailors and aircrew won’t be thrown into the trenches, but they could be asked to drive convoys along the treacherous roads of southern Afghanistan, the country’s top soldier said yesterday.

    Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of defence staff, said it’s one way to free up manpower and take the pressure off front-line combat units.

    “We can take a bunch of sailors and train them to run our convoys,” he told the Commons foreign affairs committee.

    Last week, Defence minister Gordon O’Connor and Hillier pledged that front-line soldiers would be called upon to serve no more than one tour in Afghanistan.

    To do that, the army will call on members of the navy and air force in a process called re-rolling. But since their initial comments, there’s been confusion in military ranks and among the public about who will qualify and the jobs they will perform.""

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Any positive or helpful suggestions ?

 

[paracowboy]

Any positive or helpful suggestions ?

sign on, go where you're told, do your best?

 

[kincanucks]

You want a useful and helpful suggestion?  Change your entry plan to NCM Reg F Infantry or move on.