Hello. Thought I finally get involved.

[trust]

Hello,

I have been scanning these forums for the last couple of weeks and now I've finally decided to register and get involved.

I'll give you my past experiences so you can analyze my situation and advise for the future.  I am a 28 year old male living in Penticton, B.C.  I completed my MBA from UBC Vancouver in 2002.  I have successfully maintained my own consulting company for the past 4 years.  I would not like to sound arrogant but I feel disclosing my current income will help you understand my situation, I am currently making over 200 thousand dollars a year.  I have put in a lot of hard work into my company, and now I am really enjoying the rewards.  It's a great life, but it just isn't as exciting as I would have wanted it to be. 

I am really considering joining the reserves and hopefully being able to travel the world while maintaining my position with my company.  I will have to take a cut to my income as I will have to hire another individual, but I am totally supportive of this.

"As a trained Reservist, you could be eligible to deploy on operations. Deployments could include rotating overseas as part of a unit into the International Security Assistance Force, Task Force Kabul in Afghanistan, going as an individual to the UN mission in the Golan Heights of Israel, or becoming a Military Observer in a far-reaching part of the world."

I have looked into the various occupations and have identified MP officer as the top choice for me.  I guess I will start off by asking how likely is it to be deployed overseas?  Can a reservist ask to be deployed overseas and again how likely is it?  Second, what is life like when you're not deployed?

 

[paracowboy]

can't really answer your questions, but I do think that you should give it a go. Would you prefer to look back in 20 years and wonder if you had what it takes?
You sound like a go-getter, and I think that regrets like that would eat at you.

Can I borrow some money? I need a new tattoo, and the financing on it fell through.

Oh yeah. Welcome to Army.ca.

 

[Screw]

can't really answer your questions, but I do think that you should give it a go. Would you prefer to look back in 20 years and wonder if you had what it takes?
You sound like a go-getter, and I think that regrets like that would eat at you.

Can I borrow some money? I need a new tattoo, and the financing on it fell through.

Oh yeah. Welcome to Army.ca.

I hear that. Its to bad they couldnt put 'em on layaway or like an installment plan.

I would also recommend the reserves- spice it up a bit.

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

I have looked into the various occupations and have identified MP officer as the top choice for me.  I guess I will start off by asking how likely is it to be deployed overseas?  Can a reservist ask to be deployed overseas and again how likely is it?  Second, what is life like when you're not deployed?

Unfortunately, you (more or less) will have to join a Reserve unit near you and are limited (again more or less) to the trades within that unit.  In your case, as someone from Penticton, the local unit is the British Columbia Dragoons - an armoured reconnaissance regiment.  Officer choices within Reserve armour regiments are Armour and Logistics (and only a couple of those).  You might want to get in contact with them to determine your options.

To answer your second questions (without referring you to a search - there are a lot of threads on this), the short answers are:  yes, you can deploy overseas if you volunteer and there's a position.  However, there are far fewer officer positions on tours than there are slots for NCMs, although this is slowly changing.  Selection is generally on merit and on comparative experience.  Second, as a reservist you'll generally conduct your phase training in the summer months (likely using your holiday time to do so) and "parade" the remainder of the year.  This typically involves working (locally) one night a week and one weekend a month - the latter usually being an exercise of some sort.

Hope this helps...

 

[Enzo]

Good one Para  ;D

Nothing wrong with Armoured, go have a chat.

 

[exsemjingo]

Contact your local reserve regiment and they will tell you everything.
As a reservist, it is possible to go overseas, but in the Canadian Military it is never required, only voluntary.  As for how things are if you do not go on missions, it all depends on the unit you are in.  Since the reserves are non-commital, you may as well sign up and see how things go.  It is part time, after all.

Besides, from the sounds of things, your current job will decide what you are asking about.

 

[SIG MITCH]

I really doubt you will be part of ISAF in Kabul..... more likely Kandahar, and Im pretty sure Golan Heights is now closed, and a far reaching military observer could be in Alert!!
but as a soldier currently deployed in the Middle East Im fairly confident you will enjoy life over here, as every day something new and crazy happens.

 

[baudspeed]

Trust,
I am in a similar situation But am going to be starting the process as regular member. Glad to see someone else is at the same stage in life considering the same things. I am giving up my job at this point because ,military or not, sitting in an office all day is not wraught with life experience or for that matter healthy either. 

 

[Parked4everuser]

I am giving up my job at this point because ,military or not, sitting in an office all day is not wrought with life experience or for that matter healthy either. 

I know exactly how you feel, Baudspeed. One of the main reasons the military interests me is because its an active lifestyle.

Trust, as I have learned from reading around on this forum, the best source of information and answers to your questions is your closest CFRC. Give them a call and someone will be glad to help you sort out what you have to sort out. Good luck, I hope it all works out for you.

 

[pylon]

Trust and Baud,

I'm in a very similar situation, though I've been a reservist for quite a few years (94-98, 01-Present). I'm 30 later this month, have the white collar job, company car, expense account, 6 figures, the whole nine yards.  I've also just recently completed all of my testing to go reg force.  Paracowboy said it... I don't want to look back 20 years from now and say, what if....  The military has always been in my blood, and for the first time in many years, I'm charged up.  Granted, I'm not looking to go overseas asap, and I am going air force, but I'm truly excited.  If only my wife was as thrilled about the pay cut as I am.. but, another time for another board.

Cheers, to finding what you're looking for.


kc

 

[The_Falcon]

Contact your local recruiting centre and they can give you all the info you need about going MPO, and where the closest unit is (from the 1 GRN MP COY site it would appear Chilliwack is the closest, but not I am not 100% on that), as well they may be able to talk you about other occupations that may interest you.  As for tours, you volunteer when they come up.  For the large ones there are few officer billets, but there are any number of tours, which are primarly tasked to senior NCOs and officers.