HI guys...trying to get into the infantry, need advice....

[CallOfDuty]

    Hey there guys,  I was at the recruiting center today and i was talking to the recruiter and she basically told me that out of a score of 5..my PDC score on my application is a 3.  Not that that is such a bad thing, apparently most of the applicants for the forces are scored about a 3.  I have my grade 12, university prep classes, honour roll, great CFAT score, lots of activities and whatnot....BUt that still doesnt seem like its going to be good enough to get me into the infantry anytime soon!!!  She was saying that when they need new recruits..they go down the list and pick all the score 5's and 4's first, and then finally the 3's.    Sooooooooooo....basically she said what I should do, is to go down the one of the reserve units and get in there...get my basic done, and get some military experience first...then about a year later , do a component transfer to the regs...since my score would then be a 4. 
  So what do you guys think?....Should I wait, no matter how long it takes, to get in the regs straightaway, or do you think she has a good idea.....to join the reserves first to get my score to a 4?
  I would much rather wait and go reg force off the get go, than go in part time. Are any of you guys a score 3 and still made it in?
Thanks everyone
Steve

 

[shaboing]

personally i'm going reserves first and i'm going to get qualified in different things like jump school,so i will be more experianced when i switch over

 

[desjardins]

Definitely a good plan to head into the Reserves first. Think about it this way, the basic training of the Reserves will get you into better physical shape, and you will also have a better idea of what to expect in the Regular Service sector. I made the choice to enter the Reserves as part of a Highschool course offered at my school and it will give me a great introduction to the Army lifestyle and also provide me with the experience I will need later on when i transfer to Regular Service.

 

[Eowyn]

The only bad thing about joining the Reserves first, can be the amount of time to process the transfer from the Reserves to the Regulars.  On the up side, during that time, you are still working with the Reserve Infantry unit and learning or honing your skills.

 

[Private Jimbo]

Go full time if thats what you want to do, transfering ive heard ( from the recruiters at Vancouver) is super difficult.

 

[Jarnhamar]

For what it's worth I joined the reserves in school with the intention of joining full time when i graduated.  I had a lot of fun in the reserves, went some awesome places and met great people.  That said I regret not joining the Regular Force as fast as possible. I'll probably be 26 before i join the regs as a private/corporal in the infantry. Thats a lot of missed out TI and I won't know anyone. 

Some people are lucky and finish highschool, jumping right into the regs. Others aren't as lucky and it takes a while. Desjardins had a good idea about joining the reserves first so you get in better shape for basic and have an idea of what the army will be like BUT you gotta becareful you don't get stuck in a slump or let your unit talk you out of it/push it off for years.

Just as an example, my latest attempt to CT from reserves to regs was started in january with a memo. It's september and the recruiting center still doesn't have my paperwork. It's not a quick process.

 

[NavyGrunt]

I put my CT memo out in January as well. Not only has it not made it to the recruiting centre it hasnt made it to our CO so he can talk to me abou it. They said "All we need is your fitness test and your good to go", I got that, then it was "Your department petty officer hasnt filled out a recommendation", and he isnt returning/answering my calls or messages Im leaving with the unit. Im 30 seconds away from signing my release. But then when I apply their is that nasty "proof and record of service check" that takes forever. I heard that the process was long but I mean Im fit, scored well, and ready to go to the infantry! HURRY UP!!

 

[Jarnhamar]

ALmost like the army doesn't want to attract any infanteers eh.

 

[Private Jimbo]

More like the army doesnt want to deal with the paper work

 

[James12345]

I didnt know there was a nu/mber system like that, 3 and 4s and 5s.  I thought the infantry had a huge need for manpower and anyone who passed the tests got in?  Is this for nco or officer.

 

[NavyGrunt]

Its for NCM

 

[Island Ryhno]

I'm confused about this scoring system, what is it based on? I don't think you need to score hi on the CFAT or have good high school marks to get into the infantry. There are severe shortages in the infantry right now so whatever the score she gave you was sounds like it may be something with your application etc that is slowing you down, I would check that out again. Can't get in the infantry  ???

 

[NavyGrunt]

We're complaining that files havent even got to the recruting centre. Not that they aren't moving. As for marks I scored very well when I wrote it 2 years ago. No trades were closed to me. And my high school marks are fine. The clerks in the recruiting office dont care about shortages. They work 9-5 mon to fri. Its all about waiting and pestering. And I hate both.

 

[The_Falcon]

CT time varies from unit to unit, person to person.  Last year we had two soldiers CT.  One to the RCR one to PPCLI.  They put in the memos in the fall, by Jan they were off.

 

[KevinB]

I transfered in 94 - took about 7 months.  A buddy of mine transfered 1 1/2 years ago - it took him well over a year (he was a Sgt with two tours, regforce ISCC and SAIC) now he is a Cpl...

There is no acceptable reason that the units have not sent off your paperwork to recruiting.  The timelag is due to units not wanting to lose soliders, and thus funds.  I would raise the issue again - heck threaten redress or the ombudsman  ;D  - That always seems to stir some action.

Recruiting especially for prior service troops is extremely painful - the files go all over hells half acre for someone to eventually roll the chicken bones and tell you what unit rank/pay incentive you get (not to mention courses...)

Speaking as a 031 Patrica recently we are overborne with troops - two years ago we were quite understrength but now we are up over our authrorised manning (so much so there was talk about bringing back the D Coy's)  *keep in mind we lost more than half of the Cbt Spt Coy positions so all those serials went into the rifle coys (why we [1VP] could stand up B Coy last year - we were a two rifle coy BN for quite some time).

    Until the CF authourizes the Bn's to man 4 coys and resurects Cbt Spt to its full strength - the Infantry won't be understrength for a year or two (when a large percentgae of First BE troops release)