How is the Private/Officer Cadet Army Life

[Orlan]

I am thinking about joining the reserves as a sideline job during my studies, but I'm not sure if I should join now as a private or join next year as a officer cadet.

Can someone explain me the difference in role/life between the two and which one seems more interesting?

Also, are privates really broken up into pieces by their superiors with the screaming, forced push ups? and are officer cadet subjected to the same treatment?

 

[the_girlfirend]

first of all, every recruit is "broken down" as you said... it is part of the training but remember that we live in Canada... there are some regulations, nobody is allowed to humiliate or hurt you... I think that the treatment I received at my unit was very appropriate, when I messed up, they yelled... and if I absolutely could not do push ups anymore... I faked them a little and it was ok... they don't want to hurt you.

In general
the officers do more planning and organizing while the NCM do more of the executing... I heard a lot of people say they want to be NCM because they do the "fun" stuff, while the officer usually gets more office/paper work.

The only way you can know what exactly applies to your specific situation is to go to the unit you are interested in and ask them the exact difference for the trades you are interrested in.

and by the way... the recruiting process can be long... even if you start now for officer, you might only get it next year... it took about 8 months in my case.

Good luck

 

[jeffb]

One of the most important skills for a new Officer Cadet is the ability to synthesize information. In that vein, I'd suggest doing a search. This has been covered to death.

Short version, you will get put through medium levels of stress but should always be treated like a human being. Officer Cadets are training to be leaders. If you want to be in a leadership role and have good leadership qualities, think about that route. If you are more interested in kicking in doors and gaining a high degree of technical ability, go NCM (private).  :2c: