Is It Possible to get into a Reserve unit with out having my basic done????

[Crazy_Eyes]

Alright, So i'm turning 16 this year, and I really want to be in the Reserves ASAP. The thing is my Birthday is August 5th, half way through summer, so that kind of ruins my chances of doing basic over the summer. What I want to know is: Is it possible to get into a Reserve unit with out having my basic done?? I want to enlist sooo bad and this is the 1st step in my military career. It's the Rocky Mountain Rangers I'm hoping to enlist with. And I kind of assumed I wouldn't be able to do basic while I'm in school, so what I want to know is can i get in? Or am I just going to be waiting another year. Thanks for any information or answers you can give me.

p.s. I did check the FAQ but nothing really seemed to match what i was looking for, i'm sorry if this has been covered and I missed it, maybe you could just provide a link then.

 

[Lost_Warrior]

It's possible to get into the reserves without BMQ (Everyone who joined the reserves wasn't BMQ qualified already )

What you have to do is go to your nearest recruiter and enrole into the Primairy Reserves.   Then you will be sworn in and coursed at a later date.

Being 15, you might have some issues getting enroled though.   Unfortunately the CF doesn't take anyone under 16.   Maybe try the Cadets to get a taste of "playing soldier" before you join the reserves?   If you do that, you will have some drill and knowledge down for when your Reserve career starts.   Thats always a plus.

Hope this helps.

 

[Da_man]

I believe you can apply even tho your 15, but your file wont be sent for review until you turn 16.

 

[Crazy_Eyes]

I'm already a cadet, thats what got me started on the idea. So I can join with out my BMQ, but how much would i be able to do?? would i still be able to participate on the exercises, and would I be paid? considering the fact I wouldn't be trained?

 

[Lost_Warrior]

In my unit, recruits who are just BMQ qualified usually just work the QM or sweep the floors.  They come on exercises with us but are not attached to a recce troop (Because they have no training other than BMQ) so they usually get attached to our supply troop and remain in the rear with the gear.  They do the odd shitty jobs.

No BMQ means no exercises.  You're not even trained, so you can't take part in exercises where some degree of training is required.  You would probably be spending your Tuesday nights stacking shelves in the QM and sweeping the parade square...but no exercises..

 

[Lost_Warrior]

As per being paied...as long as you sign the pay sheet

 

[Da_man]

In my unit, recruits who are just BMQ qualified usually just work the QM or sweep the floors.   They come on exercises with us but are not attached to a recce troop (Because they have no training other than BMQ) so they usually get attached to our supply troop and remain in the rear with the gear.   They do the odd shitty jobs.

No BMQ means no exercises.   You're not even trained, so you can't take part in exercises where some degree of training is required.   You would probably be spending your Tuesday nights stacking shelves in the QM and sweeping the parade square...but no exercises..

When i didnt have my BMQ, i would often just sit back and watch the others.   Yes i was paid  

Once your enrolled, anytime you are asked to show up, you will get paid.

 

[Lost_Warrior]

When i didnt have my BMQ, i would often just sit back and watch the others.  Yes i was paid 

You had it lucky.  In my unit, they don't like to see people "sitting back"...there's always something for a new recruit to do  :dontpanic:

 

[Da_man]

When i didnt have my BMQ, i would often just sit back and watch the others.   Yes i was paid  

You had it lucky.   In my unit, they don't like to see people "sitting back"...there's always something for a new recruit to do   :dontpanic:

Yeah, recruits this year dont have it that easy

 

[Crazy_Eyes]

In my unit, recruits who are just BMQ qualified usually just work the QM or sweep the floors. They come on exercises with us but are not attached to a recce troop (Because they have no training other than BMQ) so they usually get attached to our supply troop and remain in the rear with the gear. They do the odd shitty jobs.

No BMQ means no exercises. You're not even trained, so you can't take part in exercises where some degree of training is required. You would probably be spending your Tuesday nights stacking shelves in the QM and sweeping the parade square...but no exercises..

Well I guess i'm waiting for BMQ, cause I dont want to enlist to be the corps B*tch thanks though guys, mods feel free to lock this, my questions have been answered

 

[Da_man]

When your a recruit you are going to be your unit's "b*tch" whether you like it or not.  Theres no way around.

 

[Lost_Warrior]

Well I guess i'm waiting for BMQ, cause I dont want to enlist to be the corps B*tch thanks though guys, mods feel free to lock this, my questions have been answered

Just because you're not running through the bush killing Taliban doesn't mean you're your unit's "bitch"...Think of it as you're a recruit and helping your unit the only way you can at the moment.  The parade square needs to be swept and the Quarter Master needs help from time to time.

Everyone above you did their time and you will do yours too...weather you want to or not.

 

[pbi]

In my unit, recruits who are just BMQ qualified usually just work the QM or sweep the floors. They come on exercises with us but are not attached to a recce troop (Because they have no training other than BMQ) so they usually get attached to our supply troop and remain in the rear with the gear. They do the odd shitty jo

This went on when I was a Res recruit and I know it still goes on in some units of our CBG today, despite entreaties to units to smarten up.  It drives me up the wall to think of it, and is probably one of the biggest causes of pre-DP1 attrition. Using Reserve recruits like this shows an abysmal lack of initiative and leadership: there is no end of interesting stuff than can be done with these soldiers by a couple of good leaders with some imagination: using them as slave labour is not one of them. If these people quit, I would have very little sympathy with the unit crying about attrition. Cheers.

 

[foerestedwarrior]

I think that it is wrong for him to be lead on like this, because of two different units uses of the not qualified troops. In my unit(i am staff for it) we have a training coy. Anyone not SQ qualified, is in this, what we do is pretty much work through the BMQ, so drill, theory and alot of C7. It is something for them to do, i am getting invaluable teaching experiance, and the new guys go on their bmq with a good knowlege of everything already, thus lessinging the stress so they can work on bettering themslefs. I though most units did this, i geuse not.

 

[pbi]

forested warrior: you obviously have a switched on unit: I wish more units would follow your example instead of wasting the time of the young Canadians who volunteer to serve. Leadership is everything, especially in the Reserve where so much depends on the individual's desire to be there. Cheers

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Our unit also has a training company where new troops learn useable skills.

There is something to be said for "paying dues"; all new soldiers should expect to be used for odd jobs - I agree with pbi that they should not be used exclusively for such, but there is no shame in an honest day's work either.

As for 15 year olds - our recruiter was telling me this is a definite no-no, and they can't even submit paperwork until their 16th birthday, this is what brigade tells him.

 

[Crazy_Eyes]

Well yes, I knew that being a newbie your going to be given the odd jobs and what not, and I dont have a problem with doing this. Aslong as I'm learning other stuff too, the training company sounds like a good idea but I have no idea if my local unit has one. I want to enlist, I want to be in the army, and I know other guys that do too, but I dont want to join to be a floor sweeper or anything else of the like. Sure it has to be done, and yes everyone needs to do their share of it. But i dont want to join to do just that. I know the other possibility is to just go there, shut up and dont complain take my bmq and get on with it, but I was only going to stay in the reserves for some experience, I was planning on joining the reg force out of high school, so considering that maybe it's not worth the time. Thanks

 

[foerestedwarrior]

forested warrior: you obviously have a switched on unit:

Thank you for the compliment, and like I said, it is a very valuable tool for someone like me, on my PLQ(new JNCO). I get experiance in a teaching environment, and they are learning somehting worthwhile.

 

[pbi]

There is something to be said for "paying dues"; all new soldiers should expect to be used for odd jobs - I agree with pbi that they should not be used exclusively for such, but there is no shame in an honest day's work either.

Michael: I agree with you, when this work is legitimate. What pisses me off, and I am sure drives recruits out the door, is doing "make work" just because nobody has the initiative to engage them in real training. IMHO there is way too much of that going on, ad it has been going on for years. Cheers.