preparing and chances for reserve at age 39?

[Maxadia]

In 1988, the Canadian Charter of Rights did away with age discrimination. Why not let CFRC decide if you are fit to do the job?

Let me rephrase that.....any thoughts on which route might be the more logical choice to make?  I know it's a personal choice, but as a more mature entry, does one make more sense than the other? :-\

And BTW, hats off to all of you....this has got to be the forum with the most repetitive types of questions.   

 

[ArmyRick]

COA#1
Enter as an armoured officer (reserve) and survive trg, then serve as an officer in your unit. stints like adjutant will be much easier on the body than say troop commander.

COA#2
Enter as armoured officer (reserve), attempt training but medically unable to complete trg. Show positive attitude and all that, then swith to something a little easier on the body say logistics or EME officer

COA#3
Enter as a Logistics Officer or EME Officer

As to the comment about the charter, yes we all know it and understand it. Whats legal is not always practical.

 

[Journeyman]

What's legal is not always practical.

MilPoints enroute for common sense trumping the "wisdom" of those who've never been there.

 

[mariomike]

MilPoints enroute for common sense trumping the "wisdom" of those who've never been there.

Feel free to deduct some from me.
I was "there" - CF reserve - long before there was a Charter of Rights.

 

[Journeyman]

Feel free to deduct some from me.
I was "there" - CF reserve - long before there was a Charter of Rights.

My comment was actually about trumpeting "rights" as a response to abilities lacking, rather than you.  :

 

[Maxadia]

To me, the charter doesn't even come into effect.


Either I can do the job, or I can't.  Plain and simple as that.  No sense in having ineffective officers, regardless of commission or not.

ArmyRick - thanks for the options.  Those were also what I was looking for.

How about the choice between officer and NCM?  Any thoughts on that , with regard to age?  I know when I did my first stint, all the officers were younger, and the NCMO's were older in age. 

 

[mariomike]

To me, the charter doesn't even come into effect.

Are you sure of that?
"On 7 November, 1962, I became a member of 8th Signals Regiment, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in Toronto (currently known as 709 Comm Regt).  After 15 years there and at the rank of Warrant Officer, I transferred to the Royal Regiment of Canada.  I guess I needed a change of pace and wanted to find out what the "grunts" were all about.  Prior to going to the "Royals", however, I applied to join the Regular Force, but was told that I was "too old" at the age of thirty."

"In 1988, the Canadian Charter of Rights did away with age discrimination and I applied (again) to transfer to the Regular Force in September 1988.  Finally, in February 1989, my lifelong dream was fulfilled.  I was accepted (as a Corporal at the age of 42) and took my first posting to 1 Canadian Signal Regiment (now known as Canadian Forces Joint Headquarters and Signals Regiment) in Kingston, Ontario as a radio operator.":
http://www.peacekeeper.ca/pkbio.html

Incidentally, I would probably be one of the last people to "trumpet" the forced changes in hiring made in the 1980's.

 

[Maxadia]

Are you sure of that?

Yeah, I'm sure.

If I'm "too old", obviously I won't be what they need.  I have no worries about the aptitude, maturity, etc.  If I am "too old", it will be a physical classification to me.

I seriously doubt that if I pass the BFT and aptitude, they're going to say "oh, your age is a factor."

 

[PMedMoe]

Yeah, I'm sure.

If I'm "too old", obviously I won't be what they need.  I have no worries about the aptitude, maturity, etc.  If I am "too old", it will be a physical classification to me.

I seriously doubt that if I pass the BFT and aptitude, they're going to say "oh, your age is a factor."

They can't.  "Technically, they may say someone younger is more "competitive" but physically in the CF it's just as you said, either you can do it or not.  The rest may be up to education, experience, interview, etc.  IMHO, I'd rather hire the person with more "life" experience.

 

[aesop081]

IMHO, I'd rather hire the person with more "life" experience.

It's a fine balance, IMHO. The person's "life experience" sometimes comes with "baggage" ( set in their ways, attitude towards authority of younger supervisors and knees/backs........). A younger persons is ,sometimes, more likely to come without that and be more "moldable" as it were.

Life experience comes at a price.

 

[PMedMoe]

It's a fine balance, IMHO. The person's "life experience" sometimes comes with "baggage" ( set in their ways, attitude towards authority of younger supervisors and knees/backs........). A younger persons is ,sometimes, more likely to come without that and be more "moldable" as it were.

Life experience comes at a price.

This is true.

 

[PPCLI Guy]

RDJP,

As a fellow who started in the Reserves as an NCM, became an officer, and eventually transferred to the Reg Force, I may be able to help, but not until I understand your motive for joining again some 20 years later.  What is it that you miss from the reserves, or more importantly, that is missing from your life now? 

 

[Maxadia]

What is it that you miss from the reserves, or more importantly, that is missing from your life now?

Good question.  Not really sure there IS anything missing right  now.  Married, kids, good job teaching....maybe it's the fact that there isn't anything really exciting going on right now (not that working in the reserves is always exciting lol)

When I went to university, I had the opportunity to do infantry, but my heart's always been in Armour.  Which itself is kind of funny, as I wanted to be a pilot.  But one week in armour was all it took.  Always been interested in jeeps and offroading as well, so I took to the Iltis really well.

Loved the comraderie, loved the discipline, loved Basic. 

Not sure what else to say. 

 

[PPCLI Guy]

Based on that, I would suggest going the NCM route.  I am a bit of a dinosaur, in that I feel that officership is a calling vice a hobby...

 

[Maxadia]

Interesting.  My previous experience as a manager and teacher are kind of leading me the other way.

 

[RangerRay]

Glad I found this thread.  I currently find myself in a similar situation.

I am currently 37 and went on the Supp List in the mid-nineties due to my uni schooling at the time not allowing me to maintain the required time commitments.  It was my plan to go back to PRES after I graduated.  Since then however, civy work has taken me to  communities very far from any reserve unit.  I now find myself in a community with many reserve options, but now I'm at a more 'mature'  ;D age.  I would like to go armoured recce (NCM or officer), but signals (NCM or officer) also looks interesting.  Maybe even air force tech  .  I would probably have to do BMQ again, considering the last time I took it, it was called QL2 over 15 years ago.  I failed BOTC in a previous life, so that makes me a little hesitant to go the officer route again, but I also feel that I have matured a lot and gained a lot of life experience since then.

I'm mostly thinking out loud here.  I don't expect anyone to give me answers, but feedback is always appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Bart905]

I say give it a try. You cant regret failing if you give your best but if you do not take the chance and give it a try that you will regret . My age might be young but I learned so much in life I feel as I'm 30 years old and I'm only 19 . That's the reason I want to join the CF cause I do not have interest in partying drinking doing this and that people do that's my age. Like I said give it a try have fun if you make it that's great if you dont that's still great . Don't ask people if you can or cannot do it . If you don't have confident in your self no one will. I was watching basic up seasons . The elderly man was also 39 he did not get re-coursed because of his fitness but because of other reasons . You can do it I believe in you.

 

[Diamondwillow]

The elderly man was also 39 ...

EEEP!!!  *cringe* :facepalm: 

 

[aesop081]

That's the reason I want to join the CF cause I do not have interest in partying drinking doing this and that people do that's my age.

I didn't realize that being in the CF and "partying drinking doing this and that" were mutualy exclusive.

Who knew........ :-\

 

[Maxadia]

The elderly man was also 39

OUCH!!!

Where's the old geezer smilie?