Questions for the guys with the funny hats...(Reservist)

[Loki_RCR]

Hello good day,
A few quick q's for you knowledgeable chaps regarding the reserves.

1. How smooth is the transition from Reg to Res
2. Can you live comfortably going to schoolfull-time and working only part-time res (or will other jobs be required to fill in the financial gaps)?
3. Do you qualify for OSAP while working part-time res and being subsidized for education by the forces?

And any experiences doing the full-time school/part-time res lifestyle would be very beneficial.

Thanks in advance.
Pro Patria

 

[dapaterson]

Loki:  The short answer to all your questions is... it depends.

To simplify the transition, get in contact with the Reserve unit you intend to join in advance.  Talk to them.  Make sure they know you're coming.  When you go through the release section they will require some information about the Res unit you will be transferring to.

In most reserve units you'll parade about 5 to 7 days per month part-time; that's a weekend or two a month, plus about one night per week.  Different units have different schedules, so take this with a grain of salt.

Summers there are courses to take, or courses to help run, and many opportunities for full-time employment,  generally for about 2 1/2 months or so.

Multiply that out over a year, and you're probably looking at 50 days part-time, plus 70 days full-time in the summer, for a total of 120 days.  Multiply that by your pay rate and you'll have an idea about your income for the year - but remember that it won't be spread evenly over the year.

Your ability to live comfortably on your Reserve pay depends on a number of factors - where do you intend to live?  Sharing a home or on your own?  Eating out or staying home?

I'm not knowledgable about thte OSAP rules, but I'm sure there's someone here who is.  But on the CF education subsidies:  Talk to the local PSO office before you complete the transfer, and get your paperwork all lined up in advance - as I recall, for the $2000/year (maximum lifetime $8000) reimbursment for reservists you need to have an Individual Learning Plan on file.  So talk to the PSO and get the paperwork done in advance.

Good luck on your transition!

 

[The_Falcon]

Hello good day,
A few quick q's for you knowledgeable chaps regarding the reserves.

1. How smooth is the transition from Reg to Res

dapaterson had a good answer, follow his advice.

2. Can you live comfortably going to schoolfull-time and working only part-time res (or will other jobs be required to fill in the financial gaps)?

Everyone I know who has gone to school full time, either had help from parents (either in the form of living at home, or they paid the tuition), or they had other jobs as well.  If you attended every weeknight parade night and the montly (usually) ex, you will make somewhere between $400-600 roughly.  There are occasions for additional class A days but they are not a guarantee.

3. Do you qualify for OSAP while working part-time res and being subsidized for education by the forces?

OSAP is a strange animal, I personally have never dealt with them, but my brother has, and their rules are very odd and complicated.  If you want answers about OSAP contact them directly. People here can give you personal experience stories, but every situation with them (OSAP) is unique and only they can possibly help you out.

And any experiences doing the full-time school/part-time res lifestyle would be very beneficial.

Thanks in advance.
Pro Patria

I tried the fulltime school thing, only able to do it cause I lived at home, and I still had a part time job on the side.

 

[Meridian]

To add to the OSAP thing:

If you do get anything from them, you won't get much.  OSAP will basically ask you for a budget of your expenses, and then will pre-populate some incidental costs in there for you.  As the forces pays for books/tuition, your expenses will thus be drastically reduced (as compared to the "average OSAP"-er.

Then it will ask how much you have made over the preceeding period.  OSAP assumes that if you have worked before going to school, that you will use this cash to cover some of school.  Basically, this is how they ensure students working over the summer don't blow all that cash.  it works against those going back to school, because unless you have been putting some of that full time income aside, it will be deducted anyway from OSAP total allowance. 

You then provide an estimate of what you will be earning over the academic year.

About the only advantage previous careerists get is that you are automatically considered an independant student, and thus don't have to invovle your parent's financial means.

 

[Haggis]

Nice title sure to endear you to your new Reserve unit.....

Questions for the guys with the funny hats...(Reservist)

.... since you could soon be wearing a funny hat yourself!

One more thing: be sure to stow your attitude before you start parading.  These days lots of Reservists have tour time and a lot of BTDT under their belts.  Dont judge a book by it's cover (or hat).

 

[Osotogari]

I did the full-time school/part-time reserve balancing act.  I couldn't have done it without student loans, however.  What it will come down to is time management or things can snowball to the point where you'll find your studies prevent you from training. 

 

[Franko]

Nice title sure to endear you to your new Reserve unit..... .... since you could soon be wearing a funny hat yourself!

The title has been noted.

The Army.ca Staff

 

[daftandbarmy]

Been there, done that on my own with no help from parents etc, and it's a tough row to hoe - no doubt about it.

I went back to school full time after being a 'regular' for a few years. I used up alot of my savings and had two other part time jobs, as well as the Class A gig. Not whining about it, it was just a steady push for three years or so. Some people I know gave up and quit school, or were attracted away by interesting callouts or whatever and regretted it later. I treated it like some kind of 'long course' and just put my head down and gave 'er. Because of your previous experience handling high pressure assignments in the army, you should find that you'll be able to handle the workload better than many of your peers.

The upside is that the job market is hot right now and anyone with a degree has a better chance of getting a job right now than at any other time in the last decade or so. And these days, employers generally love an applicant with a military background (yes they do!) so go for it and best of luck.

D&B