Hi, I was in the Army Sept 2004 - July 2005 and I was going in for 031 Infantry. I wrote a VR about 5 or 6 weeks into my BIQ course, a multitude of reasons which were weighing heavily on me at the time. I will explain them all to the recruiter when I go see him, but I wanted to go to him with a bit of info first.
I tried to do a component transfer from the Infantry to the 541 Imagery Technician Trade. I have always had an interest in photography, but being a 19 year old straight out of high school who had never had another job before, and didn't want to go to university right away, I found the Infantry very appealing for the adventure it presented, and in fact I had never even heard of an Imagery Technician.
Since I've been out of the Forces I have went to the Toronto Film School for Video Editing, and I have worked as a security guard at the third tallest building in Canada.
I don't mean to sound conceded or pretentious but, I simply do not like being a civilian.
I have been conditioned far too much by the military to achieve more then is expected of me by society. Weather it is my boss telling me what areas I can sleep during the night shift which are off camera, as a SECURITY GUARD (security risk anyone???), or simply missing a subway car because EVERY DAMN CIVILIAN WALKS SO F ING SLOW, I just miss being in the goddamn uniform. I miss swearing every other word. I miss yelling and shouting and stamping my boot on the ground when I come to attention. I can't do that in any civilian job! I miss the feeling of getting up in the morning and being proud to work and live.
I will be honest, I joined the Infantry right out of high school. Two of the people from my Infantry platoon in Meaford died in Afghanistan last September
Pte. Cushley and Pte. Klukie. 
I still can't really grasp my head around the fact that not one but TWO people from my very platoon got killed in seperate circumstances in Afghanistan. I have more respect for those two heroes then words can describe. Not many people can literally say they have dodged a bullet but if I had stayed on that infantry course I may have been right there in Afghanistan with them. Who knows what could have happened?
I went out and got an education and got plenty of life experiences being an adult civilian which I never had before coming right out of high school into the infantry. I partied plenty, had lots of good times, got a girlfriend for the FIRST time in my life (a very big deal for a young man) and now I am 22 and I think that I am mature enough to go back in and fulfill my comitment which I had to cut short before. I feel like I have unfinished business in the military and I want to make good on the oath I pledged last time.
I do have a couple of question for you guys however that I hope you can help me out with.
1)I plan on applying as an Image Technician (or Photo Tech as everyone at Meaford called it). I know as much about the trade as I can find on the website and I haven't gone to the recruiter yet. Anyone have experience with Image Techs?
2)What is the procedure for re enlisting? Do I have to back to Saint Jean? Don't get me wrong. The Mega was a blast last time, but to put up with all that cock now seems kind of redundant, especially the first 4 weeks or so. I know everyone will just think I am a showoff doing drill which was taught to me by the RCR. :threat:
3)I know I have to get back into a healthyness lifestyle which I need to do as much for myself as for my job. I have not been keeping in shape. I have also had a real exciting social life which included occasional pot smoking. The Toronto Film School is a school of the arts after all. Responsibility is the key, and its never been a problem for me, and I know the zero tolerance policy, and have no problem adhering to that, but I also want to be honest with the recruiter because I know he will ask me again. I never smoked weed before I left the army, it was a Canadian experience I tried as a civilian and am not sorry about it. Honestly I don't think it affects me as much as other people. I don't get what the big deal is. You couldn't be high while on duty anyways cause its too distracting. I don't think it would be a big deal, but would the recruiter understand my experementing and being honest or is there strictly no tolerance policy with recruiting now?
4)Has the military changed much since 2005? Do you still have to salute officers?
I appreciate any help you can give me. It did feel dirty leaving, and boy do I ever know the meaning of a "dirty civvy" now
I tried to do a component transfer from the Infantry to the 541 Imagery Technician Trade. I have always had an interest in photography, but being a 19 year old straight out of high school who had never had another job before, and didn't want to go to university right away, I found the Infantry very appealing for the adventure it presented, and in fact I had never even heard of an Imagery Technician.
Since I've been out of the Forces I have went to the Toronto Film School for Video Editing, and I have worked as a security guard at the third tallest building in Canada.
I don't mean to sound conceded or pretentious but, I simply do not like being a civilian.
I have been conditioned far too much by the military to achieve more then is expected of me by society. Weather it is my boss telling me what areas I can sleep during the night shift which are off camera, as a SECURITY GUARD (security risk anyone???), or simply missing a subway car because EVERY DAMN CIVILIAN WALKS SO F ING SLOW, I just miss being in the goddamn uniform. I miss swearing every other word. I miss yelling and shouting and stamping my boot on the ground when I come to attention. I can't do that in any civilian job! I miss the feeling of getting up in the morning and being proud to work and live.
I will be honest, I joined the Infantry right out of high school. Two of the people from my Infantry platoon in Meaford died in Afghanistan last September
Pte. Cushley and Pte. Klukie. I still can't really grasp my head around the fact that not one but TWO people from my very platoon got killed in seperate circumstances in Afghanistan. I have more respect for those two heroes then words can describe. Not many people can literally say they have dodged a bullet but if I had stayed on that infantry course I may have been right there in Afghanistan with them. Who knows what could have happened?
I went out and got an education and got plenty of life experiences being an adult civilian which I never had before coming right out of high school into the infantry. I partied plenty, had lots of good times, got a girlfriend for the FIRST time in my life (a very big deal for a young man) and now I am 22 and I think that I am mature enough to go back in and fulfill my comitment which I had to cut short before. I feel like I have unfinished business in the military and I want to make good on the oath I pledged last time.
I do have a couple of question for you guys however that I hope you can help me out with.
1)I plan on applying as an Image Technician (or Photo Tech as everyone at Meaford called it). I know as much about the trade as I can find on the website and I haven't gone to the recruiter yet. Anyone have experience with Image Techs?
2)What is the procedure for re enlisting? Do I have to back to Saint Jean? Don't get me wrong. The Mega was a blast last time, but to put up with all that cock now seems kind of redundant, especially the first 4 weeks or so. I know everyone will just think I am a showoff doing drill which was taught to me by the RCR. :threat:
3)I know I have to get back into a healthyness lifestyle which I need to do as much for myself as for my job. I have not been keeping in shape. I have also had a real exciting social life which included occasional pot smoking. The Toronto Film School is a school of the arts after all. Responsibility is the key, and its never been a problem for me, and I know the zero tolerance policy, and have no problem adhering to that, but I also want to be honest with the recruiter because I know he will ask me again. I never smoked weed before I left the army, it was a Canadian experience I tried as a civilian and am not sorry about it. Honestly I don't think it affects me as much as other people. I don't get what the big deal is. You couldn't be high while on duty anyways cause its too distracting. I don't think it would be a big deal, but would the recruiter understand my experementing and being honest or is there strictly no tolerance policy with recruiting now?
4)Has the military changed much since 2005? Do you still have to salute officers?
I appreciate any help you can give me. It did feel dirty leaving, and boy do I ever know the meaning of a "dirty civvy" now
