Reserve question

[mrhappy1985]

I went to join the reserves about a month ago and the guy at the recruiting centre said most units wouldn‘t take me because i would be leaving in sept for univeristy and that the unit that paid for my summer training would lose money cause id be switching to a different unit come sept.

I really want to join reserves, i planned on joing it at univeristy till now, someone on this board mentioned that if you don‘t complete basic training then you will be stuck doing general duties and won‘t be allowed to shoot and do all the fun stuff.

Whats your guys take on all this?

I was hoping on joining Queens Own...

p.s i know i can do basic over weekends but id prefer to do it all at once because i feel id leanr more all at once then spread out over weekends.

 

[spacelord]

I spent a year in Depot company before I got on course. It is true that we didn‘t get to do all the fun stuff, but we did learn a lot. When I finally got on BMQ, I already knew all the drill, all the map and compass stuff, how to field strip and detail strip a C7. It made BMQ easier, and I got paid for it all. I am now in the rifle company, and I get to go on ex and have the adventures. Since I have no intention of quitting, I will have many more years in the army.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by Future:
[qb] I went to join the reserves about a month ago and the guy at the recruiting centre said most units wouldn‘t take me because i would be leaving in sept for univeristy and that the unit that paid for my summer training would lose money cause id be switching to a different unit come sept.

I really want to join reserves, i planned on joing it at univeristy till now, someone on this board mentioned that if you don‘t complete basic training then you will be stuck doing general duties and won‘t be allowed to shoot and do all the fun stuff.

Whats your guys take on all this?

I was hoping on joining Queens Own...

p.s i know i can do basic over weekends but id prefer to do it all at once because i feel id leanr more all at once then spread out over weekends. [/qb]

I wonder if the solution would be to not tell them what your plans in September are. Sign up for your basic, and once you‘ve graduated, then ask for a transfer. Not sure if that is good advice or not, perhaps someone else can advise, and I don‘t recommend lying to the recruiter (that is an offence) - however, I don‘t know that they can ask you how long you plan to stay with the unit you join. The whole point of the reserves is that you can get out at any time you want, and people DO transfer from unit to unit. The system is set up to accommodate that.

Sign up for the summer training and cross your bridges when you come to them. You‘ll have fun in the summer. Good luck with that, and with school.

 

[mattoigta]

does anyone know how long it would take to transfer outside of your command area? same trade and component though

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by Pte. Scarlino:
[qb] does anyone know how long it would take to transfer outside of your command area? same trade and component though [/qb]

Regular or Reserve?

In the reserves, I think the biggest stumbling block is when you turn in all your kit in one area and have to draw it in another. Here in Calgary you can‘t get kitted til you clear in thru the ASC, but it can be accomplished in as little as a couple of days - Wednesday night present yourself at the ASC, get a kitting letter, get your kit the next day form the ASU, then you‘re able to parade the next Wednesday. As long as the paperwork is sent in a timely manner from your end, the process is supposed to be painless at the receiving end.

If there is a problem drawing kit, some units may let you parade in the interim depending on the unit, how badly they need or want to employ you, etc.

The transfers I‘ve seen here in Calgary have been done quickly - as long as we‘re expecting you at this end - meaning your orderly room has sent the paperwork through - it shouldn‘t be a big deal.

 

[clasper]

Future-

Call the unit in your university town and talk to them about it. I know of at least one case where my unit hired a guy who was coming to Queen‘s in the fall, even though he went through CFRC in Toronto. He had to come to Kingston for a day or two in the spring during the application process, but that shouldn‘t be too much of a hurdle if you‘re organized.

[edit for dopey typo]

 

[hoganshero]

I don‘t know if my own experience is the norm but transferring can be a... pain. I began a transfer in early Aug and it took till late Dec to complete and for me to be able to parade at my new unit. Needless to say it left a bad taste in my mouth which I allowed to colour the rest of my time in(my own fault).