Preparing for first Reserve BMQ weekend+SHARP training...!?!

[JBP]

Greetings folks,

Getting ready for my first BMQ weekend with the other FNG's. Ready to take the sh*t and roll with the hits and do my best and keep my chin up. One thing though, our Sgt advised us our FIRST weekend is going to be SHARP training. Simply advised us to do our best, keep an open mind, we will be yelled at and remember to enjoy it still. Said normally your first weekend wouldn't be SHARP training but that's the way it is ATM...

I know it's tied to the CF's policy on harrassment etc etc+abuse. Any suggestions on what to do to prepare for it?!?!

Thanks in advance!

PS> Yes I searched like crazy for info on SHARP but couldn't find much. Sorry...

 

[Love793]

COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[48Highlander]

Go out, hug 10 people from every ethnic group you can think of, kiss a tree, and then remind yourself that white males are all racist sexist pigs.  Then get lots of sleep because you're in for about 8 hours of that.

 

[JBP]

So I take it it's not that hard then. As far as the rest of my training will go?

Ahh, I'll take it like I do with everything else in the military so far. I'll enjoy the punishment, hurry up and wait and take the hard times with a grain of salt and keep kickin'! I love it so far...

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Redeye]

So I take it it's not that hard then. As far as the rest of my training will go?

Ahh, I'll take it like I do with everything else in the military so far. I'll enjoy the punishment, hurry up and wait and take the hard times with a grain of salt and keep kickin'! I love it so far...

Thanks,
Joe

Well, if nothing else you've mastered a myriad of cliches.  You're on the fast track.

 

[sigpig]

As a former SHARP instructor I reluctantly must agree with the other posters. What could have been an interesting and pertinent 2 period or so lecture ballooned into a massive, overblown and overhyped exercise in "cover your ass."

By making everyone attend the training, the military can say they aren't at fault for any harassment that happens from it's members because they have taken the steps to educate their personnel.

I always said you can't change peoples attitudes in a day. If someone is a sexist, or a racist, a homophobe or whatever, SHARP trg isn't going to change that. All they are looking for is to prevent those feelings or beliefs from coming out as comments or actions that would affect others.

It comes down to common sense; know your audience and watch what you say. Although the goals of the program are laudable the approach turns people off by taking far too long to explain pretty simple concepts and by taking away valuable training time for politically correct niceties.

So get your coffee, get comfortable, and stay awake enough to pass the tests. Welcome to the wonderful world of army training.

 

[Lost_Warrior]

Bring a pad and paper.  Also, chances are, you won't get yelled at during SHARP....

I remember during my basic, SHARP was our very last course.  Our sgt joked around with it.  He would say "now you get to see all the things I wasn't allowed to do to you"  ;D

 

[sigpig]

Also, chances are, you won't get yelled at during SHARP....

Yes, I forgot to mention this. If an instructor is yelling at you during sharp trg something is wrong. Either you are really not paying attention and/or slacking off or the instructor has not set the right atmosphere for such trg. It should be as relaxed as possible to encourage the students to participate in the discussions.

I realize this may be difficult in a recruit crse environment, but student participation is the best way to make the trg as interesting and pertinent as possible. Take advantage of this!! It may be your only time to engage in a relaxed talk with your instructors.

 

[PteCamp]

I remember when I did my SHARP training on basic, our instructors didn't teach it. These 2 women taught it, they were in civies, and were really nice about everything.
It was really relaxed at they were easy to talk to. At the end of the course they told us their ranks and they were officers which kind of scared some people, but because we were so relaxed we opened up to them, it was a good couple of days, nice time to relax during the 10 weeks.

Do drink lots of coffee though, stay awake, and try your hardest to participate.

-KaT

 

[Tpr.Orange]

sharp first week geez...takes all the fun outta the first weekend.


I remember for our sharp training, we were all told to get into civvies so it would be a less formal lecture. No yelling but lots of yawning.

 

[Sharpey]

SHARP - Sexual Harrasment And "something" Prevention I do belive. Either way necessary but very boring...bring a pillow. And yes, I'm always the brunt of the jokes come SHARP season.  :blotto:

 

[chrisf]

I remember when I did my SHARP training on basic, our instructors didn't teach it. These 2 women taught it, they were in civies, and were really nice about everything.

They were probably still members of the CF... I know for my SHARP course, we had a sergeant come in wearing civies, and she introduced herself by her first name, didn't mention she was a sergeant till the end of the weekend... I know that's been the same scenario for a variety of SHARP courses...

 

[jonsey]

SHARP - Sexual Harrasment And "something" Prevention I do belive. Either way necessary but very boring...bring a pillow. And yes, I'm always the brunt of the jokes come SHARP season.  :blotto:

Racism?

 

[Da_man]

SHARP class and very little sleep are a lethal combination.

 

[Garbageman]

SHARP - Sexual Harrasment And "something" Prevention I do belive. Either way necessary but very boring...bring a pillow. And yes, I'm always the brunt of the jokes come SHARP season.   :blotto:

Standards for Harassment and Racism Prevention.

 

[Pte. Bloggins]

They did our SHARP training at the Shilo base theatre, so they could do all 3 platoons at once. All I gotta say is comfy seats, dim lighting, getting few hours of sleep and a droning lecturer with a monotone voice is not a good combination.

 

[mo-litia]

I remember during my basic, SHARP was our very last course.   Our sgt joked around with it.   He would say "now you get to see all the things I wasn't allowed to do to you"   ;D

That's a great idea; doing it last keeps those politically correct retards out of the training loop and in the offices where they belong! (Though that reason is probably why I had my 'HARP' trg done in my first 3 weeks at WATC . . .)

Before anyone gets too bent out of shape, a program like SHARP is needed, even if just to cover the CF's collective ass.  What we don't need is this touchy feely tripe to interfere with the training any more than it has.

Red cards, anyone?

 

[48Highlander]

The red cards are an urban legend.

There's nothing wrong with having a SHARP program.  But as SigPig pointed out, it should be run as two 40 minute lectures, not a full day seminar.

 

[Jimmy Bond]

People always get knotted-up about this sort of requirement.

The big thing is, yelling and stress are a vital and necessary part of one's initial training. You are learning to go into harm's way, and put the enemy in the same.

When these challenges first came to the military, a wise old sergeant of mine had a number of very pithy and relevant sayings.

"If you can't take being yelled at, how the heck are you going to take being shot at?"

"Face or gut - where to you want to get hit first? Sometimes that's the choice life gives you.

"If shot, you can choose to cease bleeding at any time."

And, "The enemy is not required to recognize or adhere to the Canadian Human Rights Act"

 

[mo-litia]

Jimmy Bond,

Welcome to the forum! And, we need more Sgts like the one you described!  ;D