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Embarrassingly, before I start, I'm sorry to say that some of what I say might offend some people. All I'm asking for is the same respect one human being deserves from another during peace time ;D
Anyway, I'm 22 years old and thinking of joining the Canadian Forces as a Direct Entry Officer. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and am completing a degree in Philosophy in April. The reason I initially considered the Canadian Forces is because of lack of opportunities elsewhere. Though I am very inclined towards my studies in university, I'll be the first to admit that a BA in Philosophy isn't exactly the road to money. At the moment I'm currently working at one of Halifax's infamous call centers and noticing, increasingly more, that most of my friends who got out of university haven't had any luck finding any work that pays more than minimum wage (except call centers), regardless of how well they did in university and how motivated they are. The jobs simply aren't there.
I have "served" before. When I was 16-17 I was in the 143 Airfeild Engineering Reserves in Lunenburg county, before that I spent six years in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets (which I was in before, during and a short time after being in the Reserves). The reason I left was ultimately because I wanted to go to university and at the time, the military wasn't very conducive to my studies. I simply wanted to focus on school and not worry about anything else. As a sidenote, I was "honourably discharged" from BMQ and told to "come back next year" because I was too young, confused and needed to get my head on straight.
I've changed a lot in four years and decided that the military might be a good thing after all. I'm looking into something slightly administrative, what would you recommend given my education? I'll also note that I'm only interested in going in as an officer and not an NCM.
Now comes the hard part (warning!) There are several stereotypes floating around about the military, beyond the typical "jar head" reputation it has had for pretty much the whole 20th century. With the war in Iraq (which I don't support), President Bush (whom I really don't support) and the whole stigmatization of a large section of the world, specifically the Muslim community, I became increasingly distasteful of the whole idea (when I first started university I had service in mind for afterwards, after I became involved in politics--not so much).
Now I know the CF is vastly different from... um, the Marine Corps. Heh. I think the Canadian Forces is more centered on Peacekeeping, relief distribution in third world nations and at home, and generally, I think the CF's primary goal is to make the world a better place... not to control it. This is a realization I've come to lately before I began considering the CF.
My main concern in all of this is my lifestyle. I'm very socially left-wing, I'm an atheist (which might be a problem), I'm a vegetarian and I analyze the crap out of everything and enjoy taking a stand against things I'm uncomfortable with. Not to say that I mean to make enemies (I'm a nice guy and I'm very tolerant), but I'm not going to stand around while something I percieve as bad happens and not pipe up about it. I know what you're thinking... a flakey liberal wants to join the Army? HEH! Well, physically, there is no problem. I'm in great shape, I take really good care of myself, and the military can pretty much dish out anything at me before I mentally break (I DO work in a call center dealing with angry Americans for a day job).
All that being said, I'm not so much concerned about "making it" through training because I'll be fine without a doubt. What I am concerned about is finding a place, socially, within the Canadian Forces where I'm free to have my own beliefs (acknowledging that I WILL respect the beliefs of others, too). Do you think the CF is a good place for someone like me? Or do you think that I'm in the wrong ideological place for it? Do you think I'll find a good, supportive community in the CF of people who will tolerate my beliefs, or will I get ridiculed non-stop for being a vegetarian/lefty/whatever?
I'm hoping the CF is an ideology free zone, but I've been told it isn't before by some friends who currently serve (one in Afghanistan), so I thought I'd pop all these questions in a massively public and diverse domain.
That being said, I'm not looking for a fight... I'm just curious.
Peace out.
Anyway, I'm 22 years old and thinking of joining the Canadian Forces as a Direct Entry Officer. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and am completing a degree in Philosophy in April. The reason I initially considered the Canadian Forces is because of lack of opportunities elsewhere. Though I am very inclined towards my studies in university, I'll be the first to admit that a BA in Philosophy isn't exactly the road to money. At the moment I'm currently working at one of Halifax's infamous call centers and noticing, increasingly more, that most of my friends who got out of university haven't had any luck finding any work that pays more than minimum wage (except call centers), regardless of how well they did in university and how motivated they are. The jobs simply aren't there.
I have "served" before. When I was 16-17 I was in the 143 Airfeild Engineering Reserves in Lunenburg county, before that I spent six years in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets (which I was in before, during and a short time after being in the Reserves). The reason I left was ultimately because I wanted to go to university and at the time, the military wasn't very conducive to my studies. I simply wanted to focus on school and not worry about anything else. As a sidenote, I was "honourably discharged" from BMQ and told to "come back next year" because I was too young, confused and needed to get my head on straight.
I've changed a lot in four years and decided that the military might be a good thing after all. I'm looking into something slightly administrative, what would you recommend given my education? I'll also note that I'm only interested in going in as an officer and not an NCM.
Now comes the hard part (warning!) There are several stereotypes floating around about the military, beyond the typical "jar head" reputation it has had for pretty much the whole 20th century. With the war in Iraq (which I don't support), President Bush (whom I really don't support) and the whole stigmatization of a large section of the world, specifically the Muslim community, I became increasingly distasteful of the whole idea (when I first started university I had service in mind for afterwards, after I became involved in politics--not so much).
Now I know the CF is vastly different from... um, the Marine Corps. Heh. I think the Canadian Forces is more centered on Peacekeeping, relief distribution in third world nations and at home, and generally, I think the CF's primary goal is to make the world a better place... not to control it. This is a realization I've come to lately before I began considering the CF.
My main concern in all of this is my lifestyle. I'm very socially left-wing, I'm an atheist (which might be a problem), I'm a vegetarian and I analyze the crap out of everything and enjoy taking a stand against things I'm uncomfortable with. Not to say that I mean to make enemies (I'm a nice guy and I'm very tolerant), but I'm not going to stand around while something I percieve as bad happens and not pipe up about it. I know what you're thinking... a flakey liberal wants to join the Army? HEH! Well, physically, there is no problem. I'm in great shape, I take really good care of myself, and the military can pretty much dish out anything at me before I mentally break (I DO work in a call center dealing with angry Americans for a day job).
All that being said, I'm not so much concerned about "making it" through training because I'll be fine without a doubt. What I am concerned about is finding a place, socially, within the Canadian Forces where I'm free to have my own beliefs (acknowledging that I WILL respect the beliefs of others, too). Do you think the CF is a good place for someone like me? Or do you think that I'm in the wrong ideological place for it? Do you think I'll find a good, supportive community in the CF of people who will tolerate my beliefs, or will I get ridiculed non-stop for being a vegetarian/lefty/whatever?
I'm hoping the CF is an ideology free zone, but I've been told it isn't before by some friends who currently serve (one in Afghanistan), so I thought I'd pop all these questions in a massively public and diverse domain.
That being said, I'm not looking for a fight... I'm just curious.
Peace out.