- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 230
It's been mentioned many times by those with more experience then I have, but I wanted to toss out a few insights I'd picked up from my first six months in that I certainly didn't know walking through the doors of St.Jean. I'm part way through phase three of my training (Infantry Officer) and while I am by no means knowledgeable I've picked up a few bits of information here and there.
First of all, regarding this site:
This site is an amazing resource until you abuse it - This site is an exceptional source of information on a system which is more then a little confusing to the average person. Most of the members are patient, knowledgeable, and willing to tolerate a limited amount of "what about X or Y". There are a few expectations however: See if anyone else has asked your question already, be willing to read more then you post, and remember that many of the members have many more years in the system then you do. They are answering your questions for your benefit - even if you aren't getting the answer you wanted to hear.
If you want to be treated professionally, be professional - If you want people to take you seriously, take the time to present yourself well. Use Spell Check, do your research, and be respectful. Facts and opinions are occasionally similar but often very different things - consider very carefully before you push opinions as "fact". While this may be a forum, it has rules and expectations of those who wish to use it. Take the time to read the rules and listen carefully when a staff member starts commenting on your post in "Staff mode".
Regarding Training:
Patience - Everyone wants to know RIGHT NOW if they've been accepted or not. You might as well start working patience because nothing changes even once you are in the training system. It's a big system, even if all you currently see is the recruiting office - lots of working parts that do not always work in perfect sync. Even when everything goes "smoothly" there is still enough patience needed.
Life will never be fair - If you come into the military expecting things to always be "fair", you will be in for a rude awakening. You will never be treated unjustly, but treating everyone "equally" is a very time consuming task - accept there will be lots of crappy experiences in your training period where you will feel that you were treated unfairly. Training is a period of time where those who know (your staff) are trying to figure out if you have what it takes to be a soldier - and a large part of being a soldier is doing what needs to be done irregardless of how fair that might be.
Your Staff will be professional, but not Civilian Professional - This one catches a few recruits by surprise (ties in with the previous). You will be trained to be a soldier first, a "professional" second. I've had a few questionable staff, and I've had many exceptional ones - You're not likely to get much praise during training and when you (or your group) make mistakes you will be "counseled" as to your failings. Your Staff's job is to create soldiers, not be nice to you - if you disagree with their methods remember they've been through similar (or worse) and lived to teach you about it.
Learn from Experience: You will not always have experienced teachers, but you will always have a teacher with experience. Focus more on what they are trying to teach you then their methods.
If they ask if you like camping - It is a horrible, horrible lie. There is camping, and there is field exercises - VERY distant cousins.
If you are joining the Combat Arms (and most likely any military trade) the key element any potential candidate needs to have is mental fortitude. I've seen fit people, intelligent people fail training where far "weaker" candidates have grown and excelled. I'd take a weaker candidate who was ready to run until he'd puke over the fit guy who fell apart at the first sign of stress. Mental fortitude is a tricky thing to evaluate before you start needing to use it however - and it will be tested extensively during your training (in ways you might not have ever expected). You will rarely be "tested" when you are at your best, but you will always be tested when you are at your worst.
Things get easier, sort of - Our society likes to take people on face value before you prove anything. The military operates in reverse: you get respect when you've earned it and that takes time. Lots of Candidates think "I've done X" or "I've been nothing but hard working, etc" and therefore expect to have that respect given to them. My quality of life has certainly gotten better since my first few weeks in St.Jean, but what is expected of me has also changed. You will never be treated uniquely from your peers while in training - it undermines the process of "team-building". I'd argue that by making everyone miserable it actually increases how well the team will function together.
You will have no time - Especially for the first part of your training, you will have VERY little time to take care of anything outside of your training. Get your finances in order, set up prepayment of bills, etc. As I progress through the system I have less direct supervision (no one goes over my room with a fine tooth comb anymore) but more work - Some days I don't sleep or sleep very little trying to meet the requirements of training. I've been days and occasionally weeks before I can have more then a few minutes talking with my wife. It is difficult, but part of the process.
Keep your family in the loop and be sympathetic - Your family is one of the greatest resources available to you - but they will likely not have any idea what your life is actually like. Make sure to explain the kinds of demands that are expected of you - and that most of your life is out of your control. I joined already married and training has certainly put a strain on the relationship - but my wife is also one of my largest supports. Remember they are giving up almost as much as you are when you join.
Avoid being an administrative burden - Despite everything you've been told growing up, you are not "special" in the military's eyes. While there are some exceptions to the rule (religious concerns, dietary concerns, etc) by and large you'll be expected to live with whatever your peers are also living with. Trying to get out of this puts a very large target on your back from your peers and staff alike. Know the difference between being hurt, and being injured: one will heal, the other is only going to get worse.
Be ready to answer questions - Most Civilians have little military exposure and either have lots of questions or lots of assumptions. Try and explain why your job is one you love. Most think the military is what they see in movies or the news - neither of which are particularly accurate.
I'll likely keep adding to this thread from time to time. Feel free to chime in if you wanted to add something.
First of all, regarding this site:
This site is an amazing resource until you abuse it - This site is an exceptional source of information on a system which is more then a little confusing to the average person. Most of the members are patient, knowledgeable, and willing to tolerate a limited amount of "what about X or Y". There are a few expectations however: See if anyone else has asked your question already, be willing to read more then you post, and remember that many of the members have many more years in the system then you do. They are answering your questions for your benefit - even if you aren't getting the answer you wanted to hear.
If you want to be treated professionally, be professional - If you want people to take you seriously, take the time to present yourself well. Use Spell Check, do your research, and be respectful. Facts and opinions are occasionally similar but often very different things - consider very carefully before you push opinions as "fact". While this may be a forum, it has rules and expectations of those who wish to use it. Take the time to read the rules and listen carefully when a staff member starts commenting on your post in "Staff mode".
Regarding Training:
Patience - Everyone wants to know RIGHT NOW if they've been accepted or not. You might as well start working patience because nothing changes even once you are in the training system. It's a big system, even if all you currently see is the recruiting office - lots of working parts that do not always work in perfect sync. Even when everything goes "smoothly" there is still enough patience needed.
Life will never be fair - If you come into the military expecting things to always be "fair", you will be in for a rude awakening. You will never be treated unjustly, but treating everyone "equally" is a very time consuming task - accept there will be lots of crappy experiences in your training period where you will feel that you were treated unfairly. Training is a period of time where those who know (your staff) are trying to figure out if you have what it takes to be a soldier - and a large part of being a soldier is doing what needs to be done irregardless of how fair that might be.
Your Staff will be professional, but not Civilian Professional - This one catches a few recruits by surprise (ties in with the previous). You will be trained to be a soldier first, a "professional" second. I've had a few questionable staff, and I've had many exceptional ones - You're not likely to get much praise during training and when you (or your group) make mistakes you will be "counseled" as to your failings. Your Staff's job is to create soldiers, not be nice to you - if you disagree with their methods remember they've been through similar (or worse) and lived to teach you about it.
Learn from Experience: You will not always have experienced teachers, but you will always have a teacher with experience. Focus more on what they are trying to teach you then their methods.
If they ask if you like camping - It is a horrible, horrible lie. There is camping, and there is field exercises - VERY distant cousins.
If you are joining the Combat Arms (and most likely any military trade) the key element any potential candidate needs to have is mental fortitude. I've seen fit people, intelligent people fail training where far "weaker" candidates have grown and excelled. I'd take a weaker candidate who was ready to run until he'd puke over the fit guy who fell apart at the first sign of stress. Mental fortitude is a tricky thing to evaluate before you start needing to use it however - and it will be tested extensively during your training (in ways you might not have ever expected). You will rarely be "tested" when you are at your best, but you will always be tested when you are at your worst.
Things get easier, sort of - Our society likes to take people on face value before you prove anything. The military operates in reverse: you get respect when you've earned it and that takes time. Lots of Candidates think "I've done X" or "I've been nothing but hard working, etc" and therefore expect to have that respect given to them. My quality of life has certainly gotten better since my first few weeks in St.Jean, but what is expected of me has also changed. You will never be treated uniquely from your peers while in training - it undermines the process of "team-building". I'd argue that by making everyone miserable it actually increases how well the team will function together.
You will have no time - Especially for the first part of your training, you will have VERY little time to take care of anything outside of your training. Get your finances in order, set up prepayment of bills, etc. As I progress through the system I have less direct supervision (no one goes over my room with a fine tooth comb anymore) but more work - Some days I don't sleep or sleep very little trying to meet the requirements of training. I've been days and occasionally weeks before I can have more then a few minutes talking with my wife. It is difficult, but part of the process.
Keep your family in the loop and be sympathetic - Your family is one of the greatest resources available to you - but they will likely not have any idea what your life is actually like. Make sure to explain the kinds of demands that are expected of you - and that most of your life is out of your control. I joined already married and training has certainly put a strain on the relationship - but my wife is also one of my largest supports. Remember they are giving up almost as much as you are when you join.
Avoid being an administrative burden - Despite everything you've been told growing up, you are not "special" in the military's eyes. While there are some exceptions to the rule (religious concerns, dietary concerns, etc) by and large you'll be expected to live with whatever your peers are also living with. Trying to get out of this puts a very large target on your back from your peers and staff alike. Know the difference between being hurt, and being injured: one will heal, the other is only going to get worse.
Be ready to answer questions - Most Civilians have little military exposure and either have lots of questions or lots of assumptions. Try and explain why your job is one you love. Most think the military is what they see in movies or the news - neither of which are particularly accurate.
I'll likely keep adding to this thread from time to time. Feel free to chime in if you wanted to add something.
