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Well, I've been a lurker long enough, and I want to join the ranks of the hopeful applicants waiting for their phone call, so here's my little story...
I was an Air Cadet for seven years, and during that time I decided I was meant for military service. I applied for ROTP to go to RMC starting in 2002, and it was my life's ambition. Seriously, until now there's nothing I've ever wanted as badly as I wanted that... still, I was declared unfit for military service because of a thyroid problem. Needless to say, I was crushed. I started CEGEP in sciences without really knowing what I wanted to do with it.
My thyroid problem was resolved in the end of 2003 (doctors only have theories on how that's possible, but all I care about is that it's gone and I don't have to take medications anymore!), but I decided to go on with my civilian uni application in environmental engineering. I started an application in 2004 to join the reserves as a NCM with the combat engineers, but withdrew that application because of a sport injury (just my luck!), followed by a yearlong student exchange in Australia, and then plans to move overseas as I had started dating an Australian guy.
I came back to Canada, graduated, and applied for an Australian visa (if you think a CF application is complicated, think again!). While waiting for that to come through (still hasn't, by the way), some sense got kicked into me. It started with a conversation with my sister... She asked if I was still thinking about the army sometimes, to which I replied that there wasn't a single day during which I didn't think about it... "Then what are you waiting for?" she said. There's nothing I could say to that.
During a career fair last March I went to chat with Army recruiters and that was it. I was doing it this time, no matter what. That day I picked up the application documents at the CFRC, and the following week I handed it in, applying as an ENGR O, reserves. The guys I met at the unit were quite positive about me joining their team, which got me even more excited about my decision. The sergeant I talked to at the RC was pretty awesome, we talked about all sorts of things, and he asked why I wasn't applying for regular force. "Because I'd have to choose between the Army and my relationship," I said.
After my interview in June (my CFAT was credited from eight years ago and my medical went well - just had to get an extra evaluation from my lasik surgeon), I came across this sergeant and I gave him the news: I had picked the Army, and I was most likely going to change my application for the regular force. Civilian jobs were - and still are - boring the life out of me, I was unhappy in my relationship with my Aussie man, and my brother talking about being at sea during his NCS ENG occupational training was pulling too much on my heartstrings! I changed my application the following week. This week, the officer who interviewed me for my reserve force application called me for another mini-interview over the phone.
He recommended me for enrollment, and said that I should get a phone call in 2-3 weeks. I would very much like to start BMOQ in September, but I might have to wait for January. Either way, this career path is going to be an incredible challenge and I can't wait! I haven't been this motivated in way too long. I'm training hard (I'm up to 40 pushups and 10 chinups, running 5K every second day, plus ruck march training), reading about all sorts of army-related topics, and staying positive!
Cheers,
EPF
PS: When I first applied, my family didn't approve, but now that my brother's in the Navy I got everyone's support; it's great. :camo:
I was an Air Cadet for seven years, and during that time I decided I was meant for military service. I applied for ROTP to go to RMC starting in 2002, and it was my life's ambition. Seriously, until now there's nothing I've ever wanted as badly as I wanted that... still, I was declared unfit for military service because of a thyroid problem. Needless to say, I was crushed. I started CEGEP in sciences without really knowing what I wanted to do with it.
My thyroid problem was resolved in the end of 2003 (doctors only have theories on how that's possible, but all I care about is that it's gone and I don't have to take medications anymore!), but I decided to go on with my civilian uni application in environmental engineering. I started an application in 2004 to join the reserves as a NCM with the combat engineers, but withdrew that application because of a sport injury (just my luck!), followed by a yearlong student exchange in Australia, and then plans to move overseas as I had started dating an Australian guy.
I came back to Canada, graduated, and applied for an Australian visa (if you think a CF application is complicated, think again!). While waiting for that to come through (still hasn't, by the way), some sense got kicked into me. It started with a conversation with my sister... She asked if I was still thinking about the army sometimes, to which I replied that there wasn't a single day during which I didn't think about it... "Then what are you waiting for?" she said. There's nothing I could say to that.
During a career fair last March I went to chat with Army recruiters and that was it. I was doing it this time, no matter what. That day I picked up the application documents at the CFRC, and the following week I handed it in, applying as an ENGR O, reserves. The guys I met at the unit were quite positive about me joining their team, which got me even more excited about my decision. The sergeant I talked to at the RC was pretty awesome, we talked about all sorts of things, and he asked why I wasn't applying for regular force. "Because I'd have to choose between the Army and my relationship," I said.
After my interview in June (my CFAT was credited from eight years ago and my medical went well - just had to get an extra evaluation from my lasik surgeon), I came across this sergeant and I gave him the news: I had picked the Army, and I was most likely going to change my application for the regular force. Civilian jobs were - and still are - boring the life out of me, I was unhappy in my relationship with my Aussie man, and my brother talking about being at sea during his NCS ENG occupational training was pulling too much on my heartstrings! I changed my application the following week. This week, the officer who interviewed me for my reserve force application called me for another mini-interview over the phone.
He recommended me for enrollment, and said that I should get a phone call in 2-3 weeks. I would very much like to start BMOQ in September, but I might have to wait for January. Either way, this career path is going to be an incredible challenge and I can't wait! I haven't been this motivated in way too long. I'm training hard (I'm up to 40 pushups and 10 chinups, running 5K every second day, plus ruck march training), reading about all sorts of army-related topics, and staying positive!
Cheers,
EPF
PS: When I first applied, my family didn't approve, but now that my brother's in the Navy I got everyone's support; it's great. :camo:
