Army reserve versus full time job

[Highlander]

I was told that the rookie course is done during the summer. That's good if you're a student but if you have a full time job, how do you manage to do it. Is it done thrue the year(one evening during the week and during weekends) or it's mandatoty to go to the summer training. Thanks in advance.

[garett]

I've never heard of any QL3 courses being run over weekends. All the ones I know of from Air Force to Army are run through the summer. You're out of luck if you can't get a couple of months off work, thats just the way it is. At my unit you can do your QL2 then wait a year (the next summer) to do your QL3. If you can't get a couple of months off from your job with a years notice in advance then there isn't much point in you joining anyways unless you get a new job.

[Highlander]

Thanks for the info garett.

[Hap]

Don't know if it's the QL2 or QL3 course you're refering to, Highlander, but this is what the Queen's Own Rifles (http://www.qor.com/recruiting2.html )have to say about your topic:

"During your first year you will learn the basics of military life and soldiering. The Qualification Level (QL) 2 Basic Training Course is 15 weekends long and runs every other weekend, starting in October. Once this is complete you attend a QL 3 trade specialization course.Trades available in the QOR include: Infantry, Supply Technician, Medical Assistant, Administration and Finance Clerk. The QL 3 courses are held at one of three Canadian Forces Bases in Ontario and start at the beginning of summer. They are normally 2 to 5 weeks in length,depending on the specific trade."

Two to five weeks during the summer is not too difficult to swing if you work full time - just tell your employer that you want to take an unpaid leave (you'll still make money over those weeks working with the Forces). Your employer would have to be really prickish if they didn't give you unpaid time off to serve your country...come to think of it,there must be a law or something to support you, with regards to part-time military service and time off from your full-time employer...I know there is in Britain...

Hap

[Highlander]

I've talked this afternoon with an army recruiter and he told me that I have to be available from mid-June to mid-August for full-time. As for my employer I'll check with them(hope it work). Then the only thing left to do is choosing a regiment(Field engineer, armored or infantry). Thanks for the help Hap.

[recce_o]

There is no law providing employment protection for reservists in Canada. Be prepared to sacrafice your vacation time to the army. You can only take so many unpaid leaves of absence before the boss gets pissed off.

[Enfield]

Good luck with your employer, Highlander. A lot of people find it hard to get time off - I know some guy's that quit their full-time job to do QL3, and others that couldn't do their QL3. The training schedule was pretty much developed for students who have the summer off.
When considering how much time you can get off work, keep in mind that the QL3 length relates directly to the trade. Infantry has the longest QL3, and I think Service trades have the shortest, but check with each unit. Some units also run a "superman" course - a combined QL2/QL3 summer-long course.

Best of luck!
Enfield

[Highlander]

Thanks everybody. I should have an answer soon from my boss. I already have 3 weeks of paid vacation + 1 not paid.

[Cole]

I have a question for anyone who is an infantry reservist. I am planning on joining the reserves this fall when I return to school. How fit must one be to meet the requirements of a combat arms reserve regiment. I am wondering if I will be able to make the cut. I have been going pretty hard this last month (lots of running and weight training) but I want to know if this is enough. Thanks

[garett]

Your question is one that I've been asked before..............I'll answer it after I finish this 6 pack of beer........Ok done.
The answer is these days you can be in pretty bad shape but that really doesn;t do you any good. The fitter you are the easier your job will be and the more people will think of you which means that you will get better jobs, promotions etc.....Before I even applied to join I was working out a lot and running. This just gave me a head start to the PT that was on QL2 and QL3. The PT on these courses is very progressive. When you show up they expect you to be able to do the basic 20-25 pushups per set. I didn;t do much running at all on my QL2-QL3, its mostly marching but running helps condition you for marching. Good luck and if you have any more questions post them.

[Enfield]

I agree with Garrett about the PT... It can vary, a lot. On QL2 the hardest thing for me was staying awake in classroom lectures - PT isn't that hard, though there are regular runs. On QL3, the PT picks up, but is mostly endurance stuff in the field - ruck marches, section attacks, etc - and the occasional run.
To show how it varies, here's an example. I (and Garrett) just finished a three week MG course - PT was a joke there, very easy morning runs, maybe 20 min at a slow pace with sit ups and push ups in between. Now, i'm working with my home unit again and we're doing 5km+ runs (increases by a km every day) at 7am, with 200m uphill sprints and push ups and sit ups - and this just as a wake up activity and because our sergeant wants too.
Don't worry about PT. If your in good shape, you'll be able to do it, but being in better shape is great. The biggest thing is, don't give up, show drive, and show improvement. The real PT test is in the field...

Enfield

[garett]

You wouldn't believe the shit that they had to do on MG 0004 compaired to us anyway. There is a big difference on the latest course. There are still only the 5 days of morning PT but they had to march back from the ranges with the C-6s and SF kits. Part of me wishes that we had to do that and part of my doesn't. I've been on Demo for like 2 weeks and we've only done PT once. Last Friday we had to go to the feild and I could feel how week I've become over a year on University slackness. I guess its time to get off my ass if I plan to keep doing this stuff.

[Cole]

Thanks alot for the info and the encouragment guys. The reason I asked about this is because I too have suffered from a year of university slackassness. Last summer I filled out that little sheet on the army fitness guide and I was able to do 32 pushups and 41 situps...now I am lucky if I rip off 15 good pushups. But this July and August are my redemption. I've pretty much given up Molson and McD's for rice and running...From your guys' posts it looks like there is a bit of leeway for softy-school types. Thanks alot for your help.

[Enfield]

Garrett - They had to WALK to the ranges, with all the kit? Jesus... it was a hakf hour drive to there, I'd hate to think how long it would take'em to walk. Some guys from that course are coming in this week, I'll have to ask them about it. The MG courses did get harder with each serial, but walking to ranges...
Demo in Aldershot this year is supposed to be crazy, just like QL3 - some guys i know are doing it and they've been doing inspections and section attacks and field stuff all summer, and they haven't even worked with the QL3's yet. I guess things are being put back in order. My call out, back with the unit, has a pretty tough hour of PT every morning, so I'm getting in shape that way.

Enfield

PS Cole - don't give up Molson... Beer is a mainstay of the Army, you need it...