If I Wanted To Join The Military, What Would I Have To Do?

[Seil]

So long story short, I'm living at home while I'm going to school, an' dad is giving some subtle hints that I need my own place, and I'm probably going about it all wrong, but how do I find the nearest recruitment station?

[Eltargrim]

Google Canadian forces and that should set you up with something.

But seriously, there are options that don't involve being shot at. Look at those first.

[Aldurin]

I was about to give advice but then remember that you're Canadian. Just do something where you don't die. Since Seil tags and Seil jokes don't last near as long when Seil dies in combat.

At least it wasn't a French person making this thread.

[Flarecobra]

I should point out that the French were the first to make combat missions when NATO got into Libya.

[Overcast]

If you are already going to school, and are not yet dead broke or miles in debt I would suggest that you continue your fucking schooling and tell your dad to bite a dick till you get a solid job.

But that is just me.

[pochercoaster]

Er, if you really wanted to you could just use google. Check the official website?

But I'm going to side with the other posters in this thread. Although your chances of getting shot at are low depending on what part of the military you join, do you really want the government to own your body for 8 years? From what others have described to me, the military is really boring work 99% of the time and you have to put up with a dumb hierarchy in addition to the possibility of being deployed.

I don't want to completely knock it because once you're actually out you get some pretty good benefits (at least I know you do in the States, not so sure about Canada). There's the option of doing the reserves, but I believe (again, not sure) that the benefits aren't as good if you're not doing it full time, and then why the hell bother if it's not going to guarantee you free schooling?

My boyfriend was in the navy for 8 years and hated it, but once he got out he was able to land a pretty decent job because of his experience as a technician. However, he still isn't making as much money as he could/should because he doesn't have a degree. So, he's just starting school now and while yeah, it's free because the navy is paying for it, there's no reason he couldn't have learned all the same shit without joining the navy and spending 8 years floating around the pacific ocean. I think he somewhat regrets how he went about things because going to school when you're almost 30 it kind of sucks. It's unavoidable for some people, of course, but it still sucks.

I would look into other options before joining the military. It seems like a last resort to me. What kind of housing options does your school offer? Is there anyone who you could room with? Would your parents be willing to let you stay with them if you pitched in for expenses?

Edit: What Shiney said. I didn't want to call your dad a jackass but assuming you're focused in school and doing well it's not kind of your father to kick you out because frankly school is fucking expensive and so is living on your own with a minimum wage job in British Columbia. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you're a bit younger (like <21) and expecting someone your age to work full time and got to school and get into a shit-ton of debt is just.... yeah. It's just not realistic in this decade. School used to be more affordable but not anymore.

Assuming the reason he wants you out is money (I could be wrong, but that's usually why parents want to kick their kids out) and he won't let you live there for free (assuming you're not pitching in for rent/groceries/whatever, since I know a lot of kids do already), see if you can work out an arrangement. Help out with the rent or cable bill, pay for your own cell phone bill (if you don't already), etc. Something like that.

If you're not focused/doing well in school... Well, you should fix that, because you are paying for your classes so why else would you be there? >_>

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Get a gun, start shooting people. When yuo see some military guys claim all the guys you shot were terrorists and you are "X up" on them where X is the number of terrorists.

[shiney]

Stop being Seil is a good start. Zing.
If you are already going to school, and are not yet dead broke or miles in debt I would suggest that you continue your fucking schooling and tell your dad to bite a dick till you get a solid job.

But that is just me.
Bure moreso, this. And no it's not just you. Sounds like your dad is being a jackass, Seil. Ask him if he wants you to quit going to school and get a pointless entry level job so you can scrape by a living and never make him proud, or if he can deal with living with yo-

Things suddenly make sense.

[Melfice]

Shiney, stop trolling Seil.
It's not cool. I'd report you to the mods, but you're a pretty cool guy overall, so...


But yeah. Uh, joking aside, totally agreeing with the general consensus.
Getting your own place =/= Joining the army. Or, at least, it shouldn't. Especially not since you're still in school.

EDIT:
I should point out that the French were the first to make combat missions when NATO got into Libya.

France was also pretty smart when it came to the whole thing in Iraq. In that they opposed it.
Cowards, eh? I'd call that pretty smart.

[Specterbane]

An alternate middle ground option would be to still go to school at night and get that entry level job. But try to make it for a company that works in the field you're studying to go into it. If you're lucky you might be able to get them to pay for some of your schooling eventually.

Be warned, it's a shit load of time and effort to do it. It will consume your life pretty much completely at first. But it's an option besides the military if you're reluctant to join up.

[shiney]

Shiney, stop trolling Seil.

You're no fun!! :( :(

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Just get a normal job. School at day, work at night, should be able to earne nough to cover living costs. I thought everyone did this? It was pretty common where I'm from.

[Osterbaum]

Screw working and studying at the same time. Just focus on your studies now. You'll be done with them faster, without causing yourself as much stress, and then you can get to working the rest of your life.

[Azisien]

Canadian Forces pays pretty well. I suggest Google. And start jogging now. You'll need the stamina.

[Osterbaum]

Don't. Join. The Military.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Screw working and studying at the same time. Just focus on your studies now. You'll be done with them faster, without causing yourself as much stress, and then you can get to working the rest of your life.

Not if you're dead and in the gutter. How you going to pay for living if you're not working, which is Seil's problem.
And as long as you work nights it doesn't really impact your uni work, I swung two degrees in normal time while working 25 hours a week and still had time to become a regular in my local pub. So did basically everyone I know. It seems like a lot but once after the first week its simple as, you get used to it.
If you're parents don't want you in home you got to move out, why should they look after you when you are capable of looking after youself?

[pochercoaster]

25 hours a week

You can't live on 25 hours a week. Especially in BC. Especially in the Vancouver area (if that's where Seil is). You CAN live on 25 hours a week if you get a lot in student loans, but then it's just a bunch of high interest debt you have to pay back, and yeah... Or if you have 6 roommates crammed into a small space, and then good luck getting any actual studying done.

The reason students live with their parents isn't because they're freeloaders, it's because school in North America is expensive.

I live on 35 hours a week at a minimum wage job and pay for all my bills, groceries, etc. (I just room with two other people in an apartment), but if I were a student it simply wouldn't be possible unless I was only taking 1-2 courses, max.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

As far as Ic an tell via an admittedly quick google search the cost of living in Vancouver is only slightly higher than in Auckland where I was working and wage rates are higher. And I lived like a king on that. So I find that hard to believe.

[Azisien]

Let's all keep in mind when he says "lived like a king" that Smarty is admittedly a hobo king.

[Specterbane]

In any case, Seil, you should estimate a monthly budget for yourself. Do some apartment searching online to find a monthly rate, estimate how much you'll buy at a grocery store/how much you'll spend eating out, how much you'll spend on gas/public transport, etc. There's a fair bit more for a full budget, but before you move out you should know how much you have to make for it to be a solution.

Or join the military where that's taken care of I'd assume. But talk to the recruiter about what you'd be doing and what kind of future you'd have (like if they'll pay for school) before you make a final decision. Good luck.

[Aldurin]

Also make sure that any promises from the recruiter are in actual documents, otherwise you could be very disappointed with what you expect (lesson from my government teacher).

[Osterbaum]

Seriosly, why the hell are you people encouraging him to go to the army? Just stop treating it as an option.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Don't join the army. Best advice I can offer.

[Magus]

If you guys got one you should probably join the Canadian Air Force if anything--man do they have one?!

But yeah there are a lot of other options besides the military, you should probably think about them. Too bad you don't already have your degree, you could join the Peace Corps or something. I don't think they get shot at as much...of course, when you do get shot at you don't have a gun. Hmmm...but anyway it seems like it would make more sense to try and live on your own and use military as a final option? You can't very well go to college at the same time you're in the military. Besides which, I thought you Canadians got free college?

[Fifthfiend]

Seil tags and Seil jokes don't last near as long when Seil dies in combat.

.

[Osterbaum]

And even if you don't ever see combat, it's still shit. I mean, maybe I am just very much biased and bitter since we have conscription and nobody really enjoys their time in the army. But it is shit, you don't want to do that. Not as permanent job, no way.

e: I am saying this based on my image of you Seil aswel as my own experiences. Someone else might enjoy the army, and there were even some aspects of it that I sort of kinda found to be ok, but I don't think you'd like it at all.

[Aldurin]

.

I may look like a hypocrite given my last post, but I'm just trying to make sure that if he takes the path I don't recommend then at least he does it wisely.

[pochercoaster]

Besides which, I thought you Canadians got free college?

BAHAHAHAHA

No, unfortunately. :< However, you can get student loans (in Ontario it's called OSAP) that are on a sliding scale and based on your family's income. But you still have to pay them back with interest.

[Magus]

Hmm, here I thought you Canadians lived in a utopian paradise in exchange for balls-freezing cold. Like some kind of galactic scale of justice. But I thought that the college was somehow cheaper than it is here in the U.S., do they have more grants for the really poor people than they do here or something? Is tuition just a little lower overall? Something?

Anyway, Seil, you could always live on campus, just sleep in the 24 hour study area of the library and take showers in the gymnasium if you have no money for a university room. If you have a car store your clothes there. If you don't have a car, get your clothes down to seven pairs and just wash them regularly. Become the campus hobo. REVEL in it.

[Overcast]

Alright, to explain myself I am currently in and really wish I were out. This is not to say the military has been bad to me, I have as of yet not gotten my ass shot, the most dangerous location they have put me has been Chicago, I have built up a pretty reliable stash of money to the point that I can afford to throw around charity if the situation looks dire enough and that I am a crowd favorite at Christmas. I have learned a few things about managing my time, good study habits, and have begun paying into my personal retirement rather than relying on social security that may well end up dead by the time I'm old enough to take it. It is the easiest job I've ever really had, and it looks pretty good on a resume.

The trouble is that I've earned just about all I really want from the military, but I'm not allowed to leave yet. I signed a contract of 8 years of my life, six of which will be active duty, and I have to serve all of them. In the active duty years it is universally accepted by most other Navy guys that I will have absolutely no time to chase my studies for the job I really want when I get out of here. As such I'll have to start my time in college late with all the money I've hoarded up until then. I'm not going to pursue a life here because the amount of bureaucratic bullshit and the immense restrictions on my time are murdering my ability to chase my dreams.

That is why I said that if you are already going to school and you don't need the financial aid you should just fucking stick with it. Because if you join, you will not have a chance to go back until you are done.

[pochercoaster]

Hmm, here I thought you Canadians lived in a utopian paradise in exchange for balls-freezing cold. Like some kind of galactic scale of justice. But I thought that the college was somehow cheaper than it is here in the U.S., do they have more grants for the really poor people than they do here or something? Is tuition just a little lower overall? Something?

I'm not sure if it's cheaper here as compared to the US. It depends on where you go- "colleges" that have more applied/technical programs tend to have shorter 2-3 year programs that are in the cheaper range (<10,000 year). Universities tend to have longer 4-5 year programs and are more expensive (>15,000), especially the more well known institutions, like University of Toronto. I'm not terribly familiar with it as I have never applied for post-secondary education, but depending on where you go and what kind of course you're taking it can run up to more than 25,000 a year. It can also be significantly cheaper, though, if you stick with the smaller colleges.

I'm not familiar with grants as compared to the US, either- the only thing I know of is OSAP, which is specific to Ontario, and it grants you money based on how poor you are. How much it gives the really poor people I'm not sure of, but I do know that OSAP has to be paid back.

Also: Everything Overcast said. That's basically how my boyfriend feels about the time he spent in the military.

[Magus]

BTW since when are they offering 8 year contracts? I thought they were all 2 years at a stretch? Who would want to sign up for 8 years at a time? Or is there a benefit to signing an 8 year contract?

[Eltargrim]

pocheros: University of Manitoba, $8000/year. 4 year program, B.Sc. That is tuition and non-textbook school fees. UBC is about $11000/year, again, tuition only.

University isn't prohibitively expensive between loans, scholarships, and bursaries, but it does cost a lot. I would call >15000 an outlier, however. Canadian Ivy Leage-esque, in comparison.

[pochercoaster]

Ah, I stand corrected. :P I do remember a representative from U of Toronto did a presentation at my school once and said that it costs the average student ~25,000- but, that was U of Toronto... And then there's, say, Georgian college which I was going to attend at one point, and the tuition was only 2,000/year. Regardless it's definitely not "free."

[Overcast]

BTW since when are they offering 8 year contracts? I thought they were all 2 years at a stretch? Who would want to sign up for 8 years at a time? Or is there a benefit to signing an 8 year contract?

What most people know of contracts is usually the amount of time a person serves for active duty. This is the time you spend that your whole life belongs to the military, day in and day out. These can go anywhere from 2 to 6 years long. I had a 6 year long active duty run due to the technical nature of my occupation in the Navy and how long it would take for me to be trained as a basic technician. The remaining part is spent in one of the various forms of the Reserve. Where you are pretty much part time military. I get two years of that after my Active Duty stint.

[Magic_Marker]

What are the benefits of offered to Canadian servicemen? Before you find out what you should do, you got to look at the costs and benefits. Remember, you can learn a skilled trade in the military, somebody has to run the wire, keep the plumbing working, and make sure the cars turn over. With that training you can get yourself a job on the other side without being in combat as an infantrymen, if Canadians have educational benefits then you might have a good investment in a term of service. Just angle for a maintenance, health, or computer position instead of a combat one and your risk of injury goes down by a great degree.

If you go into medicine, maintenance or computers you not only have training for a job in civilian world, if Canada is like the States you also have education funding, and cheap medical care.

[Overcast]

But Magic it is Canada, they all have cheap medical care.

[Azisien]

I have a friend in the CF and he's in the computer division. He still gets regularly shipped off to Afghanistan and still does see some combat, if not direct. So yeah, you'll want to be ready for that.

Also good fuck western universities are expensive? I got two degrees from University of Ottawa and my yearly expenses were $5800-6500 not including textbooks, though who the fuck buys textbooks (or buys and doesn't re-sell them for 90% cost?)

[Shin Amakiir]

Don't freaking join the military. One of my old roommate's friends was in the military, and he had a constant odor about him. Like, month-old socks mixed with death-like feces.

That aside, get some roommates. Even just one. Living on your own is a lot easier, and it's a lot less lonely with a friend. Additionally, if you're low income you get $1000/semester in grants if you get a student loan, which pretty much counter-acts any interest (which only comes into play 6 months after the end of studies ANYWAY.)

I think I actually know you from high school, and if I do, you're a pretty cool and smart dude. Don't toss that away to the military. Get a student loan. The interest rates aren't murder. And don't forget scholarships, bursaries, etc. And there are a LOT of places for rent in town recently, so don't worry about finding a good place.

[Eltargrim]

Azisien, I totally misquoted the U of M. For some reason I thought $4000/term, when it's $4000/year. I don't even know how I got that one. My bad.