Army Strong.

[HotDog-Cart]

Hey guys. I've been thinking for a while. Thinking about me, my country, and mine and my countries future.

It came to me a while ago. I want to join the Canadian Armed Forces.

I've played america's army, and am about to read stuff on www.goarmy.com/stong , but there both american.

I'm also checking out http://www.forces.ca/ , which is the canadian armed forces website.

Just a few questions for comfort and stuff.

Does the american army "run" like the canadian army does? Like, if I started playing america's army and read on goarmy.com would it give me an advantage or disadvantage when joining the military?

Also, I'm not a big guy. Im 6'0 and I weigh like 140-ish pounds. So, I'm actually underweight. I dont have a lot of muscle either. Heck, I cant even do 1 proper pushup. Im only 16, and going into grade 11 in september. So, I basically have another year (grade 12) to build myself up. As In grade 12, I am taking Militia which is basically Army training for co-op. After that, I'll decide on what I feel is right for me and my body.

With that said, do you guys think I would fit in, in the army?

I like the concept of fighting for freedom and for my country. But I'm also scared of the battlefield. Does anyone have some videos that show the TRUTH about what happens in afganastan? Like, not the ones the news shows, but ones that troops film theirself?

If I go through Militia training, and go through army training and be a real soldier, do I have to fight in Iraq and such? Or could I stay and protect my country incase someone attacks?

And finally, If I dont like being in the army, am I able to "quit"?

[Valium]

You could always stay here and shovel snow in Toronto as an alternative to Iraq.

[HotDog-Cart]

I'm being serious in this post. I don't want any jokes or anything. Thanks.

[bicostp]

Don't do it. The truth is not glorified like the TV says. The truth is you get shot at, blown up, and every day could be your last. Believe me, one of my friends is in South Korea, and another is in the National Guard and currently in Iraq. There are better ways to support your country than getting killed in some wartorn heckhole in the middle of nowhere.

The American army is a couple weeks of basic training then you go to Iraq, Afganistan, Korea, or wherever they send you. It doesn't matter what branch of the service you go into; it's not what they make it out to be in the commercials.

[HotDog-Cart]

From what I know the Militia training is about 2-4 months, and the Canadian training is longer then a few weeks. As theres like a "boot camp" thing sorta.

Thats why I asked if there was someway that I could protect my country. (Like you know. Stay here and protect it incase someone invades or attacks or something.) Instead of traveling to a different country and shooting people.

Also, I could always be technical support for the army or something like that. Like one of those guys who sits and works a deskjob all day. (You still need the training though.)

[ganonbanned]

Don't do it. The truth is not glorified like the TV says. The truth is you get shot at, blown up, and every day could be your last. Believe me, one of my friends is in South Korea, and another is in the National Guard and currently in Iraq. There are better ways to support your country than getting killed in some wartorn heckhole in the middle of nowhere.

The American army is a couple weeks of basic training then you go to Iraq, Afganistan, Korea, or wherever they send you. It doesn't matter what branch of the service you go into; it's not what they make it out to be in the commercials.

are you saying that that is not glorious, to die for your country?

If I were you, I'd stay on the national guard, I have a strong theory that we need more national guards, you can PM me if you wanna hear more.

[daguuy]

As an old war veteran said, it's not worth it to get your ass blown off fighting for somebody else's political or ideological interests. That's why I refuse to ever join the army. The best way to defend a country is to become a politician and try to weaken the real enemy, the government (or is that just the US gov?).

[Sparkfist]

You could get a general idea on what being in the army is like, but I'm sure as far as specific jobs and equipment they are dissimilar. The only thing you should be ready for if you do enlist is; being yelled at, taking orders without question, and work your butt off. You're expect to perform to your fullest potential what ever occupation you select.

Last thing, don't know how it is with you Canadians, but here we get things in writing from recruiters otherwise it's just hot air.

[HotDog-Cart]

What do you mean sparkfist? (Hot air?)

Also, I dont know if we have the National guard in canada.

[Gump-in-space]

There are other jobs in the Millitary besides running through city streets with a gun getting shot at, but I still don't recommend joining. It's not like WWII where you get home (if you make it home) and your town has a new respect for you. In fact, some would consider you an idiot for rushing into the current situation.

My dad joined the Air Force after he got out of High School. We weren't in a war back then, but my point is that he's 40 years old now and trying to get his degree. College is a much better way to go than the millitary.

[jones]

I know for the American Army you can be a civilian contractor. So essentially you don't do any of the Army stuff and have none of the liabilities that go with it, but you still "assist" your country. I don't know a lot about it, but my wife has mentioned it. She was in the National Guard until recently.

I think the #1 question you have to ask yourself is...

Is [insert cause here] worth sacrificing my life for?

When I say sacrificing my life I mean more than death. In the case of the current "war" going on people's lives are being compromised in a number of ways. 18 month deployments away from families, possibility of life long disabilities both physical and mental, etc.

For some people the answer is an unequivocal yes, but for others it is less certain.

Given the present state of the world I would ask myself the following...

Am I willing to sacrifice my life for a lie?

The way the world is today hasn't always been the case, but it seems like since the days of Vietnam and even Korea for that matter things have been moving in this direction more and more.

War is never a good thing, but it seems like it has been waged for all the wrong reasons in the last half century or so (this is from the American standpoint in my eyes).

At the end of the day this is your decision and not one to be taken lightly. I would urge you to seek out members of the Canadian Armed Forces and find out what firsthand knowledge they can provide you. The Canadian military could be a far different experience from its American counterpart. That I don't know for sure.

After talking to people that have "been there" so to speak it might help you figure out if it is what you want to do with your life. It may be the right fit and it may not, but if you do the research I think you'll find you will be comfortable with whatever decision you make in the end. As long as you're at peace with it, that is all that matters.

Good luck.

[Ben Cebhrem]

The military is no laughing matter; it is quite tough. As far as being able to quit, no, you basically sign up for a contract to serve your time for x amount of years; in the US, that's 4 years, although Canada may be different.

I won't lie about a war situation- though you're likely to live through it, there is a chance you'll die. Perhaps worse, you may lose limbs, or be mentally scarred for the rest of your life.

But a good question is, how well could a *game* ever possibly prepare you for the military? In the short term, sure, it may introduce you to equipment, scenarios, and possibly tactics and teamwork. Overall, however, these are things you are already going to learn in boot camp, so it isn't going to allow you to really do much. If I were you, I'd honestly go to my school counselor, and check into school sanctioned weight training classes or some such 'heavy' physical after-school program of some sort- that is going to get you much further in the military (if you decide to go, and I would suggest talking to your counselor about that as well) than any video game could ever prepare you.

And by the way, I'm not kidding about the mental scarring. Little things like gassing up a vehicle 40 years down the road could come back to haunt you, and fully reconnect those moments of a war to you. Stimuli of a war scenario can be quite strong, and little is needed to help bring such memories to the foreground- a child crossing the street with a ball, the smell of oil, or even a thunderstorm. It all depends on what the memory was, and it can be debilitating.

[Twisted Warthog]

Geez, why do you want to join the army man. Nothing comes from war just more war and violence. I don't know why people want to join the army i don't really see any good reason. If you want to do something for Canada don't go to war and start killing mindlessly. You could do so much better stuff with your life then die on the battlefield and get mentally scarred if you do survive. Be smart don't be stupid.

[Sparkfist]

What do you mean sparkfist? (Hot air?)

Also, I dont know if we have the National guard in canada.

Here at least, recruiters will say and promise just about anything to get you to sign-up. Like for example if I when to the Navy and requested the Nuclear Engineering/Operator job, the recruiter will try everything to make me thing I'm getting in there. Sounds nice but they can't make promises like that, and can't guarantee anything in a verbal agreement. Like a I said get things in writing so you don't get screwed, with a position that you wont like or even hate.

[CronoTriggerfan]

As an old war veteran said, it's not worth it to get your ass blown off fighting for somebody else's political or ideological interests. That's why I refuse to ever join the army. The best way to defend a country is to become a politician and try to weaken the real enemy, the government (or is that just the US gov?).

So your ideological train of thought is just as immature as your everyday behavior. Can't say I'm surprised, of course. Your anarchy may seem "cool" now, but I assure you, it'll wear off sometime in life. Besides, are you even politically aware? Normally the people who shoot their mouth off the most about "evil oppression" are the ones who are too stupid to study up on their so-called "enemies" and what they actually do.

HDC, you're making a huge decision very quickly. Serving one's country is something everyone should do at some point in their life, and no doubt, the armed forces is a great way to do so. But it's not for everyone. It takes a certain kind of person to serve in that manner. Physical obstacles can be overcome, but to have the mental dexterity to be killed, or sometimes worse, kill another person, can be too overwhelming for many people. I'd love to comment more on this, but I think I (and others commenting here) need to know a bit more about yourself. Why exactly do you want to do this? Is it because of patriotism and the need to protect your country, or just because it seems like a good idea? I, too, want to take a similar path as you, but it's because I love the United States of America more than anything else in the world. What's your reason?

For those in this thread who advise not joining the armed forces due to war being senseless and brutal, grow up. I'm no advocate of war, but there are times when wars need to be fought, it's just a fact of life. Sometimes you need to fight, plain and simple. And even if you don't have the personal drive to contemplate fighting in a war, that gives you absolutely no right to spit on people who put their ass on the line to secure your personal freedoms. Again, the fact that you personally don't want to get mowed down on the battlefield is normal, I don't think anyone wants that, but respect those who do.

CTFan