Question for the army folk, I know we have some!

[Abelard]

I'm a Canadian, and I'm interested in doing a year or two of peacekeeping. I've always had an interest in humanitarian affairs (my minor is Poli Sci/I'm involved with groups such as Oxfam etc.). I understand that I would have to join the armed forces to become one. So how does that work? I join, complete basic training and then ask to be assigned to a peacekeeping contingent, can I pick which? Or does the army just station you anywhere they want? I'm not looking to join up for a really long haul. I'm thinking three - four years while I finish off university.

[Vaemas]

Your best bet might be to talk to a recruiter with the Canadian Armed Forces to find out what your options are.

Here's an article from Slate: http://www.slate.com/id/2146479/

[Xatrei]

Yeah, I'd talk to a Canadian recruiter or find some Canadian vets. I know there are several U.S. Army veterans here, myself included, but I couldn't tell you squat about how the Canadian military handles the things you're wondering about. I can say that in the U.S., you can volunteer for things, but ultimately the Army will put you where they need you with no guarantee of where you'll serve. Regarding school, I found trying to go to school while on active duty to be difficult in the extreme - to the point where I quit trying. After having to repeatedly drop the University of Maryland classes that were available at my post due to unexpected assignments and training deployments, I just decided to wait on school until after I got out. Of course, this was in the early 90's, before the Internet opened up so many distance learning possibilities. These days, a deployment wouldn't necessarily stop schooling in its tracks, depending on your job within the military. This is particularly true if you were taking distance classes that have a great deal of flexibility (study at your own pace) like courses offered at places like Athabasca University. I'd imagine that the Canadian military has some pretty good options available, you just have to find out what they are.

[Lalanae]

the avatar X! I adored the Young Ones back in high school...mostly because watching it grossed my parents out so much

[Xatrei]

Hehe - I hadn't seen them in years (probably since MTV played them in the 80's). I bumped the DVD set to the top of our Netflix queue a couple weeks ago to watch 'em again, and they're still brilliant. Now I'm waiting on the set of "Bottom," a show that Mayall (Rik) and Edmondson (Vyvyan) did in the early 90's, to arrive.

/derail off

[Wulfran]

I'm a Canadian, and I'm interested in doing a year or two of peacekeeping. I've always had an interest in humanitarian affairs (my minor is Poli Sci/I'm involved with groups such as Oxfam etc.). I understand that I would have to join the armed forces to become one. So how does that work? I join, complete basic training and then ask to be assigned to a peacekeeping contingent, can I pick which? Or does the army just station you anywhere they want? I'm not looking to join up for a really long haul. I'm thinking three - four years while I finish off university.

Its similar to the US in that once you sign up as a reg, the needs of the service come before your personal preferences, however if you join a reserve unit, you can actually choose the regiment/pigeon coop/guppy school you join and you have the ability to decline deployments outside the country. If you have an aversion to the current mission in Afghanistan, don't waste your time: thats the number one place where we're sending people. There are troops in other spots but thats the most manpower intensive deployment we have ATM. A recruiter can tell you more but since you're in university I imagine they would encourage you to join a reserve unit too (unless you want them to pay for it, which would lead to a longer commitment to the Forces once you graduate).

[Drolgin Steingrinder]

Hehe - I hadn't seen them in years (probably since MTV played them in the 80's). I bumped the DVD set to the top of our Netflix queue a couple weeks ago to watch 'em again, and they're still brilliant. Now I'm waiting on the set of "Bottom," a show that Mayall (Rik) and Edmondson (Vyvyan) did in the early 90's, to arrive.

/derail off

/derail on

If you enjoy Bottom the tv show, do yourself a favour and find the first live show they did. It's beyond hilarious.


/derail off

[Xatrei]

/derail on

If you enjoy Bottom the tv show, do yourself a favour and find the first live show they did. It's beyond hilarious.


/derail off

I just got their 5 live shows on DVD, and am watching the first one now.

[Drolgin Steingrinder]

"I've got to stop being sexy!"

"Yes Richard, you really, really must..."

and

Eddie: Right, so your philosophy is... bollocks?
Richie: Yes!
E: Well that's a great view on life isn't it?
R: Oh who cares about views on life, I thought we were talking philosophy?
E: But your philosophy is bollocks
R: So let's talk bollocks!
E: BUT THAT'S ALL WE EVER DO!
R: So let's do what we always do!
E: Oh god, and so it goes on, day after day, year in year out, slime in this ear, slime in that ear, don't you ever yearn for change?
[huge applause from the audience]
E: Alan Rickman eat your heart out!
[to Richie]
E: And ... cue! Cue!
R: [Looks at the audience who seems to have taken Eddie's side] Right. Wanna give me the feedline again in front of all your friends?
E: [Laughs to himself] Yea, sorry. I... I forgot to mention I was actually born in Southampton! It's my only home!
[another huge applause]
R: Oh Eddie Eddie Eddie you were born in Southampton? Wow! Why did you ever leave?
E: That was a bit below the belt ... Aha! Because... I found the railway station!
[another HUGE applause]
R: [to the audience] Stop fucking clapping! Bastards! Especially you! You ought to fucking jump!
E: That's no way to speak to my mother!
[to the audience]
E: Sorry mum!