Drill sergeants, mess halls and combat boots are commonly associated with the military, but the Canadian Armed Forces offer much more than the movie version of a soldier's life. Training, camaraderie, and opportunities to make a positive impact on communities are just some of the reasons that young people are choosing to join. (Not to mention the great financial compensation!)

Today's Canadian Armed Forces are The Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. Each division specializes in a tactical field that covers all necessary aspects of the Canadian military. Within these divisions there are numerous occupations that are either specific to their unit or span all three. For example, within the Navy, military members can choose to become marine engineers or sonar operators, while medical officers can move across the board. Regardless of which area you choose, career options in the military are vast and the skills you learn can be applied to many different fields. Regular Force members work full-time, while those who wish to work part-time join the Reserve Force.

Getting started

When first joining the Canadian Armed Forces all new recruits are required to complete basic training, which takes from 14 to 15 weeks. Frequently referred to as boot camp, this highly intensive enrolment process is conducted at the Canadian Armed Forces Leadership and Recruit School in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. It includes activities such as weapons firing, map and compass use, obstacle courses, swimming, and marching. Recruits must also pass a physical fitness test.

Master Bombardier Hasan Aygun says that the transition from civilian to military life was not extreme, but he still recommends that new recruits have mental and emotional maturity in order to adapt to the stress inducing environment [of military life]. Now working as one of two observer party detachment commanders in the 7th Toronto Royal Canadian Artillery Regiment, MBDR Aygun says that the military helped him develop situational awareness and attention to detail, particularly in adapting to change and problem solving.

The Canadian Armed Forces also foster an environment for team building and amity among recruits. Chris Housser, a master corporal with an infantry regiment in the army reserve, says that being a reservist allowed him to be a full-time student and still keep in contact with civilian friends.

Most of the army bases are in remote locations so it was hard to be gone all summer and not see my friends or family back home. But the Army is a very tight knit group, so it is easy to make lots of friends wherever you may be stationed, he says.

MCPL Housser was also able to complete law school and cites his experiences with the military for helping him attain an articling position with an employer who was not previously planning on hiring a law student. 

Finding your niche

All three divisions require additional training beyond the basics. Navy recruits attend a five-week fleet school, army recruits enter a 20-day soldier qualification course, and air force recruits attend a four-day overview of the history of aviation, technology, and customs and traditions.

After preliminary training, recruits can continue their instruction, which will allow them to train in specific areas, like medicine or engineering, and pursue subsidized post-secondary education if needed.

The military offers many financial benefits, and will cover the tuition for pre-determined university or college programs, books and academic equipment, as well as supply a salary and benefits while students are in school. In return, recruits must serve in the military after graduation at a rate of two months for each month of paid education.

The Canadian Armed Forces also recruits graduates of colleges, universities and trade schools already in the workforce, and provides them with excellent opportunities in their chosen fields ' often with much better compensation and benefits.

Colonel Maureen Haberstock is an honorary member of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, who attended medical school through the Canadian Forces Medical Training Program. After receiving her MD, she was deployed on several international missions and became the first female physician to command an army field unit. Now retired from the Canadian Armed Forces, Col. Haberstock has been a guest lecturer at numerous universities and was able to make a significant impact on the lives of others throughout her military career.   

While the amount of financial coverage provided is dependent on either Regular Force or Reserve status, both options offer advantages. In the Reserves, the scheduling is flexible, which is a benefit, says Col. Housser. Although you are expected to show up, if you have other commitments there is some leeway to miss an odd training night. The Regular Force is a full-time job, but with that comes greater pay and compensation.

Beyond the base

The skills learned within the Canadian Armed Forces are not specific to the military alone. Retired Colonel Duane Waite joined in 1975, and officially retired in 2012 after 37 years of service. Beginning as a trooper in the Governor General's Horse Guards, he went on to complete a seven-month operational tour in Kabul, Afghanistan as special advisor/planner within the Combined Security Transition CommandÔÇôAfghanistan, Afghan National Army Development Directorate.

There's a real emphasis on being professional at what you do, Col. Waite explains. There's the academic aspect of all of your military training, then there's the leadership aspect of your military training, and there's the skills aspect, because depending what trade or classification you go into there's a lot of practical skills you actually need to be able to do.

While some members choose to remain full-time, the discipline and education emphasized within the military cross professional borders and are relevant to a variety of civilian occupations.  

MBDR Aygun, for one, hopes to one day become a police officer. Although it definitely took a back seat while I was involved in Afghanistan and other military aspirations, the military has positively shaped my personality, skills and ethics towards a future in policing, he says.

Col. Waite, who is also a vice-president at Crossey Engineering Ltd., says the level of discipline is there to teach you to be self-disciplined and then teach you to be disciplined within a team  In today's society, people are trained to be real individuals, and I think a lot of people have a hard time inculcating themselves into an environment where it's not just yourself'it's the actual team.

Of course, there are inherent risks and challenges to consider before jumping into a military career. Regular Force members can be deployed at any time, which is not only hard on soldiers, but their families too. Within the military, there are always tough choices that have to be made. And, those choices always have to be driven from a perspective of professionalism, honesty, ethics  and integrity, explains Col. Waite.

For those thinking about a military career, it's best to think long and hard about which trade is of greatest interest to you, and will best make use of your abilities and potential. There are so many options from infantry to sonar operator to pilot, Housser says.  

Did you know?

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are Canada's second largest employer and largest public service organization in the country. More than 90,000 Canadians serve in the Canadian Armed Forces in over 100 trades and professions.

Photos: The Department of National Defence