Joining The Canadian Forces

I haven't been in the military, but at one time I had planned on making a HUGE move without my parents knowing: I was going to move, along with my girlfriend, to Australia for college. Not exactly a dangerous situation, but a huge move, nonetheless. In order to get them on my side, I assembled a big packet of information and actually put together a PowerPoint. Then we sat down with each set of parents and showed them why it was so important we go there, why we wanted to go there, and how everything was going to work out. My dad was so impressed he agreed to let us go. (Of course, we never went since I didn't get into the same university that she did.) If you put together a well-assembled plan of your reasons, its importance, and how it will positively affect you, I've found it goes a long way.

Remind/inform them that much of the experience you gain in the service can be transferred into "life experience" credits at colleges and universities. Try to get them to understand that the service will instill in you a "can do" attitude which employers regularly seek and hire FIRST. You will be part of something special, and have a bond with your fellow service members which will last your whole life.

As far as advice: Do research on your own. Find active service members and pick their brains. Don't let a recruiter "sell" it to you.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to pm me. I was in the Marines for 10 yrs. I'd be glad to help out.

Originally Posted by RothenGator

Any ideas how i can approach them about this?

There's a "for parents" link on the forces.ca web page. FORCES.CA - Home
It starts off with a flash player video of a Canadian soldier getting his head blown off so that might worry your parents. Just kidding.

I would suggest you look into the ROTP and have the government pay for your university eduation. Similar program in the US military.

Hey thanks i overlooked making a powerpoint and i think that could really help my situation and ill give it a shot! Ya i think they are overlooking that and just don't seem to like the military because of the news coverage and how it makes it sound like a suicide mission. I am gonna talk to my dad about the situation first because i know he would understand more as he has a bunch of friends who have/are in the military and some of there kids who are around my age are in there to. I was most likely just gonna join to go straight for infantry but getting credits will be very helpful if i come back to get a more "regular" career and then im gonna need some university or college courses.

I can't comment on Canadian Forces, but my husband spent 8 years in the U.S. Army. He always wanted to be a soldier and nothing else. So it was something he thought about since he was a teenager. And his mom didn't want him to go, but he really didn't care what she thought. But that's him...sounds like you have a better relationship with your mom. She fought him about it, he said "F#$% off" pretty much, and his dad told his mom that it's obvious she wasn't going to change his mind, so back off. And that was it. For people that have a good relationship with their parents, you might want to go with a slightly different approach than "f#$% off, I'm going." Haha. Maybe point out it will be such a huge step in maturing for you (not that you're immature, but you know what I mean), it will teach you how to work with others in adverse conditions, it will give you a huge sense of accomplishment and make you feel you can do anything you put your mind to. For my husband is was honestly a calling to do something bigger than himself, and thank those that went before him and did the same thing. It actually wasn't about getting college paid for or what it would do for him. It was what he could do for others.

He wanted to be a career soldier and planned on that. Unfortunately, he began suffering from depression and had to leave the Army, and that was devastating to him.

He was in combat arms, but not specifically infantry. He was a scout. And he wouldn't have had it any other way. At one time scouts were considered infantry, but by the time he was in it was classified under armor. But combat arms in the U.S. Army is really difficult. It's extremely physically taxing. So if you want infantry, you really need to be ready for some sh#t.

I wish you the best with your decision. I have the utmost respect for people who sacrifice of themselves for the good of their country.

Ya i have a good relationship with my parents but i know they aren't gonna view it the same way as me and its gonna be tough to change there views but its worth a shot. Ya ive been know as very mature for my age but i know if i get it its gonna change me a lot for the greater. Ya ive wanted to be in the army since i was a little boy. i remember in grade 2 when we had to write about what we wanted to be in life and i said a solider and my view hasn't changed for a bit and my respect for what they do has just grown over the years. personally i dont think i could do a desk job my whole life i think id go mad haha and i love being able to push myself and see what my limits really are. Ya i haven't though about going to it for college but it is an option that i may have to use. I was personally gonna try to be a scout later on but the only position you can apply for like it is infantry then if you do extremely well in training and real life situations then you can apply for a transfer and if you get accepted your allowed to take the course and once you pass the course then your a scout so i got a long way to go but im as mentally prepared as i can be. Im sorry to hear that your husbands army career was cut short, its so hard to find a job you love now a days and its tough when you cant be there for as long as you hoped. Ya ive started working out everyday because i know they will destroy me haha one of the hardest mental barriers is gonna be taking a break from hockey ahha

It definitely sounds like you have put a lot of thought into it. And that's good. It's certainly not something you want to do on a whim. I hope your parents are supportive of your decision, and it all works out.

And I didn't mean to sound like I have a problem with people who enlist to get a college education down the road, etc. Nothing wrong with that, it just wasn't what my husband enlisted for.

I know he's mentioned how "trained to hunt down and kill someone" didn't really fit on a job application when he came back home. So if people are enlisting with the intention of getting out in a few years and want skills that will transfer to the civilian job market, then combat arms might not work as well. Of course he had "team-building", "discipline", "able to follow orders" and other general skills that would make someone a good employee in general, just not actual job skills that would help. Taking apart a weapon and putting it back to together as quickly as possible isn't a much sought after skill in civilian life. You get my point there.

My dad was an airplane mechanic in the Air Force, and when he got out he weasn't able to use that skill either (he lived in a rural areas, no airports, etc. around.) It's unfortunate sometimes that when people do such a great job in the military, it doesn't always help them outside.

His time in the Army is still the best time of his life. The comaraderie he had with fellow soldiers is one of the best memories he has. He still talks about the fun they had and crazy things that happened. I'm Facebook friends with a few of the guys he served with, because he doesn't "do Facebook" and we talk about some of the stuff they did. These guys that haven't seen each other in 18 years still laugh about these things.

i think for the Parents who are against, its the thought of loosing their sons/daughters the hurts the most. If you were just buggering off to another country thats a different matter, but when ever kids mention military to the parents, most freak out and think of it in a negative way.

thats what I think any hoo