There are also some other trades that you could join, like the Military Police, Intelligence (I still can't get any answers as to why they call it that . . .), Logistics (nobody will tell me what they do, either . . .), Medics, Marching Band, Cook, etc.
Unfortunately, I've never seen anybody from these trades, so I can't elaborate on what they do.
Not that anyone in the Combat Arms does much, either.
After selecting your preferred trade, you will be given several pounds of forms to fill out, a medical examination (thank goodness the doctor didn't need a rubber glove), and an aptitude test.
This all finds out if you are in good health, or if you need to come back when you look less like an overstuffed sofa.
Now, when that's all over and done with, you will be told whether you qualify for your preferred trade or not.
If you do, you will be given another annoying pamphlet with an attractive picture and a catchy slogan, which will describe in detail what you will learn to do in Basic Training.
Here is a list of some of the things that it will tell you:
Marksmanship
Fieldcraft
Discipline
Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence
Rifle Drill
Navigation
First Aid
Rank Structure
Battlecraft
Communications
Everything Else
Strangely, this annoying pamphlet doesn't list many of the other things that you will learn while on your Basic Training course.
These other things are just as important to military life as the things listed above.
To correct this, I have added a few of my own ideas of what should be placed on future annoying pamphlets:
Swearing
Dirty Jokes
More Swearing
Female Anatomy
Male Anatomy
Alcohol Abuse
Vomiting
Washing Vomit Out of Your Clothing
Dragging Drunken Comrades Back to Base
Standing At Attention When You Blood Alcohol Content is 0.25
Scaring Civilians
Who says the Army isn't educational?
I hope the list of-things-to-be learned will continue, be added onto, and experienced.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! :)
DeleteIt does sound educational and the skills would be transferable to civilian life should you choose to leave when your contract expires. Or sooner if they boot you out.
ReplyDeleteYep. I've got a neighbour who, with his buddies, utilizes the practical applications every weekend. Sigh.
DeleteWas it less or more educational than this post was to your parents when you wrote it?!
ReplyDeleteYou know, the second list is a lot like what you learn in university, outside of class time ... maybe young folks are the same no matter where they get their training :) Great posts!
HeeHee! Yep. Training is alike all over . . .
Delete