From what I've read, it seems alot of people have beefs about the quality of the average recruit and the training s/he undergoes to become a basic, untrained soldier. (sorry if I'm horribly wrong, but I've only read half the posts on this topic)

From my basic, I can say this (not pertaining to the CF, but to the individuals):

Some of the people on my basic should not have passed, and that they did disturbs me personnally. Some of my platoon mates had horrible discipline, fittness, and general compitance. Even though we're Comms Reservists, I know that we are still required to achieve a bare minimum of the attributes aforementioned.

On my basic, one fellow's fitness level could be described by the phrase "[the other recruit] ran as fast as I could walk." For Section and even Platoon level tasks, he was narcissistic, either refusing to help or being physically unable to perform them. His hygiene and general sanitation were deplorable, and from the way he conducted himself, everyone in my platoon had a horrible disdain for him.
I know I was hoping that the instructors would reem him out, but the WO's, Sgt's, Mcpl's only saw the hygiene aspect and physical of this recruits character. And so he escaped with a few minor slaps on the wrists; a few verbals and writtens for not showering or shaving, and lots of scorning for not being able to keep up during PT.
As point man EVERY SINGLE DAY for PT and Marching, I found it absolutly revolting when, after running for 5 minutes, I'd have to double back, sprint pass laggers like him, and watch as he fell in in front of the platoon. What was worse, was when I had to do sattelites around the platoon during PT because I was WALKING and keeping infront of them. Who was right marker? The recruit I'm talking about.
What really took the cake wasn't that this recruit passed his BRT with full qualifications, but he placed THIRD in my platoon due to incredibly high test scores. That's third highest scoring soldier out of the platoon.
On my BRT, I was top third in my platoon, and I though I'm a geek as a civvy, I believe I have the potential to be a fine soldier. This other recruit's example is one that irritates me incredibly. It is for that reason, that I don't feel as good about completing my BRT as I thought I would when first set out, and the reason that I will only consider myself a good soldier, IF I pass my JLC's.

To my knowledge, the CF has greater control over who goes on thier JLC's. And from what a Corporal who completed his told me; "I'd rather be doing [BRT] for four months than my JLC's. Your JLC's is hardcore, Reg Force Infantry sh*t." I'm looking forward to going on mine.

[ 05 September 2001: Message edited by: PTE Fader ]

Hopefully a future Sig Op...
The Plan:
-Reservist throughout University until I get my Engineering degree;
-Take QL3's, QL5's and perhaps even JLC's in the mean time and at least get up to Corporal
-Upon Completion of University, try to go on a Peace Keeping tour ASAP
-Come home, see what's next...

quote:

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Originally posted by Brad Sallows:
I am among those who believe the 16-day QL2 is ridiculously short. But, with the new Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) and Soldier Qualification (SQ) standards (about 20 training days each?) we will have about 40 training days to work up a basic army soldier. I haven't looked at the standards in detail, but intuitively it seems like it should be enough.

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I agree whole heartedly. However, to do this the second course must be designed with the intent to train a soldier to ELOC standard and not leave any related material untaught.

[ 05 September 2001: Message edited by: McG ]

Chimo!

What I want to know, is how long are QL2's in other trades? Mine was just under 8 weeks, consisting of 6 weeks of BRT, and a week and a half of LET. I heard that Infantry QL2's are only 6 weeks or something, since they're supposidly not trained on the C9 or something.

Hopefully a future Sig Op...
The Plan:
-Reservist throughout University until I get my Engineering degree;
-Take QL3's, QL5's and perhaps even JLC's in the mean time and at least get up to Corporal
-Upon Completion of University, try to go on a Peace Keeping tour ASAP
-Come home, see what's next...

16 days is not enough time to mold a soldier.

Some of the younger recruits were some what immature; one of them found it really hilarious to do halting procedures to a fire piquet in the field with noise discipline in effect. But I have to admit, some of the older recruits were equally bad. Personally, I found it pretty disgusting when some of the older recruits stumbled from going town on the dot at 12:00, bragging about how they banged hookers, smoked pot, and got absolutly hammered.
It's kinda hypocritical of me to say that since I got a little bit drunk at the JR's mess on occasion, but I was ===>a little bit <====more reserved in my conduct. A 28 year old fellow came in shouting about how he got into a threesome with two complete strangers, bragging about how many condoms he used, how pissed drunk he was, etc. etc.
Another example, was a 19 year old who openly boasted at the end of the course "I didn't do a single section job the time I was here. Hell, I don't even know how I got in! I smoked 6 bongs before the drug test!"

It's true, alot of us younglings have the added disadvantage of immaturity; but that's just one weakness that we could potentially have. Everyone has them, be they 16, 19, 28, or 44. But we all also have strengths; I guess it's a hard equilibrium to achieve such that the strengths equal or exceed the weaknesses.

BTW, my
Some of the younger recruits were some what immature; one of them found it really hilarious to do halting procedures to a fire piquet in the field with noise discipline in effect. But I have to admit, some of the older recruits were equally bad. Personally, I found it pretty disgusting when some of the older recruits stumbled from going town on the dot at 12:00, bragging about how they banged hookers, smoked pot, and got absolutly hammered.
It's kinda hypocritical of me to say that since I got a little bit drunk at the JR's mess on occasion, but I was ===>a little bit <====more reserved in my conduct. A 28 year old fellow came in shouting about how he got into a threesome with two complete strangers, bragging about how many condoms he used, how pissed drunk he was, etc. etc.
Another example, was a 19 year old who openly boasted at the end of the course "I didn't do a single section job the time I was here. Hell, I don't even know how I got in! I smoked 6 bongs before the drug test!"

It's true, alot of us younglings have the added disadvantage of immaturity; but that's just one weakness that we could potentially have. Everyone has them, be they 16, 19, 28, or 44. But we all also have strengths; I guess it's a hard equilibrium to achieve such that the strengths equal or exceed the weaknesses.

BTW, Yard Ape, how do you mean QL2's are only 16 days? I mean, what qualifications are met with your QL2's?

Hopefully a future Sig Op...
The Plan:
-Reservist throughout University until I get my Engineering degree;
-Take QL3's, QL5's and perhaps even JLC's in the mean time and at least get up to Corporal
-Upon Completion of University, try to go on a Peace Keeping tour ASAP
-Come home, see what's next...