What I'm obsessing about now...
As some of you may know (like anyone who’s ever read my blog before) I’m currently a basic recruit instructor in the Canadian Forces—what most of you would (incorrectly) call a Drill Sergeant. That’s right; I’m that sadistic bastard in all the movies that tortures the recruits in boot camp--like Gunny Sgt Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. (And we all know what happened to him.)
Normally, any recruit who joins the Canadian Forces is sent to St. Jean, Quebec for recruit training. I, however, work at Naval Reserve Training Division (NRTD) in Borden, Ontario. NRTD was initially set up to train Naval Reserve and Air Reserve recruits. However, as the CF had a big recruiting push on NRTD was eventually tasked to train Army, Air Force, and Navy Regular Force recruits as well—sort of like a satellite school for St. Jean to handle their overflow.
Well, apparently the Canadian Forces now has all the military members it needs, because not only has recruiting dropped drastically, but we’re cutting back—especially in Reserve Force numbers.
To that end, NRTD Borden will effectively shut down as of end September 2011.
On Saturday, 25 June 2011, what will most likely be the very last recruits ever to train at NRTD Borden will begin arriving and officially commence recruit training on Monday. In the past we have traditionally trained 6 platoons of 60 recruits each over the summer months. This summer there are only 3: The Battle of Vimy Ridge Platoon; The Battle of the Atlantic Platoon, and Casa Berardi Platoon. Of those, Casa Berardi Platoon (the Franco course) only has 17 recruits.
On Sunday I will meet the recruits of Vimy Platoon. (Or more correctly, they will meet me.) After 6 years of being a recruit instructor (4 at NRTD) this will undoubtedly be the last recruit course I ever teach. When I took this position I thought it would be something I could do until I retired. (I actually retired from the Reg Force after 25 years and joined the Reserves specifically so I could continue to work in recruit training.) I can honestly say that even with the ridiculously long hours, heavy workload, physical hardship, and mental stress that come with being a recruit instructor, it has been the most rewarding job of my career. Now, it seems, I’ll have to find other work.
Most of the staff has already moved on to other, more long-term employment, and while I’ve been guaranteed work until at least March of 2012 I’ve also applied for other, more secure positions. I had a job interview on Wednesday for a position that starts ASAP, which means if I get it I probably won’t even finish this recruit course. Of course the whole thing leaves me conflicted: on the one hand I hate to not finish what I’ve started, and to leave my co-workers in a lurch; but on the other I have to take care of myself and my family.
Right now, life is just a little too complicated. (Hey, this is just my job situation—I won’t bore you further with everything else that’s going on!)
Oh, and I’m this close to finishing the first draft of Tasha, and all the fun that entails.
So, um, what’s the point of all this you may ask?
I have no idea, other than sometimes it helps to sort things out if I write them down (and share them with the world, apparently).
That, and to remind all of you that if anyone has a few million dollars kicking around they don’t need, I’m still up for spending it for you.
Normally, any recruit who joins the Canadian Forces is sent to St. Jean, Quebec for recruit training. I, however, work at Naval Reserve Training Division (NRTD) in Borden, Ontario. NRTD was initially set up to train Naval Reserve and Air Reserve recruits. However, as the CF had a big recruiting push on NRTD was eventually tasked to train Army, Air Force, and Navy Regular Force recruits as well—sort of like a satellite school for St. Jean to handle their overflow.
Well, apparently the Canadian Forces now has all the military members it needs, because not only has recruiting dropped drastically, but we’re cutting back—especially in Reserve Force numbers.
To that end, NRTD Borden will effectively shut down as of end September 2011.
On Saturday, 25 June 2011, what will most likely be the very last recruits ever to train at NRTD Borden will begin arriving and officially commence recruit training on Monday. In the past we have traditionally trained 6 platoons of 60 recruits each over the summer months. This summer there are only 3: The Battle of Vimy Ridge Platoon; The Battle of the Atlantic Platoon, and Casa Berardi Platoon. Of those, Casa Berardi Platoon (the Franco course) only has 17 recruits.
On Sunday I will meet the recruits of Vimy Platoon. (Or more correctly, they will meet me.) After 6 years of being a recruit instructor (4 at NRTD) this will undoubtedly be the last recruit course I ever teach. When I took this position I thought it would be something I could do until I retired. (I actually retired from the Reg Force after 25 years and joined the Reserves specifically so I could continue to work in recruit training.) I can honestly say that even with the ridiculously long hours, heavy workload, physical hardship, and mental stress that come with being a recruit instructor, it has been the most rewarding job of my career. Now, it seems, I’ll have to find other work.
Most of the staff has already moved on to other, more long-term employment, and while I’ve been guaranteed work until at least March of 2012 I’ve also applied for other, more secure positions. I had a job interview on Wednesday for a position that starts ASAP, which means if I get it I probably won’t even finish this recruit course. Of course the whole thing leaves me conflicted: on the one hand I hate to not finish what I’ve started, and to leave my co-workers in a lurch; but on the other I have to take care of myself and my family.
Right now, life is just a little too complicated. (Hey, this is just my job situation—I won’t bore you further with everything else that’s going on!)
Oh, and I’m this close to finishing the first draft of Tasha, and all the fun that entails.
So, um, what’s the point of all this you may ask?
I have no idea, other than sometimes it helps to sort things out if I write them down (and share them with the world, apparently).
That, and to remind all of you that if anyone has a few million dollars kicking around they don’t need, I’m still up for spending it for you.
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