Well, bear in mind that both Gilgamesh and I are talking about the Canadian army...possibly it's a bit different - especially as Canada is only involved in peacekeeping operations at the moment. From what I've gathered reading the recruiting web site you actually have to choose what you want to specialize in (assuming you qualify).



Wookie was in Iraq. I believe he's a career soldier. Like Arnold in Commando.

Holy ****, I forgot you even existed. Not proud of it of course..

I think what he's trying to say is "hello".

Not quite like Arnold but I am still in Iraq, about nine months now. My actual specialty is Infantry but I work in the battalion headquarters so it's not like I'm on the "front line". Without going into details I can say that some of the very major events you've heard about in the past few months taking place south / southwest of Baghdad have involved my battalion and brigade and due to my current position I end up having extensive real time second person knowledge of the events (in other words I work where the guys on the ground directly report a lot of this stuff to).

If all goes well I'll be home three months from now getting to know my new son. He's six months old today (2 July 06).

Peacekeeping? You think fighting Al Quada terrorists is peacekeeping?

Yeah, it might be more appropriate to call the operations in Southern Afghanistan now peacemaking, instead of peacekeeping, but I still believe that the only the regular members get mandatory service. At least I'm 95% sure.

Well, I don't really want to debate the word 'peacekeeping'...I was mainly using it in the context that troops are deployed but it's not a war.

**** no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111

It's not a conventional war, but what is these days, eh? .

The casualties have certainly risen with the recent activity in Khandahar, but yeah, it's still nothing like the "war" in Iraq. Hopefully the handover to the UN will help to ease the insurgency some in the coming months.

Perhaps thats why it is called... dare I say it? BASIC training? Anyways, I don't know much about the military, but it seems like its a good way to go, depending on who you are. It would be more fun than many jobs, I am afraid of a desk job (which is where I'll probably end up) because I am too much of an outdoorsy, sports playing guy but I am reasonably smart (or at least I like to think of myself that way, but I have my good moments and bad moments, like everyone) and into technology. Hopefully I can find an exciting job that encompasses all my favorite things when I get out of college...

What they're doing in Iraq is called "peace enforcement" in UN terms, I believe.
Peace keeping is what they do in Kosovo or Liberia.

dont go into the army. I know I almost did. both my mom and dad freaked out on me. At first I figured maybe it was because I"m a girl, but it's mostly that the Army are the ones that get all the action and normally see the most casualties. Not that other factions of the military dont have casualities but the army men/women are normally out there doing most of the face to face stuff.

if you really have to go in, go into the Air Force, like my cousin did or just some other part. Trust me, my father was a Major in the Army

What, you've never seen Mr. Holland's Opus?

He's talking about the Canadian Army so your father's experience would be irrelevant with regard to his question. Also, each branch has pros and cons and one person's pro is another person's con. In other words, some people might dislike the USAF for the same reason you might prefer it. It's all a matter of individual preference.

[QUOTE=Double Helix]Perhaps thats why it is called... dare I say it? BASIC training? [/QUOTE]

Just curious how that was in response to my post.

No time for a full post, but as a reply to Wookie06:
I think he was referencing when you said "There's no such thing as a watered down version of basic training." As in Basic training is basic, and that's as.. well.. basic.. as it gets.

(He was agreeing with you. :p)

DAMNIT! I posted as my dad again.