OldSolduer
Army.ca Relic
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So what would y'all say about Regina? I will wait...."If you can use a fork, you can go to York"
So what would y'all say about Regina? I will wait...."If you can use a fork, you can go to York"
UH OH UH OHSo what would y'all say about Regina? I will wait....
It's the city that rhymes with FUN!So what would y'all say about Regina? I will wait....
lol, not mine, my wife's. She tells it with far more panache, but most of the time couldn't believe she was paying $20k a year for over loaded classes, general lack of support, and administrative failures that would make the GoC blush. It was amateur hour in the worst ways. I'd be embarrassed to have some kind of volunteer organization that poorly run. We've got a few post secondary schools between us, and it was far and away the worst by a long shot.I sense a personal story coming up.
OK, I have had a few beers. Pardon what follows. I am an RMC grad from many decades ago. I think one of the root problems with RMC is that it doesn't know what it wants to be.
- It wants to be bound to tradition from its founding but wants to be modern.
- It wants to provide an education comparable to civilian universities but wants to train junior officers.
- It wants to be demanding (physically, emotionally, psychologically) but wants to mollycoddle.
- It wants everyone to have an extremely high level of physical fitness but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants everyone to learn the art and science of military leadership but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants everyone to excel at academics but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants everyone to be bilingual but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants an academic staff to do cutting-edge research but is tied to DND's requirements (which are often decades behind the current technology).
I welcome the Arbour report and think a fundamental review of RMC's role and purpose is needed. That review should allow RMC to stand or fall based on its merit.
For the original poster: first year at RMC is awful. Second year is pretty bad. But then it gets less worse. By the end it you will find it tolerable. Hang in there. If you really hate everything about it, leave right away.
OK, I have had a few beers. Pardon what follows. I am an RMC grad from many decades ago. I think one of the root problems with RMC is that it doesn't know what it wants to be.
- It wants to be bound to tradition from its founding but wants to be modern.
- It wants to provide an education comparable to civilian universities but wants to train junior officers.
- It wants to be demanding (physically, emotionally, psychologically) but wants to mollycoddle.
- It wants everyone to have an extremely high level of physical fitness but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants everyone to learn the art and science of military leadership but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants everyone to excel at academics but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants everyone to be bilingual but doesn't want that to interfere with other aspects of the college.
- It wants an academic staff to do cutting-edge research but is tied to DND's requirements (which are often decades behind the current technology).
I welcome the Arbour report and think a fundamental review of RMC's role and purpose is needed. That review should allow RMC to stand or fall based on its merit.
For the original poster: first year at RMC is awful. Second year is pretty bad. But then it gets less worse. By the end it you will find it tolerable. Hang in there. If you really hate everything about it, leave right away.
That highlighted bit.
A big part of the problem, and its not just RMC, is that we seem to think we can create a leader. So we give people "qualifications" and call then leaders. Its ridiculous.
We cannot, all stop, create a leader. Absolutely not. Its a ingrained character trait, not something one simply becomes with a ring and certificate. At best we can hone and fine tune the preexisting character trait.
Leaders are both IMHO.
Much like forging a knife, you can easily make it out of whatever material you'd like... but a piece of steel is optimal. That raw material is still raw material unless it's refined.
Conversely, I can fashion a workable, aesthetically pleasing knife our of resin, but it may not hold an edge that well or be as resilient as the steel knife.
Knives aside, I find it ironic that our leaders don't actually ever get much formal training, or exposure to leadership theory, which is a huge field of study world wide.
And it shows, sometimes ....
Leaders are both IMHO.
Much like forging a knife, you can easily make it out of whatever material you'd like... but a piece of steel is optimal. That raw material is still raw material unless it's refined.
Conversely, I can fashion a workable, aesthetically pleasing knife our of resin, but it may not hold an edge that well or be as resilient as the steel knife.
Unless things have changed, obligatory service is "reset" once Wings are awarded. So, an RMC grad would owe 5 years of service for the subsidized education (during which OJT / pilot training would occur), and subsequently owe another 7 (?) years of service after Wings. While certainly pensionable, attendance at RMC will not shorten service owed after Wings grad. **I am not sure what the pilot training is like, however, I think having an RMC background with all of the extra curricularās will prepare you for that training. Every year you are in school is one less year you owe as a pilot. It will also mean an earlier retirement by 4 or 5 years.
6 months after your release you can most likely reapply for the ROTP position. If you get it, you get some of the benefits, if you donāt, oh well.
I would honestly stay the course for a bunch of reasons, but quick access to my wings wouldnāt be one of them. The pilot backlog is insane from what I read and could be another level of frustration for you as you are on BTL waiting x years to qualify for your Ltās.
FTFY...its a grind.As other grads have noted, 1st year really sucks (especially through 4th year for engineers)
Embrace the suck bro.....FTFY...its a grind.
I thought 3rd year was the most terrible oneā¦. Fourth year was busy but fun and interesting.FTFY...its a grind.
Hey I'm a student at RMC in 2nd year and I was basically in your situation wanting to VR, but right now I'm living my best life.Hey everyone,
I'm a first-year engineering student at RMC, and I dislike it.
For a bit of context, I graduated high school a few years ago and turned down offers from civilian universities because of covid and online schooling. After working and saving some money, I decided I wanted to apply to become a pilot in the CAF. I thought the military's subsidized education was the best way to provide a stable career (especially in a volatile industry like aviation) while also obtaining a degree. I pursued some flight training after high school and enjoyed it quite a bit.
If I hadn't been accepted into the CAF as a pilot I likely would not have joined, and instead pursued my commercial license (and ideally a degree) on the civilian side. My gripe about the college is not with regard to academics, I actually enjoy my classes. It's about the other expectations set on the students. Room inspections, drill practice, and weekend activities all subtract time that I could be using to study. There have been days where I have had room inspections or ruck marches followed by midterms. I would love to learn French and look forward to intramural sports but when I'm trying to stay on top of exams, labs, or homework it becomes difficult to juggle everything. If I could focus solely on my academics until I complete my degree, I think I'd be in a better spot mentally. I'm told to manage my time better, but there are only so many hours I can work with and I think I'm managing my time the best I can.
I don't think I would consider changing degrees since I enjoy the classes, but RMC's extracurriculars interfere with the demanding academic workload I have. A lot of days what keeps me motivated is the end goal but I just wish I was able to enjoy the journey a bit more, and 3 years seems like a long time to be in an environment (RMC, not the CAF) I don't enjoy.
I know it's just venting but hopefully someone will be able to offer a little clarity or insight on my situation. I would appreciate it a lot.
Hmmm not true. Undergrad engineering taught me a discipline and work ethics that went a long way during pilot training. That discipline allowed me to focus on what was important and the work ethics to put the efforts when I needed to put them, regardless of what my social desires were. Also, my engineering degree allowed me to apply, be selected to attend Test Pilot School, and become a test pilot (and excel on the course).Unless you really want to do engineering, maybe think of switching to business lol, because if you're a pilot, you won't really use your degree.
Unless you really want to do engineering, maybe think of switching to business lol, because if you're a pilot, you won't really use your degree.
Good points Max about the part that technical streams can aid some in pilot training (not for all, friends with History degrees did well in training)...or split the different and do a technical degree in the sciences that would be applicable to the more technical side of aviation if you want to pursue related activities later (like TPS as Max mentions), and if you want to dive into more focused disciplines in engineering, follow-up with post-grad afterwards as a path.Hmmm not true. Undergrad engineering taught me a discipline and work ethics that went a long way during pilot training. That discipline allowed me to focus on what was important and the work ethics to put the efforts when I needed to put them, regardless of what my social desires were. Also, my engineering degree allowed me to apply, be selected to attend Test Pilot School, and become a test pilot (and excel on the course).
A degree gives you a LOT more than what the materiel you learn listening at a lecture.