No life like it for Concordia students

Tuition, books, fees and general living expenses go hand in hand for Concordia students, and as many universities across Canada gear up for another round of tuition hikes. Students may not have enough hands, and certainly not enough money. What with low wage part-time work, government loans, laughable bursaries and degrading jobs, the prospect of getting an education without giving up your life diminishes.

Tuition, books, fees and general living expenses go hand in hand for Concordia students, and as many universities across Canada gear up for another round of tuition hikes. Students may not have enough hands, and certainly not enough money.

What with low wage part-time work, government loans, laughable bursaries and degrading jobs, the prospect of getting an education without giving up your life diminishes.

Enter your Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Study now, work later. That’s right! The CAF may help pay for your studies and in return you agree to work for them when you graduate.

In March 2000, Concordia student Vincent Bacilli was studying cell and molecular biology when he applied to the CAF. The idea of being subsidized by the CAF was planted in his head when a friend suggested it to him.

His ultimate goal was to become a dentist, so when he applied and met the requirements he was accepted and his studies were paid for.

“Before going back to school, I was an office manager. During my studies, I wanted a part-time job with similar responsibility. So I decided to try officer training,” Bacilli says.

It is an interesting trade-off: serve your country and your country will get you where you want to go.

Of course it is not as simple as that. The CAF needs people who are devoted and compassionate about the positions they apply for. Captain James H. Land, the recruiting officer at the Canadian Forces Recruiting office at the corner of Ste. Catherine St. and Stanley St., says that all applicants are required to write an aptitude test before being considered further.

“Basically, the test is one hour and it is at a secondary four or five [high school] level, with a bit of everything in it. You have your French and mathematics, nothing too hard. It shows how a person is stronger in certain areas,” he reveals.

Minimum requirements

The minimum requirement is a high school diploma, but Land warns that there is also a lot of competition, so if there are more applicants with higher education, students fresh out of high school would have to prove themselves worthy.

“What we look for, as well, is a person’s ability to put their skills to use with what they have learned. We need people who are able to change with the times because technology is always improving. We need fast learners,” he states.

There are so many positions being offered in the CAF, all you have to do is choose the right category for you.

For example, if you are studying in the medical field, options available include dentistry, pharmaceuticals and nursing. There are positions for technicians, mechanical engineers, social workers, public affairs, legal affairs, pilots and cooks.

The list goes on for job opportunities in these domains, but if you are an English literature student you might not reap the benefits of being a member in the CAF.

If the only reason for entering the CAF is to pay for school, do not try to kid yourself. You are expected to work some weekends and take part in summer exercises.

But according to Bacilli he strongly recommends students try it if one is ready to meet all the military challenges that lie ahead in a particular field of interest.

“It was absolutely beneficial. With my salary, I was able to pay my tuition, books, and some personal expenses,” he informs.

If you are up for the challenge, the next step is the medical exam to determine your physical and mental status.

The health aspect when entering the army is important because training involves physical strength and a body that is in good condition.

“There are just certain tasks in the CAF that require stamina and we need people to be healthy,” Land says.

So what does the CAF consider healthy?

“Just as long as the test results from the medical exam come back looking good and that we can be sure the person is able to perform daily functions, there is no problem,” Land replies.

What if you are enrolled in the army and studying, then realize that the military is really not for you?

Bacilli learned how it was when the going got rough. “The start of training is usually a period of adjustment. When one has been a civilian all his life and is suddenly immersed in a military environment, the experience is a cultural shock, he says. But Bacilli adds that over time, one will become accustomed to military life.

Captain Land admits that there have been times when people quit after realizing that the CAF became too much to handle, but assures that the drop out rate is very low.

“Sure, there is fatigue and stress involved but the people who apply for this are usually people who know they will not quit, who are in the mind-frame that the challenges ahead are not easy, and who sincerely love what they do. Some have ideas of what the CAF is like, but when reality hits, the ones who continue are the ones who knew what they were getting into,” he explains.

In other words, this is not all fun and games. Is it worth it for a student? According to Bacilli it is worth it. Not only do the students learn about their field of study and the CAF but what they learn holds a great deal of life value also.

Women in the CAF

In recent years the CAF has placed the focus on recruiting more women.

Catherine Boule, 25, graduated from Concordia in 2002 and now works in Ottawa for the Department of National Defense as a dentist.

“When I was finished with my studies at Concordia I was offered a position in Ottawa and was working the next day.”

For Boule, the idea of participating in military activities did not appeal to her.

“I was afraid that I would not be able to make the grade,” she says. “I mean I went away for almost a month in the summer where I found myself providing dental services in the field. It was one heck of an experience.”

Boule has no regrets.

“Not one thing would I change,” she says. “I would encourage more women to take advantage of what the CAF offers to students. The commitment from the Forces is there and most people I worked with are all working today.”

In fact, one of the CAF focus is to encourage more women to join the program.

Land reports that he has seen an increase in the number of women joining the CAF student program. “Last year we had a 16 per cent increase in the number of women who joined, compared to the previous year,” he reports.

Danielle Wen, 22, is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Ottawa, couldn’t wait to hitch up. “My father suggested it as a way to pay for my education,” she says.

“I saw it as a great way to handle living expenses and then apply what I learned.”

Wen, who grew up with parents who were in the military, saw first hand what the CAF can do.

“My parents live a great life and have had great careers and have seen the world. It was a logical choice for me.”

Retired Master Sergeant Frederick Proulx wishes he had that option when he joined in 1970. “We had very few options,” he says. “The Infantry, the Navy or the Air Force.”

Proulx chose the Infantry and today he recommends the CAF student program to his children. “It seems like the ideal arrangement. No one loses. Everyone is a winner.”

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For additional information visit their web site at www.recrutement.forces.gc.ca, or call 1-800-856-8488 for more information, or drop by the Recruiting Centre at 1420 Ste. Catherine St.

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