Kilted at Army Boot Camp

[jkruger]

This summer I joined the Canadian Forces Reserves and I did my BMQ (Basic Military Qualifications) this summer. I showed up to the base to check in on the first day of training and for the first couple of days we got to wear our civies and I showed up kilted. It was funny, the average age of the people in the course was 17 to 19 years, it seemed like nobody knew waht to make of me for a few days. Lots of them were from secluded parts of the country. Even the staff ripped on me for a few days but everyone accepted it and when I'd show up on weekends after breaks and was wearing pants people were asking what happened to the kilt.

[Mr. MacDougall]

Wow... Canadian boot camp must be more relaxed than the American version. It was months before I got weekends off, let alone the option of wearing civilian clothes!

[Highlander31]

Wow... Canadian boot camp must be more relaxed than the American version. It was months before I got weekends off, let alone the option of wearing civilian clothes!

I agree, when I went into boot camp in '71, we were issued uniforms two days into reception. It was ten weeks before I had a weekend off, and then it was only an on base pass. (I did basic and A.I.T. at Fort Lewis, Washington. Training companies were located on North Fort, while everything else was across the highway on Main Fort.)

[Livingston]

I agree, when I went into boot camp in '71, we were issued uniforms two days into reception. It was ten weeks before I had a weekend off, and then it was only an on base pass. (I did basic and A.I.T. at Fort Lewis, Washington. Training companies were located on North Fort, while everything else was across the highway on Main Fort.)

About the same with me..place, time etc. I actually got off post with one of the cadre in civies during basic at 7 weeks, and allowed beer at the same time. Got to Ft Lewis just before July 4th in '71 and started actual BCT right after the 4th. Had AIT there, too, which was very relaxed since 95% of us were either National Guard or Reserves. Came home between the two and finished up just before Thanksgiving.

[Riverkilt]

You're a brave lad Joe. They should promote you for your self-confidence.

Ron

[pdcorlis]

I think we should refer all those about to take their first kilted stroll to you for pep talk!

Hats off to you.

[kiltedwolfman]

In the reserves the boot camp portion is done part time over a longer period of time then the regular army. With the Reg's your first 4-5 weeks are confined to barracks, then if you are behaving you might, emphasis on might, get weekends free.
It takes a lot of dedication to be a reservist, let alone a kilted one so hats off to you mate.

[davedove]

In the reserves the boot camp portion is done part time over a longer period of time then the regular army. With the Reg's your first 4-5 weeks are confined to barracks, then if you are behaving you might, emphasis on might, get weekends free.
It takes a lot of dedication to be a reservist, let alone a kilted one so hats off to you mate.

That's different in the US. Reservists and National Guardsmen take the same basic and school training as the full-timers, although there may be a break between the two.

In the mid-80's I got one night off about halfway through basic because they had a perents day and you were allowed to spend the night with them, still in uniform though. We weren't allowed civilian clothes until a few weeks into AIT (your specialty schooling, for those who don't know).

[george7]

That's different in the US. Reservists and National Guardsmen take the same basic and school training as the full-timers, although there may be a break between the two.

In the mid-80's I got one night off about halfway through basic because they had a perents day and you were allowed to spend the night with them, still in uniform though. We weren't allowed civilian clothes until a few weeks into AIT (your specialty schooling, for those who don't know).

There's no break between the two anymore. They got rid of that in 2004. As for the Air Force: Reserve, Guard, and Active duty have the same training and deployment cycles.

[Casper]

This summer I joined the Canadian Forces Reserves and I did my BMQ (Basic Military Qualifications) this summer. I showed up to the base to check in on the first day of training and for the first couple of days we got to wear our civies and I showed up kilted. It was funny, the average age of the people in the course was 17 to 19 years, it seemed like nobody knew waht to make of me for a few days. Lots of them were from secluded parts of the country. Even the staff ripped on me for a few days but everyone accepted it and when I'd show up on weekends after breaks and was wearing pants people were asking what happened to the kilt.

Well, if you enlisted in the reserves in Victoria, and are in the army, then would it not be the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princes Mary's)? They wear the Hunting Stewart...