CanuckHopeful
Member
In March of this year I presented myself at Aubagne and the following is a day to day experience.
March 31st I arrived, presenting my passport to the gentleman behind the plexiglass. He motioned for me to sit once he took my passport. I waited for twenty or thirty minutes until a Russian kid showed up and waited with him for ten minutes till a Caporal showed up who instructed us to perform 5 pull-ups on the pull-up bar located in the entrance of the office. We passed and were led to a building where we did a paper IQ test. I only got 6 out of 12 which they said may or may not disqualify me and asked if I wished to continue or return in three months. I said I'd take my chances with the computer test which they said would be done the following day. After that they inventoried my suitcase and the contents of my pocket, then Paradise.
I went to a area outside the building where it was basically a gated waiting area with a portable building. Inside was a television with Legion videos and reading material from dictonaries, things to help with IQ test, pictures of ranks etc. I took a seat under the tent with the others, about twenty guys from all over the world: two from Nepal, five Brazilians and a mish-mash of Italians, Spaniards and Arabs. I was surprised to find another Canadian but by that point he had formed a relationship with a American so I was the only ‘Westerner’ without a group. However, what suprised me was how nice people were. The Italians, who spoke decent English, chatted me up along with the Nepalese guys. Shortly after arriving we had lunch where I got to know the American and Canadian who gave me the rundown on how things go. After lunch they were called to go Blue and we saw an influx of guys come in, one of whom was a South African (white) guy and Georgians and more Spaniards. The mood was relaxed as all we did was wait, drink coffee and hot chocolate from the machine located inside the building and smoke cigarettes. If you wanted water you'd have to walk a bit to the fountains located next to the showers and the toilets. Once nighttime hit we were shown our sleeping quarters and were able to shower, which only last two minutes when a rogue unzipped the flaps and yelled at me to go.
The next morning I took the computer test and passed, and waited some more in Paradise. By this point the Blues were down about thirty guys as I guess Thursday is when the selection board decides who stays and who goes. There was very little interaction between the Blues and us civil guys, but if you have a fellow (insert nationality here) they'll take care of you as they have access to a store to purchase drinks, cigarettes etc. The weekend was laid back as the caporal-chef basically said “don't **** me, I won't **** you†so we kept Paradise clean, didn't make much noise and didn't interact with the Blues.
So fast forward to Monday when I took the medical and that was it for me. The doctor, an Officer of some sort, said I had scoliosis and I also revealed I had eczema as a kid when filling out the medical questionnaire. When I returned to Paradise it was obvious who was going home as those who passed were given a yellow vest, shorts and did the running/pull-up test. After lunch myself along with half the Brazilians and Arabs were let go.
I have to say that while I was disappointed I was not selected I had one of the best times of my life there; I will never forget the people I was with nor will I forget the balls it took to actually try to join. While we were being escorted out I finally realized what I had done and couldn't be prouder. I am currently in the process of re-joining the Canadian Forces after a situation I will not go into made that difficult. With that being cleared up hopefully a job offer will come within the next month or two which I am very happy about.
For those attempting to join there isn't much I can really offer you but I will say the following: - GO! You'll never know if you'll make it so just buy that ticket and TRY! What I didn't want was to live with the regret of "what could have been"?
March 31st I arrived, presenting my passport to the gentleman behind the plexiglass. He motioned for me to sit once he took my passport. I waited for twenty or thirty minutes until a Russian kid showed up and waited with him for ten minutes till a Caporal showed up who instructed us to perform 5 pull-ups on the pull-up bar located in the entrance of the office. We passed and were led to a building where we did a paper IQ test. I only got 6 out of 12 which they said may or may not disqualify me and asked if I wished to continue or return in three months. I said I'd take my chances with the computer test which they said would be done the following day. After that they inventoried my suitcase and the contents of my pocket, then Paradise.
I went to a area outside the building where it was basically a gated waiting area with a portable building. Inside was a television with Legion videos and reading material from dictonaries, things to help with IQ test, pictures of ranks etc. I took a seat under the tent with the others, about twenty guys from all over the world: two from Nepal, five Brazilians and a mish-mash of Italians, Spaniards and Arabs. I was surprised to find another Canadian but by that point he had formed a relationship with a American so I was the only ‘Westerner’ without a group. However, what suprised me was how nice people were. The Italians, who spoke decent English, chatted me up along with the Nepalese guys. Shortly after arriving we had lunch where I got to know the American and Canadian who gave me the rundown on how things go. After lunch they were called to go Blue and we saw an influx of guys come in, one of whom was a South African (white) guy and Georgians and more Spaniards. The mood was relaxed as all we did was wait, drink coffee and hot chocolate from the machine located inside the building and smoke cigarettes. If you wanted water you'd have to walk a bit to the fountains located next to the showers and the toilets. Once nighttime hit we were shown our sleeping quarters and were able to shower, which only last two minutes when a rogue unzipped the flaps and yelled at me to go.
The next morning I took the computer test and passed, and waited some more in Paradise. By this point the Blues were down about thirty guys as I guess Thursday is when the selection board decides who stays and who goes. There was very little interaction between the Blues and us civil guys, but if you have a fellow (insert nationality here) they'll take care of you as they have access to a store to purchase drinks, cigarettes etc. The weekend was laid back as the caporal-chef basically said “don't **** me, I won't **** you†so we kept Paradise clean, didn't make much noise and didn't interact with the Blues.
So fast forward to Monday when I took the medical and that was it for me. The doctor, an Officer of some sort, said I had scoliosis and I also revealed I had eczema as a kid when filling out the medical questionnaire. When I returned to Paradise it was obvious who was going home as those who passed were given a yellow vest, shorts and did the running/pull-up test. After lunch myself along with half the Brazilians and Arabs were let go.
I have to say that while I was disappointed I was not selected I had one of the best times of my life there; I will never forget the people I was with nor will I forget the balls it took to actually try to join. While we were being escorted out I finally realized what I had done and couldn't be prouder. I am currently in the process of re-joining the Canadian Forces after a situation I will not go into made that difficult. With that being cleared up hopefully a job offer will come within the next month or two which I am very happy about.
For those attempting to join there isn't much I can really offer you but I will say the following: - GO! You'll never know if you'll make it so just buy that ticket and TRY! What I didn't want was to live with the regret of "what could have been"?
