Figure i will revive this thread seeing as i am currently at CFLRS St Jean , i started there in January 26 2013 , Yes 11 months ago as of this post.... Let me explain.
I arrived there , day 4 Express test , i passed all but shuttle run , had issues with tightness in my calfs , Day 5 Express test Re-test - Tore Calf muscle , i continued with rest of test barely hobbling my way around the gym to do it. I was sent to AWT plt (adapted warrior training) basically where injured people go to get fixed and resume training at earliest possible time or get released depending on injury.
First the fail rate is high , and it is mostly because of attitude. People go in and expect it to be easy , but be assured for the average civilian getting up at 5 am or earlier and going to bed at 11pm after a day of Death by power point, and PT and being yelled at and doing pushups because someone else in the platoon can't eat fast enough or keep time , is grueling . for some. After about 1 week maybe 2 the first round of VR (voluntary releases ) happen those are the people who have felt they don't want a life where they have early days and late nights , fair enough. Some also leave with full intention of coming back when they have grown a little older and more mature.
By the time you reach week 4 you have got the hang of things , any further Vr's are usually a result of poor decisions , and personal issues. By the time you reach week 6 , you got it made , week 6 time frame you are getting a cap badge , your platoon as sort of got themselves sorted and doing things relatively in sync with each other.
By week 8 you will have to do a PT test , its now called the Force Test , no longer a Express test . It is different , not necessarily easier for some. but different. If you fail this you are re coursed , you will get sent to WFT ( warrior fitness training) for a small amount of time , if you can not get up to standard you will be released .
One past week 8 you have some outdoor stuff , a few classes and more rifle training , and of course as you get closer to week 11 you will start doing more drill in preparation for graduation. But your not out of the woods yet.
I can not stress enough that the first 4-6 weeks are imperative you keep your mouth shut and ears open. It is a head game you need to not take anything to personal. the yelling the screaming the push ups and running , and so on. It is to get YOU out of your civilian frame of mind and into military frame of mind so they can teach you the military basics so you can move on to your next step.
Some advice to give , there is no official permission to have a ghost it ( copies of kit you have in your locker) do not advertise you have one. This will include hygiene products , boxers , socks , towels and so on. not extra uniforms or anything , keep it simple.
All you have to store extra stuff in is a duffle bag , and you will already have plenty of extra kit issued to you that has no place in your locker. it needs to be of site. remember if you show up in winter you have winter gear too , it needs a place , summer gear is significantly less .
As said before , Foamy shave cream is great , NOT GEL , because Foam does not leak into the cap nearly as much as gel does.
Extra toothpaste make sure whats in your locker looks used , same for soap and shampoo.
Extra shoes are kinda nice to have , but make sure you have space for them in your extra kit bag.
and last but definitly not LEAST , Your locker will have a standard , and it will look like it from you to the last man in your platoon , anything extra make it disappear. it can not be seen .
If anyone has been to CFLRS st jean recently feel free to add to this.
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