Should I hang up my beret?

[Tribunius]

Ok just want to see what ye think. So here is the situation.

I have been in the infantry for six years. I am still a private. I have been offered the PNCO's course every year for the last three years. I have just never been in the position to do it. I have acted in the rank and number of times though. I have however been pretty active over the years missing only one or two field days (from a western Bde unit we don't parade as such we do more field days to compensate though). I like what I do though I would like to move on up the ranks.

However I have also recently finished my degree. I have found a job outside the country though. Its a one year contact with the possibility of extending to two. I will be back home every couple of months though.

So here I stand at the cross roads. Should I hang up my beret or not?

[criodan]

Can you use your degree to gain entry into the CO ranks or are there other criteria that would not facilitate this? If not, use the degree, you have worked hard for it and you can always join the reserve on your return.

New Year new beginning and all that malarkey?

Good luck!

Ps anywhere nice?

[Tribunius]

Yeah you have to be a cpl for a few years before you can go down that route.

Canada

[Bam Bam]

You could request a year off and work abroad, then if the contracts extended deal with the situation later. If its not then you can parade again.

[Acidsphere]

Yeah you have to be a cpl for a few years before you can go down that route.

Canada

What part...

[Viking]

You could request a year off and work abroad

Can you actually do that, ie take a "leave of absence" from the RDF?

[Joshua]

R5

(2) Where, because of prolonged illness or absence from the State with permission, a
member fails in a particular training year to attend the prescribed minimum number of training
parades or their equivalent in hours of training, such member shall not, because of such failure only,
be posted to a non-effective list, provided, however, that where, because of prolonged illness or
absence from the State with permission, they fail in two successive training years to attend the
prescribed minimum number of training parades or their equivalent in hours of training, they shall
be posted to a non-effective list by the Officer Commanding the Unit.

[clean it again]

talk to the staff about it, it happen to me a couple of years ago
explained to situation, they understood my issues
CO had to do it years ago, so he was so understanding about it
if you are back in the country for a hol go up and parade

[Bravo20]

There are procedures for granting leave. The official way is listed below. The first thing you should do is talk to your company HQ (CS, Coy Commander) through normal procedures. As to whether you should hang up your beret, that is up to you. I have decided that I will stay in as long as I still derive enjoyment out of the organisation, so if you enjoy being a member of the reserve and would like to continue when (if) you come back then stay in. At your current rank you are unlikely to block an appointment.

This is the section in Admin R5
103. Leave of Absence - Training Obligations – Reservists
a. Only in exceptional circumstances and as per paragraph 43 of DFR R 5 (New Series) will leave be granted during periods of Full Time Training.
b. Members who have completed basic training and who are graded not less than 2* Pte in the technical class and 3* Pte in the line class or who hold higher ranks may subject to what follows be granted leave of absence in respect of their training obligations by the Officer Commanding the Unit.
(1) Periods of leave of absence will not be for more than 12 calendar months.
(2) Leave will only be granted where the reservist is living and working or is undergoing a course of full-time education abroad and is unable to fulfil the normal weekly training obligations to remain effective as a member of the reserve.
(3) A member granted leave of absence must undertake a minimum of 7 days full-time training by way of annual camp or a course of instruction while on leave of absence from his/her unit to qualify for retention on the effective list.
(4) Leave of absence may only be granted for a maximum of four (4) periods.
(5) Leave of absence will not be granted to a member who is living and working away from his/her home unit area but within the country. In such circumstances the member may be attached to a unit convenient to his/her temporary location to permit him/her to fulfil their training obligations.

[trellheim]

Interesting I never picked up on that in new R5.

[Viking]

Cheers lads.

[Joshua]

Interesting I never picked up on that in new R5.

I quoted my mis information from R5 as published on the RDFRA site...

[samhail]

That is of course unless those in charge have it in for you.
I left a letter to my cmdt signed in front of him in my file to say i would be in Australia for a year and would return, came back 6months later and was out. had to sit with recruits for 8months doing nothing.

[Bravo20]

I quoted my mis information from R5 as published on the RDFRA site...

Johsua, since you left the organisation they split R5 into two sections. You have R5 which is the statutory instrument signed by the minister, this states the general concepts and rules (this is the document you quoted which is on the RDRA site), there is Admin R5 which is an administration instruction, this document disclosed the details of how the rule in R5 is to be administered. So the only "mis-information" is on your part.

[Bosco]

Yeah you have to be a cpl for a few years before you can go down that route.

Canada

I might be in the same situation as you lad.

By the way Calgary is a very good city. Ya gotta luv the women of there.