I dunno how the Canadian military works, but if it's anything like the US Army Reserves, I wouldn't count on it too much. I should have joined the reserves to go to school. I'm not going to school, so I basically play soldier for a weekend a month and go back to a civilian job that I could have done without enlisting. If you're going to school, it'll probably help out a LOT (our financial aid pays for everything). The reserves is for going to school, Active is for actually doing something and training. It practically took an arm and a leg for me to get into a Squad Designated Marksman course this year with my unit, and that's the extent of my additional training after basic. Heck, they have shifted focus in basic so much that it was hardly what I expected it to be. It's a kinder, gentler army they say, lol... I did learn a great deal of self discipline and I have a new sense of pride in who I am and what I do, but there's a good and a bad side to it. Take it from me, it will be VERY hard transitioning back to being a normal person again. I was all Hooah Hooah after basic, and I got back and forgot how to be a civilian, and it wound up costing me a relationship of nearly 4 years with a woman that I really loved. I had the ring ready, but she found me intolerable after coming back and left. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> I just got so swept up in that mindstate, I forgot how to treat people who aren't in that same mindstate. That traumatic experience wound up being my wake up call, but never forget to listen to what you're loved ones say to you when you come back. If you go this route, they'll be your greatest source of feedback and guidance, and they'll get you back to normal, as long as you listen to them, which is what I failed to do. Learn from my mistakes, and weigh your decision very carefully. You're going to be committing yourself to this if you do enlist, and it's a pain in the neck to change your mind.