Time for Week Five

Time seems to be flying this year.  It feels like I just got here and now the end is approaching.  This last week was all class except we did learn how to fight and kill with our bayonettes. 

The next ten days will be in the field in Farnham.  A little shit town the east of St. Jean.  We have one week of practise for our final task and then a week to do our final task.  Then it is grad week and then I will be off to NYC.

Pics and stories to come later.

Gas Gas Gas

Three words I never want to hear again.  This week was mostly spent on learning CBRN which is Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear.  We learned stuff like, in a nuclear blast our CADPAT will give us moderate protection (yeah right).  Tuesday was spent all in the classroom learning the theory of CBRN.  Wednesday was getting out gas suits and learning gas drills (changing canisters, masking up, drinking, decontamination etc).   

Then wednesday we did the trial hut.  Boy have I been dreading it for about a year.  Basically we all put on our suits (which are charcoal lined, one piece bunny suits) and walked in 30 degree weather across the base and then went into a building full of tear gas.  We had to wear the suits for two hours before we could take it off.  After ten minutes my gloves were already full of sweat.

First time you go in you were wearing your suit, you did the confidence test (some light PT), changing of canister drill and drinking water drill.  You then went outside, took off the mask and gloves and undid the hood.  You then had to walk into the chamber and when you went in and felt the effects you had to mask up.  First time I walked in I had my mouth and eyes open and took a good five steps in before I felt it.  And then I really felt it.  When the mask was finally on we went to the next room and put on our hoods and gloves and then we had to decontaminate.

This weekend I went to Montreal on Friday/Saturday.  Friday night I went to a casino for my first time with some friends and we mostly stayed at the roulette and craps table.  We also were at the blackjack table too.  On Saturday I picked up two new books (I am Legend and Empire) as I had finished Ender’s Game (also a good book).  I saw the Dark Knight and really liked it.  I also went to this restaurant I went to last year called The Three Amigos.  It is a cool mexican restaurant on Rue St. Catherine. 

We have more more week here in the Mega.  Three inspections and one is a platoon commander’s inspection.  Next week we go to the field for Pre-Vimy which is preparing for Vimy, our final challenge were we get a task, have to write up orders and then execute them while not sleeping for the whole week.

Also, I heard that Matt Sundin was offered $20 million for a two year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Now I must go and get ready for tomorrow’s inspection and Maritime Crossing.

Two Weeks Down

Well I have finished my first two weeks of training here, so far it is not too bad.  First week was a review of IAP and the second week was all leadership theory “death by powerpoint” classes.  This upcoming week will be all gas training.  My platoon is huge and makes up almost an entire company and there are about 1/3 girls. 

I finished JPod on the first weekend I was here which is a really good book and now I am reading Ender’s Game, which is so far another book I really like.

Yesterday I went to Montreal and I spent the day at the Juste Pour Rire street festival which was a fun time.

I also have been registered for classes already.  I am in CMPT 310 (AI), 320 (Social Implications of a Computerized Society) and 371 (Networks with JC Liu).  Then I am doing MACM 316 and CRIM 355 (Forensics). 

I do not have much time right now so that is all the big recent updates.  Chat later.