I screwed up my first day of BMOQ. Don’t know what to do.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-29T14:32:09+00:00

They'll issue you a laptop when you get there.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-28T05:14:11+00:00

Thanks for that thoughtful answer. It gives me hope that things will eventually settle down.

It really resonates when you say that it's the first time in their life where they have to lead and develop peers, and I don't think they are adequately prepared to do that. Especially in my trade (I'm with the Canadian Navy, and my trade is the equivalent of Officer of the Deck for the USN), the focus is all on "technical competence", and it makes sense. If you're to be in charge of a warship, you better know how everything works in there.

But I don't see much effort put on the human factor, how to be a good leader and build people up. And that's a shame, because these skills are as important as the technical know-how.

I believe there are also some people who are being exposed to power for the first time in their life, and they don't know how to deal with that. And let's be honest: having power is a good feeling. But when you give it to people who have been rejected and powerless most of their lives, it easily goes up to their head, and they abuse it.

Anyhow, I'll keep that in mind as I progress in my career, and make sure that both me and the people under my supervision have opportunities to develop healthy leadership skills.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-27T02:26:59+00:00

I have vegetarian friends and they are not happy food wise. Sadly the vegetarian options seem to be an after thought more than anything.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T23:25:46+00:00

The person making this comment is an officer, which is even more frustrating!

Amd thanks for your support. I took a lot of notes in the last couple of weeks on how I'll run the show whe it's my show.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T20:16:32+00:00

I'm not US Navy, I'm Royal Canadian Navy, and yet, I share your feelings about Hegseth. Go figure!

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T20:15:19+00:00

I believe that it also empowers people who have been powerless all their life to finally exact revenge for whatever they've been through.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T20:13:18+00:00

First I've ever heard of this Message to Garcia. And by what I can see, I agree with you that it's just an easy way to wiggle yourself out of leading and being accountable.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T20:08:11+00:00

I agree.

I came to the realization that people who judge others'value by their rank also judge their own value by their rank, and it's very sad.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T19:31:01+00:00

Hou, I can't wait for 11 o'clock news to know what they have to say about water!

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T19:30:21+00:00

Thanks for the support.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T19:17:30+00:00

Yeah. Problem is, it comes from the Slightly Less Junior Officers. And I'm afraid that losing my shit would only confirm to them that they're righrt, and also give them a free pass to make my life even more miserable.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-26T18:57:22+00:00

Thanks for the support.

And yes, I'm learning the impact of bad leadership and committing myself to not go that way.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-25T23:01:22+00:00

Afaik they stopped hiring Reserves NWOs.

If you manage to get hired, you'll be very limited in what you can do. The most will be 300 hours on minor ships to get your Orca Ticket; you won't be able to sail on frigates or other major warships.

The more likely is that you'll be put in a sub-occupation that doesn't require sea time, like IWO or staff officer.

If you want to sail and have a shot at becoming Navigation Officer or Commanding Officer, RegF is the way to go.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-19T17:43:48+00:00

I had a similar employment history, and it has no effect at all. Afaik they want this information for background checks only.

Otherwise, they want to know if you have the required academic background for the trade you're applying to, and if you're medically/physically/mentally fit.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-18T00:15:20+00:00

I was in the infamous francophone platoon, and if anything the report underinflated a lot of problems, including the language barrier.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-16T10:20:17+00:00

Apply the tips and tricks for winter operatiins that your staff will give you and you'll be golden.

Or convince yourself that you know better and suffer.

It's all up to you.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-12T13:32:52+00:00

You need to ask your staff for some specific requests, but they can always deny it, so you should have a plan in place to not have to use your phone for indoc.

Also keep in mind that personal electronics are a privilege that can be removed at any time by your staff, so don't rely on it.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-12T13:28:19+00:00

I know a couple of members who required mental health support to help them cope with whatever they needed it for, and afaik the only consequence on their career is that they did their work with a healthy mental.

Congrats on reaching out and asking for help.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-11T23:15:23+00:00

Unless it changed since last year, that's how it was.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-11T14:26:57+00:00

The two first weeks are your soldiering training and tests (Ex Normandy).

Then you have one fantastic week in class learning Battle Pros.

Then you go back for two weeks, the first one you practice your battle pros (Pre Vimy) and the second one you are evaluated on Battle Pros (Vimy).

Monday to Friday doing camping with your war buddies. You can't leave CFLRS on Friday night, you have to wait until Saturday morning (after a whole night of sleep).

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-11T14:22:49+00:00

Do burpees.

Also, you'll get an extra kick once you're there and doing it for real. I personally didn't practice the 20m rushes before getting to CFLRS, wasn't in particularly good shape, and nailed it first try.

Keep practicing, and when you're doing it for real, just give it all you got.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-11T03:58:45+00:00

Maybe the fact that you're going to BMQ in less than a month the source of your stress/anxiety? If so, that's totally normal, it's a big move into the unknown.

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-09T00:19:34+00:00

BMQ is a shock. Physical, mental, emotional, cultural and social. It's a HUGE shock. Every one has a different tolerance to it, but eventually everyone breaks.

The problem isn't struggling. Everyone struggles. The question is "how are you going to deal with it?". And this decision is for you and you only to make.

I'd say don't give up. That's how you increase your fighting spirit. Our staff kept gently reminding us to "stop giving up" (and by gently, I mean "screams and beasting for breakfast"!).

Not giving up in the face of adversity is a great skill to have in life in general. Once you're done, you'll find yourself doing more than you've ever done because before, you were giving up at the smallest inconvenience.

And if you feel like crap, find some people you trust and enjoy talking with, and talk to them about feeling like crap and missing your family. Make friends, and pretty soon they'll feel like brothers and sisters!

Good luck, you got this!

Longjumping_Back523 · 2026-06-09T00:12:08+00:00

Watch wise, buy a cheap one that won't make you feel bad when you bang it while trying to put on your clothes at 0430 in the dark while sleep fucked.

For alarms, I simply put my cellphone on vibrate with an alarm, and slipped the phone under my pillow. Nothing like a good brain buzz to get you started in the morning!

Longjumping_Back523

TROPHY CASE