Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 06:13:14 -0700
From: barry97@telus.net
Subject: The Air Force Part 1: Getting Ready to Join

	My best friend and I split at this time and so a new story line
begins.  If you want to read what came previously read "My Best Friend and
I Growing Up."  This will have every thing as well.  Such as animals and
domination.  The first part may seem dull but it does lead to more of an
exciting part.  Thank you.  barry97@telus.net barry97@telus.net

	My best friend Don left for University at the beginning of the
summer to prepare for his first year.  I had no plans for myself.  I didn't
have the marks to go on to University like my friend Don.  I did know I
didn't want to sit around all my life and end up doing nothing.  While
sitting around watching TV I heard an add for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Right then and there I decided that was for me.  I looked up in the phone
book for the recruiting office.  The closest one was in London.  I didn't
bother telling my parents I was going to London to apply to join the arm
forces.  The last thing I need was for them to know and for me to be turned
down for some reason or other.  On Monday following the last day of school
I went to London by bus.  I found the recruitment office with no problem.
I had to fill out some forms and take some tests and was told that if I was
accepted they would call me in a week, two weeks at the most.  That week
seemed endless and my parents were pushing me to find a summer job.
Finally the phone rang one late afternoon.  It was someone from the
recruitment office in London telling me I had been accepted.  My dad and
mom were surprised when I told them the news that I had been accepted into
the military.  I was told I had to take some tests to place me in the right
category of the armed forces.  I took the tests and was told in another
week I would be off to Basic Training.

It seemed the week flew by and I still hadn't gotten every thing packed.
It was Saturday morning when my parents drove me to the train station to
head off to Basic training.  I had been given my ticket the last time I had
been in London so at the train station I shook hands with dad and hugged
mom good bye and boarded the train east.

In London I went to the recruitment centre.  At the main desk I asked about
enlisting.  I was shown to a room down the hall.  I was asked a bunch of
questions and I produced my I.D. and school records.  I was told they would
contact me in a couple of days if I was going to be accepted into the
Canadian Armed Forces. I was also told if I was accepted I would have to go
to Toronto for tests to see what part of the Forces I was best suited.
After seeing a movie I headed home on the bus.  It was supper time by the
time I got home.  Of coarse my parents asked me how the movie was.  I told
them honestly it was a good movie but didn't mention about the recruitment
centre.

For the next few days the only thing on my mind was weather I was accepted
or not.  My parents were beginning to pressure me about getting a job since
I had decided on my own not to continue school.  I was sitting in the den
reading when the phone range.  I heard mom answer the phone.  She called me
and said it was for me.  I picked up the receiver from mom and said hello.
I almost leaped out of my skin when the man on the other end of the phone
said I was accepted.  He told me I would have to Toronto for psychiatric
testing to decide what was best suited for me.

At that time the Canadian Armed forces were divided into elements rather
then Army, Navy and Air Force.  Instead it was Land, Air and Sea elements.

	I told my parents Don would be in Toronto a few days and I would be
visiting.  The next day I packed up went to London by bus again.  I went to
the office. I was given a train ticket to Toronto, told to look for a man
in uniform holding a sign reading Barry.  He would hold up a sign saying
Barry.  I would go with him and he would drive me to the military centre
for tests.  I arrived at just past eleven in the morning.  I saw a tall man
in a military uniform holding up a sign with Barry written on it.  I
followed him to a near by parking lot.  We got in his Jeep and we soon were
speeding down the highway.  At long last we reached a base.  I followed him
and was introduced to another military men that would be conduction my
tests. I was given a lot of Math, English and test putting together blocks
as well as a complete physical.  I finished at noon for lunch and was back
for the rest of the afternoon doing more tests.  At long last at four I was
told I was finished for the day. I was shown a small room I would be
spending the night. There was only a bed, night stand and closet.  I didn't
unpack my suitcase but went straight to the cafeteria I for supper and then
to my room.

I read awhile and then put on my pajamas and went to bed.  I was asleep in
no time at all.  The next thing I was woken by a loud knock at my door.  At
the door was a soldier who told me after I showered and dressed I was to go
straight to the cafeteria.  I got up went down the hall to a large shower
room. I quickly showered, shaved, and brushed my teeth before dressing in
my room to go to the cafeteria.  Following breakfast I was led back to the
testing room for yet more tests.  I finished all the testing by noon and
was told I would be given a ride to the train station and also I would
receive a phone call in a few days telling me what do next.

The next few days were nerve racking as I waited for the phone to ring.  At
long last the phone rang and it was the military.  I would be on my way to
Cornwallis in a week for Basic Training and after Basic Training I would be
beginning my training as a Medic.  The first thing I did was to tell my
mother and father I was joining the armed forces and was off to basic
training in a week.  My mother was upset but knew she had no say because I
was eighteen and so legal age.  Dad and Mom had plans for the week but
would be back in time before I left for Cornwallis.  My best friend and his
brothers were away getting ready to start University.  So that left me
alone for an entire week to pack and get ready to go to Cornwallis and
basic training.


Barry barry97@telus.com