Post by A K Forsyth on Oct 7, 2003 15:11:54 GMT -5
My journey began when I was 18. I wrote the RPAT for the first time and failed. This was disheartening for me, but at teh time I was in university and really wanted to finish my degree.
Along came 1999 and I once again went through an info session and wrote my test in January 1999. I received my marks in May, but was disappointed that I only got 3.4. I figured with this I was definately out. I received the official letter after 2 drafts and put it behind me and signed up for another info session. I attended the info session and the day before I wrote my girlfriend called me and said 'E' Div called and that tehy need a call back immediatly. I was in the middle of a meeting with a prof where he had just asked me to continue my studies underneath him with a masters degree and I had accepted. After the meeting, I called 'E' Div and listened to what they had to say intently. It seems there was a mistake with the marking, and my score was actually 3.76, which was high enough to be selected in the second draft.
Two days later the package ws in my hands. The problem was that because the test was in the middle, they told me to write it and make sure I pass or they would revoke the offer.
I filled out the package (which they gave me 10 days for) and sent it in. They wanted some clarification on some points a week after that, and we did that over the phone. Then the wait began.
While this was happening I was phoned by a Cpl at the local detachment and told that my Auxilliary application had been accepted and that she would get back to me with details.
Low and behold, everything was moving fast. I was called by a recruiter out of Kamloops and she set an interview date for me. July 10, 2001. The only stipulation was that I had to come to the interview or wait another two months. I drove the 5 hour drive only to be disappointed. I failed. Not because of life experience, but because during university I was at parties where marijuana was being smoked and did not leave. She thought that three years since then was a little short and said that she prefers five. Thus the drive home was a blur. I do not even know how I made it, but I did.
After this the depression started to sink in, but I fought it off hard. Kept busy, began planning for two years down the line.
About a month after the failure, I was passed in the Auxiliary interview and began training October 6, 2001.
After 9 months of training I was finally on the road in a fairly large detachment. The nights were extremely busy, and I began making all kinds of friends. I was also getting compliments from the S/Sgt's on the watches that I should be working at becoming a regular member. After they heard my story, a ball began rolling. Pretty soon I was getting called from an inspector asking for a low down. After meeting with him, het told me that I should sit tight and he would look at this a little further because this was not the first time something like this had happened and that they were looking into it already.
One night, att eh end of the summer, I was pulled into the S/Sgt's office where the inspector stood. Tehy closed the door and sat me down and explained the real story to me. Seems like I passed my interview, but what was done could not be undone, but the parties responsible were haveing to answer to the powers that be. Justice was served in my eyes.
At this pint I was not interested in continuing with an applicatin ever again. It was not untill that fateful night in November that changed my mind.
It was cold up here in the North of BC. It was a thursday night and my wife (the same girl from earlier in the story) was working night shift at the hospital, so I was out with the boys. Well there was a crack shack that was getting a warrant executed on it, and at this point I was trusted enough to have been in on many busts. I was assigned the rear of the house with the dog man. It was an uneventful bust since the people of 'B Watch' are so damn skillful in their warrant executions.
As we were organizing the evidence, a call came i of a vehicle in the river. Well the Fraser River at the end of Novemebr is damn cold and the dog man and I went screaming to the scene. There it was. A small two door can...upside down. We went tearing down the bank and straight into the water. It was cold and I lost feeliong right away. Other members were showing up and two more came into the water and helped us free the first male. The second male was harder to get out, but we succeeded.
On shore they were both dead, but as a paramedic I could not stop there (I had been a part time paramedic for the past 5 years). We only had one pocket mask, I I had two members do compressions while I did vents for both patients till the ambulances arrived. By then we had a pulse back in one patient, but not in the other.
I rode with the Advanced Life Support guys working on the not revived patient the whole way. When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor pronounced out patient dead. The other patient on the other hand was severely hypothermic, but when warmed he started doing better. He survived.
Standing in the hall of the emergency department just kinda looking shocked, the members becan coming up to me and shaking my hand, or giving me smacks on the back. As we congragated in a group outside I realized I was cold, dirty and wet. Since I was a new Auxiliary, I only had one set of winter dress and knew my night was over. We then headed back to the detachment.
At the detachment word was getting around. The S/Sgt came up to me and reminded me that as an auxiliary I do not have to do crazy stuff like that. My only response was that I saw no other alternative, that is why I wear the uniform. It was then that I realized what my calling in life was. The service of others in the best way possible, the RCMP.
Well the S/Sgt made a decision at that point as well. If I wanted to stay on that night there was uniform available to me, although it was RM issue. I was authorized to wear clothing without the Auxiuliary billboards attached, and from that point on I was no longer refered to as a auxiliary when out, but rather an RCMP memeber, and many times, constable.
A couple of months later, teh official recognition occurred. The detachment held a presentation for all involved and the Superintendant of the detachment presented me with a CO's commendation. He asked if I planned on going through with an application when I could. I told him most definately.
Well after that I knew I had to begin working hard. I began stufying from within the RCMP, learnign as much as I could. I attended an info session in May of 2003, and signed up for a test for July 17th 2003. Just over two years from my failure of the RMSI.
I wrote the test on the 17th and came out feeling terrible. It was different than before and it seemed much harder. I received my marks September 10th, 2003. 4.11 this time. The best I have ever done. Now the wait begins. This is where I am as of October 7th, 2003. Will advise when the saga continues.
Along came 1999 and I once again went through an info session and wrote my test in January 1999. I received my marks in May, but was disappointed that I only got 3.4. I figured with this I was definately out. I received the official letter after 2 drafts and put it behind me and signed up for another info session. I attended the info session and the day before I wrote my girlfriend called me and said 'E' Div called and that tehy need a call back immediatly. I was in the middle of a meeting with a prof where he had just asked me to continue my studies underneath him with a masters degree and I had accepted. After the meeting, I called 'E' Div and listened to what they had to say intently. It seems there was a mistake with the marking, and my score was actually 3.76, which was high enough to be selected in the second draft.
Two days later the package ws in my hands. The problem was that because the test was in the middle, they told me to write it and make sure I pass or they would revoke the offer.
I filled out the package (which they gave me 10 days for) and sent it in. They wanted some clarification on some points a week after that, and we did that over the phone. Then the wait began.
While this was happening I was phoned by a Cpl at the local detachment and told that my Auxilliary application had been accepted and that she would get back to me with details.
Low and behold, everything was moving fast. I was called by a recruiter out of Kamloops and she set an interview date for me. July 10, 2001. The only stipulation was that I had to come to the interview or wait another two months. I drove the 5 hour drive only to be disappointed. I failed. Not because of life experience, but because during university I was at parties where marijuana was being smoked and did not leave. She thought that three years since then was a little short and said that she prefers five. Thus the drive home was a blur. I do not even know how I made it, but I did.
After this the depression started to sink in, but I fought it off hard. Kept busy, began planning for two years down the line.
About a month after the failure, I was passed in the Auxiliary interview and began training October 6, 2001.
After 9 months of training I was finally on the road in a fairly large detachment. The nights were extremely busy, and I began making all kinds of friends. I was also getting compliments from the S/Sgt's on the watches that I should be working at becoming a regular member. After they heard my story, a ball began rolling. Pretty soon I was getting called from an inspector asking for a low down. After meeting with him, het told me that I should sit tight and he would look at this a little further because this was not the first time something like this had happened and that they were looking into it already.
One night, att eh end of the summer, I was pulled into the S/Sgt's office where the inspector stood. Tehy closed the door and sat me down and explained the real story to me. Seems like I passed my interview, but what was done could not be undone, but the parties responsible were haveing to answer to the powers that be. Justice was served in my eyes.
At this pint I was not interested in continuing with an applicatin ever again. It was not untill that fateful night in November that changed my mind.
It was cold up here in the North of BC. It was a thursday night and my wife (the same girl from earlier in the story) was working night shift at the hospital, so I was out with the boys. Well there was a crack shack that was getting a warrant executed on it, and at this point I was trusted enough to have been in on many busts. I was assigned the rear of the house with the dog man. It was an uneventful bust since the people of 'B Watch' are so damn skillful in their warrant executions.
As we were organizing the evidence, a call came i of a vehicle in the river. Well the Fraser River at the end of Novemebr is damn cold and the dog man and I went screaming to the scene. There it was. A small two door can...upside down. We went tearing down the bank and straight into the water. It was cold and I lost feeliong right away. Other members were showing up and two more came into the water and helped us free the first male. The second male was harder to get out, but we succeeded.
On shore they were both dead, but as a paramedic I could not stop there (I had been a part time paramedic for the past 5 years). We only had one pocket mask, I I had two members do compressions while I did vents for both patients till the ambulances arrived. By then we had a pulse back in one patient, but not in the other.
I rode with the Advanced Life Support guys working on the not revived patient the whole way. When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor pronounced out patient dead. The other patient on the other hand was severely hypothermic, but when warmed he started doing better. He survived.
Standing in the hall of the emergency department just kinda looking shocked, the members becan coming up to me and shaking my hand, or giving me smacks on the back. As we congragated in a group outside I realized I was cold, dirty and wet. Since I was a new Auxiliary, I only had one set of winter dress and knew my night was over. We then headed back to the detachment.
At the detachment word was getting around. The S/Sgt came up to me and reminded me that as an auxiliary I do not have to do crazy stuff like that. My only response was that I saw no other alternative, that is why I wear the uniform. It was then that I realized what my calling in life was. The service of others in the best way possible, the RCMP.
Well the S/Sgt made a decision at that point as well. If I wanted to stay on that night there was uniform available to me, although it was RM issue. I was authorized to wear clothing without the Auxiuliary billboards attached, and from that point on I was no longer refered to as a auxiliary when out, but rather an RCMP memeber, and many times, constable.
A couple of months later, teh official recognition occurred. The detachment held a presentation for all involved and the Superintendant of the detachment presented me with a CO's commendation. He asked if I planned on going through with an application when I could. I told him most definately.
Well after that I knew I had to begin working hard. I began stufying from within the RCMP, learnign as much as I could. I attended an info session in May of 2003, and signed up for a test for July 17th 2003. Just over two years from my failure of the RMSI.
I wrote the test on the 17th and came out feeling terrible. It was different than before and it seemed much harder. I received my marks September 10th, 2003. 4.11 this time. The best I have ever done. Now the wait begins. This is where I am as of October 7th, 2003. Will advise when the saga continues.
I have heard there has been some changes even since we went through..
he he he.. We should plan for something in the fall where we meet the BB Sweed half way...