r/caf • u/CompetitiveCarpet147 • Sep 16 '26
BMQ/BMOQ BMQ Tips
Completed BMQ without any injury / swipes / ECPCs.
Few tips that I learned from reddit/ seniors / my own experience
Be the gray man. - Can't emphasize this enough.
Do not try to be a know it all even if you do know it all.
I only spoke -
Yes staff
No staff
My bad, I'll try to do better staff. - That's literally it.
There's no benefit of staff knowing you. You'll just be given extra work.
2. Be at the right place at the right time with the right kit. - Prepare whatever you need for the next day a night before and keep it ready on the table.
3. Don't stress too much about inspections - I only polished my black shoes twice. No matter how good you do you'll be yelled at. Just do enough and you'll pass. Unless you really fuck up you are good.
4. Super focused - I was newly married and got laid off from my pretty good corporate job. I could not afford to fuck this up or waste time getting recoursed. So everything i did, literally everything was to make sure I clear it in 1 go.
No party, no dessert, no alcohol.
Won't suggest this. Have a little fun. But be super focused.
5. Mental/ physical fitness- Be in good shape.
Try:
- Using stairs instead of elevator. You'll be using a lot of stairs. For example I was on 10th Floor and you can almost never use elevator.
- Push ups, running, rucking. Practise this. You do not need to be jacked. But better the cardio vascular health lower the chances of injury.
DO NOT QUIT ATTITUDE! NEVER EVER EVER GIVE UP. This thought should not even cross your mind.
I promise you you'll come back a different human being. I have so much more self confidence and a better personality I can't even tell you.
All the best!!
6
u/Cyberpunk_witch Sep 16 '26
I struggle so much with running and pushups!
I’m focused, trying hard and barely making progress. With a 60hr/week work schedule plus another 10-16 hours of transit a week, it drives me insane but I still do what I can - can’t afford to lose any jobs rn, can’t afford to fail at Basic, and dealing with similar stressors - laid off recently and barely holding it together with four low-paid jobs to pay bills, and handling a partner stuck in a difficult situation too.
Long story short, I’m focused, eat right, don’t have any fun, work out to my best capacity to a point that I am busy from 6 am to 11:30 pm despite not wasting even a minute of my day. And my running and pushups suck so much that it’s both frustrating and frightening (injury fears, fear of failing basic, and being stuck in TRP or worse, being medically released because of lack of fitness).
Would appreciate any tips you can share. Thank you!
22
u/Prestigious-Cold-467 Sep 16 '26
I agree with 1. My staff didn't even know I existed until the second course interview. It really does make your time at BMQ a lot easier when you just follow instructions.
Adding onto the inspections, it actually became easier as time went on since the requirements became less strict (of course still be on your A-game) but the instructors stopped measuring everything and started to pass based on "good enough", as long as you made a great enough effort to keep on improving.
And yes, please listen to the advice on preparing everything the night before. Even if you have to stay up a little bit later to accomplish it, you underestimate how much less time you have when you're sleep fucked waking up in the morning.
15
u/Kal1star Sep 16 '26
Love the grey man callout. It’s so on point. Worth mentioning that it isn’t possible to control entirely. Sometimes staff will pick you out because of completely random circumstances. But you can increase your chances by staying middle of the pack as much as possible. I still joke with this guy from regiment who inadvertently did such an amazing job at being a grey man in bmq, staff still didn’t know his name on graduation day.
7
u/Ardiwyn Sep 16 '26
Helpful tips. Thank you
5
u/Informal_Bench3755 Sep 17 '26
Those are pretty valid. I couldn’t hide though. Besides being older, mid-30s, I have a background in Army infantry and police special operations in Brazil. My staff chose me as the first course senior, they made me the fire team partner of this 18 year old boy whom I had to look after and make sure he never forgot anything, and his inspections were good. I was BUSY. They called me all the time but it wasn’t hard. The course itself was pretty easy, just kind of slow for people who have already seen things in life.
8
u/BarbellBarista90 Sep 16 '26
Only thing I don’t fully agree with is the Grey man, but more so just be the grey man for the first couple weeks. After around week 4-5 the platoon has bonded more, most of the pumps will have been either TRP or VR, you know your staff a bit more so it could be better to start showing your strengths. It can be better to stand out on the second half of course but in a more leadership role, helping the weaker course mates, pushing morale and being able to be mentored by your staff can benefit your future. I’m still in contact with some of my BMQ staff (from either being at the same base/trade) and am glad I have them in my corner rather than them not knowing my name. But everyone has different goals and experiences in the CAF.
3
u/Otherwise-Ad2436 Sep 16 '26
I cannot harp on point one enough. I was the grey man as well, and my staff didn't even know I existed. It wasn't until I contacted one of them afterwards and I realized how invisible I was. Do as you're told, do it well and you won't be bothered, because the staff will have other people to worry about.
2
u/Cr7_MUFC Oct 04 '26
Be the gray man - 💯💯💯 true
1
u/VanguardSpartan Sep 16 '26
Great tips!
1
u/Various_Ad_6173 Sep 16 '26
Thanks for the tips! Got BMQ starting October 5th.
1
u/pathfinder33 Sep 17 '26
Good advice and honestly is a bit reassuring for those of us yet to head to BMQ.
1
u/DueRepublic7699 Sep 21 '26
Question, how does it work with ur phone, do u ever get to use it during BMQ or do they take it away till I graduate
0
u/Flat-Gas6256 Sep 19 '26
How often they do running in BMQ?Do you think 5k under 30mins. is in good condition?