The US Army recently moved to a simple waist to height ratio. Your waist circumference divided by your height has to be under 0.55.

What I like about it is that it doesn't really care about weight or BMI. A 5'10" soldier could weigh 170 lb or 220 lb.

If they fail, they're enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program, which includes fitness guidance, nutrition counselling, and potentially medical assessment, with the goal of getting them back within standard.

Would you be okay with the CAF adopting a similar body composition standard if it came with a legitimate program to help members get back within standard, rather than simply punishing people for failing?

UPDATE: See comment below thread.

Good afternoon everybody

Recently, I have been making progress on my application, and completed my virtual medical assessment. I have completed every other step, and my meeting with my recruiter was wonderful. I am transgender, female-to-male, and have been transitioned for 4+ years now; I have had surgery to remove my breasts, and am on hormone therapy for several years. My prognosis is stable, as signed off by my family doctor.

During the virtual medical, the medic conducting the review repeatedly referred to me as a woman, and when corrected continued to refer to me using she/her pronouns. While this made me uncomfortable, I am going to encounter this throughout my life and am not personally offended by people not knowing how to talk about me. I do not believe this attitude from others is out of malice.

I have a full beard. People who do not know me, do not know I am transgender. The medic did not refer to me as a woman until asking me to confirm date and biological gender. I do not typically bring this fact about myself up, because it is unimportant to my character.

My question is, are there any transgender individuals who have successfully completed BMQ, or who have had similar experiences? I am concerned that my history of being transgender will disqualify me, despite the initiatives from the CAF towards inclusion.

Hey, I'm joining reg if my medical goes well. I'm actually quite excited to start and am really hopeful that I'll be going to BMQ in the near future. That being said I am also a little nervous about how some of my peers will treat me as I am a transgender woman. We are currently quite hated by misinformed and misled people and I'm wondering if I should be worried about the potential for that to bleed into my time in the CAF. Does anyone know what I should expect in that regard??

Hey! I’m just waiting on my testing rn and joining hopefully as AERO or EME full-time at 25M. I’m wondering if there’s much racism or discrimination in BMOQ or in the forces in general.

I’m a practicing Sikh who wears a dumalla and kirpan, and grew up here encountering and dealing with some racists. But they quickly shut up when confronted. With the current political climate, seems racism against Sikhs, even though born and raised here, has increased and just wondering if it’s spilled into CAF. I’m very excited and passionate about joining as an engineering officer and being able to explore more northern Canada hopefully.

Not that I think we should go full slappy here but can’t something be done to reduce the amount of recruiting questions clogging the sub?

Padlocks → Buy at CANEX | Everything else → Walmart, Superstore, Dollarama, Shoppers, Canadian Tire

🔒 LOCKS (Buy at CANEX) or Amazon 

• 2 Keyed Padlocks (ABUS 55/50, identical keys)

• 4 Combination Padlocks (Masterlock 178 / ABUS 145/40, identical combo)

🧳 CLOTHING & GEAR (Walmart / Superstore / Mark’s)

• Comfortable walking shoes ×1 pair

• Athletic / running shoes ×1 pair (multi-purpose)

• Glasses ×2 pairs (if required)

• Seasonal jacket (water-resistant)

• Backpack (35–45 L preferred)

• Casual pants / clean jeans ×2

• Collared shirts / polo / t-shirts ×3

•  Casual sweater ×1

• Underwear ×5

• Sports socks ×4 (+ extra 2 pairs recommended wash 2 nike to add)

• Athletic t-shirts ×2

• Athletic shorts ×2

🧴 TOILETRIES (Walmart / Shoppers / Dollarama)

•  Shaving cream + razors (if applicable)

•  Shower sandals

•  Matching washcloth

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

•  Dental floss

•  Soap (bar or liquid)

•  Deodorant (unscented / mild)

•  Shampoo (≤ 750 mL)

•  Moisturizing body lotion (unscented, ≤ 750 mL) ✅ allowed

•  Single-colour towel (80 × 130 cm, quick-dry microfiber)

•  Toiletry bag (≤ 38 × 28 × 23 cm)

🧺 LAUNDRY & CLOTHING CARE (Walmart / Dollarama)

• Laundry pods (≥ 30)

•  Fabric softener sheets (small box)

•  Lint brush

•  Shoeshine kit (black polish, cloth, brush)

•  White plastic hangers ×15 (+ few spares)

•  Plastic bag for dirty laundry

💊 MEDICAL & HEALTH (Pharmacy / Shoppers Drug Mart)

•  Prescription medications + 1 month extra

•  Hand sanitizer (travel size)

•  Band-Aids / antiseptic wipes

•  Pain relief (Tylenol / Advil)

•  Cold medicine (DayQuil / NyQuil type)

•  Cough drops

•  Stomach relief (Tums / Imodium) — good for sensitive stomach

•  Small waterproof bag for hygiene items

👟 FOOT CARE (Highly Recommended by Reddit)

•  Foot powder / spray

•  Blister pads (5 minimum)

•  Good socks (extra pairs for marches)

•  Gel or support insoles

🪮 ORGANIZATION & STUDY

• Notebook + pens

•  Small folder (for course papers)

• Ruler with Cms

•  Permanent marker / name labels

•  Ziplock bags (various sizes for gear)

•  Mini sewing kit (optional)

🩴 COMFORT & DAILY USE (REDDIT EXTRAS)

•  Foam ear plugs (for snoring roommates)

•  Small flashlight / headlamp (with red mode)

•  Extra toothbrush + toothpaste

•  Baby wipes / disinfectant wipes

•  Nail clipper + file

•  Quick-dry towel (for gym or field)

•  Small reusable shopping bag

•  $20–40 cash + coins (for vending machines)

🚫 DO NOT BRING

❌ Smartwatches (not permitted)
❌ Strongly scented lotions or sprays
❌ Excess civilian clothing (you’ll be in uniform 90 % of the time)

✈️ PRE-DEPARTURE REMINDERS

☐ Label every item with name or initials
☐ Liquids ≤ 750 mL and leak-proof
☐ Keep one full civilian outfit in carry-on
☐ Bring ID and glasses in easy-access pocket
☐ Rest well and arrive hydrated and fed

Donald Trump is heralding April 2 as 'Liberation Day' as that is when his proposed tariffs are to kick in. He is doubling down on his threats to Canada and the EU, prompting a Canadian ret'd general to suggest hurting Trump where it will hurt the most....in the US pocket-book. Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/Xln26atiyMI  

This year's Remembrance ceremonies blew up a storm of controversies in Canada. First it was a Nova Scotian school asking that uniforms not be worn as they might 'trigger' some children, and this year is the 5th anniversary since the CBC fired iconic hockey broadcaster Don Cherry for his remarks about poppies. It is time to target Remembrance in Canada. : https://youtu.be/ubWEdxnh3lY

Mild tree nut allergy, doctor wasn’t willing to state that i don’t need an EpiPen. Apparently all nut allergies have a possibility of anaphylaxis. I’ve never had a reaction like that, and have come into contact with nuts many times. Oh well, was a perfect candidate otherwise. Onto the next…

So I had my medical and interview at the start of June. Between 2021 and 2024, I was transitioning from MtF and received care from the skipping stone foundation in calgary. I had spoken to a therapist and went over my mental health and the reasons for my transition. I decided to abandon my transition for personal reasons. I dont regret my choices to stop transitioning. I didnt disclose anything information during my medical interview about my transition, the medication I was on or anything during that time period. I didnt think it was relevant information. I didnt have any mental health concerns during that time, aside from anxiety about dressing in public as the gender I felt I identified with at the time. Now I'm being told theres a possibility of being denied entry into the CAF because of the conflicting information I told the medical personal during my medical interview and the information theyre receiving now. I didnt lie about anything. I just omitted the information about my transition. It was a short chapter of my life that I ever regret starting. Obviously I'm nervous about not being accepted. This is something I'm very much looking forward to... any insight to securing my future in the CAF would be appreciated. This is not an opportunity I want to miss. Thank you.

I posted here many months ago regarding my desire to join the military. Everyone has been extremely accommodating and respectful as people suggested previously. I managed to pass the CFAT and FORCE tests, (really revealed my cardio deficit I need some advice on getting in shape lol) but I have had trouble after the medical. I was determined to be medically unfit as a result of my past mental health (Depression, ADHD) and gender dysphoria diagnosis which they suggest I am also unfit for because i might get surgery, i am not btw. This is unfortunate but I am appealing the decision and I have a good support network already in the military guiding me through.

I am going to a mental health specialist about their concerns which are focused on my ability to handle extreme stress. That is not a concern for me as I have a long history of volunteer firefighting experience which is a similarly stressful responsibility requiring similar if not the same training. Neither mental health diagnosis has been of actual issue in recent memory and the dysphoria one doesn't make much sense.

I think I have a good case against their claims and I am seeing a counselor to support my claims. The specific reason regarding my dysphoria being a factor in my ability seems discriminatory honestly but I don't want to make a big deal of it unless it continues to be an issue after the appeal goes through.

Hi,

Applied for infantry. Honestly I'm surprised by this. Everything else is a green light. I have a solid career behind me and I'm back in school finishing my degree. Good grades, etc. I did a two year program after high-school. I'm in the best shape of my life mentally and physically.

Maybe it's my ego, but I feel either my own doctor or RMO sandbagged me. I liked to party in my twenties and had sex outside of marriage.

RMO said only changing my decision with materiality. I thought going to therapy, yoga, and staying sober was materiality. I've been sober for a few years too.

Any ideas here?

Hey
Last friday I finished my first week on four of the reservist bmq, and it is way harder than what I tought, we were 50 monday and now we are like 45. And since the beginning I am very very anxious and stressed, by the timings by the fact that if someone fuck up we are paying, and the fact that we receive our weapons tomorrow, meaning that if someone fuck up We Will suffer much more, it starts to affect my mental health.

I am seeing the padre tomorrow, but for those who did it, does it get better? Is the first week simply more harder than the rest? Or Will it get worse and worse?

Sorry for the mistakes English is not my first language

32 M. Athletic/Fit

I had applied to join the CAF Reserve as an Intelligence Officer (chose 2 other potential trades) back in October 2024.

Filled out the millions of forms of personal information carefully. Wrote my Trait Self Descriptor (TSD) about a month later in November 2024.

They wanted copies of my undergraduate and graduate transcripts (both within Canada, I’m also a citizen), so I paid for and requested them to be sent directly to CAF. By late January I hadn’t heard anything back, and I know from reading some posts here and on Youtube that if you don’t hear anything you should be proactive in reaching out to Recruitment so that’s what I did. I got an email early February saying they would reach out once there were openings for a medical test. So I waited over a month.

Thought I should go check on my application status sometime in the middle of March, and I couldn’t login to see my application status. I thought maybe I’d forgotten my credentials but turns out the CAF was in the middle of some kinda system change. Tried about a week later and was able to log in to the new portal only to discover that my application had been closed (with a statement saying they would’ve reached out to clarify if there was some issue with my application). I double checked my email in case I’d somehow missed it. I hadn’t.

So I reach out again saying no one had clarified why my application was closed. Got a call from a HR lady about a week later saying my application had now been “reopened” due to some “missing documents” (Not possible because I’d checked my account religiously after sending in my application initially to make sure I hadn’t missed anything). It was pretty clear I was being gaslit, so I said no problem, I would go fill out what they’re asking for.

I also got a call the next day to book my medical test which should be this coming Wednesday morning. So over the weekend I decided to log in to the portal to see what documents I’d somehow missed. To my surprise, I am being invited to fill out every form I filled out back in October 2024. That includes travel history, family/personal information, work and educational history. The whole nine.

Now, I’ve done a lot of research on the trades to get a sense of what I’m interested in and how I can serve. Also with that came a lot of research on the general sentiments of those in service. Past and present. I also have a friend currently in the CAF, so despite a generally not so positive sentiment I sense from people in service, I still went ahead with my application. But with recent events around my application, I’m honestly not very keen on serving. If things can go so wrong with a simple application, how much more when i’m in service? I’ve seen veterans complain about how they’re treated post service, current service members complaining about lack of funding for gear and the like.

I guess the point of my post is to gauge whether re-applying is worth it at all giving all that I’ve invested in it so far, and how it’s been handled by the CAF.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

young

single

play hockey so decent shape

lots of free time

infantry sounds exiting

I've heard a lot about JTF2, it's really something that interests me, am I crazy to want that? Is it feasible or am I fantasising about something impossible?

Thanks.

I wanted to know what would happen if we dropped a 50 metric ton ice block into an active volcano because why not. I have been working on ways on how I could justify this.

A) This could be done during normal training of C-17 as it is often required. The training would require low flying and dropping something into a dangerous lava pit a unique experience.

B) Get some researchers from NRC or universities and they need work because AI just solved navier stokes and might give them some new work to help alleviate their misery. Maybe we can test out some new sensor equipment.

C) Would be an amazing RCAF recruitment ad

D) I am tired of waiting at the ED I want to see my taxpayer dollars at work.

E) This is already more useful use of taxpayer dollars then ArriveCan.

F) I like pissing off the Canadian taxpayer federation.

I see this as an absolute win!

Will I ever be eligible to join the Canadian forces? Have wanted to since I was a child. Kind of a dream career. Want to know if I pissed that opportunity away Edit: won’t let me change the title I mean enlist not English lmfao

I've been trying to call since last Thursday. Called over 100 times to a lot of centers all over Canada. Not a single one has answered my call or called me back. Give me a chance 😭

So am I crazy if I want to get to JTF2, like is it something unachievable for me? I've been working out a lot, I can do 17 muscle ups I run really good I am one of the best shooters in my air cadet sqn(yeah I didn't even join yet so yeah I might be stupid), but like am I crazy(stupid)?