Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute - Acta Nostra Yearbook (Guelph, Ontario Canada)

Page 184 text:

Answer: The answer to this question hinges almost entirely on the future of our armed services. In my opinion, they will be required, at least in their present strength, for many years and probably they will have to be increased and developed along with the country generally. I consider that a position in any one of them is now more favourable than it has ever been. The chance for ad- vancement in them depends, as in civilian life, upon ability. energy and application. The services have become very big business and by virtue of the great variety of poten- tial employment within them, there may well be, for any one individual, a much better chance of advancement than in any one private business. Question 2: All things being equal would you consider Cal Going into the Armed Forces right away and completing your education there? tbl Going to college on your own and then going into the Armed Forces'? ici Going ROTP to a college? or tdl Going to one of the Tri-Services Col- leges? Answer: tal I favour going into one of the armed services and completing one's education there. tbl There is only one advantage in attend- ing civilian university or college at one's own expense. The student is not com- mitted to serve in an armed service upon graduation. tc Sz dl One may follow any one of a large number of specialties in the Armed Services. The requisite education for many of these is not available through the Services Colleges. In such cases, therefore, a university course is more suitable than a Services College. How- ever, in the vast majority of cases a ACTA NOST RA 89 Service College education is more val- uable to a potential officer in the Arm- ed Services than an education at a civilian institution. The Services Col- leges through years of experience have developed an excellent balance between military and academic studies with par- ticular emphasis on the development of leadership qualities that are of great value in either the Armed Services or civilian life. If one attends a civilian university or college under ROTP he takes exactly the same course as if he were a civilian. In addition he undergoes the same train- ing as members of the University Con- tingent of the Canadian Officer Train- ing Corps which consists of one evening parade per week during the academic year plus training at a military estab- lishfment during the summer holiday per- iod. The Regular Officer Training Plan. whether the student is attending a Ser- vices College or a civilian university, offers considerable financial benefit. Un- der this plan the government pays the full cost of tuition and all essential uni- versity fees, making an adequate allow- ance for books and instruments and provides either room and board or an allowance in lieu. In addition the student is paid 2560.00 per month the year round. On completion of his academic and military training the ROTP cadet is granted a commission in the rank of Lieutenant or equivalent and takes his place as a full fledged officer of the Armed Services. He is required to serve for a period of three years before he may apply for release from the Service. As a cadet Linder ROTP is a member of the Armed Services. he enrols in the Service of his choice at the start of his academic training and is entitled to all the benefits of a serving soldier. That is, his uniforms are provided, he is en- titled to free medical and dental care, including hospitalization without loss of income, he has 30 days leave with pay each year and he participates in the Defence Services Pension Plan. His ser- vice under ROTP while attending uni- versity or college counts as time toward a pension. To sum up, I would consider that unless a student wishes to follow some specialty the education for which is not available at a Service College, there are distinct advantages in a Services College educa- tion. In any event I consider education under ROTP to have distinct advantages over taking an education at one's own expense.

Page 186 text:

HX 45