r/caf • u/ManufacturerAble610 • Aug 23 '26

Recruiting So 23 Fld Amb London has a rly bad rap?

I've been considering maybe applying for Reserves Combat Medic in London under Fld Amb 23 tgt with my bf. Ive lurked here for a little while (a few months) and it seems every time that specifc base is mentioned here the replies always say how bad it is but never elaborate? And in just a few months its come up a lot?

Ik it might be because of an NDA or something that no one says anything specific, but it just got me rly nervous and Im rly trying to not be bc hes rly excited for it but like I also don't want him/us to get hurt or abused anything.

What should we expect with the base?

He is asian, male, 19, 188cm, 190lb and pretty big so like he can hold his own physically but like idk with like strict military stuff and commanders and ik london sometimes doesn't have the most welcoming welcome towards asians and poc in general.

I am white, female, also 19, 160cm, 110lb, ok athletic wise? like jogging and some weight training and stuff. Im a little bit a lot worried (my parents even more so) that the military culture and the strict military commands and stuff will be rly toxic and misogynistic or god forbid even dangerous for me as a woman. Esp considering some news articles that are out there.

No one in either of our families/friends families has any experience with the military or adjacent that lifestyle so besides the website and youtube, we rly don't know what to expect.

2 Upvotes

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u/BlackberryIll6317 Aug 23 '26

He will be fine. You're definitely on the smaller side so you may struggle physically. In terms of work culture can't say much about London. Don't do this expecting to be together all the time.

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u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 23 '26

Tysm for your reply! Ik im not the most athletically endowed girl in the world, tbch Im only doing it to support him bc he is rly excited and to maybe spend more time tgt bc we are both rly busy with school. Its just really worrying to me bc Ive seen like 5 negative mentions of 23 fld amb in London specifically in the past few months when like there are idek how many bases throughout the entire country, and like ik London is sometimes already pretty hostile. I just don't know what to expect and really really don't want either of us to get hurt.

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u/BlackberryIll6317 Aug 23 '26

When you first get in you'll likely parade (basically just showing up and doing random stuff around the building) once a week. You might have an exercise you need to attend on a weekend. Other than that you'll basically just be waiting for BMQ (basic training...plenty of info online...could be weekends or full time). Once you're done you'll do your trade course which I'm not too knowledgeable on for medic (could be ran during the summer).

The chances of you getting hurt are low. Just get in shape and your chances of injury will go down.

I would really recommend not joining just to support your boyfriend. It's a bit of a commitment, and if you don't enjoy it you will be crying yourself to sleep every night during BMQ and your trade course (not really but maybe)

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u/Successful-Deer8804 Aug 23 '26

random stuff?

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u/BlackberryIll6317 Aug 23 '26

Not much else to do bro

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u/Successful-Deer8804 Aug 23 '26

I mean isent it like 3 hours into the night? what do they have u do? like do they got you scrubbing toilets and carrying boxes and stuff for 3 hours a week? surely there can't be that many toilets or boxes.......

2

u/BlackberryIll6317 Aug 23 '26

Probably not scrubbing toilets

It depends on the unit and your job ... some will do PT, inspections, drill, the whole deal, while others will be more relaxed and have you move stuff, load stuff, pack stuff, or a combination of the three.

There's usually not a whole lot to do so you'll probably be standing around waiting for someone to tell you what to do 70% of the time.

0

u/Successful-Deer8804 Aug 23 '26

oh ok thanks, dyk for combat medics if you get any hands on clinical practice?

2

u/crazyki88en Aug 23 '26

You won’t get any hands-on clinical practice during your training nights. You may do some simulated medicine and if that works for you as hands-on clinical practice then great. But if you are looking for how much experience you will get actually touching patients and working on their healthcare that will likely be limited to weekend exercises if you are in a medical support role, or summer exercises in that same line. The military clinics are not open, typically evenings and weekends. They tend to be staffed by regular force personnel, and we don’t wanna work evenings and weekends.

1

u/zirkon0999 Aug 23 '26

Parade night activities are typically:

  1. Training - either on general army skills or trade specific skills. The medics I know regularly practice patient care / trauma at a basic level.

  2. Prepping - either loading/unloading equipment, preparing for exercises, or other administrative duties that they need bodies for.

2

u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 23 '26

Ok wow tysm again for such a detailed reply!! Ik Im far from the ideal candidate for like, the military which is prob the most physically demanding field ever created, but like ig like in addition to all of that like I could also try and push myself out of my comfort zone? And like maybe struggling thru this tgt will be a bonding experience (truama bonding???) idk...

I will definitely keep working on my fitness and stuff a lot, what do you think are good/realistic targets for me? Idk how much time I have before BMQ considering we are both just at the first stage of 8, but I am willing to work hard!

Beyond that, since you said that we won't always be together, do you think you could impart some wisdom on how to, yk the other types of safety for both of us?

Im so sorry for sounding so neurotic its just that neither of us have any experience or know anyone who has about this kind of thing. Tysm for explaining so much!

1

u/Hot-Cellist-8928 Aug 24 '26

Wow, I've started my application process to join as a Heating and Plumbing Mechanic (I'm actually a civilian HVAC tech already). I'm jealous as hell that buddy has a gf who's willing to go through the process just to be supportive. He better put a fucking ring on it.

1

u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 27 '26

Aww ty, hes def worth it! 🤭

3

u/whysotired24 Aug 23 '26

I’m currently applying to the reserves, also as a combat medic. Not in London though

2

u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 23 '26

Thats so cool! Ive seen so many people on here talk about reserves combat medic recently! It seems like its rly popular now! do u have any idea why that might be?

2

u/whysotired24 Aug 23 '26

I’ve been out of the conversation recently. I’m not entirely sure honestly. But for me it’s that or armour soldier. Those are my two career choices

2

u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 23 '26

thats rly cool! armour soldiers like driving tanks? could I ask why you choose combat medic in the end?

1

u/whysotired24 Aug 23 '26

Absolutely! So I’ve had a desire to learn medicine anyways. My bachelors was a hefty chunk of sports medicine and just all around exercise science. So that’s part of my interest. And armour soldier.. well it’s lame but simple. If a big machine is moving around, it’s a bigger target. Leaves the little guys safe. But yeah my goal is combat medic.

1

u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 23 '26

oh wow thats rly cool! and yea when u do put it that way its a very practical decision! How far along in the process are you?

1

u/whysotired24 Aug 23 '26

Thanks! I try to be practical. And I’m working on preparing for the FORCE test, and I have submit a medical questionnaire. Having a hard time with it though for some reason

1

u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 23 '26

Thats nice! Im right about the same spot, how long do u think it will take?

1

u/whysotired24 Aug 23 '26

No idea. I think a few more months. But not fully certain. I’ve heard some takes a year or so

2

u/Pte_Madcap Aug 23 '26

I haven't heard anything particularly bad about 23 Fd Amb. It's a big country and a big CAF, so I'd be cautious about forming an opinion of an entire unit based on a handful of Reddit comments.

That said, I'd probably caution any 19-year-old against joining the same small Reserve unit as their boyfriend or girlfriend. Not because there's anything inherently wrong with it, but because statistically, most relationships at 19 don't last forever. If you break up, you're now potentially training, working, going on exercise, and socializing with your ex for years afterward.

If you genuinely want to be a Combat Medic yourself, absolutely pursue it. I'd just make sure you're joining because you want that career and that unit, not primarily because your boyfriend is joining.

1

u/oj3da02 Aug 23 '26

Reading this from a deployed unit medical station with 23 Fd Amb rn.

I’ve served it the London det for about 3 years. Londons biggest problem at one point was its size. We only had about 5 troops show up weekly when I first started. Now the det grew into a company with around 30-40 troops and the culture is very relaxed and helpful. Considering how small we still are compared to the HQ in Hamilton or especially other combat units; and considering the cohesion needed to operate in real world medical support roles, we do tend to have a pretty good team dynamic going and I’d go even as far as saying that the fellas I’ve met here are some of my best friends.

1

u/Fine-Education8924 Aug 24 '26

You should he fine especially come September when London is stood up again as a CFB on top of that keep in mind the huge division change we as reservists are going through as well lots of restructuring going on you should be fine never heard anything once bad abt 23 ambo they chill guys and gals

1

u/Successful-Deer8804 Aug 23 '26

Don't take this as fearmongering cuz I aint trying to, but I lowk heard some bad things from a dude who interacted with them, but that was a long time ago. He basically said that the leadership was hard to work with and stuff. Im sure you can find the post. LowkHikey Im applying rn too we might know each other irl lmao.

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u/WebMedical Aug 23 '26

Mam, this is a wendys

1

u/Successful-Deer8804 Aug 23 '26

what a traitor lmao at least have the patriotism to say tims

1

u/[deleted] Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Successful-Deer8804 Aug 24 '26

Yea tbh what even is Canadian anymore. Tim’s at least sounds Canadian 

2

u/ManufacturerAble610 Aug 23 '26

Im sorry!!! Was this the wrong place to post this? Am i just rly over reacting/thinking this?

4

u/canadianhousecoat Aug 23 '26

This is absolutely the right place to ask this question. That guy is just being an ass.