What do you do in the Canadian reserves?

Canadian Army reserves?

• Hey guys, so I'm thinking about joining the Canadian reserves and have a few questions. I am a full time student who about to go on summer break which is about 3 months which is when id like to do my training. I want to know as much about the reserves as possible, i am aware that being sent out is completely voluntary so im guessing they will try to convince you to do so. I do not want to go to Afghanistan, I'd rather stay in Canada or help with disasters including floods...etc. I want a career in business, more specifically insurance and I don't want the reserves to interfere with that in the future. If I do decide to quite after a certain amount of time, how would that work, am i allowed to quit or am i always in the army just inactive? Can they deploy me at anytime? If the nation defense act is passed and reservists are obligated to go to war, is that only in Canada and would that mean all civilians are going to war? I am seriously considering joining, any additional info would be awesome, I've already read the website so I don't need to be linked to it. Thanks in advanced :))

• Answer:

  It appears you want cake and eat it too. Things don't work the way you wrote about. Reserves aren't rotated to any war zone unless Canada is at war. Why Canadian service personnel are in Afghanistan now is more about appeasing American government to be in-line for future business contracts and her share of oil wealth, not because of any threat to "our" freedoms. As a reservist, you draw a pay, at the different rates, and depending on rank and qualifications can really add up. You would have to talk to a recruitment office as to how "quiting" is achieved. Yes, the military does relief work, peacekeeping in some countries, and helps out in times of natural disasters. You may be asked if you want to serve on a regular basis in a hostile area but cannot be forced -yet. Should the Americans become embroiled into a major conflict in the middle east, reservists still wouldn't be called up, however, America would start what is known as the draft, or selective service. Canada does not have this feature. Since I was airforce, there are a few similarities, but times have changed and my time was very long ago. One final thought. It sounds if you have a career already in mind, but doesn't answer why you want to be part of the military if you only what to cherry pick the "good" stuff. This appears you want to be noticed as a statement than as a commitment.