‘Challenging in a good way’
Islanders learn about new opportunities during army reserve open house and job fair
The question of “Can I do it?” lingered in Jennifer Arsenault’s mind as she contemplated joining the army while growing up.
“I didn’t know if I could handle it, physically, stress-wise, all the rest of it,” said the Charlottetown resident.
Arsenault joined the army reserves in 1997 and quickly learned that, not only could she do it, she loved it. She eventually climbed to the rank of major.
“I actually kind of enjoyed it so from there went to the regular force and from then I’ve never been able to completely give (the reserves) up,” said Maj. Arsenault.
Maj. Arsenault re-joined the army reserves in 2010 and is now with the 1 Squadron 36 Signal Regiment, an army reserve in Charlottetown.
The 1 Squadron 36 Signal Regiment and the P.E.I. Regiment held a Canadian Armed Forces open house and job fair in Victoria Park on Saturday, as part of a country-wide recruitment event for the reserves.
The green fields of Victoria Park were even greener as it was filled with rows of tents and large army vehicles, which people could interact with.
Loud bangs could be heard at
the waterfront where there was a weapons display.
The middle of the park acted as a landing pad for a CH 146 Griffon helicopter, which flew in and out of the park.
The helicopter wasn’t the main appeal for 10-year-old park-goer Hayden Pigott.
It was the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle she sat in at the corner of the park.
“I liked the vehicle with the
little joystick like a camera,” she said. “It was like a video game and when you zoomed in you could actually see things. Usually when you zoom in far enough you can’t see things with a telescope.”
This is the second year for the interactive recruitment event.
“Last year we conducted it at our armouries at our own locations so this year we decided to pool both units together and have it here to get more visibility,” said
Lt.-Col. Glenn Moriarity of the P.E.I. Regiment.
Lt.-Col. Moriarity started with the army reserves 34 years ago as a temporary job.
“When I joined in 1984 I was looking for a summer job and that was it,” he said. “I never thought I’d stay in as long as I have.”
As for Maj. Arsenault, she has survived in minus 40 C weather in a tent, gone through vigorous training, and travelled the country
since joining the reserves over 20 years ago.
“It’s challenging in a good way,” she said. “You’re working with different people, sometimes it can be very high tempo and there can be some stress behind that but it’s being able to manage that and learn how to still do your job with the equipment that you have.”