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Author Topic: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?  (Read 61134 times)

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Offline Sigs Guy

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #50 on: September 02, 2005, 16:21:23 »
Mine is dated August 2005, and the instructions for writing are as follows.

Write on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. Handwriteen documents should be legibly written, double spaced, and single sided. Computerized documents should be double spaced and single sided. Any summaries that are poorly written will have to be done over again.
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Offline mstorey

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #51 on: September 02, 2005, 16:31:38 »
That may be so however i am preparing to start teaching a course on Sept 12 2005 and the package directions state your Bio must be between 300-400 words, 8 1/2 by 14 lined paper, double spaced in blue pen written neatly.
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Offline NiTz

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #52 on: September 04, 2005, 13:13:01 »
Hahah..don't be nervous about the autobiography guys... write one before you get to st-jean. Write it in any way you wish because they're gonna ask you to write it again AT LEAST twice because they'll say it's crap. All the group will have to get to the same standard and most of the people will frig off at least twice and they'll put all the autobiographies in the garbage... I wrote mine 3 times plus the time I wrote it before getting to st-jean.

so my advice is : write one of at least 300 words but not more than 400 then keep it in your locker and when they'll ask for it you just copy it but I tell you, it must be hand written and WELL written. I didn't think they would check it for real, but when my mcpl asked me if my father was born in Jonquiere I just went .. ooohhh lol

Anyways.. good luck and don't worry, they'll tell you what to do and when to do it, the only problem you'll get is to find time to do what they ask for!

cheers!
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Offline Meridian

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #53 on: September 10, 2005, 18:48:33 »
Im not sure if it is different for CFRS or CFLS but when I joined it HAD to be typed, and those who submitted crap were called on it and rewrote. It was not made as a group activity, because its personal and confidential. This was during my entry at CFSJ (RMC). When we went over to IAP, we were again told to TYPE the same bio, but update it given our new military experiences. Handwriting wasn't acceptable.

Not sure if this is because we were OCdts, or that our staff didnt really care, or what.
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Offline TCBF

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #54 on: September 11, 2005, 00:19:11 »
Meridian,

I stated this way back, but will repeat that as Recruit Instructors we insisted on a handwritten product done when we wanted them to do it - in the barracks, right away.

Handwritten under stress, we learned a lot more about the REAL (not edited) backgounds of our people.

a very effective tool. i read them all in bed the night they were written, and out of a Platoon of 60, I would read ten of them again, getting to sleep about 0300.

THAT is how seriously we treated the hand written product.

Tom
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"Disarming the Canadian public is part of the new humanitarian social agenda."   - Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axeworthy at a Gun Control conference in Oslo, Norway in 1998.


"I didn’t feel that it was an act of violence; you know, I felt that it was an act of liberation, that’s how I felt you know." - Ann Hansen, Canadian 'Urban Guerrilla'(one of the "Squamish Five")

Offline Meridian

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #55 on: September 11, 2005, 13:37:45 »
Fair enough... too be honest, while I was certain our staff had read the bios (they used info from it in speaking with us initially), I got the impression that they approached it as makework.

I guess its one of those depends-on-your-DS type of things.
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Offline Michael O'Leary

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #56 on: September 12, 2005, 23:57:25 »
CANADIAN ARMY JOURNAL, VOL 8, NO 4, OCT 1954

HOW TO WRITE EFFECTIVE ENGLISH

By COLONEL STROME GALLOWAY, ED, PSC, THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT*

http://regimentalrogue.com/srsub/sd-galloway.htm

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Offline muskrat89

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #57 on: September 13, 2005, 00:19:33 »
Autobiography - 200 words - easy... and I had a lot more years to cram in than you do.

Quote
I was born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada. In addition to being a former soldier, millwright, and trapper; I'm an avid hunter and fisherman as well. An accomplished writer, I had my first Outdoor Column in High School, with Wilderness Tales N Trails, which eventually became the Maritime Sportsman. I lived five years in Northern Maine before moving to Arizona. More recently, I have been a Staff Writer and Assistant Editor with the Arizona Outdoorsman magazine. Currently, I am a freelance writer and editor, and have several feature stories per month (including an Outdoor Column) in the Johnson Ranch Hot Spot Journal. My newest project is Editor-in-Chief at Outdoor Product Research Services. I am a member of the Western Outdoor Writers. I am also a Hunting Staff member with G-Bowhunting as well as Rocky Mountain Broadheads. I reside with my wife Karole and daughter Mikaela, in Queen Creek, Arizona, which is about 50 miles southeast of Metro Phoenix. I am currently employed as a Facilities Manager at a metal stamping company. In addition, I am the Proprietor of a Booking Agent business - Parched Muskrat Adventures, where I enjoy working with hunting and fishing Outfitters from around the world.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2005, 00:38:19 by muskrat89 »
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Offline TCBF

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #58 on: September 13, 2005, 00:49:01 »
J**** H. Tapdancing C*****, how did we spend seven pages on this?   There should be an Armydotca ban on talking about anything to do with recruit school.

Bloody well show up where and when you are told to, with what you are told to bring.   Once there, do what you are told, when you are told, and how you are told to do it.

There.

I said it.

The secret is out.

Tom
« Last Edit: September 13, 2005, 00:56:35 by TCBF »
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"Disarming the Canadian public is part of the new humanitarian social agenda."   - Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axeworthy at a Gun Control conference in Oslo, Norway in 1998.


"I didn’t feel that it was an act of violence; you know, I felt that it was an act of liberation, that’s how I felt you know." - Ann Hansen, Canadian 'Urban Guerrilla'(one of the "Squamish Five")

Offline Joe Blow

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #59 on: October 25, 2005, 01:51:38 »
Quote
Bloody well show up where and when you are told to, with what you are told to bring.  Once there, do what you are told, when you are told, and how you are told to do it.

I understand the sentiment, but in the guidelines for the bio they suggest you include family information that is (in my case..) not generally assumed to be public (or at least government / employer) domain.  For ex.: "your family members and their occupations"  (??! ..Pardon me?  >:()  (EDIT: That smiley face is too angry.. but you get the idea..)

So, my question is this; will they insist that all of the suggested points are included in your bio.?  ..Because frankly I intend to gloss over the bits that don't really concern me and/or the CF directly. 

I don't mean to sound prickly here ..but I don't see how the occupations of my family members are really relevant to the matter at hand.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2005, 01:57:32 by Joe Blow »
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Offline TCBF

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #60 on: February 13, 2006, 20:02:43 »
Quote from: TCBF on February 20, 2005, 01:04:26
When I was a Platoon Commander in St. Jean, I would ask nicely if any one had wisely decided to save me valuable time by pre-writing their biography.  Some would smile and say "Yes, Warrant!"  I would then collect them and make them all do it again by hand.  Why?

1.  Pressure - you learn a lot about someone when they write under pressure.

2. No time to edit.  Amazing.  I told another instructor that if we could take a 60 man platoons  of autobiographies and show the people of Canada what some of their youth went through - the reality of life - we would have a bestseller.  You know the first half hour of "Full Metal Jacket"? That is NOTHING compared to what some kids have gone through in their home lives before joining the Army. 

3. Penmanship, Grammer, general Literacy.  Indicators of future coping problems due to FAS/ADD/ADHD/sociopathic issues, etc.  The recruits of today are tomorrows RSMs.  We are already a semi-literate Army, we can't afford to get worse. At some point, It's just bad economics to throw good money after bad.  We have to cut our losses.  Sorry.

4. I would stay that night until ALL the bios were written, then I would take them home and read them.  I would re-read about a fifth, then re-reread about one or two more.  I would get to sleep about three or four, but, it had to be done. 

Tom
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"Disarming the Canadian public is part of the new humanitarian social agenda."   - Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axeworthy at a Gun Control conference in Oslo, Norway in 1998.


"I didn’t feel that it was an act of violence; you know, I felt that it was an act of liberation, that’s how I felt you know." - Ann Hansen, Canadian 'Urban Guerrilla'(one of the "Squamish Five")

Offline MrRGoyer

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #61 on: August 20, 2006, 13:24:34 »
I got my autobiography all written and completed. I wrote two copies just in case but that probably won't matter from the other posts I've read it looks like I will be writing yet agian another copy of my ohhh sooo extravagent life. :) (yeah right) Well good luck to all you other guys/gals that are procrastoning and waiting until the day before!! :D Plus its only 500 word not too bad!

:cheers: 
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Offline luciano

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #62 on: September 14, 2006, 20:11:25 »
Has a recruit ever tested the theroy that the instructors don't read them?
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Offline Michael O'Leary

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #63 on: September 14, 2006, 20:14:08 »
Quote from: luciano on September 14, 2006, 20:11:25
Has a recruit ever tested the theroy that the instructors don't read them?

Don't you mean:

".... and lived?"

Yes, the staff read them.   And the Pl WO and Pl Comd will probably read all of them, so don't copy your buddy's from another section either.
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Offline Shamrock

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #64 on: September 14, 2006, 20:16:24 »
...and then hand them back with grammar corrected. 
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Offline Zell_Dietrich

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #65 on: November 08, 2006, 01:26:46 »
I typed up my autobiography on computer and then transcribed it by hand.  I heard that they sometimes like to collect the papers and then make everyone redo them so I kept the typed version in my pocket. (and hoped that they wouldn't think to ask for that one) They asked for the autobiography, I handed it to them I only saw it one other time during the "getting to know you meeting" with my section leader.

With that said,  there were people who had to rewrite their autobiography 5+ times. Sometimes for sloppy handwriting, othertimes for missing key information. The rest, putting in things that don't belong.  "Well that is everything about me but I read that I need 500 words so I guess I will continue to talk about the paper oh wait, there, 500" <-- unacceptable

I was given a few tips  (okay I badgered anyone who'd ever gone to boot camp until I knew every little detail I could) including info on writing the autobiography.

Grey is good,  save outstanding for later in the course.  I was told not to ever tell them more than they requested, for example the languages I speak - and even then play it down.  (Writing in the autobiography "I speak more languages than the UN and I'm going to outrank you in a year" is a bad idea.)  I know it sounds strange not to be advised to "impress". My experience was that they were far to busy with the guys who were giving them grief to hand out cookies to the keener's. I've found it easy to simply not be noticed,  without a reason most of the staff will simply slide on by you with only passing intrest.

My autobiography is 550 words of pure pablum.  Everything they asked for, exactly as they asked for it written in a way that gives away nothing else.  I'm thinking they have to read at least 10 of these,  if mine is uninteresting - raising no red flags, it is one less thing to deal with when I'm rushing around.

Just the advice I've been given with my personal observations.  I've said it before,  I'll say it here - enjoy it, this is the fun part.
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Offline TCBF

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #66 on: November 08, 2006, 23:19:08 »
Notice to Recruit Instructors:

"Insert Quote
I typed up my autobiography on computer and then transcribed it by hand.  I heard that they sometimes like to collect the papers and then make everyone redo them so I kept the typed version in my pocket. (and hoped that they wouldn't think to ask for that one) They asked for the autobiography, I handed it to them I only saw it one other time during the "getting to know you meeting" with my section leader."

Ref the above: Don't Be Lazy!  Do NOT accept typed autobiographies!  Give out 'special' paper so previously written autobiographies cannot be handed in!

 ;)

Tom
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"Disarming the Canadian public is part of the new humanitarian social agenda."   - Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axeworthy at a Gun Control conference in Oslo, Norway in 1998.


"I didn’t feel that it was an act of violence; you know, I felt that it was an act of liberation, that’s how I felt you know." - Ann Hansen, Canadian 'Urban Guerrilla'(one of the "Squamish Five")

Offline mysteriousmind

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #67 on: November 09, 2006, 12:51:37 »
I just don't understand why the panic with written vs computer written Bio.

I have a really bad hand writting...and I don't think re-writing my bio 5x times will make me a batter soldier.

Should we just get the paper computer typed...as a requisite when we arrived on our course....

Advantage...less lost of time....much more readable for the instructor.

We are in 2006 not in the 60's were computer were not available...

I type more on my computer then I write with a pen.

(It is  my op onion) :-\
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Online George Wallace

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #68 on: November 09, 2006, 13:09:21 »
Quote from: mysteriousmind on November 09, 2006, 12:51:37
I just don't understand why the panic with written vs computer written Bio.
I have a really bad hand writting...and I don't think re-writing my bio 5x times will make me a batter soldier.
Should we just get the paper computer typed...as a requisite when we arrived on our course....
Advantage...less lost of time....much more readable for the instructor.
We are in 2006 not in the 60's were computer were not available...
I type more on my computer then I write with a pen.
(It is  my op onion) :-\

Quite a few points on what you just wrote.

First.  Your opinion doesn't count.

Second.  When you don't have a calculator or a computer, for a multitude of reasons, you will have what soldiers over 1000 years have used with great success, their brains, a pencil and paper.

Third.  How long is the extension cord that you are willing to carry to provide power to your computer, if you have one?

There are a lot more points, but I'll let you digest these ones first.
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Offline NinerSix

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #69 on: November 09, 2006, 13:18:21 »
Thou shall not start an autobiography with:

"I was born in Montreal, after escaping multiple scheduled abortions..."

Staff will NOT share the humor, or even appreciate the honesty.  ;)
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Offline mysteriousmind

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #70 on: November 09, 2006, 13:35:13 »
I understand.


But...I dont agree....and since Im not have started yet my BMQ...I can say it :)

If they tell me to write it...il do it.

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For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Offline TCBF

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #71 on: November 09, 2006, 14:37:38 »
"I was born in Montreal, after escaping multiple scheduled abortions..."

- Interesting point. Say, how many future recruits does Canada lose by aborting 100,000 babies a year?
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"Disarming the Canadian public is part of the new humanitarian social agenda."   - Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axeworthy at a Gun Control conference in Oslo, Norway in 1998.


"I didn’t feel that it was an act of violence; you know, I felt that it was an act of liberation, that’s how I felt you know." - Ann Hansen, Canadian 'Urban Guerrilla'(one of the "Squamish Five")

Offline korey

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #72 on: November 23, 2006, 09:15:10 »
There is a very high chance you will have to re-write your autobiography. I just finished my fourth one haha
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Offline Zell_Dietrich

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #73 on: November 23, 2006, 10:55:43 »
Quote from: TCBF on November 08, 2006, 23:19:08
Ref the above: Don't Be Lazy!  Do NOT accept typed autobiographies!  Give out 'special' paper so previously written autobiographies cannot be handed in!

Okay,  I'll admit it,  that vexed me.  I think I was just called lazy.  In truth I am a bad speller.  I wanted to have a good autobiography so I prepaired it before hand.  It wasn't about doing it the easy way,  it wasn't about somehow cheating the system it was about prepairing in advance so that I could do the best job I could. I had heard that they collect the papers before hand and then make people rewrite them or give out special paper to write on so I kept a good copy folded up in my pocket in case I had to write it over.  I saw about a third of the students had to redo them because of poor handwriting and other issues.  Mine looked nice, had exactly the information they requested (and nothing more) and was 527 words, not including my name. They accepted it and while other people were getting flack for not doing it right I was on break enjoying my diet coke addiction in the fresh air with the other people who did it right the first time. (there were people who after three days and six submissions hadn't produced a proper autobiography.)

The autobiography's serve a purpose.  They let your instructors get to know you, so they can make better decisions in your training.  There are many other opportunities for them to test and challenge your metal, I think this shows them who can get the job done if the person knows exactly what is expected of them and they have more than enough time to do it.

I'm on a new course this weekend.  I still have the biography on my computer, I'm going to use the exact same one,  the only section that has changed is previous experience. I'll print it out, transcribe by hand and keep the print out version in my pocket in case I have to redo it, as a reference for spelling. 
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Offline DevilsFury

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Re: Writing an autobiography for BMQ?
« Reply #74 on: December 11, 2006, 13:39:31 »
Quote from: mysteriousmind on November 09, 2006, 13:35:13
I understand.


But...I dont agree....and since Im not have started yet my BMQ...I can say it :)

If they tell me to write it...il do it.



If that is the attitude you are starting with, I cant wait for you to show up. In reference to autobiographies, everything that has been said on this site is generally correct. All this banter in reference to specific details, dont sweat it until you get here and see what kind of staff you have.
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