By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
Personnel Support Programs (PSP) assistant sports coordinator, Stephanie Shaw is trading in her running shoes for a pair of military boots.
The 30-year-old fitness instructor is leaving the civilian world for life as a medical technician with the CF. She became a full-fledged air force recruit at an enrollment ceremony held last Friday at the recruiting centre downtown. In less than two weeks, she¡¯ll be on a plane bound for basic training in St. Jean, QC.
Being officially inducted into the military was the first step toward many goals Shaw has set for herself, including earning a second degree in bioscience and doing research on spatial abilities in female pilots.
Joining the military seemed like the best way to achieve those goals, she says. ¡°I think there¡¯s more opportunity to do it through the military than in any other arena. I have some fairly large goals and you need structure to operate efficiently.¡±
Last week¡¯s enrolment ceremony was a long-awaited final¨¦ to a year of researching different military trades and talking to serving members about the pros and cons of donning a CF uniform.
Accustomed to helping military members achieve their fitness goals, it¡¯s been an interesting role reversal for them to give her advice about surviving basic training and other aspects of military life, she says.
She¡¯s had plenty of help finding the perfect trade as everyone from air traffic controllers to medical technicians offered to tell her about their jobs. She also attended special operations briefings and got a ride in a Sea King helicopter.
¡°Instantly, I¡¯ve had this open door policy where people have given me information so I can make an informed decision,¡± says Shaw.
The positive experiences she heard from everyone she talked to has affirmed her belief that the military is the right choice for her.
¡°No one I¡¯ve talked to has regretted joining,¡± she says.
The military wasn¡¯t always the obvious choice for Shaw. Growing up in Logan Lake in the B.C. interior, she had little exposure to the military world.
When she joined PSP two years ago, constant coaxing from co-worker Tom Campbell couldn¡¯t convince her that she was military material. But as she worked with military members through her job, she realized the CF had a lot to offer.
¡°Had it not been for my experience at PSP, this career opportunity would not have been available because I was so uneducated about the military,¡± says Shaw.
Now older and wiser, Shaw¡¯s choice to join the CF is an informed one and becoming a medical technician made the most sense.
After researching and ruling out several other possible careers, she asked herself what was most often on her mind: an understanding of the human body. ¡°It took a long time to get to a decision that should have been a no-brainer,¡± she says.
Shaw has ventured far from her initial career path of working as an opera stage manager after completing a fine arts degree with a minor in psychology. Though the job filled her desire for travel as she toured all over Europe with various stage performances, she realized her real calling was in health and fitness.
¡°One of my primary focuses in life is to help people,¡± she says. ¡°I know that sounds corny.¡±
After taking courses to become a fitness instructor, Shaw created her own business, Physical Fusion Movement Training. When the opportunity arose, she began working at a clinic for women with eating disorders where she gained unique insight into how some women see themselves.
She also worked in a hospital for seniors. ¡°I learned what regrets people had. Most people talk about specific segments of time when they had a purpose.¡±
Shaw believes being a medical technician will provide the sense of purpose that will drive her to succeed and the military will provide the support she needs.
Other benefits include the chance to experience more of Canada. She¡¯s excited about being posted around the country, seeing places like Halifax and Petawawa, though she admits she¡¯ll miss the people she¡¯s met since moving here.
The military also offers a sense of adventure that rarely exists in the civilian world, she says. Even if a person is stuck in the Base Orderly Room, ¡°there¡¯s the potential for adventure,¡± she says.
Shaw knows the adventures she seeks might prove uncomfortable or dangerous, but it can also lead to personal growth. ¡°I believe there are certain experiences you need to have as a human to evolve and I guarantee you won¡¯t choose those experiences.¡±
Basic training might prove to be one of those difficult experiences as the instructors work to mold Shaw into a military member.
Those who¡¯ve been through it have warned her the instructors will find ways to break her of any undesirable habits and she just has to remember to keep her ultimate goals in mind when things get tough.
¡°I have an objective outside of basic training, so I¡¯ll keep that in mind when I¡¯m being yelled at,¡± she says.
It will be a big change from civilian life, but Shaw is ready for the challenge.
¡°I¡¯ve had a few chapters in my life. You go through stages and I think this is something that will suit me quite well. I can sit here and say I¡¯ve got my 25-year plan,¡± she says. ¡°I really think I¡¯ve found the right thing.¡±
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