LITTLE HARBOUR – Jacinthe Bennett isn't your usual Navy recruit.
The Little Harbour woman was sworn in this past month aboard the HMCS Toronto during the Navy's 100th anniversary celebrations in Halifax. But unlike most people to join the Navy, she isn't in her teens or twenties. Bennett is 53 years old.
A former cartographer, she opted to become a stay at home mom while her kids were young before returning to work in the food service industry a few years back. It wasn't until her son, Josh, decided to attend the Royal Military College that Bennett really became interested in the military. When she watched him complete the recruit obstacle course at RMC, she was hooked.
"It was just amazing - it still gets the hair up on the back of my neck just to think about it," Bennett said.
"The obstacle course made me realize just how patriotic I am. We're so blessed to live in such a safe country - we need to do what we can. Maybe joining the military is not for everyone, but even just giving blood is something we can do."
Bennett couldn't stop thinking about the military at that point, and that's when she was inspired to join up.
"I just decided last fall that I wanted a new challenge," she said. "So I decided I'd try joining the Navy."
The process broke down all her pre-conceived notions about the military, she added. She'd worried that they wouldn't be nice or might ridicule her, but that hasn't been the case, she said.
"I was very, very encouraged, right from the get go," Bennett said, adding that she focused on each step of the process instead of worrying about all of it at once. "It's been a very good experience."
In November, she passed her aptitude test after spending two months studying algebra – "It's been a long time since I did that," she admits. Luckily, her husband, Tim, a math teacher, was able to help her out.
Then came the physical test, where she had to demonstrate she could do push ups and sit ups and other exercises. She attributes her frequent trips to the YMCA for helping her pass that hurdle.
"The biggest challenge is to drop the pregnancy weight from 14 years ago – I've got 30 pounds to go," she said.
The final step was an interview, and then that was it. One day she got a phone call, asking if she wanted to swear on a Bible or a document when she was sworn in.
"I asked, 'Am I in?' I couldn't believe it," she said. "It was a little overwhelming – I had to get my head around the fact that I was no longer a civilian and now belonged to the Armed Forces."
Her daughter and husband accompanied her to the swearing-in ceremony, held aboard the HMCS Toronto on May 4 as part of the Navy's 100th anniversary celebrations.
Now, she's training once a week in Halifax. While it's sometimes hard to keep up with the other recruits, mostly 18- and 20-year-olds, Bennett has been keeping up.
"They might be surprised to see me walk into the classroom, but no one's said anything to me," she said with a chuckle. "I've been going in with a good attitude and try to let them know that they're not dealing with a nice little old lady who knits and drinks herbed tea."
She's gotten mixed reactions from people who have heard her decision to join the military at this point in her life - "half say I'm crazy and the other half say they want to come with me," she said - but she's not letting that discourage her. Anyone who decides to change their career or take on a new endeavour should be praised and encouraged, no matter what their age, she said.
Bennett will be posted for basic training later this month at CFB Borden. In the fall, she'll go on with further training in Quebec to become a naval communicator with the Reserves.
After that, Bennett plans to take two- to three-week assignments for the next three years until her 14-year-old daughter is finished with high school. After that, she'll still be eligible for three more years of military service and hopes to take longer assignments.
"I can't think of a better way to end my career than serving my country," she said.
She also hopes it will help inspire her daughter, Isabelle.
"I want to show my daughter that anything is possible," she said. "I'm not saying I can do everything these younger people can, but I'm going in with the mindset that I will. My kids just keep saying, 'Mom, do your best,' and that's what I'm trying to do."
