They are soldiers.

They are learning how to fight, to strip and assemble rifles and machine-guns, and how to throw hand grenades. Not only are they being paid to do it, but they are earning high school credits.

“It got me my school credits, and I joined the army at the same time, something I always wanted to do,” says instructor Sgt. Jamie Bull, who took the military co-op course in 1997. “It’s the ultimate in volunteering, and the students have a real willingness to serve.”

There are currently 25 students taking the course this year with The Grey and Simcoe Foresters reserve infantry regiment. Sixteen are training at the Owen Sound Armoury, and nine at the Barrie Armoury.

They have completed their basic qualification, skills learned by all new members of the Forces, and are now learning specific army skills, which include stripping, cleaning and re-assembling a variety of weapons, and the use of hand grenades. They’ll also qualify as drivers, both cross-country and tactical.

First aid, communications and navigation are included, as well as field survival and nuclear, chemical and biological defence. They learn how to patrol, and to fight - offensively and defensively.

“I always wanted to join the army,” says Brad Burrows of Thornton. The Nantyr Shores Secondary School student also says there are tangible benefits. “I get paid, and I get credits.” Burrows says he plans to stay on in the reserve, and after graduation will seek a degree in Business.

St. Joseph’s student Jake Wilson says he too has always been interested in soldiering. “This is an opportunity to test it out and see if I like it. I mean playing with machine-guns and getting paid? It doesn’t get much better.” He too plans to stay, and hopes to study either business or political science at university.

The program is offered during the second semester to students who met the requirements for enrolment in the reserve. It provides four high school credits, and military pay, which comes to about $4,000.

Those who pass the basic course and who opt to stay on for the summer can earn a further $4,000, and then can continue to serve part-time as paid members of the part-time army, or Militia.

And make no mistake, this is military combat training, not community service. At a time when Canada’s casualties in Afghanistan are mounting, and the Forces are recruiting based on the word “Fight!”, that is exactly what these young people are learning to do.

Sgt. Bull, whose father has served as the regiment’s commanding officer, has gone on to become a qualified small arms instructor and a range safety officer. He served a tour of duty in Afghanistan over the winter of 2006-2007.

Last winter he was a senior ski patroller at Horseshoe Valley, and this fall he hopes to begin training as a paramedic.