Stonewall’s Clara Hoff has dedicated herself to serving her country. Having recently completed her Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ), she is one step closer to achieving her dream career as a military nurse.
“I wanted to do this because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it and push myself to the limits,” said the 19-year-old, who applied for the program in her final year of high school. “My grandpa was a marine, and listening to his stories really inspired me to take this on.”
Through friends, she discovered she could apply for BMOQ and was officially sworn in September 2024. A member of the Richardson Platoon, she left for the Saint-Jean Garrison recruit school in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., on May 19, 2025. There, she underwent three months of vigorous coursework, physical training and field work.
Upon arrival, Hoff had to lock up all of her personal belongings, with the exception of her phone and two sets of clothes she could keep in an isolation bag in case she needed to be taken to hospital. From that point, she was fully integrated into military life, adding to what she described as her “array of lifetime experiences.”
Hoff explained each week focused on a different topic, ranging from an introduction to military life to weapons training to building physical and mental stamina.
“I now know how to push myself and I better know my limits. You quickly learn that pain is temporary and it’s going to be a lot of hard work. There will be many sleepless nights, but now when I am faced with a problem it gives me more hope that I will be able to overcome it,” she said.
Her days followed a structured routine: waking at 5 a.m., breakfast at 5:30, then coursework, inspections, marches or physical training. Evenings ended with personal time in her room and the next day’s orders.
At first, she was allowed to use her phone in the evenings, but the policy later changed. “The curriculum is constantly changing so you should never expect anything,” she said.
She recalled that while daily activities varied, meals were consistent — and surprisingly enjoyable.
“I was very happy with what they served. They have it down to a science of what we need to eat to fuel our bodies,” she said, noting there was always a choice of two proteins, a starch or grain, a vegetable and fruit. “I was so surprised with the amount of fruit they had. I actually ate more fruit there than I ever have back at home.”
The most challenging aspect, she admitted, was the lack of rest.
“Sleep deprivation is definitely the worst. I had many sleepless nights, especially with studying for the exams. You will be kept very busy so there is hardly any time to rest,” she said.
It was also her first time living out of province, which added to the difficulty of being away from family. Speaking in front of her 60-person platoon was another hurdle for someone who described herself as timid and reserved.
“There were definitely times where I was like, ‘what the heck am I doing here?’ because parts of it really do suck,” she said. “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be, but it certainly wasn’t a piece of cake either. The instructors tell you this won’t be easy and give you no shame if you want to leave as they want what is best for you. They say this is nothing like day camp — it’s a three-month-long physical, mental and logical exam.”
Despite the challenges, Hoff said the friendships she formed were invaluable. She grew close to her fire team partner, who was paired with her 24/7, and to her bunkmate Charlotte Dix, a friend from high school.
“I just lit up when I saw her walk into the room for the first time,” Hoff said. “Just seeing a familiar face calmed my nerves going into this — it felt good already having a relationship with someone.”
Before training began, Hoff prepared by asking questions of past BMOQ participants and focusing on cardio, though she wished she had worked more on strength.
“There was so much walking and lots of stairs; my bed was on the 11th floor so I had to go up all those stairs every day,” she said. “During physical training, sometimes one person would mess up and the whole group would get a consequence. One time, we had to do 100 burpees in a row around our leaders.”
Hoff’s training officially wrapped up Aug. 14, giving her a couple of weeks to prepare for her second year of university. She is enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing program at Brandon University, paid for through her military training. She has already signed an 11-year nursing contract with the military and will continue to work with them through her studies, taking on field or base work during summer months.
She said she feels fortunate to have completed BMOQ and encourages anyone considering military service to commit fully.
“Know what you are getting into and rely on your friends,” she advised. “Everyone knows and sees everything so be sure to always watch what you are doing, help out when needed, and maintain good relationships with everyone outside of training hours. I am glad I proved to myself I can do this, but I am just as happy to never have to do this again because it really does push you to the limits.”
