So now what?

[Cfnteabag]

I am an Army mechanic and have been for coming up to 8 years, I have worked on most things from generators, through normal Land Rovers and trucks and up to tanks and plant equipment. For the last year or so I have been working as a vehicle inspector, like an Army MOT.

But I am looking at being forced to leave the Army this year due to an injury, basically I have worn my hips out and find myself in pain mostof the time with any activity increasing that pain.

I love spannering and have always prided myself on my trade knowledge and skill but when I hit civvie street I don't think that I would be able to work in a civvie garage, both because of my injury and also because the Army has a very different way of working!

So bearing this in mind I am struggling to find a new direction in life! I have an NVQ level 3 in mechanical engineering, a number of licenses and driving experience and a few life experiences and things the Army teaches you like leadership and confidence.

We will probably be moving back to the south east, it is where both me and my wife are from and she has said that after 8 years of following me around she would quite like to go back to family!

After writing all this I am not really sure what the point of it is or what I am asking in this thread, I am guessing being PH that there will be some abuse but I am used to that!

[Cfnteabag]

Unfortunately staying in may not be an option as my injury causes a lot of limitations meaning I am not really much use to the Army at the moment!

[Cfnteabag]

Thank you for the comments.

I will work around what I have, I am mainly working at the moment to come off/reduce the painkillers I am on.

I have looked at motorsport, I have spoken to mission motorsport and been to a couple of events so far but I dont want to make the mistake some people do and put all their eggs in one basket.

I would be interested in teaching college students as I have alsways enjoyed teaching and helping more junior soldiers.

[Cfnteabag]

The problem is I am actually too young for hip replacements.

What I have done is worn away the cartilage in my hips, it is torn, damaged and in my left hip it is peeling away from the hip itself. they have been into my left hip and cleaned it up but it hasn't appeared to have helped as I am now in more pain then I was before. The wont touch my right hip for surgery until it is clear that it has workied on my left although I am getting a steroid injection into my right next week to see if that helps.

I am not helpless and I don't like to 'play' on my injury and avoid work using it as an excuse, I do quite often get told off for doing too much.

[Cfnteabag]

I know what your friend means about the hours, me and my wife worked out that we can actually double our monthly income near enough if I got a job with normal hours so she can go back full time (she is a nurse)