Joining the Armed Forces
Discussion
So I'm a very patriotic 16 year old and plan on joining in two years (nowhere near ready yet - need to gain weight). My whole life I've been absolutely obsessed by the military. I have a slight problem in that I did awful at school and have come out with an A in English, B in Maths and a few BTECs. I have always wanted to join despite my parents' wishes, but I have no clue on how to do so. Any help?
Go to the careers office like I did and talk to them. Get some info and gen up on what it is you actually want to do in the forces. And read the newspapers. That way when the boss interviews you and asks you about different things you'll have more of a chance at being able to answer him properly.
Read the Army blog too. Very useful resource.
Read the Army blog too. Very useful resource.
Pablo Escobar said:
Go to the careers office like I did and talk to them. Get some info and gen up on what it is you actually want to do in the forces. And read the newspapers. That way when the boss interviews you and asks you about different things you'll have more of a chance at being able to answer him properly.
Read the Army blog too. Very useful resource.
do this, but also try to understand where the armed forces will be in 10 years time and how you will fit in with future plans. Read the Army blog too. Very useful resource.
i ballsed a flying scholarship with the RAF early 80's because i was thinking cold wars, not gulf wars
You should be fine with those grades, all the jobs I've seen have asked for at least a C in English and Maths.
Best bet is to pop down to your local careers office and have a chat. Might be worth having a look online first to see if anything jumps out at you, then you can ask for some more information about it.
Hopefully your parents will come round to the idea, my mum wasn't keen on me applying at first, but did a lot of research into the job I wanted (RMP), and she has kind of grown to like the idea of it. Plus it had taken me nearly a year from deciding I want to join to walking into the careers office...sadly I have the opposite problem...too much weight, I can give you a couple of stone if you want!
Good luck!
Best bet is to pop down to your local careers office and have a chat. Might be worth having a look online first to see if anything jumps out at you, then you can ask for some more information about it.
Hopefully your parents will come round to the idea, my mum wasn't keen on me applying at first, but did a lot of research into the job I wanted (RMP), and she has kind of grown to like the idea of it. Plus it had taken me nearly a year from deciding I want to join to walking into the careers office...sadly I have the opposite problem...too much weight, I can give you a couple of stone if you want!
Good luck!
Don't worry about your folks. They are just worried about you. It is their job and they just want what is good for you.
If I may, I would like to offer some advice about training and the Army in general:
It's never an adventure whilst living it.
If you have a gf, best let her get on with her life and you with yours. They dont mix easily.
Whilst at school, practice being the grey man. It will serve you well later.
Once you get in, never EVER try and suck up to higher ranks or anyone popular.
Embrace pain. If you hurt yourself, keep it to yourself. Only ever go to the regimental aid post if you see bone. Only then if you're ordered.
Infantry, armoured and artillery are good fun. Engineers and sigs are fags
If you want to make a career out of it, look at becomming an officer down the track after a couple years as an OR. If you want to blow s
t up and have a ball, be a digger.
When doing your LMG shooting test, sneak off the odd single shot. You will get a grumpy kick and told "you're not a fking sniper" but your score will rock.
Always relunctantly volunteer for everything.
Learn how to navigate. I went to a sailing course before signing up and it helped.
Always put your mates first. Not just when someone is watching.
If you are in an all night ambush, put your bush hat on the back of your head and your face in the mud for a QUIET kip. You can practice for that by getting your mates to call you in the middle of the night and answering the phone as if you are already up. Trust me on that one.
If you go infantry, try to carry the gun or go lead scout. Lead scout is the only not saying "what the fk is going on?" and the gunner gets the best sleep at night. Also, the gunner provides "security" whilst his mates dig you a gun pit. If with blokes you dont know, offer to swap the gun.
If you are sent off on lone sentry in the bush, take a stick mag with you. Whilst rubbing one out your senses will be so alert that you will sense the Taliban or your mother miles off.
Sew a sock into your sleeping bag about half way down.
Keep your glow sticks that you get out bush. Save them as pressies for nephews.
Learn to smoke a cigar. If you dont smoke, take some fags out bush anyway. You can use them as barter when things decend into lord of the flies which they will after a week.
Never ask an officer how his day is going. Just say "morning, sir".
Got plenty more if you want em. Hope that helps.
If I may, I would like to offer some advice about training and the Army in general:
It's never an adventure whilst living it.
If you have a gf, best let her get on with her life and you with yours. They dont mix easily.
Whilst at school, practice being the grey man. It will serve you well later.
Once you get in, never EVER try and suck up to higher ranks or anyone popular.
Embrace pain. If you hurt yourself, keep it to yourself. Only ever go to the regimental aid post if you see bone. Only then if you're ordered.
Infantry, armoured and artillery are good fun. Engineers and sigs are fags
If you want to make a career out of it, look at becomming an officer down the track after a couple years as an OR. If you want to blow s
t up and have a ball, be a digger.When doing your LMG shooting test, sneak off the odd single shot. You will get a grumpy kick and told "you're not a f
king sniper" but your score will rock.Always relunctantly volunteer for everything.
Learn how to navigate. I went to a sailing course before signing up and it helped.
Always put your mates first. Not just when someone is watching.
If you are in an all night ambush, put your bush hat on the back of your head and your face in the mud for a QUIET kip. You can practice for that by getting your mates to call you in the middle of the night and answering the phone as if you are already up. Trust me on that one.
If you go infantry, try to carry the gun or go lead scout. Lead scout is the only
not saying "what the fk is going on?" and the gunner gets the best sleep at night. Also, the gunner provides "security" whilst his mates dig you a gun pit. If with blokes you dont know, offer to swap the gun.If you are sent off on lone sentry in the bush, take a stick mag with you. Whilst rubbing one out your senses will be so alert that you will sense the Taliban or your mother miles off.
Sew a sock into your sleeping bag about half way down.
Keep your glow sticks that you get out bush. Save them as pressies for nephews.
Learn to smoke a cigar. If you dont smoke, take some fags out bush anyway. You can use them as barter when things decend into lord of the flies which they will after a week.
Never ask an officer how his day is going. Just say "morning, sir".
Got plenty more if you want em. Hope that helps.
V100 said:
So I'm a very patriotic 16 year old and plan on joining in two years (nowhere near ready yet - need to gain weight). My whole life I've been absolutely obsessed by the military. I have a slight problem in that I did awful at school and have come out with an A in English, B in Maths and a few BTECs. I have always wanted to join despite my parents' wishes, but I have no clue on how to do so. Any help?
That's damned good English there. Good luck with your career!
If I could offer a snippet of advice:
Find out EXACTLY what job you want in a set service and stick to it before you go to a careers advisor.
I went to the Navy Careers office in 1997 with the intent to join the Marines. Before I knew it I was bobbing around the Gulf on a Type 23 Frigate in 2000 as a Weapons Engineering Artificer in the Navy. Sure, I was having a great time and travelling well but it wasn't what I wanted. In jan 2001 I transferred to the Marines, did my training and fell in love with the Job. The guys I joined the Navy with are all earning way more than a Marine with the same number of years done but you can't beat being at the sharp end! Its amnazing how many Navy lads are volunteering to serve in Afghanistan now they've seen Royal at work.
Eddie
Find out EXACTLY what job you want in a set service and stick to it before you go to a careers advisor.
I went to the Navy Careers office in 1997 with the intent to join the Marines. Before I knew it I was bobbing around the Gulf on a Type 23 Frigate in 2000 as a Weapons Engineering Artificer in the Navy. Sure, I was having a great time and travelling well but it wasn't what I wanted. In jan 2001 I transferred to the Marines, did my training and fell in love with the Job. The guys I joined the Navy with are all earning way more than a Marine with the same number of years done but you can't beat being at the sharp end! Its amnazing how many Navy lads are volunteering to serve in Afghanistan now they've seen Royal at work.
Eddie
+1 agree with that, defo go to the AFCO with a plan/career in mind or they will try and sell you there quota. Take what they tell you about adventure and the 'job' with a pinch of salt, and don't believe all the adverts you see on TV... you know the one, join as a Pers Admin and you'll all be whisked away on helicopters assisting the MERT teams in afghan... err no, doesn't quite happen like that for everybody.
Have an idea what service you want to serve in, since you haven't said yet.
I can only speak for the RAF but have an idea on what you want to do, fight in field type stuff, aircraft (good work, varied and interesting) or ground electrical (you fix power sets and steps etc) engineering, personal admin, become a chef, MT driver, flight Ops assistant, ATC, intelligence, police. There's a variety of jobs, and you have to take the rough with the smooth too. Then you've pay levels to think about, what gets you promoted, and not forgetting what gets you out and about around the world. Its a fun career, and makes you a better all round individual, makes you a man if you know what i mean.
The situation in the forces, especially RAF at the moment is one of cuts, redundancy, zero promotion prospects, overworked and pay freezes. But come 2013, that should all change and many branches will be open again. We'll know more post April '12 once the phase 2 redundancies have been finalised so they'll be a better understanding of personnel numbers.
Im an aircraft techie, and while I love doing my job, i'm reaching the point in my career where I need to get promoted before my time is up so I'm looking at RAF Officer now.
Oh for your interviews depending on what career you go for, subscribe to 'the week' magazine, bbc world is good, wikipedia, guardian newspaper and reuters online, look at 5 UK based current affairs and 5 world affairs within the last 12 months ideally that interest you but have an insight into quite a few more around the world too, and how/why the UK being 'so small an island' has such a big impact on foreign affairs. Learn the current deployed ops locations and there current situations. Understand how it started, their brief history, there leaders etc. Learn who our political figureheads are and who the bigwigs of the MOD are. Learn what, depending on the service your joining, hardware we operate and what your job may involve. Know already what training will be involved and where, how long, etc.
Have an idea what service you want to serve in, since you haven't said yet.
I can only speak for the RAF but have an idea on what you want to do, fight in field type stuff, aircraft (good work, varied and interesting) or ground electrical (you fix power sets and steps etc) engineering, personal admin, become a chef, MT driver, flight Ops assistant, ATC, intelligence, police. There's a variety of jobs, and you have to take the rough with the smooth too. Then you've pay levels to think about, what gets you promoted, and not forgetting what gets you out and about around the world. Its a fun career, and makes you a better all round individual, makes you a man if you know what i mean.
The situation in the forces, especially RAF at the moment is one of cuts, redundancy, zero promotion prospects, overworked and pay freezes. But come 2013, that should all change and many branches will be open again. We'll know more post April '12 once the phase 2 redundancies have been finalised so they'll be a better understanding of personnel numbers.
Im an aircraft techie, and while I love doing my job, i'm reaching the point in my career where I need to get promoted before my time is up so I'm looking at RAF Officer now.
Oh for your interviews depending on what career you go for, subscribe to 'the week' magazine, bbc world is good, wikipedia, guardian newspaper and reuters online, look at 5 UK based current affairs and 5 world affairs within the last 12 months ideally that interest you but have an insight into quite a few more around the world too, and how/why the UK being 'so small an island' has such a big impact on foreign affairs. Learn the current deployed ops locations and there current situations. Understand how it started, their brief history, there leaders etc. Learn who our political figureheads are and who the bigwigs of the MOD are. Learn what, depending on the service your joining, hardware we operate and what your job may involve. Know already what training will be involved and where, how long, etc.
Edited by PaulG40 on Thursday 11th August 08:52
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