Any Ex Army on here?
Discussion
I left the Army in 1991 after 6 1/2 years and I have been recently hankering to get back involved.
I am 43 now and the TA will consider me up to 45.
Am I mad or is it a bit of mid life crisis?
I am fit enough to get in.
But 13 years married and two of my 3 kids 18 plus, should I just forget it?
It was easier back in 1985 as I was 18 and had nobody to worry about but myself.
Saw action in Northern Ireland and served in Belize, Canada, Germany, and UK.
It's like an itch that I need to scratch and realise that I will prolly end up in Afghanistan, but that's part of the attraction.
Sensible comments only please.
I am 43 now and the TA will consider me up to 45.
Am I mad or is it a bit of mid life crisis?
I am fit enough to get in.
But 13 years married and two of my 3 kids 18 plus, should I just forget it?
It was easier back in 1985 as I was 18 and had nobody to worry about but myself.
Saw action in Northern Ireland and served in Belize, Canada, Germany, and UK.
It's like an itch that I need to scratch and realise that I will prolly end up in Afghanistan, but that's part of the attraction.
Sensible comments only please.
You could always give it a bash and see if if you'd still like it. But bear in mind the following:
You'll have to go through basic training again and:
You've probably changed since you left.
The army has changed a massive amount since you've left, in terms of structure and equipment. On the other hand, there are still lots of things, procedures and attitudes that a veteran of Rorkes Drift would recognise.
The TA isn't the uniformed drinking club it used to be. Chances are that if you do it and stay in, there will be an Op Tour to Afghanistan in the post at some point.
The TA isn't as much of a commitment as the regular army and a damn sight easier to jack it in if its not for you any more.
You'll have to go through basic training again and:
You've probably changed since you left.
The army has changed a massive amount since you've left, in terms of structure and equipment. On the other hand, there are still lots of things, procedures and attitudes that a veteran of Rorkes Drift would recognise.
The TA isn't the uniformed drinking club it used to be. Chances are that if you do it and stay in, there will be an Op Tour to Afghanistan in the post at some point.
The TA isn't as much of a commitment as the regular army and a damn sight easier to jack it in if its not for you any more.
I've worked for years with people who've retired from all three services, and I would point out the following.
- They all go through this.
- You're missing the camaraderie - you'll never find that again in civilian life. It's a sad fact, but best to realise this now.
- However signing up again, and joining the TA will not give you that either.
- If you do sign up to the TA, the civilian chaps will piss you off immensely - you'll spend a lot of time biting your tongue. Or maybe not which means no one will like you.
- If you do sign up, you'll be the oldest swinger in town, and you'll remember when it was all fields of 7.62 and none of this modern small calibre rubbish.
- Your best bet it to ring some old squad mates and arrange an annual (or more frequent) get to together where the older you get, the more extraordinary the feats of derring do were.
- Another option is to join the retained fire brigade for a hobby - similar camaraderie and no one is going to blow themselves up next to you because they've been promised some virgins.
rhinochopig said:
- Another option is to join the retained fire brigade for a hobby - similar camaraderie and no one is going to blow themselves up next to you because they've been promised some virgins.
- *Gross generalisation warning***
I have found the opposite to be true of the fire-fighters I have met, and no I'm not an arsonist
Another option might be as a cadet instructor. You get involved with the military again and also do some tangible good with youth development.
But this depends very much on where you are and what your local ACF are like. In most the instructors are a good healthy mix of ex-regulars and those who've come into in from civilian life, but all with the right intentions - ie providing kids with the challenge and discipline thats is missing elsewhere in modern society. On the other hand you might be lumbered with a cluster of borderline paedo Walter Mitty type characters with their own set of Israeli webbing and an extensive collection of fighting knives who want all the army gear and army rank to shout at kids, but not the hard stuff that goes with earning it. Luckily the former outweigh the latter by a large margin but its still a gamble.
But this depends very much on where you are and what your local ACF are like. In most the instructors are a good healthy mix of ex-regulars and those who've come into in from civilian life, but all with the right intentions - ie providing kids with the challenge and discipline thats is missing elsewhere in modern society. On the other hand you might be lumbered with a cluster of borderline paedo Walter Mitty type characters with their own set of Israeli webbing and an extensive collection of fighting knives who want all the army gear and army rank to shout at kids, but not the hard stuff that goes with earning it. Luckily the former outweigh the latter by a large margin but its still a gamble.
Rude-boy said:
rhinochopig said:
- Another option is to join the retained fire brigade for a hobby - similar camaraderie and no one is going to blow themselves up next to you because they've been promised some virgins.
- *Gross generalisation warning***
I have found the opposite to be true of the fire-fighters I have met, and no I'm not an arsonist
BruceV8 said:
Another option might be as a cadet instructor. You get involved with the military again and also do some tangible good with youth development.
But this depends very much on where you are and what your local ACF are like. In most the instructors are a good healthy mix of ex-regulars and those who've come into in from civilian life, but all with the right intentions - ie providing kids with the challenge and discipline thats is missing elsewhere in modern society. On the other hand you might be lumbered with a cluster of borderline paedo Walter Mitty type characters with their own set of Israeli webbing and an extensive collection of fighting knives who want all the army gear and army rank to shout at kids, but not the hard stuff that goes with earning it. Luckily the former outweigh the latter by a large margin but its still a gamble.
I was going to suggest ACF too. I'm an instructor in the ATC and have been doing it a few years, the last three being in uniform. Really satisfying way to spend a few hours a week and a good laugh too. You do get the Walt element but luckily the good guys outnumber them, at least in the ATC they do!But this depends very much on where you are and what your local ACF are like. In most the instructors are a good healthy mix of ex-regulars and those who've come into in from civilian life, but all with the right intentions - ie providing kids with the challenge and discipline thats is missing elsewhere in modern society. On the other hand you might be lumbered with a cluster of borderline paedo Walter Mitty type characters with their own set of Israeli webbing and an extensive collection of fighting knives who want all the army gear and army rank to shout at kids, but not the hard stuff that goes with earning it. Luckily the former outweigh the latter by a large margin but its still a gamble.
rhinochopig said:
I've worked for years with people who've retired from all three services, and I would point out the following.
Rhinochopig speaks the truth. I left a couple of years back and after a couple of months was 100% set on joining the TA and getting myself out to Afghan. It passes though, and I'm glad it did. I still miss ii in t'army but I know my mates are having a s- They all go through this.
- You're missing the camaraderie - you'll never find that again in civilian life. It's a sad fact, but best to realise this now.
- However signing up again, and joining the TA will not give you that either.
- If you do sign up to the TA, the civilian chaps will piss you off immensely - you'll spend a lot of time biting your tongue. Or maybe not which means no one will like you.
t time out there and while I miss them, I don't miss the chance to end up like two mates who are diffy a leg and two other mates who are now dead. I have a family and with that comes resposibility to stay alive and able to provide for them... I'll stay here in Blightly thanks very much. Get in touch with some old army mates, go paintballing (not airsofting though, they take it too far), join your old unit's association. Think long and hard before sticking your signature on something that'll land you in the desert, you've been out a long time.
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