Hoping To Join The Army - Good Idea?

Hoping To Join The Army - Good Idea?

Author
Discussion

Jay22

Original Poster:

71 posts

77 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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I am hoping to join the Army and looking to see what people in the Army or who have been in the Army on here think about it.

I'm 23 and had a bad year last year and trying to get things back on track. I know I'd be older than most but it's what I would like to do - my family don't really like the idea but that doesn't matter.

I've been at the Careers Office and it went well and done the paperwork. It sounds like just what I need and could pick up some good skills. My main problem is having a criminal record - nothing too bad but got convicted for drink driving and criminal damage last year. I told them about this and they said it wouldn't rule me out if everything else checks out but I might have to wait for a bit.




ApOrbital

9,942 posts

117 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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Yes go for it it's great and you will never ever forget it.

Sheets Tabuer

18,899 posts

214 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Join up, get sent to fight by your government then abandoned in a council flat and sued by the enemy while the government stay silent, whats not to like?

Rosscow

8,723 posts

162 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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Nearly joined as an officer after completing my A levels but didn’t due to meeting my future wife.

Probably my biggest regret in life but I’ll never know for sure!

Not useful at all to you however.

I’d go for it and put my heart and soul into it once in.

Good luck whatever your decision!

Donbot

3,892 posts

126 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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The Navy lot seem a bit of an odd bunch.

It depends on what you would like to do in the army. If you have done well in education you could choose a technical role. (Though this could involve spending a lot of time in a shed full of computers in the middle east).

I'd be concerned about joining the infantry as soldiers appear to be spread thin, which could leave you vulnerable.

I was close to joining a few years ago, but decided against it as I don't like the idea of getting shot.

Edit - That sounds a bit negative. Most of the people I know who are/were in the forces loved it.

Edited by Donbot on Wednesday 30th May 21:51

steveatesh

4,893 posts

163 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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Rosscow said:
Nearly joined as an officer after completing my A levels but didn’t due to meeting my future wife.

Probably my biggest regret in life but I’ll never know for sure!
And so say married men the world over ! Oh, that’s not what you meant is it...smile

Jag_NE

2,949 posts

99 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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what is your current job / career, if any? if you are stuck in a rut with no prospects it (might) be the making of you. i have known people who have had a decent run in the forces and then go on to do fairly lucrative (yet dangerous) CP work.

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

136 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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the big question you need to ask is what do you want to get from it?

if it is a case of running away from problems in your life they will invariably catch up with you.

good luck if you go through with it and give it everything you will come out with memories and life opportunities you will never get anywhere else.

Sheets Tabuer

18,899 posts

214 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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Are you going for infantry, driver, REME or tent erector?

It's quite diverse.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,102 posts

179 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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Some weird posts so far!

I've just retired after 33 years service. For some of that I was the largest provider of training to all 3 services and I have seen at first hand what a transformative process it can be. I'd thoroughly recommend it.

Your criminal record will be a complication but won't necessarily be a show-stopper. Choose your Regiment or Corps carefully. Very carefully. You'll spend a long time in it.

Definitely go for it, and good luck.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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Why not try the TA (it still should be mostly weekends?), to get a feel for it?
I got the chance to handle firearms/magazines, use night vision scope, don a gas mask, run miles on end in a winter whislt wearinng a t shirt etc.
They even demo'd a machine gun on a firing range.

Jay22

Original Poster:

71 posts

77 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Jag_NE said:
what is your current job / career, if any? if you are stuck in a rut with no prospects it (might) be the making of you. i have known people who have had a decent run in the forces and then go on to do fairly lucrative (yet dangerous) CP work.
Working in a minimum wage job in a discount shop but it;s boring and not me. I've been there since Christmas after I was "resigned" from my other job after getting caught for the drink driving and criminal damage. My dream job was always the police but I know that won't happen now so have been looking at the Army and all the different careers that are there.

I split up with my gf as well and just feel that my life is going nowhere unless I do something about it.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Sheets Tabuer said:
Join up, get sent to fight by your government then abandoned in a council flat and sued by the enemy while the government stay silent, whats not to like?
"ARMY - Get shot at for £14k"

I could do their new recruitment adverts.

Evanivitch

19,808 posts

121 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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I'd your intention is to pick up some skills then you need to make sure you have the basic qualifications now and can do well on the entrance tests.

Join REME or RLC and you'll get a nice set of driving licenses. Royal Engineers and you'll perhaps get a building trade. Signals can be good for IT qualifications. Artillery for hearing loss. Infantry/Armour are good army stuff but not a lot outside on civvy street.

Important to find out how long you need to sit tight on your convictions. The recruitment process is horrendously slow, including in the Reserve, so don't get excited too soon but a bit of fitness won't hurt.

Jay22

Original Poster:

71 posts

77 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
soad said:
Why not try the TA (it still should be mostly weekends?), to get a feel for it?
I got the chance to handle firearms/magazines, use night vision scope, don a gas mask, run miles on end in a winter whislt wearinng a t shirt etc.
They even demo'd a machine gun on a firing range.
I thought about that but the criminal record would still be a problem there and am thinking of being older joining If I was 18/19 I would definitely do that, Sounds like you had a good time - ever think of joining full time or did you just want to do it part time.

I sort of assumed I would have to be infantry and I would still like that as it seems the most active and in the middle of everything but got advised to look at the other options too,

Efbe

9,251 posts

165 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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Evanivitch said:
Join REME or RLC and you'll get a nice set of driving licenses. Royal Engineers and you'll perhaps get a building trade. Signals can be good for IT qualifications. Artillery for hearing loss. Infantry/Armour are good army stuff but not a lot outside on civvy street.
Navy has some good engineering. If I wanted a career from it this would be my route.

Evanivitch

19,808 posts

121 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
Efbe said:
Navy has some good engineering. If I wanted a career from it this would be my route.
If he had a degree in engineering I'd agree.

But I wouldn't fancy being a rating in the Royal Navy. That said, a lot of opportunities on new ships these days.


soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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I was studying full time in a college, so only had limited time. My mind was focused on other things at the time.
Be warned, they'll kick you out for smoking weed these days.

Tango13

8,398 posts

175 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
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My Nephew has his passing out parade tomorrow as a front line medic as he wants to be a Paramedic.

My career advice to him was...

'As a civvy Paramedic you'll get verbally and physically abused and maybe even shot at in the rougher parts of the big cities, if you join the Army you'll still get the same st but at least you get to shoot back'

biglaugh

Sheets Tabuer

18,899 posts

214 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
soad said:
I was studying full time in a college, so only had limited time. My mind was focused on other things at the time.
Be warned, they'll kick you out for smoking weed these days.
They've always kicked you out for weed, you couldn't find cranberry juice for love nor money on a sunday night.... (dunno if it worked)