Hoping To Join The Army - Good Idea?
Discussion
The Mad Monk said:
TL:DR
Are you in the Army yet?
If not, may I suggest you have another think.
I know I have posted on this theme previously, but I think it does no harm to iterate this.
Various well meaning serving, or former, soldiers, policeman and firemen are now being taken to court, or threatened with proceedings for events that happened years ago. The decisions were well meant with the information available at the time.
Think policemen at Hillsborough, or Orgreave. Soldiers in Northern Ireland, and now firemen at Grenfell Tower.
Be careful, be very careful.
Not in yet but should be starting soon. Just got word that my vetting cleared (subject to no more legal problems) this week so should be in training by January.Are you in the Army yet?
If not, may I suggest you have another think.
I know I have posted on this theme previously, but I think it does no harm to iterate this.
Various well meaning serving, or former, soldiers, policeman and firemen are now being taken to court, or threatened with proceedings for events that happened years ago. The decisions were well meant with the information available at the time.
Think policemen at Hillsborough, or Orgreave. Soldiers in Northern Ireland, and now firemen at Grenfell Tower.
Be careful, be very careful.
Delighted and cant wait to start. Since leaving the prison officer job I have been working in retail and then as a labourer so its time to get something long term. Got to do a weekend experience course and loved it and got to know a few lads serving,
Appreciate all the comments and advice on the thread. It helped me make up my mind about applying. The negative ones I read too and good to hear that side too but am going for it and have no regrets.
Ayahuasca said:
Good luck.
My only advice is to get fit, fitter than you think you need to be, fitter than you can imagine being. Run, run and run. Up hills. Up more hills. Up steeper hills.
Basic training can be hard, or difficult, and how fit you are to start with makes a massive difference.
Thanks. I found the fitness tests alright and working as a labourer now keeps me fit bit probably will do some more running. Ive cut down on drinking since what happened last year. Itried to give up smoking and tried vaping but am back smoking nowMy only advice is to get fit, fitter than you think you need to be, fitter than you can imagine being. Run, run and run. Up hills. Up more hills. Up steeper hills.
Basic training can be hard, or difficult, and how fit you are to start with makes a massive difference.
The Mad Monk said:
I simply do not think that joining the Army as an ordinary squaddy is such a wonderful job to make it worthwhile to jump through all these hoops.
Yeah, I think we got that thanks mate. Why not bore off now he's made his mind up and is giving it a shot. OP - great choice, well done. As said, get fit, and make sure you're a ninja with an iron, you won't believe how much easier that will make your life.
Sa Calobra said:
Lord Marylebone said:
"ARMY - Get shot at for £14k"
I could do their new recruitment adverts.
Know much about the armed forces? I could do their new recruitment adverts.
Many trades, many positions and not all are Frontline.
The closest I ever came was was attending a private school which was massively into CCF/Army/RAF. It had a reputation for churning out pupils who would go on to be Officers after Uni.
The school was a fully equipped training facility. Had a fully equipped armoury, shooting range, training grounds, and so on.
We spent every week on parade, polishing boots, tying Puttee's, shooting things, crawling in mud, stripping and cleaning SA80's, camping, playing with Army radios, getting shouted at. That kind of thing.
We were regularly sent to places like Catterick, where we got to drive tanks, shoot things, and be shouted at.
I hated it, so I passed an exam and went in the RAF.
My weeks were then spent on parade, polishing boots and being told how internal combustion/Jet engines worked, by people who knew less about them than me.
My weeks were also filled with being sent to places like RAF Leuchars, Woodvale, Benson etc. I spent a week at time in those places during summer and other holidays. Being made to get upon at 6:30, make my bed, go to the NAAFI, work on Tornado's, go in top secret nuclear bunkers, agree to the official secrets act (Whistling handbag anyone?), and of course, get shouted at.
I also got to fly planes such as Bulldogs and Chipmunks. The Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ghia of the skies.
I still have my flight log book somewhere with all my hours in.
Anyway, hated it and left anything to do with the CCF as soon as I could.
So there you go. My armed forces 'career'...
Getting a useful trade: great idea if you plan to learn it and then leave for civvy street.
Becoming a soldier with no trade: you are bonkers. Look at how they are treated by the powers above.
I did my time in the marines. I learned a lot about myself, that's as good as it gets. The rest is an utter lie and you're best living life on your own terms.
Becoming a soldier with no trade: you are bonkers. Look at how they are treated by the powers above.
I did my time in the marines. I learned a lot about myself, that's as good as it gets. The rest is an utter lie and you're best living life on your own terms.
Sa Calobra said:
A watch manager was alone in charge at Grenfeld for a whole hour the first hour. A watch manager manages two engines.
You don't think it's right then that the fire service is infront of the inquest?
He shouldn't have been in that position.
The inquest will investigate and find ways to imrpve incase there's another grenfeld.
Yes there are other issues around why the cladding was there but I'm targeting your point face on.
Police at Hillsborough, you don't think they should be questioned for the cover up?
It's the boots on the ground that are being hounded after Ireland / Iraq / Afghanistan, not the wYou don't think it's right then that the fire service is infront of the inquest?
He shouldn't have been in that position.
The inquest will investigate and find ways to imrpve incase there's another grenfeld.
Yes there are other issues around why the cladding was there but I'm targeting your point face on.
Police at Hillsborough, you don't think they should be questioned for the cover up?
kers at the top. With the fire brigade and police it will be the headshed that takes the fall...... most likely into politics. Jay22 said:
Thanks. I found the fitness tests alright and working as a labourer now keeps me fit bit probably will do some more running. Ive cut down on drinking since what happened last year. Itried to give up smoking and tried vaping but am back smoking now
The fitness tests to get in are probably a 3 or 4 out of 10 compared to what you will be coming up against in the first 6 months of training depending on which corps you are joining.They'll never prepare you for a stretcher race or casevac, mentally you'll need to be strong as they will break you down to rebuild you! Good luck.
Jay22 said:
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.
How do you know? Have you asked?I split up with my gf as well and just feel that my life is going nowhere unless I do something about it.
griffin dai said:
The Mad Monk said:
I simply do not think that joining the Army as an ordinary squaddy is such a wonderful job to make it worthwhile to jump through all these hoops.
Load of bks Agree that "as an ordinary squaddie" is a bit of a silly argument! (Mind you, RMAS is pretty well recruited atm, but officer candidates tend to apply further out of their planned start date, so it is less of an issue).
Edited by NewbishDelight on Monday 29th October 09:35
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