Hoping To Join The Army - Good Idea?

Hoping To Join The Army - Good Idea?

Author
Discussion

Little Pete

1,513 posts

93 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
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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.
Top man for wanting to do something positive about your situation, rather than adopt what seems to be the default position these days of pissing and moaning and blaming anyone and everyone.

Julietbravo

216 posts

89 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
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OneTwo said:
As a man of 25 years military experience, I feel I must comment.

First, some of the earlier posts that need nipping in the bud.

'Sign your life away...', this isn't the 1950s, the minimum commitment is 4 years - if you don't like it, leave, there's no issue with it.

'£14k to get killed...', it's easy to look at a pay table and scroll to the very bottom and think feck that. It's true, a new entrant gets just shy of £15k, but he/she only pays £60 a month for accommodation, gets free health care, 24/7 gym membership and a non-contributory pension scheme equivalent to 52% of your salary every year. By the time you're trade qualified and have your feet under the table at your first assignment I'd be surprised if you weren't earning £20k with a genuine career ahead of you. The renumeration is probably more than you'd get currently working in a retail outlet and look at the ceiling earnings in your current role - what does your manager earn, and his manager?

After a full career, leave at 45 with a tax free lump sum (c.£50k+ for an average performer) and an immediate pension that should cover your mortgage/bills for the rest of your life.

In the intervening years, you'll do sport, you'll travel quite a lot (more now than ever), meet some new mates, have several girlfriends and be presented with opportunities to educate yourself and develop as a human being.

If you get married and pop a few sprogs, the Army is a good club to be in, a community that looks after each other. If your Mrs doesn't like it - fine, buy your own place, they'll help with that too with 50% of your salary available up front for a deposit, paid back in tiny chunks.

Your criminal past will be a concern, the DD ban will be served when the Army won't let you drive anyway, the criminal damage piece will be a consideration as nobody likes a hooligan. BUT, having people with colourful backgrounds enhances the mix, your experiences have altered your character and perspective, we don't want clones, we need the broadest foundations we can get.

Just remember, drugs are bad M'kay. Give it a good think, come back to me if you have any specific Qs.
^ 100% correct. In all three services, if you want to get on, you will. The other advantage of living in subsidised accommodation is that you will be able to buy your own place to let it out. I was talking to an Army WO a couple of weeks ago who joined with almost no qualifications and he could see the slope his life was starting to slide down. He's now leaving the service with two houses paid for, a raft of qualifications including two degrees, and young enough to start a second career. There are some amazing opportunities and you will do many 'money can't buy' experiences. I have skied around the arctic circle, dived in the Med, flown in the back of a fast jet, spent 3 months in Vegas and gone all the way to post-grad qualifications. I have worked with Chefs who have cooked for the Queen and mixed gin for the Queen Mum. I have worked with submariners who have spent (cumulatively) almost three years underwater. I know medics who have dragged casualties out of an Afghan field under fire. It's a work hard-play hard mentality, with periods requiring 100% focus, but your command chain should be aware of the need to balance that with quality down time. You will have bad days in uniform, but you never have a bad week. I would recommend it to anyone. You need to start thinking about what you want to do, rather than 'be in the Army'. You could be a Chef or a mechanic; a comms expert or a tank driver. Some jobs are better suited to life after the military. Not much call for tank drivers with North Lincs County Council, but a Chef who has cooked for 400 people in a war zone and made canapés for 250 for the Autumn Reception will never be short of work.

deadtom

2,552 posts

164 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
I have a little bit of experience of the modern Army so may be able to help with any specific questions you may have:

~ 2 years as a soldier in the REME reserve before transferring to the regular Army to start the regular commissioning course at RMAS. Sadly I am now in the process of being medically discharged from RMAS.

I started even later than you; joined reserves at 27 and regular army at 29

WolfAir

456 posts

134 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
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I had an opportunity to join the royal navy once as an engineer, one that i passed on and have regretted. If i had joined at 18 imagine the experiences i would have had in the 10 years instead of pissing about and failing first round of uni, dead end jobs. If i was not married and had kids, i would have joined up now.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain

CharlesdeGaulle

26,091 posts

179 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
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WolfAir said:
If i was not married and had kids, i would have joined up now.
You might be surprised how many trainees of all 3 services are married with families. A lot more join late now, often when either their first careers/dead end jobs turn out to be not great, or when they go back to a childhood dream. Permitted entry age levels have risen too, and it isn't that unusual for folk in their late 20s and sometimes 30s to join up. It isn't too late if you're serious.

Anubis

1,029 posts

178 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Ask yourself where do you want to be in 5 to 10 years from now. It’s too late worrying about your next dead end job - it takes time and dedication to climb that ladder in any occupation.

I can only echo what others have said and join but bear in mind what life for you will be like when you are out the other end. Make sure you have a transferable skill you can fall back on, otherwise you may end up feeling lost. In short; do something that makes or fixes things, even if it’s only half the job. You can convert those skills into civilian jobs.

I had a fat mate, Bob who didn’t bother with school, struggled to get a job and for years worked in Sainsbury’s bakery counter. Then one day he started going to the gym and about a year later was almost unrecognisable - small, fat, spotty bob is now something from men’s magazine.lol. Any way...he loved the self improvement process but still couldn’t do much about his crap job so put two and two together and enlisted. He’s now in his thirties and is a fully suited and booted soldier with a fit wife by his side. Totally transformed in every way. Confidence shot up, more sociable, happier, can see a future for himself - but it took him and only him to make that choice and put in all that effort to turn it around.

It’s such a unique career - nothing else can really compare to it and you’ll have a lot of memories to look back on. But YOU have to really want it and commit to it. No one on a forum can tell you otherwise. What does your gut feel say? In all honesty, what will you be doing this time next year if you don’t join...wondering what if you had joined? If so...do it now. smile

Edited by Anubis on Thursday 31st May 19:54

Efbe

9,251 posts

165 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
8 of my friends from school joined up.
2 in marines, 5 in army, 1 in RAF.
skip forward quite a few years and this is where they are now...

2(marines) dead from drugs overdose.
1(army) in prison for beating up his wife.
1(army) discharged for medical. Now a builder. Doing ok I guess
1(army) did Paras, then REME. has mental issues from paras, but a decent job working in a Landrover garage.
1(army) Chef I think mostly. Spent quite a while in iraq. In and out of prison for drugs now, but he was into drugs before he went in.
1(army) Missed any action in the army (a few years older) found it a complete waste of time, though I think got to Corporal?, now a Manager in a financial institution with waay too many kids. Doing very well for himself.
1(RAF) Something to do with Radar. Now a very successful Project Manager


In this small sample size, there was a 50/50 chance of it cocking up your life massively, or helping you out. Those that saw action had the issues.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,091 posts

179 months

Thursday 31st May 2018
quotequote all
Efbe said:
Lots of opinionated bks
FB - don't be a . You'r talking complete st about stuff you clearly know nothing about.

Evanivitch

19,803 posts

121 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
Efbe said:
In this small sample size, there was a 50/50 chance of it cocking up your life massively, or helping you out. Those that saw action had the issues.
Whilst we should never underestimate the long term and invisible effects of war on veterans, it's wrong to assume that everyone is affected.

I know at least one person that is (though the symptoms were obvious 18 months ago), but I work with dozens that are not. All veterans, many LEO.

Brads67

3,199 posts

97 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
Will just chuck in my tuppenceworth

My oldest Grandson is doing the Army entry course at college with a view to signing up at the end of it.

My view on the matter.

I deeply regret not taking up the opportunity of joining the forces when I had the chance as a youth.
I deeply hope he does join and makes a good life for himself as plenty others who have served have done and maybe even makes me feel a little like I have "contributed" by encouraging him into it as a surrogate for me having not done.

To have my Grandson serve in the Army would make me immeasurably proud .


Do it. Don`t regret it.

Efbe

9,251 posts

165 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
Whilst we should never underestimate the long term and invisible effects of war on veterans, it's wrong to assume that everyone is affected.

I know at least one person that is (though the symptoms were obvious 18 months ago), but I work with dozens that are not. All veterans, many LEO.
I didn't assume anything.
I said this is a small sample size, quite simply just saying what has happened to my friends.

Offering a bit of balance on the subject. Was also pointing out how different the differing roles in the military may be.

Deerfoot

4,897 posts

183 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
Julietbravo said:
OneTwo said:
As a man of 25 years military experience, I feel I must comment.

First, some of the earlier posts that need nipping in the bud.

'Sign your life away...', this isn't the 1950s, the minimum commitment is 4 years - if you don't like it, leave, there's no issue with it.

'£14k to get killed...', it's easy to look at a pay table and scroll to the very bottom and think feck that. It's true, a new entrant gets just shy of £15k, but he/she only pays £60 a month for accommodation, gets free health care, 24/7 gym membership and a non-contributory pension scheme equivalent to 52% of your salary every year. By the time you're trade qualified and have your feet under the table at your first assignment I'd be surprised if you weren't earning £20k with a genuine career ahead of you. The renumeration is probably more than you'd get currently working in a retail outlet and look at the ceiling earnings in your current role - what does your manager earn, and his manager?

After a full career, leave at 45 with a tax free lump sum (c.£50k+ for an average performer) and an immediate pension that should cover your mortgage/bills for the rest of your life.

In the intervening years, you'll do sport, you'll travel quite a lot (more now than ever), meet some new mates, have several girlfriends and be presented with opportunities to educate yourself and develop as a human being.

If you get married and pop a few sprogs, the Army is a good club to be in, a community that looks after each other. If your Mrs doesn't like it - fine, buy your own place, they'll help with that too with 50% of your salary available up front for a deposit, paid back in tiny chunks.

Your criminal past will be a concern, the DD ban will be served when the Army won't let you drive anyway, the criminal damage piece will be a consideration as nobody likes a hooligan. BUT, having people with colourful backgrounds enhances the mix, your experiences have altered your character and perspective, we don't want clones, we need the broadest foundations we can get.

Just remember, drugs are bad M'kay. Give it a good think, come back to me if you have any specific Qs.
^ 100% correct. In all three services, if you want to get on, you will. The other advantage of living in subsidised accommodation is that you will be able to buy your own place to let it out. I was talking to an Army WO a couple of weeks ago who joined with almost no qualifications and he could see the slope his life was starting to slide down. He's now leaving the service with two houses paid for, a raft of qualifications including two degrees, and young enough to start a second career. There are some amazing opportunities and you will do many 'money can't buy' experiences. I have skied around the arctic circle, dived in the Med, flown in the back of a fast jet, spent 3 months in Vegas and gone all the way to post-grad qualifications. I have worked with Chefs who have cooked for the Queen and mixed gin for the Queen Mum. I have worked with submariners who have spent (cumulatively) almost three years underwater. I know medics who have dragged casualties out of an Afghan field under fire. It's a work hard-play hard mentality, with periods requiring 100% focus, but your command chain should be aware of the need to balance that with quality down time. You will have bad days in uniform, but you never have a bad week. I would recommend it to anyone. You need to start thinking about what you want to do, rather than 'be in the Army'. You could be a Chef or a mechanic; a comms expert or a tank driver. Some jobs are better suited to life after the military. Not much call for tank drivers with North Lincs County Council, but a Chef who has cooked for 400 people in a war zone and made canapés for 250 for the Autumn Reception will never be short of work.
I served for just short of 25 years in REME, these posts above are spot on.

LosingGrip

7,806 posts

158 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
I looked at joining it around ten years ago, but unfortunately medical reasons stopped me.

I saw you mentioned the police. Clearly your drink drive conviction will be a problem, but a colleague who got caught who had an application on going was told to reapply in ten years time, so isn't the end of that option (but I do understand ten years is a long time).

DuncsGTi

1,152 posts

178 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
Julietbravo said:
Some jobs are better suited to life after the military. Not much call for tank drivers with North Lincs County Council, but a Chef who has cooked for 400 people in a war zone and made canapés for 250 for the Autumn Reception will never be short of work.
Sorry to snip just a small part of a long and informative post but I have to disagree.

Whilst lincs council may not need tank drivers, the royal armoured corps are now much better than ever before at mapping competencies across to civilian qualifications.

In the last few years I have completed an advanced apprenticeship in mechanical engineering, numerous managerial qualifications and in my current role, I'm working towards adult learning qualifications which can be used to teach in further education establishments.

Op, when you talk to the recruiters again, ask about doing a "look at life". It's a weekend away doing various command tasks and teambuilding exercises.

Spend time researching what career path interests you. It's a large organisation with a multitude of interesting roles to suit.

Some of the opportunities I've had from the military just wouldn't have been possible for me as a civvy, 6 weeks skiing in verbier at a time, canoeing through the Rocky mountains, parachuting in Germany, sailing, etc.

When I joined (aged 19) I was going nowhere. My school friends were all being jailed for various reasons and I just wanted to break clean. 16 years later I'd do it all again!!!


croyde

22,702 posts

229 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
Tango13 said:
My Nephew has his passing out parade tomorrow as a front line medic as he wants to be a Paramedic.



'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
hehe

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

171 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
DuncsGTi said:
Some of the opportunities I've had from the military just wouldn't have been possible for me as a civvy, 6 weeks skiing in verbier at a time, canoeing through the Rocky mountains, parachuting in Germany, sailing, etc.
The problem is, these high days and holidays are a lot rarer than they used to be.
AT now is a week of crap at Senny or an orienteering trip.

Out of our troop that went through basic, phase 2 and trade training together there are only 4 (I think) of 16 that have stayed in past the 4 year point. Morale is fairly low, the pay isn't the best, the pension is crap now compared to previously and with the Royal Engineers at least, the postings have become increasingly worse as they withdraw or sell off MOD land and move you to the middle of nowhere instead.

The mid-late 90s up to early 2000s was definitely the sweet spot from what I've heard fr more experienced guys with regards to the benefits offered and the fun times.

It may get better now they're not spending so much on Afghanistan but I just can't see it ever getting back to those levels.

As I said, I'd recommend it to anyone but personally I'd not do it again.

DuncsGTi

1,152 posts

178 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
It might be a little rarer but as a reference, each of the last 4 years I've had at least a week in Val Thorens, Val D'isere or tignes. Other guys in my unit have done other decent stuff too. I suppose it all comes down to how keen your chain of command are on AT. In my unit, all new officers are tasked with organising a trip within their first year at unit.

Sa Calobra

37,010 posts

210 months

Friday 1st June 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?
Everyone I know who has served didn't experience you stereotyping and generalising. Do you write for the DM?

Sheets Tabuer

18,898 posts

214 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
Why yes I do and the sun on wednesdays.

It wasn't my experience either but my uncle has thought about sending his NI medal back.

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

171 months

Friday 1st June 2018
quotequote all
DuncsGTi said:
It might be a little rarer but as a reference, each of the last 4 years I've had at least a week in Val Thorens, Val D'isere or tignes. Other guys in my unit have done other decent stuff too. I suppose it all comes down to how keen your chain of command are on AT. In my unit, all new officers are tasked with organising a trip within their first year at unit.
I was probably super unlucky, it certainly felt that way when a friend of mine ended up on Stubai glacier for 4 weeks and only had to pay £800odd quid but I had the joy of spending a week in Weymouth teaching some Naval officers how to build bridges :/

Now that tour and pre deployment rotations have finished there may be more time for those activities but I've been out a while now so am not up to speed.