Thinking of joining the TA
Thinking of joining the TA
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Discussion

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

251 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Serious post from me for a change.

I'm thinking of joining the TA, my father and forefathers have all been in the armed forces, my grandfather was in the second world war and my father served as a tank commander and light infantry in NI.

I'm thinking that it might do me some good and help me sort my life out as i've lost my way a bit over the past 4-5years.

Do they have the same positions as the regular army?

If any one who has joined can give me some proper advice and info it'd be great.

As i say this is a serious thread, the reason why i've not chosen the proper army is due to the fact i have a family and a half decent job. I understand lads in the Army have family ect but i dont want to be away from my family for long periods of time, i dont want to miss my little girl growing up.

thanks in advance

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Your employer is legally bound to give you some time off to go trolling about with dangerous stuff...

They have no choice, but they might not like it...

Who do you think would be first in line for redundancy...?

Edit...and it's hot in Afghanistan

Edited by mybrainhurts on Monday 17th November 21:43

MikeyT

18,400 posts

301 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Mc Lovin said:
... sort my life out as i've lost my way a bit over the past 4-5 years.
You're married with kids right? Sounds like you don't want to be ...

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

251 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
So they have to give me time off for training ect?

i dont think it'd be much of a problem tbh as they are pretty relaxed about most things, more than your average company!

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

251 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
MikeyT said:
Mc Lovin said:
... sort my life out as i've lost my way a bit over the past 4-5 years.
You're married with kids right? Sounds like you don't want to be ...
Not at all, i just need to get my head back on straight, i've/we've been through alot over the last 5years, i've lost my way and i dont like where my life is heading, i need some sort of excitement in my life and a challenge.

I enjoy having a family, i just want to be able to provide them with the things they need, not just material goods either.

G'kar

3,728 posts

216 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Do it. Do it. Do it.


This will be great.


EngJock

21,785 posts

216 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Mc Lovin said:
So they have to give me time off for training ect?

i dont think it'd be much of a problem tbh as they are pretty relaxed about most things, more than your average company!
You are clearly a valued employee if they won't miss you for a few months of the year. Be a man and join the proper army, don't go acting like a boy soldier because it suits you - that is st.

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

261 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Bear in mind that you're committing a fair old slice of time to it, if you want to actually enjoy it and make the most out of it.

One week night a week, and one weekend a month, plus a fortnight every year sounds like a small slice of your life, but then there's the other stuff...

I found it was starting to creep into other weekends, and the courses outside of the Annual Camp were taking up more holiday. Bear in mind this was at the beginning of the TA starting to take a major part in active service (we shipped a platoon out to the former Yugoslavia), and I'm fairly certain that any employer would take a dim view...

If you dont take work home from the job, and you've got the family onside, its a good 'un. Not a lot made me prouder than leading a Remembrance Day Parade, or getting my platoon working together on something. Good times.

john_p

7,073 posts

280 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
So with ten days notice you could be whisked away to the front lines of Iraq or Afghanistan for nine months ?

Don't think it won't happen, it's happened recently.

I'd hate to live with that hanging over me to be honest...

Alfa_75_Steve

7,489 posts

230 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
I think he should join the Navy.


I hear 'metrosexual' men can make good money on the side on ship....

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

251 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
G'kar said:
Do it. Do it. Do it.


This will be great.
yeah cheers for that.

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

251 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
Bear in mind that you're committing a fair old slice of time to it, if you want to actually enjoy it and make the most out of it.

One week night a week, and one weekend a month, plus a fortnight every year sounds like a small slice of your life, but then there's the other stuff...

I found it was starting to creep into other weekends, and the courses outside of the Annual Camp were taking up more holiday. Bear in mind this was at the beginning of the TA starting to take a major part in active service (we shipped a platoon out to the former Yugoslavia), and I'm fairly certain that any employer would take a dim view...

If you dont take work home from the job, and you've got the family onside, its a good 'un. Not a lot made me prouder than leading a Remembrance Day Parade, or getting my platoon working together on something. Good times.
Thats what im talking about!

I'm not sure im bothered if it does start to take over my job, the more i think about it the more i like the idea of going into full time at some point.

I plan to resume self employment in the future, so my current job doesn't really have much mileage long term.

Autonotiv

2,673 posts

254 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
john_p said:
So with ten days notice you could be whisked away to the front lines of Iraq or Afghanistan for nine months ?

Don't think it won't happen, it's happened recently.

I'd hate to live with that hanging over me to be honest...
I would love that, allways fancied joing the armey, but i enjoy my job too. definatley not the same as in the armey though, isn't anywhere near enough adreniline (sp) in my job!!


Simpo Two

92,791 posts

295 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Alfa_75_Steve said:
I think he should join the Navy.


I hear 'metrosexual' men can make good money on the side on ship....
Ah, the old saying 'Join the Navy and feel a man' eh?!

But they have gurls on board now...

G'kar

3,728 posts

216 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Mc Lovin said:
G'kar said:
Do it. Do it. Do it.


This will be great.
yeah cheers for that.
McNothing, you are welcome.

Puggit

49,804 posts

278 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Thanks to Labour taking money from the forces and giving it to your local neighbourhood chav so he can smoke and drink while watching Sky HD on his 42" plasma - joining the TA is no longer weekend soldiering.

It's a bit like PCSOs and Highway Officers - replacing the professionals on the cheap...

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

251 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
G'kar said:
Mc Lovin said:
G'kar said:
Do it. Do it. Do it.


This will be great.
yeah cheers for that.
McNothing, you are welcome.
does it make you feel clever to post or is a compulsive dissorder you have?

Like i said i was after some serious feedback, i realise it's PH but i know there are a few chaps on here that might know a thing or two about the questions i have asked, rather than smart arse's with their sarky comments.

Mc Lovin

Original Poster:

5,588 posts

251 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Puggit said:
Thanks to Labour taking money from the forces and giving it to your local neighbourhood chav so he can smoke and drink while watching Sky HD on his 42" plasma - joining the TA is no longer weekend soldiering.

It's a bit like PCSOs and Highway Officers - replacing the professionals on the cheap...
So what your saying is, either joing the proper army or not at all?

Mark V8

1,535 posts

239 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Mc Lovin said:
MikeyT said:
Mc Lovin said:
... sort my life out as i've lost my way a bit over the past 4-5 years.
You're married with kids right? Sounds like you don't want to be ...
i need some sort of excitement in my life and a challenge.
Then join the SAS reserves (no, really). I just missed out due to age, wished I'd have discovered this sooner.

http://www2.army.mod.uk/uksf/special_forces_soldie...

Go for it, mate and best of luck.

elster

17,517 posts

240 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Mark V8 said:
Mc Lovin said:
MikeyT said:
Mc Lovin said:
... sort my life out as i've lost my way a bit over the past 4-5 years.
You're married with kids right? Sounds like you don't want to be ...
i need some sort of excitement in my life and a challenge.
Then join the SAS reserves (no, really). I just missed out due to age, wished I'd have discovered this sooner.

http://www2.army.mod.uk/uksf/special_forces_soldie...

Go for it, mate and best of luck.
Think you may well have to be in the TA and also the best. Thought the TA were known as the SAS?