What should he do?

captaincollins

Hi, dont write off the RN, my OH loves it and the Submarine service offers good rewards, a somewhat more stable life. If he isnt 100% enjoying it then he can go down the navy police route after 5 years. Submariners are very sort and some branches are as sort as 3 months from application to getting in.

Good Luck xx

Fliss_M

We are aware of the dangers. In fact a friend of mines hubby just got nack early due to berevament. He been out there 7 months and he's TA. And the last thing I expect is a posting close by. I fully expect to see him twice a week when he travels home for his days off. Its this aspect that puts us off the Navy as, to my knowledge, there are only 3 bases. 2 in the south west and 1 in Scotland. And as we live in the north east part of the midlands, (just below south yorkshire) I dont think that commute for 2 days off would be viable.

(tho if you know or think different let me know as he is more interested in the Navy then army. No offence to them but his allegences were set early on in cadets and I think he wouldnt feel right in the Army. and for this choice he needs to feel its right for him)

Trying_to_be_good

Fliss M

Whilst the major RN bases are Plymouth (South West), Portsmouth (South East, bizarrely) and Faslane (Scotland), there are people all over the place. There are air stations down in the South West, and lots of smaller units/posts about - a lot depends what your OH would do as a career. If he's going to be at sea for 6-month deployments, it matters a bit less where the home port is, and many families now stay closer to their own home (lots in the Midlands) than moving to a strange city to be left on their own for months on end.

Obviously, there are lots of good points, too!

Fliss_M

hum. could you tell me a little more? I figured while there are RAF bases down there at least theres a chance he would be closer where as with the Navy it would be definate. How does deploymemt work then? And staying closer to there own home? Are these people commuting for their days off? I'd like to know how all that works. I figured we would have to be on base 5 days out of 7 unless on hol leave.

Alias_Omega

Fliss,

I can pretty much say that if he joins the forces, the chances of him being near north east midlands is going to be pretty slim, probably no chance.

You pretty much take where your given, & if you live in devon and get a posting to scotland. Its just one of them things.

Fliss_M

Hum, good point well made. We were looking at navy last night and he fancies weapons on subs. (how much do they need submariners at the mo?) Its all up in the air till he gets fit, tho if he joins the navy he'll need to swim more as while he can swim he isnt very fish like hehe. I say his stroke looks like an accordian frog LOL

helsee

what is it thats driving him to look to the forces for a career at all? is it something hes really driven to do or do you think its a bit of a knee jerk reaction to being made redundant?

My husbands in the army and theres no "safe option" or garantees about postings, where they may serve and so on. I think they have to go in willing to give 100% and do what they are required to however dangerous or unpleasant and we have to be willing to 100% support then in doing that. It can take a bit of sacrafice from the other halfs aswell ;-). Its a huge decision not to be taken lightly and i wouldnt advise taking anything hes not really wanting to do just to get in, from the people i know it can be really difficult to move about once into any service.

That said if you take to life as a forces wife/family it can be a great life for everyone....just a case of learning to take the rough with the smooth i reckon!

good luck whatever you guys decide

Trying_to_be_good

Submarines are based in Scotland, so if you wanted to settle somewhere, there would be the obvious choice.

Submariners always seem to be in demand, and get extra pay, but the contact when they're away deployed is limited (they need to put an aerial - or something - up just to get emails) and I'm not sure if the rules have changed now or if everything is still checked before being passed on to the sailor. It used to be their way of checking that bad news was only passed on as the boat was able to get that sailor off, e.g. if you were really sick.

I know lots of submariners who love the life, check it out at a careers office and try to see a real submarine first, though.

Best of luck

Fliss_M

thanks. my wonder about submariners was about working hours if you will. time off more correctly. I would have thought givin the nature it was more 6 months under water 6 months are home (obviously not those exact dates but you get the idea)

Kay_Peel

My nephews both waited years to join the police service, despite my advice to

(a) Apply to the Metropolitan Police. There's quite a turnover in staff with retirements and so forth, so there are more vacancies than a provincial force.

(b) If they persisted in waiting for a vacancy locally, they might as well join up as a Police and Community Safety Officer.

(c) Get another job but do some voluntary work as a Special Constable. It's only 4 hours a month, depending where you are. The training is good, expenses are paid and ... it's like the civilian TA.

One joined the Met a year ago (see, I was right!) and one joined the local force a few weeks ago (he'd have got there sooner if he'd gone for the Met!) Neither fancied being a PCSO or a Special and just clung on with their fingers crossed.

It's a wonderful, challenging, demanding, sometimes boring, sometimes scarey but always satisfying career and I would recommend it.