Thinking about joining

Starrystarrynight

Not sure if it's too late in the academic year, but might be worth calling in at your local college to see if you can do a course to get your English qualifications up to the required level, for whatever you choose to do in the future.
My OH has been in the Infantry for 30 years and says the Forces have been a fantastic career for him. He's in a managerial role now, and uses his enhanced learning credits to do a part time degree which will help make his skills transferrable for when he does get out. He does try to encourage his son to join the RAF, though!

themull1

ARRSE? Ha ha, surely a joke? If not, a man invented that name.

Bobl

No Joke - http://www.arrse.co.uk/content/

I did 24 years and loved most of it. I agree with the other posters; try to get a trade that will be useful when you leave. I was lucky, I transferred to IT 7 years before I left and now have a career in IT with a global company.

As you were a special, how about applying for the Military Police.

Good Luck

KierNet

Bobl wrote: »

No Joke - http://www.arrse.co.uk/content/

I did 24 years and loved most of it. I agree with the other posters; try to get a trade that will be useful when you leave. I was lucky, I transferred to IT 7 years before I left and now have a career in IT with a global company.

As you were a special, how about applying for the Military Police.

Good Luck

Thanks! Out of interest, what parts didn't you like?

I was looking into the Military Police, seems pretty interesting from the booklet I was given, will look into it some more!

Sparky29

To get a technical trade you need at least a GCSE grade D in Maths, English language and Science.
Generally the rest of the quals are irrelevant.

KierNet

Thought I would give a bit of a update for anyone who cares!

I've decided I want to join the Military Police, I've spent the last few months looking into it, and it just makes me want to join even more!

I'm getting there with my weight, got around 4lbs to go, but want to try and get rid of another stone and a bit, just so I'm not right at the limit. Fitness is improving as well, my run times have gone down from 24 minutes down to 13:45! Just need to work on my push ups and sit ups!

Working on getting my English gcse as well from Learn Direct.

Getting there slowly! My aim is to start my application before December!

badgerhead

military police hmm..

anyway, just a few things they dont tell you about in recruiting office. weapon cleaning, stagging on and digging in.

apart from that, good luck to you mate

helsee

KierNet wrote: »

Thought I would give a bit of a update for anyone who cares!

I've decided I want to join the Military Police, I've spent the last few months looking into it, and it just makes me want to join even more!

I'm getting there with my weight, got around 4lbs to go, but want to try and get rid of another stone and a bit, just so I'm not right at the limit. Fitness is improving as well, my run times have gone down from 24 minutes down to 13:45! Just need to work on my push ups and sit ups!

Working on getting my English gcse as well from Learn Direct.

Getting there slowly! My aim is to start my application before December!

sounds like excellent progress, all the best to you! do pop back and let us know how things pan out!

KierNet

badgerhead wrote: »

military police hmm..

anyway, just a few things they dont tell you about in recruiting office. weapon cleaning, stagging on and digging in.

apart from that, good luck to you mate

Not heard of stagging on and digging in before...what are they?

helsee wrote: »

sounds like excellent progress, all the best to you! do pop back and let us know how things pan out!

Thanks .

Marc_Loage

KierNet wrote: »

Not heard of stagging on and digging in before...what are they?



Thanks .

Well stagging on is a term used when you are on sentry duty in camp or on exercise. Not really a good thing but its part and parcel or every job in the army but more so of an infantry soldier and other teeth arms.

Digging in is the same, more so of the teeth arms. This is were you basically dig a shell crape to lie in. not a pleasant job, i had to do it even though i was in a tank regiment.


You seem keen enough but a few words of advice. DO NOT believe most of what the recruiting office say to you, as they will only tell you what you want to hear. Life in the armed forces is hard but it can also be very enjoyable. There is is good times and its bad times.

Phase 1 training will be a VERY big shock to you especially if you join the infantry but all roles are the same. Fitness fitness and more fitness. Then you go to Phase 2, thats were you will learn your job, still hard but things start to get more into the role that you want to do.

I served 6 years and left at the end of 2003, and personally would not encourage anyone to join the armed forces in any form but everyone needs to make their own mind up. Its a good career if its what you want to do. Do a trade of some sort, so if you decide to leave then you have something to fall back on.