May leave the army,advice please.

darrrren

Hi everyone, long time reader, rare poster haha. A quick bit about me:
Im 26 years old


Been in the army for 8 years


Current salary- £28,500 plus extra 150 a month get you home allowance for owning a home.


I have qualifications in engineering (vehicle mechanic as trade), which has me registered with institute of engineers and gives me EngTech status. Engineering maintenance Diploma.


I have liscences to drive lorrys, C and C+E


I have a house, overpay the maximum every month, so should be paid off when im 31.


Not bad after leaving school with nothing.


SO.....ive been wanting to leave the army for about 2 years now, after seeing all my good mates leave I feel like the only one left. They didn't have mortgages etc though like me. So realistically, I know im in a good place, and I can pay my house off for age 31, in my current situation. Most lads I know have got alright jobs who left, some really good ones.
All I know is the army though, so im wondering, with my qualifications, and experience, what chances do I have of a job earning the same wage. Im from south wales and job prospects aint great. Bristol and avonmouth are not far and plenty of truck driving work. My parents tell me stick with what im doing, but I want more control of my life, more freedom and just to slow down a bit. Im telling myself if I leave I could end up in a worse position and not achieve my goal of house paid at 31,but If I don't leave how will I ever know? Id like driver/engineering based work, and at least what I earn now really. What do the people full of wisdom on here think really? Grind out another 4 years then leave? Leave now as I know its what I want? Fear is holding me back, I can pay the house no problem etc but I want that home life now. Any advice from you all would be appreciated.

DomRavioli

Why not just wait until you've paid your mortgage off? Its only a couple of years, you have no guarantee of a job when you leave whereas you are on good money at the moment with a guarantee of a job for the near future.

You need to do some research yourself as to the area you want to work geographically and jobs available, as well as wages and job security.

BigAunty

With your allowance, you earn around 30k per year.

Have you researched the salaries of similar driving/engineering type roles in the civvy world?

I'm not familiar with these areas but have seen posts from former HGV drivers complaining about the expense of getting the right type of licence/permit and that hourly rates have been driven right down.

Does the Army offer you any prospect of other types of training/qualifications in other areas that may interest you? Resettlement courses?

bugslet

I took on two ex Army lads, age 24 and 23 a couple of years back, they earn between 35 - 40k. We are in the south east though, so I suspect wages are a bit higher than Bristol area.

Big Aunty , given that he has his C+E, all that he should need is to do his 35 hours DCPC every 5 years, which most firms pay for their drivers to do. After that there may be specific qualifications such as ADR and hiab, but they aren't expensive and again most firms pay for that.

darrrren

Well I should be looking at promotion again this year,if not next year, im certainly due it ( but those who kiss the acksides come first im sure its the same in civvy street), so that would put me at around 32k a year. Thing is though while its good, I know the job would be harder to leave come 4 years time. I am constantly researching driving jobs, engineering based work. Very broad salary range for driving, 20k to about 30k. Same with the engineering. Ideally id like to work for network rail or something similar but the jobs arnt always available. I will have learning credits when I leave which can be used for a range of courses, or as I don't have a degree I can use them for that, and having done 8 years now im entitled to the full amount, which is 6k spread over 3 instalments of 2k a year. I can use them for 10years after leaving. I got another 4 years in me but I cant help think the grass is greener, and all my old mates love to tell me how leaving the army is the best thing they did etc. At least if I paid it and took a pay cut I wouldn't have to pay rent or something. My parents say id be a fool to leave now when Im paying off a house so quickly. But im the one doing the job not them.

darrrren

I enjoy driving and would happily drive lorrys but I don't know if army experience counts. MY good mate is doing the lorrys on about 30k with overtime, but hard work. Ive heard a few horror stories that driving jobs are going zero contract hours, but ideally id want a solid job, not agency work all my life.

bugslet

Yes it does, though not as much as commerical experience.

Still plenty of full time jobs about, though you may have to take some agency to start with unless you are lucky.

darrrren

Im happy doing it in the meantime of course but eventually id want something solid. What is the best route into it? As although my mate got a 30k a year job, a few others I know who got out have had to just stick to the 7.5tonn trucks as they arn't experienced enough. Are there enough driving vacancies around to get work easy enough? This is why its a hard decision, the jobs are probably there if I leave for the same money, but its the fear of leaving, as I know I can do my house easily right now.

bugslet

I don't know about Bristol. As I said earlier, I took on a lad age 23 and one age 24, which you probbly know is interesting enough in itself, both out of the army. Obviously they had even less experience themselves. They spent a few months doing carp jobs.

We employed one who was doing a bit of agency work with another company we called into, and he recommended his mate and that was that.

The thing with agency work, is that it isn't very appealing usually, but if you come across as a good worker, like as not you pick up a full - time job from that.

Amongst smaller firms, there's quite a bit of word of mouth. We haven't advertised for 7 years. It's always worth knocking on doors, preferably with your work boots and night bag in the boot, and you never know your luck.

You'd probably get a better feel if you go onto Trucknet forum and speak to the lads there. At some point in his/her life, every truck driver on the road had no experience and had to get that experience somehow.

sangie595

I can't really help on the work side, but one observation. How many people do you know who say "it was the stupidest thing I have ever done"? Never make a decision based on someone else's grass being greener. It very often isn't. There are tremendous advantages to staying in too - knowing you can pay off the house sooner, maybe putting something aside after that for other things you would like to have. And that army pension isn't to be sniffed at either - a good (and even full) pension when still relatively young and able to take on new things is never going to happen in civvy street, and it's a very useful cushion when you do get out.

Tiddlywinks

What's the worst than can happen in the next four years?

Could you be deployed to an operational theatre? How would you feel about that?

Are you completely single and 'footloose and fancy free'?

There is life after the army but the majority depends on personality, family circumstances and health just as much as the work you get.

As to your mates 'grass is greener' attitude - they are them and not you - besides, would they really admit they made a mistake in leaving anyway?

Don't make the decision based on money but look at the whole picture.