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Joining the Army


dane_stone

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oh i see that old trick , ..............yes mate sign here and i`ll erm *cough* *cough* you will get £1000 if you get through basic training and get to your unit :D

 

You've missed a zero off the end:d (I'll use that to get him through the doors and then......................................

 

:aggress::whip::slapped::twak::drown:

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Hello mate

 

Well where do i start? so you want to join the Army do you? WHY??????????????

 

As a few have said on here i have just got out having done a tad over 15 years, The reason i got out was this, Spent to much time away from home in some not very nice places. Lets not forget this, in the present climate that we are in you are not fighting for queen and country, as a lot of us joined up for. We are fighting a war over oil. I left the army as the troop Staffy and i can tell you this, it is very hard to install faith in your guys when its wrong that we should be in these theatre's. Watching Ross kemp in his latest saga was very intresting to me. yes to a certain degree it was glamitised (Sp) all the shooting and rockets and mortars going off BUT................ being on the recieving end of the same is not funny, it takes a lot of courage to see a fire fight through, to put your head over the wall and fire back, it takes a real amount of self discipline to deal with your mate that has been shot as well as look out for your mates at the same time.

 

during my time i have served all over the world, Bosnia, canada, kenya, Northen Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq to name a few and some others!!

 

I was a bomb disposal officer for my last 4 years and a No:2 for the 3 previous to that, The job was very satisfying and its like playing with big boys toys, however again there are times when its serious.

 

If you can join a Corps it would be better to you so that you can get a trade, the engineers is a good bet, but.............. you do not get a full qualification after leaving training, the Army has wised up to guys doing 4 years and leaving.

 

I did my apprenticeship as an electrician and was lucky enough to follow it through for a few years after qualifing. I have just finished my ressetlement to do a few more course but £524 does not go a long way to helping you out for you future employment.

 

Have you considered other services? like a couple of the others have said RAF!!!!!! they always seemed to be better looked after than we were, saying that though, that was from the outside looking in, they may tell you different.

 

hope this provides a little insight for you, there is loads i could go on about, like wages, taxes, leave and equipment!! I am happy to answer any questions you have. i will give you only honest answers.

 

richie

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Careful Gaz. It's not nice to stereotype and it makes you look bad. Not all Americans are US Marines and not all US Marines are idiots. Granted, there are some idiots in every service, and they tend to be in leadership positions.

 

As shadow mentioned, RAF is the way to go. I've spent the last 15 years in the US Air Force and it's been very rewarding. We live better and are taken better care of by far compared to the other services. Travel spots and postings are better as are the bases. Every service has it's dull moments and $h!t jobs. That can't be avoided. In the Army though, you'll spend a lot of time playing the ole "hurry up and wait" game.

 

Did you go to Uni?

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Do it mate. I've just passed RAF Regiment Officer selection (subject to final fitness and med) and can't wait to start in July. It depends what's really driving you to look at the career in the forces. For me, it really is about the people and the pure fact that I'll be responsible for more than pushing pen over paper in a shite 9-5 job or similar civvy job and I can truly take the experiences with me, bad and good, forward into whatever I decide into the future no matter how difficult situations may be.

 

It's a horrible climate right now, and therefore one of the best times to apply :)

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Er, the root of all this is camaraderie. This exists in quite a lot of jobs- ok compared to the forces it'll be the lite version make no mistake, but firefighters also have a certain camaraderie on their watches too.

 

I think if you want to have a laugh with some mates, then the forces aren't for you. Get an extreme sport hobbie like caving/climbing etc.

 

Besides, do you really want to be fighting in one of two bullshit wars, one built up on a web of lies, the other doing u-turns and working with the people our boys were sent to kill? As mentioned by Blackie, this is not Queen and Country stuff, our boys are Blairs foot soldiers doing his dirty work.

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Er, the root of all this is camaraderie. This exists in quite a lot of jobs- ok compared to the forces it'll be the lite version make no mistake, but firefighters also have a certain camaraderie on their watches too.

 

I think if you want to have a laugh with some mates, then the forces aren't for you. Get an extreme sport hobbie like caving/climbing etc.

 

Besides, do you really want to be fighting in one of two bullshit wars, one built up on a web of lies, the other doing u-turns and working with the people our boys were sent to kill? As mentioned by Blackie, this is not Queen and Country stuff, our boys are Blairs foot soldiers doing his dirty work.

 

didn't i say that?:tongue:

 

richie

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I'd say do it.

 

I finished in the Army 10 years ago after serving 22 years in the Tanks.

The camaraderie was great and I've never found anything like it since. Admittedly a lot has changed since those days, but that never will.

 

If you get on well with people you'll be fine. If you're a bit of a loner, learn to get on well with people. ;)

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If you're able to do it, I'd say do it, I think I've posted on here before about how I was 'Army Barmy' in the Cheltnham Pates CCF when I was at school, and excelled in all of the courses, and was lucky enough to go on Exercise with the Light Infantry when I was 15, I'd applied to go to Welbeck College after my GCSE's, and obviously wanted to carry on through Sandhurst, but although my grades were good enough I had to drop out due to issues with my knee...

 

After 14 years in 'normal life', I'm still gutted I wasn't able to do it... :(

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MMM I left the RAF for all the reasons listed previously. Most of my mates are all just hanging in there for the pensions. There is unfortunately too few people trying to do the jobs of too many people with not enough resources under incredible pressure. I also agree though that making mates after you leave is incredibly difficult and I often feel like a complete outsider amongst my mrs friends and family. That camaradery is great----unless of course you aren't in the right clique then it can make for a very lonely existence. If you do insist try out as an officer first and after that for a decent trade you can use in civvy street afterwards. FWIW if I had my time again I'd have gone through the army air corps instead of the RAF as they actually man for man had less commitments in crap holes than we did oh support helicopters. The promotion is quicker (no old farts hanging in there til aged 55 holding up promotion) so your final pension would be alot higher being rank related. There is a considerable amount more BS in the army and they just don't like it when a crab starts asking perfectly good questions about their orders :D

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It's a horrible climate right now, and therefore one of the best times to apply :)

 

i'm not sure thats a good comment to make to be honest with you, why would it be one of the best times to apply?

 

richie

 

Specifically for the RAF, and more so the Regiment Richie. They've been struggling to fill their quota (reached it now I think) and across the board they're having to push the recruitment drive. There is a slightly greater chance for selection I believe, of course you still need the right qualities, enthusiasm and know-how, but higher probabilities and all that. :)

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