Grace O Malley

Would you want your son/daughter to join up? (After A Levels, not at 16)

MacScot

..used to be envious of RAF/army guys at University with all their pay...

Nic1

My son (12) wants to join the army after Uni - I am, inside where he can't see, horrified . . . This is partly cos I used to live in an area with an army barracks and the squaddies on a weekend were a nightmare - but DH says he would, of course, go to Sandhurst . . . But my main problem is that he is far too likely to get killed. There are too many hot spots he could be sent to nowadays.

Also, he is a sensitive little soul and I'm not sure he could cope with army life - he's scared of the dark for a start . . . .

You got one thinking of joining up or just a general question ?

N

commander

absolutely, but definately not the Army..and ONLY as an Officer.

A great life for youngsters. Especially as MacScot has eluded you can get a bursary for Uni.

MacScot

..that was no elusion...but I did allude to their heavy pay packets

shiva

want to... no.
would i stop them also no.
but as stated would prefer as an officer, pays better for a start.

Grace O Malley

Yes my son has announced he wants to go to Sandhurst, I am not even sure what Sandhurst is? I am hoping one of ex armed forces guys on here can tell me a bit more

My son cant even polish his shoes or get up for school in the morning, how in gods name he thinks he could handle army life is beyond me, maybe its a teenage whim......

Grace O Malley

So don't join the army? or only join the army as an officer? How do you join as an officer???

Nic1

It's down south somewhere I think . . . Sure someone can give good advise. How old is he ? It's such a scarey thought nowadays - I really don't know enough about the armed forces, despite my dad being in the Navy, to make a rational judgement - my head as a mother just says, please god no.

N

Grace O Malley

My head is saying no @ecking way!

shiva

join the army, will actually have a job to do.

to do so he needs to apply to join the army as an officer sit and pass the regular commissioning board whereupon he will be told to go get a degree and join the army training corps and come back in 3 yrs. wereupon he will be treated to all manner of shit which will eithe rbreak him or turn him into anothe rof her majestys finest cloned officers....tally ho

NorthernLad

Its the Army military academy...I did it years ago, if it is the same he'll need to get sponsorship from a regiment, then do the RCB (a 3 day selection course down in Westbury). I did mine with the signals - very good prospects when you come to leave.

And Sandhurst is recognised worldwide - Fazza is a graduate.

Charismatic

For what country?

If I had children I'd be far happier to see them join the Navy or Airforce TBH.

still.unsure

being an officer would be nice, but i don't think it's the only way to do the military. what's he/she looking for in the military? what are they looking to do? (drive a boat, a plane, a tank, shoot a gun, order people around, etc.) i know it sounds simplistic to classify it as such, but i find it's very hard for people who haven't been on the inside to get a perspective of what they want to do once they're in. (some roles in the services are just as bog standard as they are in civvie life). for example, if they want to be in IT and enjoy the idea of shooting a rifle on the side, tell 'em it's a rough life at basic, but get through it and the rest is as boring as most IT roles. if they want to fly a helicopter, military service is the only way to learn. try and find out what they want to be doing when they're 30 and see if its military and then, if it is, is it realistic. (wanting to be a bird colonel by 30 of an infantry unit aint going to happen, but being an airline first officer / captain w/ military background is certain doable)

commander

Yes, english is not my forte,

however in the navy, guided missle systems was..and the pay packet was only really good for the ratings who were promoted 'upper yardman' i.e were CPO's or PO's and promoted to SLt's and whisked off to Southampton Uni (post the shutdown of RNEC Manadin) on 40K a year to be a student..