The Army

[Zig81]

Under that. upon promotion to full screw will the Army offer them an extension up to 22 years, and then if they get promoted to sergeant an extension up to 35 years, like the RAF then?

I can't imagine a 55 year old infantry sergeant, outside of the reserves.

Nah, it wouldn't work.

I've been out since 2013 so I'm not sure on how things are currently, I know I got out at the right time for pension purposes!

 

[Deleted member 7190]

Nah, it wouldn't work.

I thought as much. The Army seem to do more in a shorter time frame.

 

[Zig81]

I thought as much. The Army seem to do more in a shorter time frame.

I know the Army are getting rid/can get rid of people who don't make a certain rank in a certain timescale, gone are the days of a 22 year Rifleman.

 

[colchester mackem]

Is the Colchester bit just a coincidence?

No jobs in NE in 83 also was going steady with local lass, so as I had served here was a good place to start.

No jobs in NE in 83 also was going steady with local lass, so as I had served here was a good place to start.

ps. still love Durham.

 

[Skandhaless]

Anyone done it?
Thoughts?
Soldier/Officer?

I have a pathological resistance to doing as I am told so probably wouldn't have worked out.

 

[Typhoonftm]

No jobs in NE in 83 also was going steady with local lass, so as I had served here was a good place to start.

ps. still love Durham.

Didn't spend half your career in the glasshouse then?

 

[Hugh Gains]

Why do you ask?

Considering a career change.

Always something thats been on my radar, but went on to University and then into employment.

Thing to remember is that the army is a short career, so always go in with one eye on a getting a transferable skill.

I'm currently a marine engineer so whilst certificates may expire if I were to join the army, they are relatively easy reacquired.

 

[Deleted member 7190]

Considering a career change.

Always something thats been on my radar, but went on to University and then into employment.



I'm currently a marine engineer so whilst certificates may expire if I were to join the army, they are relatively easy reacquired.

What sort of job would you fancy doing?

 

[Hugh Gains]

What sort of job would you fancy doing?

Officer, Infantry/Intelligence.

 

[Deleted member 7190]

Officer, Infantry/Intelligence.

From what I have seen on the intelligence officer side of things, be ready to deliver a lot of briefs on things to those above and below you. They seemed to have their heads buried in the news and other sources. You will be writing a lot of reports as well. It looked really interesting.

On the infantry side, I have only seen so much and heard so much. A lot of their officers seemed to treat their men like shit, as if they were talking to the lowest common denominator. Some were sound blokes though. What they do sounds not as pleasant (being thrashed on exercises etc, some people enjoy that sort of thing ), although since Herrick has drawn down what they do on operations does not seem as kinetic, it seems a bit slower paced. This is only as a crab working alongside them looking from the outside in, people like Zig will be able to advise you more.

 

[Zig81]

Officer, Infantry/Intelligence.

It's a good career for people who apply themselves and have the right attitude.

Shite money intitially for Officers but as soon as you reach Captain the money gets better.

From what I have seen on the intelligence officer side of things, be ready to deliver a lot of briefs on things to those above and below you. They seemed to have their heads buried in the news and other sources. You will be writing a lot of reports as well.

On the infantry side, I have only seen so much and heard so much. A lot of their officers seemed to treat their men like shit, as if they were talking to the lowest common denominator. Some were sound blokes though. What they do sounds not as pleasant (being thrashed on exercises etc, some people enjoy that sort of thing ), although since Herrick has drawn down what they do on operations does not seem as kinetic, it seems a bit slower paced. This is only as a crab working alongside them looking from the outside in, people like Zig will be able to advise you more.

My Regiment was different in the way Officers treat their blokes, we were lucky that our ethos had us all as one, we were all Riflemen. The amount of Ops we did brought us closer together and we knew the line and it was never crossed. Platoon Commamder to the lads was Boss and he called the lads by their nicknames.

 

[Tex]

Thing to remember is that the army is a short career, so always go in with one eye on a getting a transferable skill.

Absolutely THIS!

I was in LA a couple of weeks ago and my uber driver was in the US army. Saw action, lost mates, and unlike most uber drivers I've met who just do it as a side hustle, this was his full time job. He lived out of his car and went to his mate's house to shower and change. He was one of those infantrymen who didn't have a trade and no transferable skills, this was a bright, articulate bloke making a couple of hundred dollars on a good day. Tragic really.

Conversely my mate who became a dad in his early twenties with no skills or education trained as a nurse and joined the RAF (I think in that order) and at 50 is retired now with his gaff in East Herrington paid off and his kids in college. Not bad for a lad from Red House.

It's a good career for people who apply themselves and have the right attitude.

Shite money intitially for Officers but as soon as you reach Captain the money gets better.


My Regiment was different in the way Officers treat their blokes, we were lucky that our ethos had us all as one, we were all Riflemen. The amount of Ops we did brought us closer together and we knew the line and it was never crossed. Platoon Commamder to the lads was Boss and he called the lads by their nicknames.

You mean like Private Joker, Private Cowboy, Private Pyle?

 

[Hugh Gains]

Shite money intitially for Officers but as soon as you reach Captain the money gets better.

I'm in a good paying job at the moment but I don't have any significant outgoings, so it wouldn't really be an issue.

From what I've read its a year to get commissioned and then 3 years service at which point you can leave, albeit listed in the reserve, but youre out. At which point I can just go back to what I'm doing now, hopefully, should I decide I don't want to take it any further.

The one issue I have from watching stuff online and reading about is how coming from this area and my educational background, I probably have more in common with normal soldiers than officers, the vast majority of officers seem to be from well to do backgrounds and southern, is this very much the case or is this just blown out of proportion by those looking in?

 

[Deleted member 7190]

I'm in a good paying job at the moment but I don't have any significant outgoings, so it wouldn't really be an issue.

From what I've read its a year to get commissioned and then 3 years service at which point you can leave, albeit listed in the reserve, but youre out. At which point I can just go back to what I'm doing now, hopefully, should I decide I don't want to take it any further.

The one issue I have from watching stuff online and reading about is how coming from this area and my educational background, I probably have more in common with normal soldiers than officers, the vast majority of officers seem to be from well to do backgrounds and southern, is this very much the case or is this just blown out of proportion by those looking in?

Unless you're joining the Cavalry or the Guards, it doesn't matter one jot.

One of my former Flight (or Troop/Platoon for the army) commanders (he was Royal Signals) was a mag from Ferryhill. He was sound as fuck. It doesn't matter whether you come from money or a well to do background anymore, if you have the qualifications and the qualities, you can do it. Look at the BBC programme on Sandhurst that aired about 7 years ago, one of the blokes there was a former electrician who commissioned into the Paras.

A lot of officers do seem to water their accents down however.

 

[cosmicchris00]

Know quite a few squaddies and ex squaddies. Some of them, very quickly after they joined up displayed bellend-like behavior. One in particular thought he could take on the world and would regularly get sparked out. Plenty canny lads anarl like

I know any amount of folks who speak highly of their time in the forces.

On the other hand, a chap I work with who has been in all the hot spots over the last 20 years has terrible PTSD.

It's needs to be considered if you're signing a blank cheque upto the value of, and possibly including, your life

 

[Tex]

I know any amount of folks who speak highly of their time in the forces.

On the other hand, a chap I work with who has been in all the hot spots over the last 20 years has terrible PTSD.

It's needs to be considered if you're signing a blank cheque upto the value of, and possibly including, your life

Another good point.

Some people seem to forget in times of relative peace that an occupational hazard of joining the forces is that you might get your arse shot off. As of right now I don't think many U.K. forces are seeing front line action but I've seen plenty of ex squaddie US forces involved in the various Middle East fools' errands over the last 15 years or so with amputations etc due largely to roadside IEDs to believe that shit is still very much happening.

 

[No7]

Best thing I ever did.

 

[Charmless Man]

Went in January 84 at 16, came out September 90, best and worst thing I've ever done. Made me think about respect and loyalty and I'm responsiblefor my actions. Not like kids today.

Many people don't need to join the forces to know they're responsible for their own actions mind.

 

[Zig81]

I'm in a good paying job at the moment but I don't have any significant outgoings, so it wouldn't really be an issue.

From what I've read its a year to get commissioned and then 3 years service at which point you can leave, albeit listed in the reserve, but youre out. At which point I can just go back to what I'm doing now, hopefully, should I decide I don't want to take it any further.

The one issue I have from watching stuff online and reading about is how coming from this area and my educational background, I probably have more in common with normal soldiers than officers, the vast majority of officers seem to be from well to do backgrounds and southern, is this very much the case or is this just blown out of proportion by those looking in?

It depends on which Regiment you're looking at, I joined The Light Infantry and what I found was the Officers were very much in touch with reality and yes, most were from a more privileged background and from the South, compare these to Officers from The Royal Green Jackets (same division) and they were more like your typical cavalry officers and what people stereotype officers to be.

I believe nowadays there's more and more officers joining from 'normal' backgrounds and you certainly here more regional accents amongst them. The best Platoon Commander I worked with was from Zimbabwe and he had the balance bang on. He's now a Squadron Commander in 22 SAS.

 

[Pseudonym Number 1]

Considering a career change.

Always something thats been on my radar, but went on to University and then into employment.



I'm currently a marine engineer so whilst certificates may expire if I were to join the army, they are relatively easy reacquired.

Join the navy man. If you're not 100% sure join the reserve first get your commission then you can go reg later if you like it.