Just applied to the TA!

Cyanide · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:15

I've just finished filling out my online application to the TA. Don't know why I've suddenly picked up an interest again (almost joined when I was 16) but I decided to go all the way with it this time so they're currently processing my application.

If nothing else it should help to brighten up my social life and get me back into shape

Defcon5 · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:23

Good on you matey, hope you enjoy it

Stretch · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:26

Cyanide said:
If nothing else it should help to brighten up my social life and get me back into shape

Or a free "holiday" to iraq or afghanistan

Cyanide · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:29

Stretch said:
Or a free "holiday" to iraq or afghanistan

That's my only concern but it's generally a voluntary thing from what one of my mates (a former toy soldier himself) has told me

Matthew-1985 · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:39

Cyanide said:
That's my only concern but it's generally a voluntary thing from what one of my mates (a former toy soldier himself) has told me

That's just what they tell you. You'll be in Iraq this time next week.

Cyanide · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:46

Matthew-1985 said:
That's just what they tell you. You'll be in Iraq this time next week.

They won't have finished processing my application this time next week

Though to be honest a Royal Engineer is probably more likely to be asked to go to Iraq than most others, what with all the rebuilding etc they're doing at the moment.

If I suddenly stop posting for a few months you all know why

VFR_KID · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:50

Now you can say your in the SAS saturdays and Sundays

but good on ya

Cyanide · 3 Aug 2008 at 21:53

DavieCramb01 said:
Now you can say your in the SAS saturdays and Sundays

but good on ya

Now I can say I'm an engineer without half of GD jumping up and down and having a paddy

SB118 · 3 Aug 2008 at 22:49

Bloody STABs

Juniper · 3 Aug 2008 at 22:55

Cyanide said:
They won't have finished processing my application this time next week

Though to be honest a Royal Engineer is probably more likely to be asked to go to Iraq than most others, what with all the rebuilding etc they're doing at the moment.

If I suddenly stop posting for a few months you all know why

Well, they say the Royal Engineers are the first into a battle and the last out. I'd expect if you do get posted to Iraq or Afgahnistan that you'd be dealing with Mines and associated IEDs etc.

I hope you've got nerves of steel, but good on you

Robert1986 · 4 Aug 2008 at 00:29

Don't expect anyword back from them for atleast 3-4 weeks, they take forever processing applications.

Do you have a good pair of running shoes?

Begbie · 4 Aug 2008 at 02:59

Cyanide said:
That's my only concern but it's generally a voluntary thing from what one of my mates (a former toy soldier himself) has told me

Don't think you can't be pulled up to war though, my dad hadn't been going for months and got pulled up. He made it down to the airport, just about to board. When a last minute appeal came through from his work.

Best of luck though, should be awesome fun.

Zefan · 4 Aug 2008 at 03:04

I find it weird that people see operations as a downside of being in the military... I think I'm the only person I know that actually wants to go to places like Afghanistan and Iraq

Good luck with your application!

fluffmct · 4 Aug 2008 at 03:28

Zefan said:
I find it weird that people see operations as a downside of being in the military... I think I'm the only person I know that actually wants to go to places like Afghanistan and Iraq

I think it's because, regardless of intentions, operations result in injury and death not only of our soldiers but of 'the baddies'.

Begbie · 4 Aug 2008 at 03:58

Zefan said:
I find it weird that people see operations as a downside of being in the military... I think I'm the only person I know that actually wants to go to places like Afghanistan and Iraq

Good luck with your application!

No not at all, just some people see joining the TA as weekend playtime, with no or little risk at going on serious operations/war. When this can be the opposite depending on your skills and something to seriously consider when joining something like this.

neoboy · 4 Aug 2008 at 05:04

Zefan said:
I find it weird that people see operations as a downside of being in the military... I think I'm the only person I know that actually wants to go to places like Afghanistan and Iraq

Good luck with your application!

People always think I'm strange, I'm thinking of joining up and the first thing people always tell me is "OMG you're like going to die" and things like death/Iraq/some other war is really the last thing on my mind when I think of the British Army. Maybe I'm just weird I don't know.

uknowist · 4 Aug 2008 at 06:09

One of the bosses from my office is in the TA's, he has just come back from afghanistan(he's already been to iraq) but is on long term sick for post traumatic stress. He was going round picking up bodies(or whats left of them) guess it just got to him..

Robert1986 · 4 Aug 2008 at 10:14

uknowist said:
One of the bosses from my office is in the TA's, he has just come back from afghanistan(he's already been to iraq) but is on long term sick for post traumatic stress. He was going round picking up bodies(or whats left of them) guess it just got to him..

Thats terrible. How much of a difference to you notice in him when he comes back from the war?

uknowist · 4 Aug 2008 at 11:58

well he was really fat before leaving, now he's like a stick! didnt even recognise him, but I think that could also be from the training they have to do before sending them out.