Anyone In or Joining the Army?

[SpicyDuck]

Intrigued, I took a little look at the Army Jobs website and it's really interesting at first glance. I took the 'pathfinder' quiz, which is quite clever, and it's found jobs that I might like to do in the armed forces.

What I particularly like is, whether I do electronics or dentistry, I'd still be involved in and trained as a soldier.

I'm 23 now, have no degree, done a few exciting things in my life and had a lot of different experiences in my time, and this just seems like the perfectly natural thing to do at this point.

I love to travel, wish to get fit and I'd just generally love to be outside instead of indoors all the time; learning and experiencing what the world has to offer.

But my question is, is it really going to deliver what it promises? What's the hidden cost here? Combat, as far as I feel now, wouldn't freak me out. The website is very positive, so what are the negatives that I should also consider?

I see that the pay for new entrants is just over £12k, rising to nearly £18k in the 4th year. That's not a lot really, but I get the impression I wouldn't be spending all that much, and thus allowing me to save a nice sum at the end of the minimum service, should I decide to leave.

And one last thing, how is Army experience seen back in the 'real' world of work? If I left at 28 with no degree, but all this experience, would it be valuable at all? Of course, I think it would be to an extent, but to what extent?

I also think, maybe, it would require me to relocate to a different part of the country, which isn't all that bad to be honest.

So, if you've got any experience, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks.

 

[SpicyDuck]

Well, actually, I was thinking of going to train as a Chef. The website gives me the impression that all this travelling and fun activities apply to everyone. Hmm.

Ok, just finished speaking to a Sergeant online at the site, and he's informed me that, obviously, soldiers need feeding all over the world, so the oppertunities to travel are as great as a combat soldier. Well, that makes sense really.

It's all very intriguing. Not sure how far I will take it though.

 

[SpicyDuck]

Are you only thinking about the army or does the RAF and Royal Navy intrigue you too?

Haven't checked those out yet, but I will. I'd say the Army interests me more, though.

 

[SpicyDuck]

I am willing to die for my country, as much as I may disagree with it, and I would be willing to kill somebody if it came to it, also. That's pretty much the first question to ask yourself, really.

I'd love a more frontline combat role, but not full-on combat training. It's a shame I can't mix the two, really.

 

[SpicyDuck]

Dont you have to go to dentist school to do dentistry first?

They were just examples. I'm actually interested in training as a Chef, which requires nothing.