**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/224183/Gurkha-Brigade-army-face-axe-Ministry-of-Defence-cuts-continue

The Gurkhas, who will celebrate their 200-year anniversary for service to the Crown this summer, will be targeted as part of further defence cost-cutting measures which may see the British Army shrink to as few as 60,000 troops.

Those affected will be the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, as well as 600 Gurkha specialists.

Former SAS commander Major-General Mark Carleton-Smith has been drafted into Whitehall to shape future strategy and decide where cuts to the British Army should be made.

The plans, if implemented, will see around 1,500 Nepalese soldiers taken off the Order of Battle “within three years”.
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The way things are going the Greens idea of having no army could be here sooner than we think.
 
Guys, I'm after some advice and pointing in the right direction.

I've just moved into SFA and I'm looking for contents insurance which complies with the License to Occupy liability. As far as I can tell, the mainstream companies haven't got a clue about it and the few companies that do charge twice as much. Is it possible to get it as a stand alone insurance through a seperate company or do i just have to lump it?
 
Long story here but i'll try not to bore you to death.

Spent five year's in the army as an infantryman, completed a couple of tours of Iraq.
During the latter tour i seen a few nasty things like most of the guys out there and when i returned home i started to suffer from panic attacks and depression etc.
I was in a bad state mentally and wanted to leave the army asap.
I wasn't given a medical discharge even though i was seeing mental health teams etc, my nurse pushed for an admin discharge and i was out few months later. I was a young lad and just wanted out (Regret it to this day)

Was homeless for a while and had a hard time adjusting.
Fast forward i got myself together went to uni.
Ended up working crappy minimum wage jobs for a few years, nothing that pushed or challenged me and i felt ive been living to work for most of that time.

Four years after leaving i decided i wanted to re join i had been treatment free for over 3 years.Army was no longer recruiting and so i decided to persue career in the navy.

Was an 18 month recruitment process. Mostly because the position i applied for was in demand (mine clearance diver)
Passed all the interviews, initial fitness tests, Barb tsts, diver medical.
Went to Rosyth and passed the Pre Royal Navy Course. After more months of waiting i finally got onto the diver selection course in Horsesea island.
Passed and was in the top three (initially 12 but only 5 passed and a chap broke his hip after passing out on a run :/) Was one of the hardest things i have done and i consider myself pretty fit.
Anyway i passed and earned my right to start training.
Received a joining date and signed my contract and was forwarded flight tickets to hms raleigh few months later.

Couple of days before joining i received a call to say there was an issue with my medical documents and my mental health was overlooked.
Because i had received treatment for over a year i wasn't able to join the navy.
I was devastated and in tears as it meant so much to me. I had also left my job and given up my council house. Even had my head shaved and had a going away party thrown by my parents.

Been trying to pick up the pieces ever since and its only recently i've been looking at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Medical standards differ as its a civvie organisation in the RN.
Phone a nurse in the RFA and she said it shouldn't be a problem and all cases are looked at case by case.

Put in my App online and received some forms to fill out. Already confirmed with my afco i dont need to sit recruit tests or pass clearance etc.
Just need to pass an interview with the RFA in Pompey.

Sat here now looking at the forms one of the question reads - Please state your reason for applying to the rfa and your branch of choice.
Have a million words to write down im just frozen in fear incase i mess up.
Keep putting it off.
 
Drunkenmassacre said:
Guys, I'm after some advice and pointing in the right direction.

I've just moved into SFA and I'm looking for contents insurance which complies with the License to Occupy liability. As far as I can tell, the mainstream companies haven't got a clue about it and the few companies that do charge twice as much. Is it possible to get it as a stand alone insurance through a seperate company or do i just have to lump it?
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http://siiap.org/l2o

Has all the armed forces providers.
 
Muzza1875 said:
snip.
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That must have been tough being declined at the last minute. And barely makes sense, if it wasn't enough to get you a discharge from the army then how can it be enough to bar you from joining the Navy.

As for this question for the RFA, just be honest and try not to be too clever. Don't put it off any more, if you wait much longer you might not get round to it at all. Make a start ASAP and it'll come from there. Good luck
 
dl8860 said:
That must have been tough being declined at the last minute. And barely makes sense, if it wasn't enough to get you a discharge from the army then how can it be enough to bar you from joining the Navy.

As for this question for the RFA, just be honest and try not to be too clever. Don't put it off any more, if you wait much longer you might not get round to it at all. Make a start ASAP and it'll come from there. Good luck
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Cheers dude

Yea it was pretty tough tbh was my long term goal for so long and put so much time and effort into training.Nothing like a bit of discrimination eh.
Apparently standards are you have to be symptom free of metal health issues and cant have been treated for over a year. ( i had been treated for about 2 years but was symptom free for over 3 years.

Typed it out just now. What do you guy's think?


Reasons for Applying to the RFA and Reasons for My branch of Choice

For a number of years I have wanted to pursue a career at sea.

I wanted to join the RFA for numerous reasons, Adventure, Travel, Job security, opportunity to gain a Diploma and other valuable qualifications.

I would like a challenge, to utilise my potential and better myself. I feel A Career in the RFA can tick all these boxes and would be something to take deep pride in.
There is excellent scope for career progression, personal development and to gain valuable qualifications whilst travelling the world which all appeal to me.

I chose The Engineering branch (RFA ENGINEERING APPRENTICE) as I feel it will be the most rewarding and is most appropriate to my skillsets.

I would like to work in a hands on environment, where I can problem solve and work as part of a team to overcome challenges. I enjoy working as part of a team and I am naturally mechanically minded, I build and repair computers and enjoy maintaining my car so the Engineering Apprenticeship seemed like the natural choice.


I'm dyslexic so sorry if it looks a bit off.
 
(You must be aware that service in the armed forces is both demanding and stressful) No bloody way?? I didnt think that for one minute in Baghdad.

Also i love how they tell me this after everything as though they are trying to keep me safe with others i serve with, had me do PEDA where we were getting ragged about for hours on end for 3 days straight doing mud runs, and mile swims in the lake on top of all the circuits we done twice a day and general beastings.We had to sprint EVERYWHERE too.


Gutted is an understatement i felt i was cheated of my chance to prove myself.
 
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Muzzy, you might want to censor your address details in that letter: all sorts of unsavoury ne'er-do-wells frequent this back alley of a forum. :)
 
Edrof said:
Muzzy, you might want to censor your address details in that letter: all sorts of unsavoury ne'er-do-wells frequent this back alley of a forum. :)
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Too late, I've already administered misery.

dsb said:
Well a good morning for me i picked up off the board. Payrise and a posting incoming!
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Congratulations. When do you start wearing the rank of private? :p
 
Been encouraged to go for a comission within the RAF, that's by a Flight Sergeant and a Warrant Officer ( The WO was once an instructor at IOT Cranwell) . Anyone here comissioned from the ranks? Looking to get the lay of the land in regards to the procedure before i officially approach my current chain of command.
 
KiwiTaff said:
Been encouraged to go for a comission within the RAF, that's by a Flight Sergeant and a Warrant Officer ( The WO was once an instructor at IOT Cranwell) . Anyone here comissioned from the ranks? Looking to get the lay of the land in regards to the procedure before i officially approach my current chain of command.
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It's long drawn out and despite people working closely with you reckoning you ought to get it, that has little bearing on the guys at cranwell who don't know you and never worked with you (prepare to sell yourself and not just rely on a good write up by your superiors, it won't suffice alone). You will be put along side everyone else who has applied, whether civvy or serving and assessed all the same. One thing they have changed now is everyone does aptitude tests first before going to afco interview (that is assuming you are applying for an aptitude based branch). I believe this is because many applicants were passing the afco interview and recommended to cranwell for aptitude testing only to find out they were pretty unsuitable. Initial aptitude testing allows them to separate wheat from chaff and I don't know why they didn't do it that way before.

After successful tests it's afco interview, then after after successful afco interview it's on to cranwell for oasc which consists of the usual team based challenges, command leadership tests, debating, maths conundrums and final interview should you succeed in all that.

Best of luck. What branch are you?
 
RoboCod said:
It's long drawn out and despite people working closely with you reckoning you ought to get it, that has little bearing on the guys at cranwell who don't know you and never worked with you (prepare to sell yourself and not just rely on a good write up by your superiors, it won't suffice alone). You will be put along side everyone else who has applied, whether civvy or serving and assessed all the same. One thing they have changed now is everyone does aptitude tests first before going to afco interview (that is assuming you are applying for an aptitude based branch). I believe this is because many applicants were passing the afco interview and recommended to cranwell for aptitude testing only to find out they were pretty unsuitable. Initial aptitude testing allows them to separate wheat from chaff and I don't know why they didn't do it that way before.

After successful tests it's afco interview, then after after successful afco interview it's on to cranwell for oasc which consists of the usual team based challenges, command leadership tests, debating, maths conundrums and final interview should you succeed in all that.

Best of luck. What branch are you?
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Hey thanks for the reply.

Currently TG12. From my most recent report i have recieved a 3rd RO write up from a Wing Commander. Both my 1st & 2nd RO have mentioned in my reports i would be better suited for SNCO aircrew and should strongly consider applying. I'm also in the process of trying to set up a comissioning club with some of the JO's on station. Hopefully from this report i will get picked up to Corporal. But it's always good to have other options open!

I see what you mean in regards to the recruitment process, one of my good friends is going for SNCO Air traffic control. I asked him about the format and structure of his interviews etc. He was pulled up massively in regards to his knowledge in current affairs. I'm not familliar with the apptitude requirements for each branch as it's been a few years since i was last at Cranwell.

If i was to take a comission, i would like at

1. Personnel
2. ABM
3. Intelligence
 
Are there any current or ex service men/women here that know of armed forces therapists? My other half is is working on a dissertation about PTSD and would like to talk to therapists about this subject.
 
KiwiTaff said:
Hey thanks for the reply.

Currently TG12. From my most recent report i have recieved a 3rd RO write up from a Wing Commander. Both my 1st & 2nd RO have mentioned in my reports i would be better suited for SNCO aircrew and should strongly consider applying. I'm also in the process of trying to set up a comissioning club with some of the JO's on station. Hopefully from this report i will get picked up to Corporal. But it's always good to have other options open!

I see what you mean in regards to the recruitment process, one of my good friends is going for SNCO Air traffic control. I asked him about the format and structure of his interviews etc. He was pulled up massively in regards to his knowledge in current affairs. I'm not familliar with the apptitude requirements for each branch as it's been a few years since i was last at Cranwell.

If i was to take a comission, i would like at

1. Personnel
2. ABM
3. Intelligence
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AFAIK

Int requires highest mark on app tests, then ABM, and I believe Pers is no app test, just straight to afco interview.

Int is very competitive to get into and promotions are slow/slim, the jobs can be interesting but it is often hard work for JOs. There are few transferable skills to civvy Street.

ABM less competitve than Int, some transferable skills but I always hear the job is dull.

Pers, perhaps less competitve to gain entry, lots of options for postings (you really could go anywhere in the world that require admin). Loads of transferable quals to civvy Street, good promotion prospects too.

This is all my opinion and doesn't represent anything officially.

It depends what you want from your job and from life I suppose.
 
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