**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

lemonkettaz said:
So what is next for you then platypus? What regiment you want to be with?
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Regiment I'm not sure, but it works a little differently for Officers. Whilst at Sandhurst, you visit regiments in the corp you're in to see where you want to go, interview, and if they want you they invite you to take up your commission with them, at which point you decide which regiment you want. Though my regiments of choice so far would be the 3rd (RLC Commando Support) and 16th (Airborne).

It's all moot currently anyway as I have to pass the medical.
 
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Stringy said:
Some jobs require specific qualifications, they'll be listed on the Army recruitment website. Other than that being good at interviews, revising your knowledge of the Army and military in general, and having a good grasp of current affairs. Some regiments are easier to get into if you have a large bank balance.

The small matter of being a natural leader will help you too.
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Sounds moronic, but how can you tell if you are a natural leader? It's not like I run a company or anything. I mean I've lead presentation groups at uni, will be running a society but thats around it.

What do you mean by a large bank balance?

platypus said:
The application process takes about a year, and it is very competitive.

They want you to excel in broad areas: qualifications, fitness, competency and intelligence, problem solving, leadership, group work and general common sense, all of which are tested vigorously in the application process.

I've heard that as well, but never really thought about it. Why is that?
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Sounds challenging. I'll keep an eye out for literature as I am currently at university so could not join anyway.
 
Your uni have OTC? They seemed great, I lived with a lass who went to them, although they were all the "rahs" getting "stuck in" :) But they went all over basically a better cadets.
 
lemonkettaz said:
Had a fitness day last week and honestly 2 lads couldn't even finish running the 1.5mile and they were starting basic last sunday!
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There will always be people like that mate, lazy bar-stuards. One lad who was on my course though out basic training and phase 2 won't be getting his promotion to LCpl because he fails his PFT every time.

I'm on my Potential NCO course at the moment, finished a 5 mile stretcher race today, took around 2 hours, and my god, I've never been so tired in my life lol.
 
I remember the start of RAF recruit training (bloody hell thats near 4 years ago :eek:)...they sit you down before introducing you to your 'staff' and say 'If anybody wants to leave...leave now', about 4 people got up and left!
 
Andr3w said:
I remember the start of RAF recruit training (bloody hell thats near 4 years ago :eek:)...they sit you down before introducing you to your 'staff' and say 'If anybody wants to leave...leave now', about 4 people got up and left!
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Were they the clever ones?

:o :p :D
 
kenmare said:
Sounds moronic, but how can you tell if you are a natural leader? It's not like I run a company or anything. I mean I've lead presentation groups at uni, will be running a society but thats around it.

What do you mean by a large bank balance?
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A willingness to lead is all that most people will be self-aware of, few people would have been faced with proper leadership situations before joining. Cadet forces, OTC/UAS at universities and the reserve forces will also give you a chance to explore and practice that side of your personality. It is a non-stop debate about whether leaders are born or nurtured and you won't know until you attend Sandhurst/Dartmouth/Cranwell for selection whether or not you can hack it or even enjoy it.

Officers in some cavalry and guards regiments tend to be pretty well off - even in this day and age who your are and who you know as opposed to what you know will go a long way into getting into them. Their mess bills (drinking bills) put other regiments and services to shame, and a lot of them view their wage as a second income as they are from a well off family.
 
Stringy said:
A willingness to lead is all that most people will be self-aware of, few people would have been faced with proper leadership situations before joining. Cadet forces, OTC/UAS at universities and the reserve forces will also give you a chance to explore and practice that side of your personality. It is a non-stop debate about whether leaders are born or nurtured and you won't know until you attend Sandhurst/Dartmouth/Cranwell for selection whether or not you can hack it or even enjoy it.

Officers in some cavalry and guards regiments tend to be pretty well off - even in this day and age who your are and who you know as opposed to what you know will go a long way into getting into them. Their mess bills (drinking bills) put other regiments and services to shame, and a lot of them view their wage as a second income as they are from a well off family.
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Thats for that, certainly informative. I'm not the one to usually put the hand up first to lead something but if needs be I don't mind controlling the situation.

Well unfortunately I'm not well off enough to view it as a secondary income haha, guess i'll have to skirt those ones.
 
Hey everyone I have always had an urge to join the forces, either RAF or the Army, ever since I was a youngen. However due to my parents way of thinking it has always put me off and I've tried to keep my distance some what. I'm now almost 22 and although I am enjoying taking a degree in Software Engineering I can't stop thinking about the forces every few days. A part of me wants to get a decent job, car, house the lot but I really can't see me getting much satisfaction out of such a path especially sitting in an office all the time.

As its my penultimate year at University I have to really think about what I want. So far at the top of my list is being able to see more of the world, Learn new and interesting things ( I really do like learning ) and also be able to lead and feel pride while knowing I'm doing something truely beneficial. An office job seems to dwindle compared to a career in the forces. Looking at the websites for the forces is a bit bewildering as there is so much choice and so many paths and training opportunities I just dont really know where to start looking.

Any one else had similar experiences and if so could you shed some light my way?
 
How long have you left at University? I dropped out of uni after I knew I was medically ok lol

a lot of people say it would be crazy to not get a degree if you nearly there, but I was 2year away maybe 3, i knew deep down I'd rather be elsewhere
 
lemonkettaz said:
How long have you left at University? I dropped out of uni after I knew I was medically ok lol

a lot of people say it would be crazy to not get a degree if you nearly there, but I was 2year away maybe 3, i knew deep down I'd rather be elsewhere
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I've got 2 years left
 
lemonkettaz said:
How long have you left at University? I dropped out of uni after I knew I was medically ok lol

a lot of people say it would be crazy to not get a degree if you nearly there, but I was 2year away maybe 3, i knew deep down I'd rather be elsewhere
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I'm in a very similar position, went to uni due to injury stopping me from entering sandhurst but ive only maybe another 6 months left before ill have fully recovered and get the mecial ok. Still 2 years left at uni and dont particularly want to be there but it would be a huge waste of money to drop out now. Decisions decisions
 
Repta said:
I'm in a very similar position, went to uni due to injury stopping me from entering sandhurst but ive only maybe another 6 months left before ill have fully recovered and get the mecial ok. Still 2 years left at uni and dont particularly want to be there but it would be a huge waste of money to drop out now. Decisions decisions
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Tough one indeed. Suppose the degree is worth sticking with as it makes you more employable and gives more options.

Not to mention its the only time of your life where you get to spend time with thousands of like minded girls :)
 
I guess if your going for the Officer route getting a degree is probably essential in some cases

I guess it depends what your degree is as a lot of them are worthless in the real world anyway
 
platypus said:
Go to your recruitment office, tell them you're interested, go out on some regimental visits, sign up.
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Yes do this, but take everything they say at the AFCO with a pinch of salt; they lie. When you go on your visits that is where you need to be absorbing the information from the guys doing the actual work, they will tell you what it's really like.
 
Captain Planet said:
Yes do this, but take everything they say at the AFCO with a pinch of salt; they lie. When you go on your visits that is where you need to be absorbing the information from the guys doing the actual work, they will tell you what it's really like.
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Do you mean they don't have a clue what they are talking about eg facts and figures or simply make it look great eg elaborate on things like pay free time etc.
 
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