**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

[lemonkettaz]

With regards to maybe not needing the exact qualifications im gunna have another look tomorrow but otherwise i know what i want to do can only say no to my requests at worst

Stick with the Army.

I am currently doing my electrician course, I chose sparky in the Royal Engineers, if you have any questions about basic training and or combat engineer training (if you pick the best corps) then ask me I will try and answer with my very limited knowledge.

 

[ToejaM]

Why do you say stick with the army bud?

I'm gunna go for IT Systems Operative or w/e its called, think I said it here already but got my first date on Tuesday :>

 

[lemonkettaz]

1st interview?

Who does IT Comms? is that Signals?

 

[Andr3w]

Me and Zefan are IT Comms/techs in the RAF.

Its very similar to the Army Signals, apart from the fact we are much better

 

[Dist]

Do you get much choice of what you do in the RAF in terms of IT? in the signals they have separate trades for the installer, op and engineer. Where as on the RAF website there seems to be just a generic IT trade that I would assume covers everything (so you may end up in an area of IT you have no interest in).

 

[Andr3w]

You used to, not anymore.

The IT trade (now known as ICT Technicians) is one big trade, you are multi skilled! You could have a posting working on the basic network/computer network on a camp and then get posted to looking after a ground radio section working on radars and radio equipment. You're next posting you could be looking after the Eurofighters or satellites.

You get to put down what you would like to do i.e security-ground radio-tactical comms-etc etc but it's just a dream sheet. They will try and get you where you want to go, but at the end of the day the Military's needs come first - then yours.

 

[steve45]

Going to Lash mate

Lash Vegas, just spent the last few months here, its pretty comfortable, foods awesome(by army standards at least), and plenty of amenities.

the osprey mk4 is a ******* mission to put together, but its a good bit of kit, i was so surprised at the abundance and selection of pouches etc.
we didn't get out combat nappies till we got out there, not used mine yet though.

 

[ToejaM]

Aye first interview

 

[Zefan]

Stick with the Army.

Whatever you do, never listen to this advice.

Make sure you find out for yourself, go in, talk to all 3 services and do a bit of research on the life before committing.

You really don't want to be one of those people that wishes they'd joined a different service.

 

[Begbie]

We've had one in the 18 months I've been here

Every 6 months and sometimes more up here! Not too bad though, unless your rooms a state you've nothing to worry about.

 

[Yosiah]

How come you can't select medical roles in the Army online application? I was interested in Biomedical Science and Radiography - I bet they're roles with few vacancies, because with these roles I could attain a BSc. There seems to be vacancies for Environmental Health Technicians within the RAF, but I'm afraid of "applying" in case it stops you from applying for something else in the future if you don't get through the application process.

I wish I knew what I wanted to do. I need discipline and structure in my life; I can't even decide what to do and I'm 24 I spend hours every day browsing job/career websites or looking at university degrees, but I can't pick. I think I would be happy doing anything to be fair, as long as I finally had a structured plan in front of me for once.

Anyone else have this problem?
Slate me if you want

 

[Ghosteh]

Me and Zefan are IT Comms/techs in the RAF.

Its very similar to the Army Signals, apart from the fact we are much better

Probably true, most of my fellow techs are right noshers, unfortunately. Because of this, I end up doing a ridiculous amount of work trying to get kit ready prior to any exercise. Also the difference in the RAF though is you've got a combined trade group now of Techs and Operators from what I know?

 

[Ghosteh]

Lash Vegas, just spent the last few months here, its pretty comfortable, foods awesome(by army standards at least), and plenty of amenities.

the osprey mk4 is a ******* mission to put together, but its a good bit of kit, i was so surprised at the abundance and selection of pouches etc.
we didn't get out combat nappies till we got out there, not used mine yet though.

Yeah I've heard it's pretty good. Can't wait to get out there, much prefer there than Bastion or anything.
I'm just dismantling my OSPREY now. Put it all together in full combat roll, with collar, sleves etc, looks awesome, but stripping it down to light combat roll ready for exercise later this week.

 

[Parmesan]

I wish I knew what I wanted to do. I need discipline and structure in my life; I can't even decide what to do and I'm 24 I spend hours every day browsing job/career websites or looking at university degrees, but I can't pick. I think I would be happy doing anything to be fair, as long as I finally had a structured plan in front of me for once.

Anyone else have this problem?
Slate me if you want

Had the same sort of problem, being doing pretty much any job I could get for the last 6 years... No real idea what I wanted to do, and like you needed structure in the my and feel like I'm doing something worthwhile!

Have been looking at joining the army for about 2 years now (Long time to think I know) finally made my mind up a few months ago, application sent, First interview done, going back next weekend

 

[Pate]

I'm still looking at officer entry, though apparently it's hugely competitive? My running times are decent, and I've got about enough strength so that's not an issue. Issue is my presentation of myself, I haven't got enough "military" knowledge to come across well in an interview.

Any resources to get up to scratch?

 

[Yosiah]

Had the same sort of problem, being doing pretty much any job I could get for the last 6 years... No real idea what I wanted to do, and like you needed structure in the my and feel like I'm doing something worthwhile!

Have been looking at joining the army for about 2 years now (Long time to think I know) finally made my mind up a few months ago, application sent, First interview done, going back next weekend

Yeah, I've been considering the RAF or the Army for a while, and my friend keeps telling me to go for a Medical or IT role, but I can't for the life of me 1) Pick between the Army or the Raf or 2) Pick which role to apply for. Some roles have really long waiting periods for a vacancy I don't want to go to the careers office in case I look stupid not knowing what I want to do, and I can't figure it out on my own either!

 

[Yosiah]

I'm still looking at officer entry, though apparently it's hugely competitive? My running times are decent, and I've got about enough strength so that's not an issue. Issue is my presentation of myself, I haven't got enough "military" knowledge to come across well in an interview.

Any resources to get up to scratch?

I wouldn't worry about the military knowledge. You can teach yourself everything a civilian can know by browsing Wikipedia and websites and watching documentaries It's figuring out what role you want to go for which is the problem.

 

[Pate]

Yeah, I've been considering the RAF or the Army for a while, and my friend keeps telling me to go for a Medical or IT role, but I can't for the life of me 1) Pick between the Army or the Raf or 2) Pick which role to apply for. Some roles have really long waiting periods for a vacancy I don't want to go to the careers office in case I look stupid not knowing what I want to do, and I can't figure it out on my own either!

My experience of AFCO's are that they are bloody useless, so I wouldn't worry about asking whatever you want.

 

[Yosiah]

My experience of AFCO's are that they are bloody useless, so I wouldn't worry about asking whatever you want.

Hehe.

I've just been browsing the "Open Roles" on the RAF, mainly. I assume these are the same roles the AFCO would quote you as vacant. I might just have to go down one day and suck it up, telling them I am interested in A B and C, even if they are very different roles, and see what they say.

 

[Yosiah]

Then again I would be happy doing anything, as long as it's not a pure combat role. I'm fairly academic and a logical/critical thinker, so I would prefer something in Medical/IT/Communications.

Do they look badly on you for going to the office and saying "This is what interests me, I need discipline, organisation and structure, so please find me something that fits the bill"?

Or would they think "Damn, he doesn't know what he wants, so we don't want him at all"?

I expect the army/raf/navy isn't like it was, where you just went down and said "Herp derp, job pl0x?", so the above method might not be a good way to do it any more.