**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

[Tribune]

So for those in the know.. how much are my lovely brothers going to affect my chances of joining and what kind of acts would those related to you have to have done to affect your chances of joining?

Other than my weight, there is nothing that would stop me physically/medically/mentally joining. I weigh 13st 10lb @ 5ft9-10 which is overweight.

On a side note, I've been running every other day, every monday I time a 1.5mile run and as of this week instead of running 1.5miles every other day I'm going for 3 miles to build stamina.

As far as I know potential recruits are vetted to CT standard. As long as your brothers aren't active in extreme politics or you belong to a well known criminal family then there shouldn't be much of a problem.

As for your running - I'm not sure what info the careers office gives out about fitness requirements these days as my time in was in the late 80's. But, basically the shortest run I ever did was 3 miles on a BFT (basic fitness test). The 1 1/2 miles is the timed bit, what they don't tell you is that they do a 1 1/2m warmup before the timed run. You really need to to aim to be able to do a 5 miler in boots at the drop of a hat, although they won't expect that straight away. Give yourself every advantage and really smash your phys now. You'll thank yourself for it in training.

Don't worry too much about your weight as long as you're not carrying loads of extra. You will lose weight on the course, you can't help it. And as long as you put the effort in you will get fitter.

 

[ToejaM]

Oh yeah for sure I know about the training and what its like but the better I am before I join the 'easier' it'll be. I pretty much know what to expect for the selection tests and I'm aiming to be better than that. Its a pretty lengthy process from what I'm told.. 6-9months on average so lots of time for improvement. I do more than the running every other day, I do the running regardless of working or not to and I walk absolutely loads in my job. Along with normal excercises when i'm home, pushups/situps but as I'm just getting properly back into it.. week on week I'm introducing more things but too much to get into in a quick forum post

What are you looking to join up as?

NOTHING you have mentioned there will hinder you joining up. I had 6 points on my license when I joined and I openly admitted taking drugs before I joined up.

The best advice I can give is be honest, you may not get caught out but if you do you will not be given a second glance.

All the best

I will definately be being 100% honest, I have nothing to hide what so ever so thats not a problem. I had asthma as a child but its been well over 15 years since I last had an inhaler though I'll still tell them before they even look at my medical reports (unless they already have!). Did a peakflow/lung test at work not so long ago and I scored well above average across the board.. the only thing that brought my score down was weight heh.

As for what I'm doing, probably comms or maybe engineering but tbh.. I'm not sure what I'd be good at yet until I really speak to a few people, I think I'd be great at being just infantry/fodder but I want to join and WHEN (not if, I will survive!) I leave I want to have a trade to leave with. Hell, even if its my HGV licence its a hell of a lot more than I went in with. I also aim to move up the ranks (yeah yeah, pipe dreams and such) but I'm realistic about it.. even if I make it to lance corp or even corp, that adds to the resume for team related abilities.

For now though the sights are set on the ground directly infront of me and thats going for a job I THINK I'll love, time will tell though.

 

[Yosiah]

Dammit, I was considering going for Intelligence Officer, but you need GCSE B in English and Maths, yet I only have English Lit: A, English Lang: B and Maths: C, so Maths has messed me over

And I have an A-Level equivalent Science Foundation Year, which included maths, with an overall B.

I'm better with Maths nowadays, and could teach myself what I needed, so does anyone know if it's possible to pay a school to sit the examination?

 

[ToejaM]

Well I just had a phone call regarding my app and an invite to an army careers day so I'm not quite sure what that means in terms of application.. just that they've checked the basics over and that I have two legs, two arms and the ability to co-ordinate them together.

What should I be expecting at this careers day, any tests (written obv not physcial)?

 

[Zefan]

There shouldn't be any testing going on at all unless they've told you, if you've not been into the AFCO before then it'll just be a chat about the Army, otherwise it'll be just more information I'd guess.

Have you considered the Navy and the RAF? Honestly give them some thought, there are many people I know that are stuck in a service they don't want to be in, and changing once you're in is a big pain in the ass.

I'm better with Maths nowadays, and could teach myself what I needed, so does anyone know if it's possible to pay a school to sit the examination?

I'm pretty certain you won't be able to go to a "school", but any type of further education college should do that.

 

[ToejaM]

The course I wanna do in the Navy has a 2.5year wait, a standard 'Seaman' has a 5 year wait.. all the courses in the RAF I looked at all require higher GCSEs D:

 

[Von Smallhausen]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14788009

Impressive, some might say awesome technology.

 

[Begbie]

The course I wanna do in the Navy has a 2.5year wait, a standard 'Seaman' has a 5 year wait.. all the courses in the RAF I looked at all require higher GCSEs D:

Don't let needing qualifications put you off, I had to get a waiver for mine (they were going to use my HND instead) but because I done so well in the test they just waivered me needing qualifications at all.

I had people on my course that had less qualifications than me, dyslexic, and some who couldn't grasp basic maths.

Personally with kids, I would be considering the RAF. They treat anyone with kids so good and your out the country a lot less and also get paid more (if you go in as a techie trade - which you would be crazy not to really)

 

[ToejaM]

Its been so long since I did any real Maths or English I'm not sure how well I'd ace a test. I only have GCSEs and no further education

 

[Zefan]

Its been so long since I did any real Maths or English I'm not sure how well I'd ace a test. I only have GCSEs and no further education

When I joined I "needed" a few GCSEs, but others got in without maths, science or english. Begbie is bang on when he says that there are some that lack even basic maths/english skills. Not sure how they can justify recruiting people like that yet having "requirements" for others... but they do.

Bear this in mind, I know lots of people who have transferred from the Army to the RAF, and I've spoken to a lot of people in the Army who wished they'd joined the RAF. I don't know anyone who's transferred out of the RAF, no one has ever mentioned even the idea of it.

 

[Andr3w]

Oh god,we've gone pay as you dine.....I don't even want to try it

 

[The1nonly1]

Is anyone in the Royal Signals? I'm looking to hopefully join soon (just need to up my fitness a bit more) and want some advice on the training and everyday life in the Army.

 

[Begbie]

Oh god,we've gone pay as you dine.....I don't even want to try it

We go next year, was thinking I would be out of here by then but its the same everywhere

Not looking forward to it at all, plus they have banned cooking stuff from the blocks (George Formans etc) for erm fire/saftey reasons! Yeah sure!

 

[dsb]

We go next year, was thinking I would be out of here by then but its the same everywhere

Not looking forward to it at all, plus they have banned cooking stuff from the blocks (George Formans etc) for erm fire/saftey reasons! Yeah sure!

The core meals are awful so glad im a pad, payd has ruined eating in the cook house, no army chefs all unqualified slop jockeys, who don't care about what they serve up, all i can say is keep making complaints in the book.

 

[dsb]

Is anyone in the Royal Signals? I'm looking to hopefully join soon (just need to up my fitness a bit more) and want some advice on the training and everyday life in the Army.

Im not in the signals but have worked very close with them in the past and made some friends for life, but it really depends on the trade you take on how your career will progress.

 

[Zefan]

Not looking forward to it at all, plus they have banned cooking stuff from the blocks (George Formans etc) for erm fire/saftey reasons! Yeah sure!

Can't you just hide them on inspections? That's what everyone does here

 

[dsb]

all the kitchens in the singlies block have microwaves, most of the guys ither have hobs a GF grill. Lkie Zefan says just hide them for inspection.

 

[Andr3w]

We have kitchens as well....2 hobs and 4 microwaves.

Yeh I can cook loads of food on that

 

[Ghosteh]

Is anyone in the Royal Signals? I'm looking to hopefully join soon (just need to up my fitness a bit more) and want some advice on the training and everyday life in the Army.

I am mate, what you joining up as?

all the kitchens in the singlies block have microwaves, most of the guys ither have hobs a GF grill. Lkie Zefan says just hide them for inspection.

O'rly? Wish that were true atmy unit lol. Have no cooking facilities or anything, our block is in a right state. Z type is pretty gucci, shame I won't be in any for a few years yet.

We have kitchens as well....2 hobs and 4 microwaves.

Yeh I can cook loads of food on that

Cook more food than me .

 

[Hugogo]

I am a Platoon Commander at an Army Training Regiment and I can give a bit of advice here or there if needed. I wont answer any questions to do with medical criteria though. Fire away.