**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

ToejaMz0r said:
Working my way up in fitness, started in August.. first 1.5mi run was 17:16 for 1.46mi.. omg I nearly died.

As of today, I'm sub 14.. with 13:48 :D so its getting there, will be ringing the office tomorrow to get them to weigh me again and see if I cant get things rolling this time :) was about 6 weeks last time I went!

Edit: Well technically I started my journey a long time ago but only started properly running in Aug, used to be almost 19stone :P
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Good effort mate. Keep putting in the hard work, and improving, and there's no doubt you'll stand out and achieve your goals
 
gettothechopper said:
anyone got any advice for herrick for this time of year? weather / temps / stuff to take etc?
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The HERRICK winter issue kit is good. A good woolly hat wont go a miss for a creature comfort.

It will be hot at the start and end of your tour (35+) but down to well below 0 mid tour. Depends on where your going though.
 
Hugogo, you must be a year or two out of Sandhurst if my memory of this topic holds true. How well do you feel the training you received prepared you for the job of a young officer? And have you yet had to take guys out to the hot sandy place?
 
gettothechopper said:
anyone got any advice for herrick for this time of year? weather / temps / stuff to take etc?
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Just think what you would take cold weather camping. If you can fit it in your baggage take it. The more luxuries and comforts the better, anyone telling you different is just trying to sound big. Dressing gown was great for walking outside to the shower in the cold mornings :D ...some waterproofs??... maybe tell us more about what you will be doing we could help?
 
Good Morning Guys

I hope there is someone here who can help me. My next door neighbours son is considering joining the RAF, (I say considering, he has already applied) to be an Air Traffic Controller or Flight Operations I can't remember which.

However, his mum is concerned, she is rather ill and relies on him for help when his dad and older brother isn't around and whilst he has given her assurances on his role etc she asked if I could find out a little bit more.

Is there anyone here within one of these roles, or knows someone who is who could give me a little bit of an idea of what she can expect him to go through?

Thanks in advance.
 
He'll be sat in an ATC tower directing planes on where to land :o ?

What exactly does she want to know? He'll do his 10 weeks basic training at RAF Halton then go on to do his specialist trade training, not sure where the ATC guys do theirs. After that he will be posted to a station.
 
Castiel said:
It is called Help for Heroes because the term heroism implies a sacrifice which many, if not all of these guys have given in one way or another. Regardless of the personal issues of the individual and whether they are morally bankrupt they have all shown some form of courage in the face of adversity thus the terminology.

It is not meant to imply that all soldiers are perfect heroic pillars of humanity, just that they have given part of themselves in defence of the nation (I don't want to get into the politics of war so lets just assume that the soldier believes in what he is doing is right).

Personally I was just doing my job, I don't think anyone sees themselves as a hero particularly, it is kind of hard to do so when you are spending much of the time crapping yourself. You just do what you are supposed to do, but I can understand why the term is used in regard to the charity.

I agree with what you said about the chap who died, the fact that he joined the Army suggests an effort to turn his life around and wishing him dead is a little disingenuous at best....
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Completely agree with what you're saying and we will have both seen acts of heroism in work, however I think by banding around the term so loosely as with the charity it may portray an air of grandeur to the public. Thoee feelings are probably well received in the US say but not so in the British domain, after all, the general public sacrifice in all walks of life yet they arent portrayed as heroes too. Not sure I'm making my point clear but it's obvious that the term gets some civvies backs up.
 
flight ops seem to go out a fair bit as its a small community, their tours are roughly 4 or 6 months at a time from my understanding. my uncle is on his 4th tour as we speak. that said he's had some great trips as well (south africa for a month etc).

its not like he's infantry so he should be fine. although i doubt he would be able to look after his mum.

they do their tech training at Shawbury near Cosford (wolverhampton) i think

but not so in the British domain, after all, the general public sacrifice in all walks of life yet they arent portrayed as heroes too
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queens honour list? young careers awards etc? i think too much significance is held by it, but then what else would you expect from a term created by the sun? its like the (frankly horrific) "our boys" title.
 
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I'm getting a list of questions ready can anyone think of anything I missing?

1) What is the min term of service
2) Basic training time scale
3) Min fittnes for starting
4) There are various trades with the Royal Egineers, how are they filled? Does the Army say where you go or is there some say in in it?
5) For the fortnight long exercises does your employer have to give you compulserary unpaid leave?
6) Does each evening add up to your total yearly commitment?
7) Do you start your training at set dates during the year, or when there are enough potential recruits?
 
Twinblade said:
Good Morning Guys

I hope there is someone here who can help me. My next door neighbours son is considering joining the RAF, (I say considering, he has already applied) to be an Air Traffic Controller or Flight Operations I can't remember which.

However, his mum is concerned, she is rather ill and relies on him for help when his dad and older brother isn't around and whilst he has given her assurances on his role etc she asked if I could find out a little bit more.

Is there anyone here within one of these roles, or knows someone who is who could give me a little bit of an idea of what she can expect him to go through?

Thanks in advance.
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How much help does she need? He could be based anywhere in the country?

Could be a 10+ hour journy home, so may be lucky to get home once a month espically on the wages he will be on to begin with.

Ops and ATC are very similar, though if he's joining ATC I would imagine it will be ATC Trainne with the chance to fast track to SGT? Which if it is, is a pretty good career choice up the ranks quick and obviously more cash.

There is very very little chance they will be out of the wire when OPS. I would hate to do either of the jobs though, certianly not for me.
 
Captain Planet said:
Completely agree with what you're saying and we will have both seen acts of heroism in work, however I think by banding around the term so loosely as with the charity it may portray an air of grandeur to the public. Thoee feelings are probably well received in the US say but not so in the British domain, after all, the general public sacrifice in all walks of life yet they arent portrayed as heroes too. Not sure I'm making my point clear but it's obvious that the term gets some civvies backs up.
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Quite, my intention was not to imply that heroism was exclusively the domain of the Armed Forces, quite the contrary. I agree that the the media bandy the term around far too much, but I don't think the Charity take the term lightly at all, having worked for H4H over the last few years the chaps I have seen pick themselves up from some pretty horrific injuries should certainly be classed as heroic, they have shown courage that I only wish I had when I was going through a similar (albeit less long term/permanent) experience. I think it is these guys and the courage they show during their rehab is why the charity is so named. The people who founded the charity are of the opinion that if you volunteer to serve when the country is at War knowing that you are risking your life in doing so that is in itself the definition of heroism. I don't know really, I only know how I feel when I see these chaps overcome their disabilities and how hard it was for me in comparison. To me they are pretty courageous people, they routinely deal with their situation far better than I did at the beginning and whether that is to do with the help the charity offer or just because I was less able I cannot say, only that I stand in awe sometimes of the dedication and determination of some, if not all of the guys I have met.

I think that sometimes there is a blurring of the public's perception of the difference between the decisions of the Politicians and the Servicemen who have to carry them out which leads to some confusion over who is ultimately to blame for foreign policy and in my opinion this is what creates the most consternation to civvies.

I think the US patriotism and the way they use the term to apply to anyone who works for law enforcement or the military only adds to the confusion. Another case of US culture permeating our own though the tabloid press and media.
 
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Getting stuck into the process a lot more now. I'm taking active interests in many things beside drinking :p , have improved my self confidence massively etc.

Checklist:

Get the braces underway fully
Keep pushing fitness, strength still needs work
Improve posture
Get my degree!

I reckon I'll book myself in at my afco around march/april next year.



P.s saw the first of the sandhurst series that were on iplayer. Interesting stuff, though I felt it didn't give a comprehensive scope of the work involved. Just hope I'm man enough for it. :p
 
kenmare said:
P.s saw the first of the sandhurst series that were on iplayer. Interesting stuff, though I felt it didn't give a comprehensive scope of the work involved. Just hope I'm man enough for it. :p
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The others show a little more of what's involved, but not much. I expect that part of the challenge of RMAS is that you don't know what is going to happen, and you have to deal with, and adapt to what is happening.

That kind of flexibility is important for young officers I would have thought.
 
Thought i'd introduce myself as i didn't even know this thread existed. Been in the RAF 9 years now, thought i'd come and moan about how ****ing cold my building is as the cheap ass station can't afford to put the heating on. That is all.

Hehe

Need any info. Or want a moan. Message me :D
 
phonemonkey said:
Good effort mate. Keep putting in the hard work, and improving, and there's no doubt you'll stand out and achieve your goals
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Aye mate I wont stop, gunna give a call today.. been too busy to otherwise and then forget heh.

Seeing as I was bout 120kg at my heaviest, when the guy weighed me he weighed me at 93kg (though I'd weighed less at home on digital scales.. but thats a sore point ;)) so now I weigh 87.5kg at the moment so hopefully there will be a good margin of improvement, gunna not eat that day/drink and go in for an early meeting in some light office style clothing ;)

The guy who spoke to me said that he was gutted for me, having lost almost 30kg so far lol.. but then backed it up with "Dedication is what we need" which is true!
 
Begbie said:
How much help does she need? He could be based anywhere in the country?

Could be a 10+ hour journy home, so may be lucky to get home once a month espically on the wages he will be on to begin with.

Ops and ATC are very similar, though if he's joining ATC I would imagine it will be ATC Trainne with the chance to fast track to SGT? Which if it is, is a pretty good career choice up the ranks quick and obviously more cash.

There is very very little chance they will be out of the wire when OPS. I would hate to do either of the jobs though, certianly not for me.
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Thanks for the response. I don't know exactly what she wants to know but can find out and will probably post more. I think her main concern is what is he likely to be doing - he has a history of being creative with the truth so she isn't sure if he is telling her the full story of what he will be involved in.

As for him providing future care, I think she understands this won't happen, but to keep her at ease wants to ensure he is safe.
 
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