Why join the army

Just coming up to my 19th year in the Army now. During that time I've seen and done things that my civvy friends will never be able to do. It's certainly not always been easy but overall the good times have outweighed the bad! It all depends which Corps you join, however, in the currant climate chances are high that you'll go to Iraq & Afghanistan.

I feel proud to have served my country and (hopefully) have made a difference. The money is not too bad though and you get paid better for being away on operations now. Like any job though you'll start off earning less but will quickly work your way up the scales.

Never believe anything you read in the papers about the forces, they just print what they want to! Yes, there are drugs around but it's not as prevalent as the papers make out and nowhere near as bad when compared to civvy street.

Accomodation has been pretty poor in the past but the new z type accommodation is the dogs! Ensuite 1 man bedrooms which are very nice but you may not get one of these for years! The worst accommodation I had was during basic training but you expect that.

What I really enjoy about being in the Army is the camararderie. If you've got a sense of humour you wont go far wrong! I worked as a miner before joining and all my family and friends berated me and said it would never last. Now they are proud of me and what I've achieved. Go for it, if you don't like it you can always sign off and leave.
 
pyro said:
I will be trying to get into the Greek paras on August, I have my fingers crossed because they are a hard bunch of guys.
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Good luck, hopefully they actually have the money to do parachute training unlike the British paras :rolleyes:
 
I dont understand all this talk about serving your Country and being some sort of patriot. It seems to me that soldiers serve the British government, they dont serve the nation or the people. How can that possibly be construed as patriotism or serving the country? Just look at the operations that the British government gets involved with, how does that make you a patriot? Its completely anti patriot really.
 
bakes0310 said:
Ive always wanted to do its since i was very little.
To see the world
To do my part in protecting this great country
To be a better person whos disciplined and a real man
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The first two reasons are sound. You get paid to have adventure holidays and stuff all the time. You will get to see the world.

The second two reasons are complete duffers. I doubt very much you'll ever be involved in 'protecting' our country. It'll be more like protecting somebody elses halfway across the world in a horrible unhospitable place with people who really dont want you there anyway. And to say you need to join the Army to be a 'real man' is just naff.

At the end of the day, if you want to do it; just do it. No one can really tell you how it'll be for you.
 
Rosbif said:
I dont understand all this talk about serving your Country and being some sort of patriot. It seems to me that soldiers serve the British government, they dont serve the nation or the people. How can that possibly be construed as patriotism or serving the country? Just look at the operations that the British government gets involved with, how does that make you a patriot? Its completely anti patriot really.
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The Government is the Nation and the People. Well, their legally elected representatives anyway.

But that's not why soldiers fight, nor is it for 'Queen and Country' - it's simply for your oppos, the man beside you, the friends you've known and served with for years.
 
Im thinking of joining the Cold Stream Guards which will be an infantry role, my dad was in it. And a mate in work was in it and he speaks very highly of them, which does motivate me and gets me really excited.
Ive for the past nearly 3 months been getting myself fit ive joined a gym and i go about 6 times a week which is an hour session, and just recently got a mate who really wants to go running so thats gonna be aload of fun :)

If i was fit enough i would join the paras but saying that i might be fit enough by the time i join. Ive given myself a nice deadline of about next year febuary thats when ill start to get the ball rolling.
Im totally commited i really want this and whenever i do actually hear negative stuff its through one ear and out the other :p
 
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The Mad Rapper said:
The Government is the Nation and the People. Well, their legally elected representatives anyway.
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In a real sense, the government, and the country and its people, are not the same thing. You can be a patriot yet not support your government or its actions. And vice versa.
 
dirtydog said:
In a real sense, the government, and the country and its people, are not the same thing. You can be a patriot yet not support your government or its actions. And vice versa.
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I accept the point, all elected Governments are capable of acting against the wishes of the people.
 
trojan698 said:
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101st Airborne Division
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Airborne>Parachute Regiment
Trojan ownd
 
My brother is in the Royal Irish, and he doesn't support the war, but he did and does his duty, not because he's told to - they offered to 'let him go', but he didnt want to let his brothers go in alone, without his help.

I don't agree with the 'war' but lets face it, not many people do agree with war.

The point I think should be taken into consideration is that, our brothers, fathers, mothers and daughters are over there now, we have to support them, let them know they are respected and appreciated.

He's at home now, and the stories he tells me are all great, not a bad word about his CO or his team mates, says the English NCO's and CO's are pricks - full of themselves, but they're not that bad at their job. Loves the Aussie & Scot CO's, food is good (even the rations, but they make you constipated for 3 days at a time).

The media just highlights the bad points and pushes them until you think they're useless and unprofessional, which is completely untrue.
 
bakes0310 said:
Why join the army ?
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Because you get to shoot guns & kill people legally, what better reason is there.
Also the possibility of slinging a few mortars about, driving tanks, APCs etc
If your good enouth you can then go on to spec ops & some covert ops. Plenty of travel thrown is as well and a bunch of mates that would die for you.
 
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