Why join the army

[CookieRocks]

On a lighter note, I guess that that distinction must come as an enormous source of satisfaction to the families of Matty Hull and the other 133 soldiers killed in Iraq

They chose to be there, did they not?

So it's ultimately them who made the choice to give their life for their country.

To the OP: I'd listen to the opinion of the ex-servicemen (or women) who have posted in this thread already, and not the usual detractors.

My other half is looking to join the RAF as a PTI soon and I personally have been looking to join as an officer.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Stringy]

My other half is looking to join the RAF as a PTI

A word of advice for the selection process:

They put a group of prospective PTIs in a room with a mirror, the first to notice the mirror and check themselves out gets the job. Fixing their hair or flexing their muscles while doing so gets them on a fast track career.


[/in joke]

 

[Stiff_Cookie]

Personally I think a good spell in the Army for everyone in the UK would be a good thing. It would put an end to hoodies who have no respect for anyone or anything. It would instil some sense of patriotism (which is actually a good thing - there is nothing wrong in being proud of your nation) and perhaps unite us where multiculturalism has failed us miserably. Ignorance breeds contempt.

Not nessarily, you may get some people who join for the training, who then go and take it out into the civilian world. Also, not all jobs translate well to the civilian world. Having a guy who can load and aircraft full of bombs in 30 mins is awesome in the military but there are not very many civilian jobs that have a need for someone like that. So now you have someone who may not have any other qualification trying to get a job.

In the US at least, I dont know about the UK, companies look very favourably on prior miitary members because they tend to be of high decipline and harder workers, plus other bonuses like security clearances.

There was a Marine not too long ago who killed 3 cops on a shooting spree. Turns out he was a gang banger and used the marine training he recieved in the military against the cops. There are also reports that these gang bangers are training other gang members.

So there are good and bad points to the idea

 

[bakes0310]

cheers for all the great replys theyve all been helpful and some a bit cheeky
I know knowones gonna change my mind my hearts set on the army and thats that

Next year ill be Private Baker of the Cold Stream Guards

 

[RoboCod]

Aren't you a cadet in the TA?

Nope

 

[AngeluiMorte]

Im joining the army next year and lately all im hearing is bad stuff off the tv and newspapers that the army is not what it used to be. Soilders going AWOL, extremely poor living conditions, no repect for the army anymore, no one wants to join thats why the upped the age restriction, and of course there just seen as another number

So i would like some reasons why i should join the army heres my personal reasons:
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

Ill be leaving a good job that pays good money, which i keep getting told is crazy that the money is really poor in the army. All i say to them is you dont join the army for the money which im right.

Anyway im just looking for some positve vibes about the army

Bud you got enough reasons there you dont need our opinion it seems like something you really want to do so go for it if you have the chance.

 

[seth]

On the subject of army. Ive been thinking of joining the TA as to me it seems to have all the good points and none of the bad points of the army. Plus it would be the best way of finding out if Id like to make a career in the army. Anyone here in the TA? Any advise? Does this sound like a good way of "using" the TA?

 

[RoboCod]

On the subject of army. Ive been thinking of joining the TA as to me it seems to have all the good points and none of the bad points of the army. Plus it would be the best way of finding out if Id like to make a career in the army. Anyone here in the TA? Any advise? Does this sound like a good way of "using" the TA?

What negative parts, exactly, do you think you would be excluded from? The TA still operate in Iraq for example

 

[Rebelius]

I "joined" the TA for the cheap drink and adventure training and banter. (and the money)

OTC is one of the best things I've done at uni.

however, as it stands at the moment I wouldn't think about joining the military properly.

I would join up in an instant if we went into a "proper" war that I agreed with though.

 

[seth]

Yeah but you dont get shipped off before you do 2 years in the TA right? and you can leave anytime you want before then.

 

[Chasser]

Next year ill be Private Baker of the Cold Stream Guards

Nope, if successful, you'll be Guardsman Baker. Also 'Coldstream' is one word.

Anyways, good luck with your choice of career.

 

[teulk]

Im joining the army next year and lately all im hearing is bad stuff off the tv and newspapers that the army is not what it used to be. Soilders going AWOL, extremely poor living conditions, no repect for the army anymore, no one wants to join thats why the upped the age restriction, and of course there just seen as another number

So i would like some reasons why i should join the army heres my personal reasons:
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

Ill be leaving a good job that pays good money, which i keep getting told is crazy that the money is really poor in the army. All i say to them is you dont join the army for the money which im right.

Anyway im just looking for some positve vibes about the army

I spent 10yrs in the royal signals, erm lets look at your reasons for joining

To see the world.....well that depends what you decide to do within the army as to jus how much of thw world you will get to see.
To do my part in protecting this great country.........You will end up protection other peoples countries.
To be a better person whos disciplined and a real man .......You will certainly get discipline.

What i would say is do not have any expectations and take every day at a time. The army is by no means for everyone and you will get out of it what you put in to put it simply. You will make lots of life long friends. Remember though that just because your in the army it doesnt mean you will go to war as it really depends on job you choose to do.

Good luck anyway

 

[DustyMiller]

You can save whatever you like. The problem is that the military pays you enough to be comfortable, but not enough to really save loads. You could save a lot I suppose, but the lifestyle is very social, and as we all know, being social generally costs

Its all down to the individual,

I was a lowly Corporal Technician, every month after Tax, NI, Council Tax and every other deducation, including Accomodation, and three square meals a day. I had 1,300 quids worth of beer tokens on my back pocket which i could use in any pub inthe world. Now did i save anyof it, did I hell Fast cars, and cheap beer, monster TV and stereo, that was the order of the day.

If you serve 22 years then generally you leave with a golden goodbye and an immediate pension. If you leave after 12 years but before 22 years then you get 8K and a pension which you need to claim on your 60th birthday. If you leave before 12 years you get bugger all.

Actually at the age of 60 you are entitled to Xyrs/22 of your final salary, so make sure you claim it, this is on top of whatever the state pension.

 

[@if ®afiq]

Emma Goldman:

Patriotism ... is a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit.

Some more quotes from the activist:

Conceit, arrogance and egotism are the essentials of patriotism. Let me illustrate. Patriotism assumes that our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate. Those who have had the fortune of being born on some particular spot consider themselves nobler, better, grander, more intelligent than those living beings inhabiting any other spot. It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others.

When we have undermined the patriotic lie, we shall have cleared the path for the great structure where all shall be united into a universal brotherhood— a truly free society.

 

[cleanbluesky]

Some more quotes from the activist:

@if, your hypocrisy astounds me - do you not see the conflicts of your stance when you believe in religious nationalism and religious-nationalist violence around the globe, yet decry patriotism?

You quote someone who decries the concept of a national identity, yet cannot see that a religious political identity has the same problems in equal measure...

 

[jpmonkey69]

Absolutley. There are many many jobs more dangerous. But most of them are well paid to reflect this

In the army, OTOH, its considered acceptable to pay peanuts. And we all know what that gets you......

Did you know that food and accomodation is very very cheap for someone in the army? Of course it's hardly The Ritz, but if you're living somewhere with a good pound to local currency rate, it also works out that what you get paid is worth more.

Also, if you're in a war zone you get paid extra "danger" money, if you're stationed abroad, you get extra money too. I'd say a regular signalman living and stationed in Germany has more money to spend/spare at the end of the month than me earning over 35k in the UK.

 

[@if ®afiq]

@if, your hypocrisy astounds me - do you not see the conflicts of your stance when you believe in religious nationalism and religious-nationalist violence around the globe, yet decry patriotism?

Nope - if you look at the first quote it is referreing to splitting the World up into X, Y and Z and then belieiving the X, Y or Z is superior and then trying to impose this superiority onto others. This is something that Islam forbids.

You quote someone who decries the concept of a national identity, yet cannot see that a religious political identity has the same problems in equal measure...

I also quote Gandhi who is a Hindu, Thoreou who is an Atheist, Chomsky who is a Jew etc...just because she has different end goals to me, it does not mean that I disagree with everything she says.

Anyway this is going OT now...

 

[B&W]

To the thread title:

Duty and honor.

The main reason why most people choose their job in whatever field they have is either for the pay or because they are interested in it, mostly the former tho I believe.

By joining the Armed Forces or Police Force you can help others, serve your nation,etc.

 

[The Mad Rapper]

They chose to be there, did they not?

They did not choose to be there at all, they were ordered to be there. Hardly the same thing is it?

 

[Visage]

To the thread title:

Duty and honor.

The main reason why most people choose their job in whatever field they have is either for the pay or because they are interested in it, mostly the former tho I believe.

By joining the Armed Forces or Police Force you can help others, serve your nation,etc.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.......