View Full Version : I'm putting serious thought into joining the army.
I'm currently a teacher (secondary). I enjoy it. Genuinely. But it's just not massively exciting. My options are limited because I am not the most well qualified in my field and as a result I am finding it difficult looking for a place of work that I can say "yes, that is where I want to be." There's also a lot of bullshit involved with teaching, some of it quite rightly, a lot of it wrongly.
I am 25, I feel I am too young to just set into a groove for the next x amount of years. I have an interview with the Colonel in a fortnight after I put an expression of interest in this morning. The role I want to go for is as an Education Officer - basically helping soldiers learn more, gain more qualifications amongst loads of other roles.
It seems very interesting, great variety in work and location. Pay is very good. Training is excellent (a year at Sandhurst followed by all sorts of CPD). The me of four or five years ago would never have considered a role in the army, but the more grown up me sees it as an excellent career development opportunity that I can come out of in five or so years time totally overqualified and experienced.
Thoughts? I know there are a few in the military here (Helvete?).
hardnox71
06-01-2011, 12:58 PM
I'm currently a teacher (secondary). I enjoy it. Genuinely. But it's just not massively exciting. My options are limited because I am not the most well qualified in my field and as a result I am finding it difficult looking for a place of work that I can say "yes, that is where I want to be." There's also a lot of bullshit involved with teaching, some of it quite rightly, a lot of it wrongly.
I am 25, I feel I am too young to just set into a groove for the next x amount of years. I have an interview with the Colonel in a fortnight after I put an expression of interest in this morning. The role I want to go for is as an Education Officer - basically helping soldiers learn more, gain more qualifications amongst loads of other roles.
It seems very interesting, great variety in work and location. Pay is very good. Training is excellent (a year at Sandhurst followed by all sorts of CPD). The me of four or five years ago would never have considered a role in the army, but the more grown up me sees it as an excellent career development opportunity that I can come out of in five or so years time totally overqualified and experienced.
Thoughts? I know there are a few in the military here (Helvete?).
When I was about 19 or 20, I met with a recruiter from the Air Force. My objective then was to get money for school. I sat around his office and watched a bunch of "The U.S Air Force is Great!!" videos that they show all the kids coming out of highschool. About a week later I took what's called an ASVAB test and passed. All that was left was to go to the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) for my physical and to sign the papers. I backed out at the last minute and to this day I can't put my finger on exactly why.
Looking back, I can safely say that not going was probably one of my bigger mistakes. If nothing else, the military would have given me the discipline at age 19 that I wound up lacking later on in life. Could have curbed a whole lotta bullshit that I wound up getting myself into. That thought has crossed my mind countless times over the years.
You sound like you're already a pretty well adjusted individual so what you get out of the military (if you go) is going to be much different that what I would have gotten out of it if I had gone but one thing will be the same...what you get out of it will be something that you probably need and don't know it yet...
and you won't know it until you're 40 looking back on your years.
Think about it.
Helvete
06-01-2011, 06:00 PM
It's not a bad choice, Sandhurst is pretty hard, but passable. Your biggest enemy will be you if you do attend, don't quit and you'll be fine. As a graduate, you'll be fast tracked to Captain and that's where your pay will become very nice indeed. Many officers will only do their 4-5 years before leaving, it will serve you well for when you leave.
The ETS may be one of the exemptions (along with doctors and dentists for example), but otherwise you don't so much choose your unit, they choose you. If you're shit, you'll be pawned off to a Med regiment for example. I don't doubt for a second you'll be fine and get where you want to go, but something to bear in mind.
Good luck with your interview, ask everything you possibly can at it and it's the first step of many!
i don't know if the british army does it differently but if it's anything like the US army be very very very careful about trusting recruiters! i have heard they can be quite sneaky, as they are more interested in getting you to sign up than caring about you or being honest
hardnox71
06-01-2011, 07:47 PM
as they are more interested in getting you to sign up than caring about you or being honest
You heard correct, Bob. From what I understand, recruiters have quotas they have to meet (or something to that effect) and those quotas translate into extra pay, vacation, so on and so forth.
When I backed out on that Air Force recruiter, that guy called me every day for three months! No shit.
Surely can't be worse than trying to cancel AOL though?
It's not a bad choice, Sandhurst is pretty hard, but passable. Your biggest enemy will be you if you do attend, don't quit and you'll be fine. As a graduate, you'll be fast tracked to Captain and that's where your pay will become very nice indeed. Many officers will only do their 4-5 years before leaving, it will serve you well for when you leave.
The ETS may be one of the exemptions (along with doctors and dentists for example), but otherwise you don't so much choose your unit, they choose you. If you're shit, you'll be pawned off to a Med regiment for example. I don't doubt for a second you'll be fine and get where you want to go, but something to bear in mind.
Good luck with your interview, ask everything you possibly can at it and it's the first step of many!
The ETS appears to be a part of the AGC and it seems that you aren't so much part of a unit as get moved around where you're needed at different times. I think I could do well at Sandhurst, I'm quite bloody-minded, enjoy hard work and think the discipline would do wonders for me. I'm a good team player and prefer to speak only when I have something to say. As you said, five years and then leave is probably my plan as I believe the skills and qualifications I will have picked up will stand me in much better stead for the next 35 years of working life than if I just carry on as I am now. And I will be earning more.
With regards to recruiters, I think this is very different from joining as an American high-school grad or whatever. From what I gather about the officer selection they're more interested in getting the best people and spend more time getting rid of applicants than getting them signed up.
Helvete
06-02-2011, 05:24 AM
What I meant by the unit choosing you, is that many officers will go through Sandhurst wanting to become a Parachute Regiment officer, or a Cavalry officer, but when it comes down to it, they're not good enough. I think on your final term of Sandhurst, you'll visit your unit of choice, and it's down to them to assess if you are suitable. The AGC ETS may very well be different compared to say a combat arm or combat support unit, but these things you can discuss on your visits/interviews.
My experiences are limited to cavalry and intelligence though, so don't take all I say for gospel.
gbsuey
06-02-2011, 03:10 PM
I don't have anything experience related to add, unless you count time in the CCF....but most people probably have no idea what that is anyway.....it seems like career wise and as a personal move it's got to be a Go For It from me. Seems you need a challenge and a change. I don't like doing this advice thing as i generally consider myself to know bugger all about most things but i do know that it'll be rubbish to stay in a rut and regret it in X years.
Videodrome
06-02-2011, 03:17 PM
i didn't read anyones post but i've found if you listen to loverboy's "turn me loose" real loud and drink a lot that you'll almost feel completely invincible.
abbott
06-06-2011, 08:02 AM
I say do it ... but consider the Air Force ... they have more money
Wish I had done it out of high school
Helvete
06-06-2011, 10:41 AM
I say do it ... but consider the Air Force ... they have more money
Wish I had done it out of high school
Not out Air Force!
p-branez
06-11-2011, 05:34 PM
Rirv, I know nothing about British military, but it appears that you should join. I feel like you are the type of person the military is looking for.
Have you thought about deployments? I am adjusted to an American military perspective here: we are constantly sending our military members to other countries.
My aunt is a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army National Guard and her specialty is officer training. Through her work and with National Guard support, she earned an Ed.D, a doctorate degree in education that is equivalent to a Ph.D. In the last decade, she has been to Afghanistan, Iraq (twice), Georgia (country), and Bosnia.
So, I had my interview with the colonel last week, and he seemed to think it was a spiffing idea that I pursue a commission. My forms are in and I'm booked in for my first round of selection in September.
To be honest, it's been a while since I've been this genuinely excited about something.
hardnox71
06-21-2011, 03:56 PM
So, I had my interview with the colonel last week, and he seemed to think it was a spiffing idea that I pursue a commission. My forms are in and I'm booked in for my first round of selection in September.
To be honest, it's been a while since I've been this genuinely excited about something.
(y)
Helvete
06-22-2011, 12:53 AM
So, I had my interview with the colonel last week, and he seemed to think it was a spiffing idea that I pursue a commission. My forms are in and I'm booked in for my first round of selection in September.
To be honest, it's been a while since I've been this genuinely excited about something.
Great to here. Let me know how it all goes for you.
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