pete1977

24 is fine for joining.I joined the parachute regiment at 18 and was one of the youngest there ,mind you some of the old farts suffered real bad through depot .At 24 your more mature and can think for yourself,which also makes you question things more readily,in certain situations this can be a bad thing .Dont worry too much about the whingers telling you how bad the armed forces are (PMSL at the pads wife ),they are just bitter from bad experiences.Yeah you,ll have some **** times with the forces but if your the sort of person who can just laugh and get on with things then thats what usually sorts the men from the boys and you,ll be fine.But please dont moan when your sent to a warzone .Sadly it seems to be part of wednesday sports afternoons with some regiments.

Leslie

Brendan,

When I said I would do it all again, that would be from the time I joined in the first place and th atmosphere in the Forces was very different to now. It used to be all based on real teamwork without people trying to steal a march on others in order to get promoted etc. The job was done for the sake of that rather than furthering careers and modifying what was actually done purely with that in mind. I became very disappointed as time went by.

When I drove away from the camp gates for the last time I did not even bother to look back! All I have missed was the flying.

Les

Brendan Hughes

Thanks Les, that's what I gathered generally. I wonder if the end of the Cold War had something to do with it? Suddenly no clear enemy and no political reason to fund the armed forces, massive upheaval compared to the last 40 (or even 80) years. Certainly when I tried to join in 1991 they hardly wanted anyone and were complaining about massive downsizing. You can't use tanks or jets against suicide bombers on London buses.

ozzy

I spent time in the Marines. I'd advise anyone to join them either as a full time regular or with the Reservists; I had a great time and (if they'll have me back) will re-join at the end of the year as a Reservist.

The Forces isn't for everyone, but I've found the Marines treat you better than most of the others (especially the Army).

Stefan

Pedro_79

DON'T DO IT! Well, certainly not the Army anyway

I'm 26 and have been out of the Royal Signals for 2 years (I was in for 5).
Obviously everyone's different, but I'm far far happier having left. Even though I was only 18 when I joined, I never really integrated and still considered myself a 'civvie' throughout.

Having said that, I did see some interesting places (Sierra Leone, Macedonia)

I reckon you're probably too old to really get much out of any of the forces - it certainly helps if you don't have much life experience behind you, because it helps make you more accepting of the enforced way of life.

Besides, could you really cope with earning less than 20k for at least the next 5 years?

btw, I'm now on 10k more than I was when I left

Mark Miwurdz

FPMSL

I know many good RAF police dogs that have had their careers blighted by their handlers.

Cheers
Kav

PS - JT used to be the best rank in the RAF - a lot of money (relatively) for naff all responsibility.

Shaolin

I have alot of respect for people in the armed forces, dad was in the RAF, nephew is in the army, doing his course then moving on to join the commando's.
But i cannot understand when people say im doing this for my Queen and country, what a load of b*ll*cks.
You are just a number, and thats it, if you die in some remote country in a war that doesnt really concern us, how crap is that?, sure you might be remembered for a while but thats it!...for giving your life !
Its a bit different if we were being invaded but the chances of that are a bit slim !
Like i say i respect people for doing it, my nephew is loving it and cosidering his age, there arent many jobs that would pay the same plus he has seen alot of the world and it has definately made him more of a man if that makes sense? hes changed alot since he went in, some for the good and some for the worse!

Foot_Tapper

Another vote for the RAF.
I spent 20 years in the Navy (mostly Fleet Air Arm), but those were the days mostly prior to massive cutbacks; and you had good chances of visiting places.
These days that "perk" isnt as easy to come by.
Living conditions onboard are crap...( so's mostly the food tbh)

The Army ...never unless maybe u fancy horses or summat.

The RAF is probably the best option, although the foreign postings may have been cutback, the living conditions, food etc are MUCH better than the other two.
The only other way I would go now if you are a "fitty" type person is the marines. Stacks of excercise fresh air (mostly). Ok the trades you could transfer to the outside world may not be great. I believe things like diving, HGV, sports instructing etc would come into play.

Just my 2p worth

Ritch96

KOT,
2 months into my 15th year in RAF, last 6 as Aircrew. Have to agree with majority of posters on here that air farce is the way to go, if you are going at all that is? Couple of things to consider though,

1, Married/long term relationship? Lots I know are divorced (me too ) It does take its toll been away on the **** - errrr, I mean - deployments for months on end.

2, You will be sent to some places where people are going to try to kill you. Lots and lots of people don't seem to grasp that till its too late. Not being dramatic, fire/police etc is dangerous too but the days of pretending to fight the red war machine are long gone.

If you are on 27k a year I think you will find it a struggle in one of the non technical trades. You really should consider NCA, I wish I had done it earlier. Alternatively you will have a great time as groundcrew, sometimes more so but they have just been decimated in the latest round of cuts so wouldn't imagine much recruiting.

Again, PM if you require any info.
Cheers
Ritchie.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Now in my 25th year of Sevice, 24 as a Regular Soldier (Junior Leader- joined at 16) and now in my first year of NRPS. Everyone remembers good times and the will always remember the bad ones too. I was Armoured Corp, tanks, Recce etc.... what Prince Harry is up to.

When you join you swear allegiance to God and to the Queen her heirs and successors.... not the Government. You go where they say though, whether you like it or not. Good places and bad, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Canada........Gulf 1, Iraq 1, Bosnia, Kosovo etc to name a few.

I was in Germany when the wall came down, right next to the old East/West Border, amazing!

Like any job people have loved it or hated it. When I left Regular Service I got a lump sum and monthly pension paid immediately which is very handsome. It works out at 4 figures PA on top of my current other Military Wage. How many jobs give you full pay on leave or when your sick irrespective of how long????? Let you buy tax and duty free fuel, **** and booze in Germany and give extra money for living there!!! Education Grants!!!

I met some fantastic people who you can really call friends and some who you won't p*ss on if they where on fire. It's what you make it, if your up for it go for it.............remember it's better to try than die never having tried

ozzy

If you like "dangerous" work, then you could probably earn a really good living in security if your ex-Special Forces, Marine or Para.

I know one lad who's earning 3-figure sums doing close-protection security for US oil workers in the middle-east. He's an ex Marine Sergeant and was on about £30K after 23yrs service. Never met a Marine that did it for the money though ... unless they were an Officer

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Many of the "Security Firms" no longer have the "assistance" they used to get from UK Armed Forces PLC, safe haven in camps etc. I know a number of ex-soldiers who have now come back and want to re-join, as the job was, I quote "F**king Sh*te". Try getting insurance.

mervil

iTrader: (5)

Just coming to the end of my stint in the Army. Joined the Royal Engineers at 19, don't regret it one bit. I've got a trade out of it (plumber/gas fitter) so can't complain. Joining at 24 wont be too bad but when some of the instructors are the same age, it might be hard to take the most menial of orders from them.

I signed off in January and am now being posted to Cyprus (am well gutted ) after being in Germany for the majority of my time. Everywhere I've been (especially on tour) its always the RAF who are treated better (food, accomodation and perks) so unless you want a trade, you're better off with them.

ps, if any of you RAF boys want to fly my Scoob to Cyprus for me, feel free to get in touch

pete1977

It all depends who the company has the contract with.Some companies have their own villas using with their own security,some are still based in british camps,some use hotels but the good ones use american camps .As far as insurance goes,it usually comes with the contract,if it doesnt i suggest your mates were working for a very poor outfit and their better off out of it.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

They are and have!!

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Does he have a place or applying when he leaves????

fatherpierre

You have to be in your last 6 months' service before they will consider your application.

Leslie

Shaolin,

The exact reason for doing it was for Queen and country when it came to the difficult bits.

You obviously are not able to understand that.

Les

Shaolin

Leslie- With all due respect, the country doesnt give a flying pluck about a single soldier, which is wrong....i mean try telling the parent or loved ones when you have picked your mate up in bits in some ****e country fighting a war that really does not concern Britain directly and then trying to be blinkered saying he died for his country...bullsh*t.

pete1977

He,s leaving the army to join the marines?remember the marines are part of the navy,not the army or he could be doing the all arms course?

Leslie

Shaolin,

Yes I can understand what you are saying, and when it comes to the politicians you are pretty well close to the mark. They will of course praise the Forces to high heaven since that is the accepted thing to do, but they don't like to spend the money for the proper protection that they need.

I would always support this country and the monarchy however, which is how my oath of allegiance went.

Les

pete1977

Ive never done any of the **** things i done for queen and country.For a start im scottish so couldnt really give two ****s about the queen,as for this country,its full of greedy ******* that wouldnt think twice about ****ting on their fellow man ,well the south is anyway!
No i done it to test myself,both physically and mentally and also to get the chance to brass up some bad guys.After i had joined i also done it for my mates ,my regiment and all the old boys that fought for what used to be a great country.I also knew that the chicks liked a bit of ABC and heard that the paras had some great **** ups!Its all true
The notion of doing it for queen and country is old fashioned now.Most people are more realistic nowadays.At the end of the day its a job and it pays the bills.

Shaolin

Pete1977, he is a mechanic, nearly completed his training, and is thinking about doing the commando's course and maybe even the para's aswell ! I have to give him credit, he has wanted this from a very young age, and where most of his old mates are the usual chav types, he is doing very well and his superiors seem very interested to push him further, hes very fit, started boxing for the army etc, he seems to really want to join the marines, hes so focused its unreal !

Leslie- As ive said, i admire anyone who joins the forces, but when the ****e hits the fan and your in the middle of some serious crap going on, you cant tell me your fighting for our country, surely you are fighting for yourself or to see your family again.

pete1977

Good to hear some youngsters are still driven enough to join up .The way i see it is he may have some problems attempting all this as the army is a big slow old fashioned animal which can slow young keen soldiers to a halt.

Choice No1)While hes in the army he could attempt the All Arms commando course which is in essence more fitness based and really only wins you a nice dagger to wear on your arm,you dont become a marine or begin serving with the marines .All you do is the course then return to the army.Hence real Marines who have done the real course call thses sorts "badge collectors".Being a real Marine isnt just about fitness

Choice No2)Attempt to transfer from the army to the marines.This alone is a feat worthy of a Green beret.I had a friend who had enough of the paras and wanted to transfer from the army to the RAF to become a chef so he could spend more time with his newborn girl.A year after putting his paperwork in he inquired as to when he was transferring and was informed all his paperwork had been lost!To cut a long story short he had to give a years notice and leave the army then join the RAF as a new bloke.As your nephew is just a newly trained mechanic i cant see him ending his career already to join the marines,but as i said being a real marine isnt just about fitness.

Choice No3)Transfer to the Paras.This is a more realistic option since its the same arm of the forces your nephew is already in(meaning The Army).But as hes newly qualified i really cant see the REME letting him go that easy.Paperwork gets lost sooo easily in the army ,if you get my drift .I realise that your nephew seems mad keen on the Marines but the Paras are the armys equivelant.60-70% of SAS troopers are ex-paras.

Choice No4)Attempt All Arms P company.This is a course thats used to determine wether people have the mental and physical apptitude to carry out military parachuting(very different from civvy freefall ).This course does not make soldiers paratroopers!Paratroopers carry out roughly 26 weeks physical,weapons and battlefield training as part of their basic training THEN join a parachute battalion,1,2 or 3 para.
P company is only a week long and is short and very sharp then if they pass this you can move onto Brize Norton(this is usually where everyone see,s what a bunch of mincers the RAF really are )and carry out the jumps course.Then if this all goes well you get your "wings" and its back to where you came from.The black and white of it is ,if you are not a member of The Parachute Regiment and havent done the 26 weeks training to get there then your not a paratrooper.It takes more then fitness to become a paratrooper.

Hopefully this gives you an insight into what he has to do and you,ll know if hes telling you porkies(Im not suggesting he is but he wouldnt be the first!)
In all honesty now that your nephew has already joined the army hes gonna need to step on some toes to become a real Marine/Para,but if hes determined enough and fit enough and up for a bit of action then im sure he,ll do it.Good luck to him

Shaolin

I could be wrong, but it does seem to me that the army is a bit too keen to push him through everything, in the space of about 6 months he has passed his driving test and also his hgv !....i wouldnt even let him ride my push bike !
Like i said, hes never done boxing before, yet he boxes for the army now, although his level of fitness, strength and probably more than anything his mental strength is head and shoulders above everyone elses.
Even when they go on these stupid runs etc he asks to carry more to help him with his training ! he carries twice as much, if not more than some of the others!
He is ment to be going to Iraq soon, and im thinking that this will either make or break him, he will see what its really like.

pete1977

Mmmm,i smell porky pies!The level of boxing required to even try out for the army boxing team is pretty high.All of the lads there have prevoius boxing experience ABA etc, So for a complete novice to be randomly picked to box for them is,well,bull****!If he is in depot training to be a mechanic then where does he find the time to box for the army? Boxing for the army is a full time position.One thing i hate more than walter mitty civvys is bloody walter mittys in the army .

Brendan Hughes

He meant he's packing stuff in boxes. HTH