[Closed] Bit of a bombshell!!

Good luck to him. Any idea what he is signed up for?
My brother was in the Army for five years, it gave him a trade and structure where education had failed him.
The draw back from Afghan territories removes some degree of worry I would have had.

Is there a cooling off period ?

Does he have the option of changing his mind?

Good lad. He'll suddenly grow up quick. You watch and see the change in him.

Good luck to him! What's he going in to?

looks like the tank regiment.

What are his reasons for wanting to join Ton?

i think he just see's this job as a bit of a dead end thing. he is correct to be honest.
ok for someone waiting for god like me, but not for a young bloke.
he is a good lad, pretty well disciplined, so hopefully he will be ok.

[quote=ton ]looks like the tank regiment.

Is he allowed to bring work home with him?

Ro5ey - Member
Is there a cooling off period ?

Does he have the option of changing his mind?

+1

I would not want any of mine to join the armed forces tbh, would be a worry all time they are 'away'-- and never have they been more active !

not sure about the cooling off period, but like the very unhappy wife said, he is 21 and it is his choice.
he seems to have his mind set on it now.

You can be very proud of him but I would not like it to be my lad TBH.

i do want him to go in to be honest.

For some people it will a great opportunity and career. I've worked with a few ex-forces people and they're great in the field and can cope with chaos very well (which is our normal working scenario), plus look after themselves in random countries.

Just support him in his decision. Good on him for having the balls.

From memory (of when I nearly joined the Senior Service) you can pretty much bow out up until that day you head off for basic - which could be some time from now.

Every chance this is different between forces and in the years since in nearly signed up though

What are his reasons for wanting to join?

I would not want any of mine to join the armed forces tbh, would be a worry all time they are 'away'-- and never have they been more active !

Nor mine. I have 2 little boys and I'll do all I can to persuade them not to join. However you have to respect the decisions they make when they are adults.

Be proud.

P.s can I have is old job? 😀

Best thing I ever did. Encourage him to do the full 22 years and he will never have to worry about money or unemployment for the rest of his life.

I was always tempted to sign up, for the whole travel / outward bound thing, but never got round to it. Still quite fancy joining the reserves....

If he's not suited to it he can leave any time during basic training. RTR are a cracking outfit as are the Cavalry. Not sure how many bits of heavy armour we're going to have in a few years but driving a tank is just about the most fun a lad can have.

Who else on here has an H License?

Not sure how I'd feel if it was mine. He's only 8 though so plenty time yet. All you can do is support him. If you talk him out of it and things subsequently go awry, he may blame you. It's a hard life and very dangerous but ultimately it's his choice and it could be the making of him. Good luck whichever way it goes.

ton - my son went through the initial application process for the Army and spent time on camp. Unfortunately he wasn't accepted due to medical reasons and was bitterly disappointed.

I felt it was a terrific opportunity for him and really would have been right up his street. His father was less enthusiastic.

You have to let him go and, be honest, tanks sound fantastic! It will stand him in good stead for when he comes out. Let's face it, not many jobs around for youngsters these days anyway.

looks like the tank regiment.

Mrs North's grandfather was called up to a tank regiment in WW2. He never saw action. However, when he first drove a Sherman out on the road he did manage to destroy 200 yards worth of telegraph poles. Oops!

Good luck to him. Sounds like he;s given this some thought. Hope it works out well.

You have to let him go and, be honest, tanks sound fantastic! It will stand him in good stead for when he comes out. Let's face it, not many jobs around for youngsters these days anyway.

Hopefully they'll let him keep the tank as well 😉

Make sure he gets himself positioned for one of these:

[img] [/img]

MBTs might be limited but these'll be going for a long time

You have to let him go and, be honest, tanks sound fantastic! It will stand him in good stead for when he comes out. Let's face it, not many jobs around for youngsters these days anyway.

That depends what he does in the Army, as a gunner in a tank? Not many jobs for that skill set on civvie street. As a mechanic or engineer maybe.

On the positive side if he works with Challengers he won't get sent to Afghanistan, although I should imagine we will have pulled out before he can be sent on an op anyway.

Who else on here has an H License?

I do.

he did manage to destroy 200 yards worth of telegraph poles. Oops!

I can claim an entire German T - junction, the road was closed for a week!

Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe.

If he's not suited to it he can leave any time during basic training.

Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe.

Lifer - Member
Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe.

ohh ffs 🙄

Ton - I was the only one of my close mates who didn't go in the forces. They're now all well-rounded, construcive contributors to society, whereas I'm a bloody idiot!

Not only will he be fine, he'll get to blow things up!!! And also get up to all sorts of other things my mates have told me about, that I wouldn't repeat on her, but if you were a 21 year old lad, you'd be bang up for! 😀

Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe

Utter B******S

that I wouldn't repeat on her

Freudian slip?

wrecker - Member

"Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe."

Seriously, wind your neck in.

legend - Member

"Lifer - Member
Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe."

ohh ffs

stgeorge - Member

"Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe"

Utter B******S

Any actual reasoning behind your protestations?

This is a thread about someone's son joining up for a dangerous job, not the place for some **** to drag politics into the equation.

I don't think the word 'bomb' in the title is very appropriate.

"Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe."

And everyone with a SKY tv subscription or who has ever bought The Sun or News of the World is responsible for phone hacking

Everyone who paid the Licence fee in the 1970s is responsible for Jimmy Saville fiddling with kids

Anyone who owns a Trek bicycle is responsible for widespread doping in pro road cycling

Anyone who has ever drunk Nescafe is responsible for African babies dying from unclean water in their milk formula

"Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe."

Lets just ignore this, people.

Back to Ton son.

If your happy from him that's great news... have a beer together tonight.

This is a thread about someone's son joining up for a dangerous job, not the place for some **** to drag politics into the equation.

The two things are inextricably linked, like it or not.

And everyone with a SKY tv subscription or who has ever bought The Sun or News of the World is responsible for phone hacking

Everyone who paid the Licence fee in the 1970s is responsible for Jimmy Saville fiddling with kids

Anyone who owns a Trek bicycle is responsible for widespread doping in pro road cycling

Anyone who has ever drunk Nescafe is responsible for African babies dying from unclean water in their milk formula

Phew. I have a clean conscience on all counts there!

Ton - if I could go back a few years I would have gone into the RAF. I was destined to go in but took a different route at the last minute and regret not doing at least 5 years.

Please stop squabbling boys. 🙄

ton - any chance of a ride in a tank if your son gets posted to Salisbury Plain? It's an amazing place and I sometimes ride my bike there, when the red flags aren't flying obviously!

Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe

CG, i will have a word with him. 😀

My mates in the army enjoyed their first few years.
My cousin had a great career - and he switched to another uniform when he left.

However his son also joined & trod on an IED.
He died horribly.

Try to persuade your son against it, - if only to make sure your conscience is clear if he runs into an Afghan with a gun.

Yeah, sorry to get dragged into the stupidity. Ton, much as I would be scared to death if either of my offspring joined up, I'd also be immensely proud.

My parents both served, and I very nearly followed them before sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll'n'accountancy got the better of me. I'm a lardarse and a hopeless coward though so probably for the best.

Lifer - Member
Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe.

See, I spent most of my time on operations in the Former Yugoslavia providing, as the mission statement went "security in order to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and the conditions for a wider peace."

What were you doing when you were 24?

Yep. I was there too. I also went to various african countries because people were chopping other people up, raping them, forcing them into labour and generally being dicks.

yossarian - Member
This is a thread about someone's son joining up for a dangerous job, not the place for some **** to drag politics into the equation.
The two things are inextricably linked, like it or not.

POSTED 6 MINUTES

You can link many things to war, even attempts to justify personal prejudice.

Exactly wrecker.....Lifer why dont you take yourself out of the student union and down to Sierra Leone, ask a few folk what they think of the British Army and Royal Marines.

ton - any chance of a ride in a tank if your son gets posted to Salisbury Plain? It's an amazing place and I sometimes ride my bike there, when the red flags aren't flying obviously!

Have you tried bodyform?

I often wonder what sort of chap I'd be if I'd been accepted to the forces...I had my name down for a 20 year stretch and hay fever kept me out...also had an afternoon in Paris sitting outside the foreign legion waying up the options.... But decided against it...

I've met tons of military peeps and they've mostly been good folk( except some legionnaires who were proper nuts!).... It'll be the making of him I reckon....unless it kicks off in Syria he probably won't go anywhere tuff....you've just gotta support him haven't you... Good luck!

You can link many things to war, even attempts to justify personal prejudice.

Eh?

For me the decision to join the army has to be an 'eyes open' one. Apart from the real risk of personal injury or death there is also the strong possibility that, alongside the extremely worthy and decent humanitarian interventions, you are quite likely to be deployed into conflicts and occupations that are only occurring to protect western business interests. I'm interested to here from the current or ex-forces people on here about how, if at all, you addressed this.

[quote=bruneep ]ton - any chance of a ride in a tank if your son gets posted to Salisbury Plain? It's an amazing place and I sometimes ride my bike there, when the red flags aren't flying obviously!
Have you tried bodyform?

Genuine LOLs

I worked for the NAAFI on a German tank base a very long time ago. The guys clearly enjoyed life in a work hard, play hard, sort of way.

As you know ton my lad starts at army college in March, as he's just coming up to 17 and passed his entrance stuff in august. I know how youre feeling but it also doesn't half make you proud at the same time.

My lads doing a military preparation course at the minute and on Monday he smashed both front teeth out doing an exercise. I picked him up and whisked him straight to the dentist and the roots are okay but he will need crowns. I thought he'd take it easy the next day (he doesn't need to do the course because he's already been accepted. I rang him Tuesday night (he lives with his mum) and the daft sod turned up for training the next day and did a five mile run, log carrying and all sorts. 🙂

Yossarian, I couldn't care about the politics of it all. I'd rather be at the sharp end seeing the world in all it's horror than live an ignorant life in an office (sweeping generalization).

At the end of the day, 4 years in Her Majesty's finest service (The Royal Marines of course) has taught me much and gave me direction in life, as well as a livable salary.

In my time, I've gotten a Cat B, Cat C, Cat C+E, Cat D licence along with a full ADR certificate meaning I can drive petrol tankers in civvie street if I get out. I can also drive forklifts now.

It's given me 2 NVQs and I'm working on a 3rd.

I've seen more of the world in 4 years than some people have seen in their entire lives. I had never left the UK until I joined up (court order).

I am a much more well rounded individual and the centre of conversation often times because I've always something new to discuss after my many trips away.

to the OP; take a read. It's not all grey skies because he's joining up, although I'd not pick such a specialised branch of the forces. Guide him towards a technical route if he's got the head for it as it'll pay dividends when he comes out.

My girlfriends friends boyfriend joined the Andrew (RN) as a traffic controller, eventually left and is now on £8,000 a month tax free in Dubai.

Ton, I think you should be proud of his decision.

Any parent, even those in military families, worry about serving people and it would be unnatural if you didn't.

From what I've seen on here you've got a good head on your shoulders and I would think by the age of 21 that's rubbed off on him.

Wish him the best from me if he chooses to go through with it, he's a braver man than me and all the arm chair politicians on here.

My work oppo is an ex tanky and loved it. I can ask him for some more info next time I see him if that would be any use?

He could do a lot worse Ton (I work with a lot of ex-servicemen and 1 woman, who are all very positive about it) but I can sympathise with your concern as I've seen my mates face, who has a son in the army, when any news appears on Afghanistan.

Lifer - Member
Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe.

During my time in, I was sent to West of Ireland looking for survivors of the Indian Airways B747 crash, went picking up wreckage in Lockerbie, stood in as Fireman, trained as a stand in Water Worker, spent 3 months of my life supervising the slaughter of cattle during the Foot & Mouth outbreak, missed out on being trained as a stand in Prison Guard, been to a horrible place in Africa where the locals were very glad to see us, can't remember perpetuating various wars around the globe though. Been to the Middle East and a very large landlocked country in Asia twice.

OP,
Good luck to your lad, I don't regret 1 minute of it, support him and be proud as he has the gumption to go for it rather than stay at home and be a keyboard warrior.

 

I hope he's not as big as you Tony tanks are small lol, good luck to him I loved my ten years had a great time all over the world 😉

I did eight years in merchant navy from school, army never appealed, but i suppose people look for different things-- my grandad was in the army during the war-- he was big influence on me not joining services !

Cool, good luck to him, great job

[quote=edlong said]"Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe."
And everyone with a SKY tv subscription or who has ever bought The Sun or News of the World is responsible for phone hacking
Everyone who paid the Licence fee in the 1970s is responsible for Jimmy Saville fiddling with kids
Anyone who owns a Trek bicycle is responsible for widespread doping in pro road cycling
Anyone who has ever drunk Nescafe is responsible for African babies dying from unclean water in their milk formula

Shocking isn't it.

mcboo - Member
Exactly wrecker.....Lifer why dont you take yourself out of the student union and down to Sierra Leone, ask a few folk what they think of the British Army and Royal Marines.

What has the student union got to do with anything? I don't see how listing humanitarian missions makes the statement:

"Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe."

any less true. Most of you seem to have misconstrued that as "The armed forces are evil".

Of course joining the army is a political act! The politics may not necessarily feature in your reasons to join of course.

Various people I know have served. To a man (and woman) they look back on their experiences positively. That's not to say it wasn't tough at times, it was. But they all feel that it is through coping with and conquering adversity, that we grow and develop as people and start to understand our true potential. Is there the potential for danger? Yes. But then again, every weekend I engage in a sport that leaves me more black than blue and I'm not even being paid for the privilege. Not to be flippant though, support him, advise him and watch him grow and develop into a man you will be proud to call your son

My (sadly missed) father served in the Royal Tank Regiment. He always talked fondly about his time there - Fear Naught

"Every person joining up is responsible for perpetuating our various wars around the globe."

So a mass resignation would go some way to achieving the end of all global violence ?

" We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. "

War, (huh), what is it good for....? Not getting type 2 diabetes with the rest of Generation XL.

Sorry but got to say as another ex Regular, that whilst there is a higher chance of getting hurt, it's also a generally much healthier lifestyle than rusting to death in an office, wearing a suit from George, hoping that you'll get a payrise one day.

Great experiences, hard work and some wonderful friendships are some of the many upsides. I was always hugely proud of the way that some of the young men that worked for me developed and showed emotional maturity, judgement and humility (along with getting shitfaced, stealing stuff and generally causing bother).

At the end of the day, there is a level of personal sacrifice, but I also learnt to ski, freefall, dive and kayak, plus got to blow things up, all of which set me up to manage 1500 people doing the same thing.

If he's going to do it anyway, encourage him to make the most of every opportunity, even if it doesn't quite fit with your expectations. (or get him that application form for the desk job at the Spar)

sorry that last bit wasn't meant to sound so flippant (just the first bit) 😀

Don't know about army but some areas of the RAF are already booked up until we are supposed to pull out ie you know if you are going or not.

Who else on here has an H License?

ME 😀

If it's what he wants to do then encourage him. A bloke at work was very negative about his son joining the Royal Marines but once in he so proud of him.

My father and uncle both served in the Royal Tank Regiment, two of my cousins are with them now. The RTR are always said to be a good, solid no-nonsense outfit...pity that they're down to just the single regiment now due to 2RTR being axed in the defence cuts to save cavalry cap badges.

If you want any RTR specific advice I'm going round to see my parents tomorrow, my dad served for 34 years and retired as a Brigadier having commanded 3RTR earlier in his career so he knows what he's talking about. 🙂

my dad was a Hussar 60 years ago.. saw the world..was in one or two scuffles with jonny.. made some friends who he still has today.. lost some friends who he still remembers.. steps out every year on there re union ..

did your son get a shilling..

He's 21 mate. Not much you can do about it ultimately, but there are a lot worse things he could be doing.

He's got a cracking mum an dad who's taught him reet from wrong.. He'll be reet mate.

Me owd dad was in tanks in Korea... forgotten war. Horrific time them lads had, but lets face it in modern day, in tank, theres nowhere he will deployed to that would be proper tasty, unless we go into Syria.

Good luck to your son. It will open up his horizons and change his outlook on life for the better. I'm sure he is well aware of the dangers of the job and no doubt this is part of the attraction. I would talk to him about going for a specialist trade REME, Engineers or Signals, better still join the RAF for skills that will be in demand when he leaves. I was Army and know I would have been serving at HM Pleasure if I hadn't joined up when I did. Only thing I regret about the forces was leaving it. If I could do it again I would have spent more time learning the languages and treated the whole world as my home.

My cousin was in tanks. In turned him from school idiot into a solid, rounded and top bloke.

If I was in trouble I'd want him nearby.

Who wouldn't want to drive a tank...