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First decide if you can accept the generic risks of service, then think if the military lifestyle will suit. Only then if you are fully reconciled to these, think about branch and role based on your skills and interests. IMO people who have approached enlistment with that mindset, rather than "I fancy getting a trade and doing a bit of free travel" are far more likely to stick it out, enjoy it and do well.
I'd echo that. The latter stick out like a sore thumb during training and beyond if they get through it.
Any job that you're not committed to is going to be shite. The amplification of that shite is significant when your employer owns your ass 24/7.
I got some great advice from a REME officer. "RE build bridges under fire. We recover and fix vehicles. If someone starts shooting at us we get in our trucks and f*** off". He was also similarly scathing about artillery and cavalry.
Not such great advice. All cap badges slag off all the others, all the time. The Sappers call the REME "Royal Engineers Made Easy" (amongst other things). You'll never get an unbiased opinion about one branch or cap badge from someone serving in another.
REgards. 🤮
Now this is where the forces come in! I believe they offer very good apprentice training and she'd probably stand more chance of getting training this way. But obviously harassment worry comes into play here - but doing a google it's statistically less
The horse industry is known for bullying and harassment in certain areas, my sister-in-law’s son was training as a farrier, and the bullying got so bad he took his own life!
The military does have a reputation as well, but it’s much higher profile, the media has done a lot to expose this and I think as a result the senior officers are being more proactive in clamping down on it.
It seems to be more Army, perhaps a rather more macho type tend to be attracted to that arm of the services, so looking for similar types of training in the Air Force and Navy might be a better option, with opportunities for travel being an obvious attraction with the Navy!
Good luck to her, I honestly think she’s doing absolutely the right thing, and wish her the very best of luck with her new career! 🫶🏻👍🏻
Would he?
@relapsed_mandalorian ... Probably. But then he's madder than a bucket of spiders, which is why I love him! 🙂
It was all he ever wanted to do, to follow in his dad's footsteps. He joined 'The Mob' at 16 (we waved him off at the station) and he did 30 odd years. I went to his retirement do last year. I always tell him how proud I am of him and how grateful we all are for his service, and that of those like him. But it took its tole on him mentally and physically. I think if you're going to do it, it needs to be something of a vocation and you have to go into it with your eyes wide open. He's seen a ton of shit that you really don't want to be seeing and been to some scary places. He's made of sterner stuff than me.
Hang on, she has a HGV license - go for driving. My son did IT, he was good, but a desk job wasn't good for him. He's done hours on Euro Truck etc, farming SIM, then went for his HGV and passed it. Only issue at 24 was not enough experience, but has got into it and is driving through agencies in the biggest double decker stuff. Suits him to the ground, and can take time off when needed. He is also Type 1 diabetic, so has enhanced health checks. He's 26 next (in November) and now has a year in driving the big stuff. Loads of work, he loves it.
I haven't read 'all' the above so apologies if I missed someone else saying this but I'd like to offer the thought that the key question for any person thinking of joining up is simply 'Do they want to?'.
Some folk have a yearning to find out what lies on the other side of those barbed-wire-topped fences and what life in uniform is actually like, if the person in question has that desire, then they should go find out for themselves. It's not a logical decision tho, simply a question of 'wanting' and so logical arguments are not likely to be effective as a dissuader.
Just my thoughts.
How about the Navy ?
On the TV progs about them, there always seems to be a lot of women in that service
A long, long time ago, I was contemplating a short service commission in an infantry regiment, or the artillery and was also about to do Para selection. I spent a couple of weeks in Germany with an infantry battalion and was accepted by them.
Ultimately I decided it wasn't my bag partly because the idea of killing other people potentially in aid of a cause or policy I didn't believe in wasn't something I could do, but also because spending two weeks in an officers' mess and training with them, left me doubting that I could cope with being institutionalised to that extent. I'm not, btw, judging anyone else, that was me and my personal take. I honestly think I would have made a terrible soldier, not so much in terms of capabilities, but mindset.
Which was kind of a longwinded way of saying, is there a way your daughter could get some sort of similar familiarisation gig that might just tell her more about whether life in the services would suit her than any amount of well-meaning advice from vets / people who's friends served etc.
Oddly, fwiw, I was more concerned about killing other people than potentially being killed myself - which probably explains why I spent years riding motorcycles and climbing mountains and was convinced I'd never make it past 30.
If it was my daughter I wouldn’t be overly excited about it, although the role and service might make a difference. As a “way to get a trade” it seems an odd choice.
Vehicle Mechanic apprenticeships are fairly hard to get even for people who have been tinkering for years - although she MIGHT have an advantage with an HGV license for bus/truck operators, and don’t forget police, fire etc employ mechanics.
why does she want to be a mechanic if she has little experience and is intimidated to pick up the phone and call the garage (I don’t think that is a diagnosis - that’s just Gen X).
I served nearly 12 years in the Royal Engineers and left just over 3 years ago so can share a few thoughts in no particular order.
While all capbadges will provide transferable leadership skills, I'd suggest joining a technical Corps (RE, REME, Sigs) to get more transferable skills such as a trade.
I really enjoyed what I did but my enjoyment waned when I bought a house with my now wife as I felt I was never at home and weekly commuting to camp became a chore. For someone young with no real commitments it's a good lifestyle.
She needs to have a tolerance for being at the whim of the army in regards to going different places, working weekends etc etc
If you live on camp and are frugal, your paycheck is pretty much pocket money after relatively minimal charges. With good discipline she could easily put a good chunk each month into savings for a house etc. Equally, it could be easy to spend everything she earns depending on her character.Additionally she'll accrue a non contributory pension.
The 'offer' in terms of pay, pension, perks etc continues to erode as with many things in society. There are less opportunities for AT, fewer people to do the tasks and less resources for training. There are still some good things on offer but they are harder to get.
Depending on what she wants, and qualifications, think about whether she is best suited to be an officer or soldier. Both have pros and cons.
A visit to a recruiting office would probably allow her to attend a familiarisation day and see if she thinks she'd like the career.
Another option depending on where based is looking at apprenticeships at large organisations such as BAE Systems?
My friend in the army had a great time, left, became a mercenary, made a staggering amount of money and killed a huge number of people. He sums up his career and the army as,
Poor cants killing other poor cants to make rich cants richer. Hes ok unlike a large number of his friends who he buried.
Power companis recruit a lot and have well paid training opportunities.
In a word... Yes
I spent 22 years in the RAF as a Weapons engineer and loved every minute of it. I was lost before I joined up and didnt know what I wanted to do. I was doing 3 concurrent trivial jobs just to keep up with my mates who were doing electrical apprenticeships and earning good money.
I joined the RAF in 1998 and left in 2020. Did a tour of Iraq, 3 tours of Afghan and 2 tours of the Falklands. All great experiences.
Ive tried to encourage my two lads to join up as I can see them going the same way I was at their age. My youngest has applied for lots of motor vehicle apprenticeships and got nowhere.
If I were to join now I would look at a proper engineering trade though, something that can be better used when you leave the military. Like aircraft avionics/electrical or mechanical engineer.
I came out with lots of quals and walked into a health and safety career.
Oh and someone mentioned Bastion was never breached. Not sure if it was tongue in cheek but it definitely did as I was playing table tennis in the Rub hangar when the bullets started bouncing off the iso container 🙂
I wouldn't. I've known and worked with too many people that have served in Afghanistan and seen the damage it has done to them to ever wish that on my children.
