Just talked to the Officer Careers office to check out the conflicting age limits for RM entrance (various sources say either 26 or 27 is the cut-off) and they acknowledged the confusing numbers but told me the cut off is 26, and that it was strict. This is something of a problem, since I am 26 a month and a half before the cut-off, and I suspect the time-honored tradition of lying about your age to get into the Forces is checked out a bit more thoroughly nowadays.
My question is for any Young Joe, officer who recently passed out, or POC applicants - have any of you seen or been recruits who were just over the age limit? How old were the oldest recruits or applicants you were in a troop with?
Don't nearly intend giving up this easily so continuing on with application, but would like to get a realistic appraisal of my chances. Otherwise I can apply PRMC, though it seems bloody insane that you can do that until 32 then try for a commision afterwards, but not apply via POC after 26.
Ta,
Sarastro
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YO Age limits
Re: YO Age limits
Is this correct? You can go through PRMC (theoretically) at 32, then try for a commission? In other words, is it possible to get a commission if you join over the age of 26?Sarastro wrote:Otherwise I can apply PRMC, though it seems bloody insane that you can do that until 32 then try for a commision afterwards, but not apply via POC after 26.
Craig
Just trying to figure these things out for meself mate, but according to what I have read that seems to be true.
Is completely possible that the cut-off for a commission is 26, and the literature simply doesn't mention it, but I would think that is somewhat young to deny commission to NCO's.
PS Just spoke to an actual RM recruiting officer who tells me they aren't so strict after all, and will process my app! More training fun ahead then...
Is completely possible that the cut-off for a commission is 26, and the literature simply doesn't mention it, but I would think that is somewhat young to deny commission to NCO's.
PS Just spoke to an actual RM recruiting officer who tells me they aren't so strict after all, and will process my app! More training fun ahead then...
Thanks mate, and congratulations on getting past the first hurdle! I'll have to get off my arse and speak to the AFCO regarding commisions for the over-26's then - I'd blithely assumed it wasn't going to happen.
But it was only recently that they jacked up the max entry age to 32, wasn't it. So I guess these things sometimes do change.
Good luck with your application
Craig
But it was only recently that they jacked up the max entry age to 32, wasn't it. So I guess these things sometimes do change.
Good luck with your application
Craig
When I was in (left 7 years ago) you could only apply for a 'Corps commission' (and do the YO course) if you were under the age limit for regular commissions, otherwise, if you were a corporal or above you could apply for a 'Special duties commission' for which you go through a selection panel. Special duties refers to things like blanket-stacking and admin posts and the competition is stiff - people like SBS warrant officers seeking to extend their time by way of a commission. Hope this helps.
Per Flank, Per Tank
Crap.
ACFO just phoned this morning to change their tune and tell me that they ARE strict with the age limit, and I am over it. Considering I am only a month older, hardly a greatly increased risk of arthritis, senility or whatever they are bloody worried about, this is damn frustrating.
Aside from the obvious choice of joining as a regular, do any older, more experienced heads have any thoughts or suggestions?
ACFO just phoned this morning to change their tune and tell me that they ARE strict with the age limit, and I am over it. Considering I am only a month older, hardly a greatly increased risk of arthritis, senility or whatever they are bloody worried about, this is damn frustrating.
Aside from the obvious choice of joining as a regular, do any older, more experienced heads have any thoughts or suggestions?
Aye mate, guess I deserved that, don't mean to seem dismissive of joining up regular, but my thinking runs like this:
First, I want to lead. Sounds arrogant, but I've lived enough (too bloody many it seems) years to know what I love and what I do best, and ever since I've been at school that is where my talents lay. Being a RM officer will be a completely different, vastly harder kettle of fish, but that is why I want it - at some point, my goal is to get a commission.
Second, though I know you can apply for a commission as a regular, the age limits - from everything I have heard - are exactly the same as for joining. Thus if I cannot try for a commission on joining, I will never be able to.
I could easily live with working up to officer from being a regular, what I don't think I can live with is never having the chance. And all for thirty days give or take
First, I want to lead. Sounds arrogant, but I've lived enough (too bloody many it seems) years to know what I love and what I do best, and ever since I've been at school that is where my talents lay. Being a RM officer will be a completely different, vastly harder kettle of fish, but that is why I want it - at some point, my goal is to get a commission.
Second, though I know you can apply for a commission as a regular, the age limits - from everything I have heard - are exactly the same as for joining. Thus if I cannot try for a commission on joining, I will never be able to.
I could easily live with working up to officer from being a regular, what I don't think I can live with is never having the chance. And all for thirty days give or take
Don't know if you've considered the Army, but you can go for a commission up to the age of 29. You have to start at Sandhurst by 29, and the process can be drawn out, so best to apply by 27. Anyway, you're within that limit.
I don't know enough about transfers to the Marines/All Arms Commando Course etc etc, but Sandhurst would be a bloody good place to learn to lead.
Good luck
Craig
I don't know enough about transfers to the Marines/All Arms Commando Course etc etc, but Sandhurst would be a bloody good place to learn to lead.
Good luck
Craig
Rgr that, actually talked to an Army recruiting officer early to explore options, ie serving as an infantry officer in the Army, even going for (shock) P Coy.
But RM is what I am set on...grandfather was one of the original SBS in WW2 (frogmen in Pacific), other grandfather was Navy medic, uncle was US Navy pilot...guess the sea is in the blood. Besides, the way the Army works, I simply don't trust that (assuming I passed out) on leaving Sandhurst, bureaucrat no. 245 would look at my age on a form and just assign me to a desk job somewhere. My feeling is that graduating at 27-28, it would be hard to get assigned to an infantry position.
I could get a desk job anywhere on civvie street, exactly why I want to join RM, to avoid such a fate!
But RM is what I am set on...grandfather was one of the original SBS in WW2 (frogmen in Pacific), other grandfather was Navy medic, uncle was US Navy pilot...guess the sea is in the blood. Besides, the way the Army works, I simply don't trust that (assuming I passed out) on leaving Sandhurst, bureaucrat no. 245 would look at my age on a form and just assign me to a desk job somewhere. My feeling is that graduating at 27-28, it would be hard to get assigned to an infantry position.
I could get a desk job anywhere on civvie street, exactly why I want to join RM, to avoid such a fate!
Don't know about officer application strictness on age, though I would imagine it's pretty tight because of the huge amount of applications for so few positions. Also didn't realise they'd upped the max age for recruits, assume that's down to shortfall in numbers at the moment. Anyhow, certainly the age for recruits is flexible if you're a good candidate.
After recruit training, you can go Corps Commission, which basically means you join the next YO batch and do the 18 months, if you're under the normal age limit. If you're over, you can go for SOLE (Staff Officer Late Entry). For either you will be pushed towards it/recommended by your unit, if you're not then you can still enquire/apply. The SOLE is nowhere near as bad as it's title sounds. You have to be at least a Cpl, the vast majority are Sgt. You only have to pass AIB and have the required quals (2 A-levels A-C I believe), whereas CC have to do POC as well. Successful applicants are then put through a 4 month course and commissioned. The theory is that a YO first has to learn to be a Marine, then to be a Cpl, then to be a Sgt, then to be an Officer. In the words of my Tp boss, a Lt's job is basically that of a Sgt with a little more paperwork, so a trained Cpl or Sgt is well on the way to Officer standards anyhow, hence only 4 months extra training. Assuming you are commissioned, you serve just as the YOs do, not just in desk duties (there may be some restrictions). My boss went this route, having become an ML Cpl and Sgt, done SOLE, and is now a serving MLO, has a couple of tours as such under his belt and so on. Indeed this route of entry gains you far more respect as you've been there and done it just the same as all the lads under your command, rather than being fresh out the box.
SOLE is definitely the route I want to take, I'm only 20 now (and hope to still be 20 when I get out of Hunter and crack the last two weeks!), but no chance am I coming back to Lympstone for another 18 months! I've got the quals and I've been recommended for consideration by my boss, and warned that at a unit I will probably get pushed towards CTC. I've also been warned that life as a Mne/NCO is far more entertaining than that of an Officer, along with the comparitive lack of responsibility, is well worth living. This from a man who's done both. Once you've been there and done it, matured (?!) a bit, you can start worrying about money and your pension, get a commission and sit more and more behind a desk.
Hope that helps some...
After recruit training, you can go Corps Commission, which basically means you join the next YO batch and do the 18 months, if you're under the normal age limit. If you're over, you can go for SOLE (Staff Officer Late Entry). For either you will be pushed towards it/recommended by your unit, if you're not then you can still enquire/apply. The SOLE is nowhere near as bad as it's title sounds. You have to be at least a Cpl, the vast majority are Sgt. You only have to pass AIB and have the required quals (2 A-levels A-C I believe), whereas CC have to do POC as well. Successful applicants are then put through a 4 month course and commissioned. The theory is that a YO first has to learn to be a Marine, then to be a Cpl, then to be a Sgt, then to be an Officer. In the words of my Tp boss, a Lt's job is basically that of a Sgt with a little more paperwork, so a trained Cpl or Sgt is well on the way to Officer standards anyhow, hence only 4 months extra training. Assuming you are commissioned, you serve just as the YOs do, not just in desk duties (there may be some restrictions). My boss went this route, having become an ML Cpl and Sgt, done SOLE, and is now a serving MLO, has a couple of tours as such under his belt and so on. Indeed this route of entry gains you far more respect as you've been there and done it just the same as all the lads under your command, rather than being fresh out the box.
SOLE is definitely the route I want to take, I'm only 20 now (and hope to still be 20 when I get out of Hunter and crack the last two weeks!), but no chance am I coming back to Lympstone for another 18 months! I've got the quals and I've been recommended for consideration by my boss, and warned that at a unit I will probably get pushed towards CTC. I've also been warned that life as a Mne/NCO is far more entertaining than that of an Officer, along with the comparitive lack of responsibility, is well worth living. This from a man who's done both. Once you've been there and done it, matured (?!) a bit, you can start worrying about money and your pension, get a commission and sit more and more behind a desk.
Hope that helps some...
Thanks for the detailed post Drua. You are right, officer selection strictness is , I gathered, simply a way of cutting down applicants when they have too many. I was nonetheless quite surprised that it was SO strict (most similar age deadlines I have ever seen work in unofficial 3-6 month variation grey zones), especially since it costs nothing to have someone appear for an interview.
As for Late Entry, talked to recruiting officer about that, but general feeling I got was that it largely goes to Sgt+ with quite a few years under their belt as a way of extending commission, so wouldn't happen for 10-15 years. Also it pre-supposes that I want a full term of service, which isn't something I planned on commiting to now, having never lived a single day of military life before =)
Realistically, however, I don't think joining as a recruit is the smart option. I'd be almost 10 years older and from a vastly different background (public school etc), and my feeling is that it would cause problems fitting in...not great in a military environment. Had enough experiences from both sides to learn that class snobbery (unfortunately) works both ways.
Thanks for the advice though, hope you get out of Hunter and beat the Cdo tests soon!
As for Late Entry, talked to recruiting officer about that, but general feeling I got was that it largely goes to Sgt+ with quite a few years under their belt as a way of extending commission, so wouldn't happen for 10-15 years. Also it pre-supposes that I want a full term of service, which isn't something I planned on commiting to now, having never lived a single day of military life before =)
Realistically, however, I don't think joining as a recruit is the smart option. I'd be almost 10 years older and from a vastly different background (public school etc), and my feeling is that it would cause problems fitting in...not great in a military environment. Had enough experiences from both sides to learn that class snobbery (unfortunately) works both ways.
Thanks for the advice though, hope you get out of Hunter and beat the Cdo tests soon!
Yes, SOLE requires a good deal of experience, so you would be stuck in the junior ranks for a while. You wouldn't be that out of place however, I'd say the average age of our troop now is around 23. It does depend what you're looking for, a commission does extend your service to 55 regardless of length, but you've still got the same opt-out rights (not the right phrase, but you know what I mean). You'll get the piss ripped for being the grandaddy of the troop, but everyone gets it for something! Anyhow, I'm not an advertising agency, just giving you what I've been told. If it's not for you, it's not for you...99.9% and all that
