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I also wonder how necessaryall this actually is given the money shortages around, but I think one of the key ideas is to improve the standard of living across the board in an attempt to boost retention. I can't say if it actually does very much, but would the chaps in the know say it helps (not that there will probably be many people saying "give me a fluffy pillow or I'm out of here" )?

If you think this is nice, take a look at American bases! They are just towns in their own right with huge supermarkets, swimming pools, the works! Not that something like that would be the only reason I'd in the forces but it does help. Pay is not that good usually so other benefits may help to make people stay around.

That's better conditions than I live in at home! I think maybe the rooms shown were a little too nice, but still i think improving living conditions is money well spent, living in uncomfortable, ugly, accomodation is depressing.

any one got any images of RAF accomadation??

that looks comfy,

did basic whilst housed in spiders in Arborfield and trade training also in spiders in Bordon, kids today ...

veggie

Seven: I know exactly what you mean. We got lost many a time in a us base in essex where it was open to armed forces personal to go bowling . All bright green grass with white stone kirbs. I swear they used to do it up if they knew somebody was coming.

I feel the accomodation of troops is important in this day and age. No one is asking them to fight for their country they volenteer, in a decade where the general public appears to frows apon such a career. If a little more comfort can be offered to the men and women of the most professonal military in the world I say heres to it. They give up a lot of freedoms in civie street and sign their names to a often long contract. Remember they will pay more for it too, it comes at a price!

*Sorry if this post is a bit botched my spell check isn’t working.

Sticky Blue wrote:How many 17 year olds would work for 11K a year? At least with decent accommodation there is a plus side to the job!

Many of us "younger" ones who want to, are joing, already in" arn't doing it for the money, (personally I'd do it for half that) nore the accommodation, we all want it for the same reasons you did when you were a nipper


lew

I agree. To be honest, I fully expected to have the same accomodation standards as I experienced in the Army Cadets (crap), and was very pleasantly surprised mainly by the standard of scran at CTC. We were lucky on PRMC in that on my course the normal PRMC accomodation was being renovated, so we got the lush San Carlos block (as I said before, better than the 6-man rooms in Sticky's pics). I assumed this was a one-off, as that appears to be the best accomodation at CTC, but this tri-service improvement scheme to me gives soldiers a reason to stay. To me it didn't help with the decision to join, but I can imagine that a few years down the line it really would encourage people to stay.

lew wrote: Many of us "younger" ones who want to, are joing, already in" arn't doing it for the money, (personally I'd do it for half that) nore the accommodation, we all want it for the same reasons you did when you were a nipper


lew

Lew you strike me as an intellegent bloke so I will take that comment with a pinch of sault.

Maybe you are a day tripper, thats gonna do his four and then leave to pursue a nice career in whatever you studied at college/uni. However a lot of blokes/ladies are joining up for a career and may have to support a family on that 11k, 5 1/2 of which you apparantly don't give a toss about.

Send it to me mate, put my kids throught school! You'll be eating your words when you can't knock off down the pub on friday night because you've gone no money after buying all you own kit.

I'd fight for nothing too mate, if they asked me to! But if I can do the same job and live better for it then I'm gonna, yea? I'm not trying to have a go, just point out how easy it is to be young and wreckless when you have no responsibilty!

Okay, edit: Ignoring the half the money bit, I agree with Lew...

Seriously, when I applied I imagined crap scran, crap pit, crap pay. I just wanted to be Royal. The crap scran has already been disproved; the crap pit appears to slowly be being abolished; the crap pay remains.

Personally I wouldn't even dream of raising a family on that as a single salary. Credit to guys who do; different morals, different ethos, etc...just not me...I never wanted kids even when I was 10 and wanted to be a millionaire!!

Just as a point to note: HSBC pay trainees on their managers' course less than recruits after A-levels...and require much higher qualifications to get in...(sorry, Daddy's a bank manager ).

Josh wrote:

Lew you strike me as an intellegent bloke so I will take that comment with a pinch of sault.

Cheers, I like to think I’m of above average intelligence.

Maybe you are a day tripper, thats gonna do his four and then leave to pursue a nice career in whatever you studied at college/uni. However a lot of blokes/ladies are joining up for a career and may have to support a family on that 11k, 5 1/2 of which you apparantly don't give a toss about.

Ahrrr, didn’t look at that aspect of it, I don’t have a family to support, money has just never been an important thing in my life as long as I’m happy with what I’m doing.

Send it to me mate, put my kids throught school! You'll be eating your words when you can't knock off down the pub on friday night because you've gone no money after buying all you own kit.

that’s a good point to, and I’m not saying id give half of it back either, but as I am at the moment, ie. Young, and free of any family tie's or responsibility I wouldn’t be put off joining because of a smaller wage packet than they offer now.

I'd fight for nothing too mate, if they asked me to! But if I can do the same job and live better for it then I'm gonna, yea? I'm not trying to have a go, just point out how easy it is to be young and wreckless when you have no responsibilty!

Didn’t take you post as "having a go" so any offence taken here. Its interesting to compare both sides of the argument, and I’ve taken what you have said into account.

However for me money has very little to do with happiness and only plays a small part in my life, I know ill never be rich, and for that I’m thankful, rich people are nearly always screwed up. Hollywood anyone?


lew