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hi

i'm a qualified doctor working in the NHS. I am training with 144 para at the moment and am soon hoping to become a regular in the forces. however i have one problem....I am fairly fit and want to serve with a forward and active unit and dont not know whether to join the army or navy. I am lead to believe that if i join the army i will become part of the RAMC and serve with any unit. If i get my wings then i may serve with the paras or 16 Air Assualt but there are no guarentees. However, i have been informed that if i join the navy and pass the All Arms Commando course then i will only serve with the marines. Is that true? Any information, feed back will be apreciated.

Rx

All of the docs serving with the RM are from the RN. It's always tough to get enough RN Docs through the All Arms, so those who pass tend to stay exclusively with RM Units, although not always front line. The service will never make any promises, but I've seen plenty of blue lidded docs in units, so I suspect anyone who passes the All Arms would go to a unit. I very much doubt that you'd stay there forever (I remember docs going to hospitals etc to improve clinical skills? I suppose that means more to you than me!) but I'm sure you'd get a decent run. If you join the Navy as a qualified doctor then you'll do a shortened course at BRNC before your first appointment. I don't know the full details, but I'm sure an AFCO could fill you in.

LG

thanks mate thats really helpful

i found out today that if i join the Navy i will do the BRNCC first and then the All Arms (if pass it then i can do a GDMO job with the marines).

Basically i have always wanted to be a soldier but due to my profession it is very difficult in the forces. therefore the next best thing would be to pass the AACC and serve with the Marines. I don`t mind doing my hospital / clinical skills crap as long as when i serve or get deployed its with the marines.

if you know anyone who is a doc and a AACC qualified please put them in touch with me

once again really appreciate your reply

Rx