PRE BOOTNECK EDUCATION

[westy_1981]

Just wondering what differing levels of education and maturity all you lads are thinking of joining at. I've got my AIB soon, but if I don't get in as an officer then i'm seriously considering joining as a recruit anyway. Just wondering if all the lads are joining as recruits straight after GCSEs or if some have done A-Levels, degrees, or been employed?

Cheers, westy

[andy_s]

I did pretty bad at school due to various reasons and because of this i went straight into a full time job, but i wouldn't consider myself stupid. Iv really tried to better myself since, i (try and) read a book a week on various subject's and authors ranging from oscar wilde to siegfried sasoon to stephen hawkings.
In all i think you have to be quite switched on to be a RM, you've certainley have to have a degree of intiative to be a commando, after all thats what there looking for in potential recruits, ref: the green bible.

[ashley]

I left school with 9 GCSE's higher than grade C. My plan was to stduy for a HNC and work at a Graphic Design Agency, and join the RM after that. However, I binned the HNC and employment idea because it was a complete joke. The pay was pathetic, and the way business was done really got on my wick. I decided I was going to apply for the RM when I'm fit enough and keep the job for the cash. Though I got layed off last Autumn, couldn't get a job around Christmas time and just do freelance web design for some extra cash now. My time is occupied with mostly training, though not this week... my knee has been a bitch and I've had a nasty cold/flu.

[CrouchmasterT]

Although im not sure wether to go RM or RN yet i thought id post anyway.

My education record is pathetic. I did okay at school and got a handfull of GCSEs but ive tried two different college courses and failed them both, im now doing a foundation year at uni but ive failed this as well due too screwing up my first set of exams. I dont like education, my parents want me too get qualifications but i cant stand just reading books and doing sums and essays for hours on end it drives me mad.

[Aldo]

After I left school I had two plans, one to go to the RM and one to go to college. The RM line didn't work out as planned due to injury before the interview and I got told to wait a year before trying again. So I got all geared up for college and thought, what's the point? I thought to myself, I know what I want to do with my life and I'm essentially healthy to do that, the rest is in my own hands. If by some chance it didn't work out at all I know other options that I can take that don't require a college education or provide you with one anyway. With that in mind I couldn't see any point in wasteing the tax payers money on studying for some A level that I'll never use, I mean media studies isn't exactly going to save my life. Anyway to make long story a bit longer I joined the TA and I plan to finish training try and get a tour out of it and then try again for the RM.

The thing with college is is that it's fine if you know why you're studying what you are but the government today encourages too many people to study for the sake of studying. Most studants go to college but have no idea what they want to do with there lives so they end up basing there studies on what there friends are studying or on what gives them the most free time or some other pointless thing. It not only wastes money it also wastes thousands of studants time which they could spend finding out what they really want to do.

Just as an example I met up with an old friend from school who is in college at the minute, he told me it was brilliant and I should have gone. I asked why and he said because you can skip classes and no one cares! I asked him why he didn't just not go to college and he could never give me an answer. Conclusion, make sure you know what's best for you before you do anything.

Essay over...hmm I'm pretty good at this, maybe I should have gone to college

[J.B]

I got 11 GCSEs, an equal mix of A, B, and C grades last year then decided to do A levels in the six form basically because that’s what everyone else was doing, it was easy and the AFCO said I should so I could join as an officer. It took me about two weeks to realise what a waste of time it was, sitting around doing not a lot and going nowhere. I never wanted to join as an officer anyway, just went along with what they were saying instead of doing what I wanted to do. To cut a long story short one informal chat, two medicals(usual 16 year old trying to reach the weight limit stuff) and an interview later no more A levels and my PJFTs on Tuesday.
It really depends on the individual. If you don’t mind dossing about for two years and getting a few A levels at the end of it then its probably a good idea. You can do your prmc whilst your doing your A levels or whatever and have your place ready when you have finished. Personally the idea of two more years of education didn’t exactly appeal

[dannyd]

Well, looks like I'm pretty much the exception to the rule here!

Did my GCSEs and did pretty well (9 A*s/ As & 2 Cs). Wanted to join the Royal Marines then, but thought about it a bit more & decided to do A-Levels. Found A-Levels quite boring & hard but stuck with it (I hate quitting anything no matter how trivial). Completed my A-Levels (BBC) and was set on going to university.

I'm currently in the last week of my 2nd year of a degree in War Studies. It's a really good course & I'm glad that I decided to do it in the end. I'll be joining the Royal Marines next year as a recruit after finishing university.

I think it does come down to what you personally want to do. Spending an extra two years doing exams that you have no interest in can be a complete waste of time for some people. A mate in 45 Cdo joined up at 17 after giving his AS-Levels the boot and he's doing fine.

I chose to continue my education because it gave me more time to prepare & more time to experience life on the outside before joining the military. I'm still committed to joining the Royal Marines and still train hard to achieve that goal.

As for joining as an officer or as a recruit, I think again it comes down to the person. As Sully said on another thread:

There are reasons why officers are officers and ranks are ranks and many have nothing to do with fitness, soldiering ability or leadership potential

I did originally wish to join as an officer, but having really thought about it I've decided against it. The main thing that swayed me was I don't think I could live the officer lifestyle. A mate (the one in 45) told me that when they go for a Tp/Coy run ashore, the officers all have to wear shirt & tie. That is just not me. I'm not a scruffy git but I don't want to have to wear a shirt & tie every time I go the pub (although you may have to in training???). Plus there's also the fact that I think you will have more fun as Marine.

Anyway, to each their own.

[TomW]

im doing my A Levels at the minute, I find them extremely boring.

[minimac]

Im hoping to do A levels but you guys are swaying me by saying they were a waste for you, because deep inside I know I dont want to do them.

The mere thought of desk work / looking at a text book for 9 hours a day makes me really depressed. Thats why I'm joining - excitement, travel, pride and comradeship. If I can get this at Marines why do I need A Levels? Will I get promoted quicker because of it? I want to be promoted on merit, skill and worthiness not because I have a few bits of paper.

Any ideas?

[Andy O'Pray]

minimac, no amount of education is wasted. In later years you will wish that you had taken the opportunity. Depending on how high up the promotion ladder you wish to go, your further education will help you get there.

Aye - Andy.

[lew]

I got good GCSE's B's C's etc went to six form did English lit, business studies, psychology for almost a year and decided to drop it all as it wasn’t where I wanted to be.

I’m now at college doing a public services national diploma, which to be honest with you all is fun, but a complete waste of time, although at the end of the course I will have something on paper saying that I am now qualified to ''this'' level.

Is it worth it, yes, because I cant be a soldier for ever.


lew

[andy_s]

Live fast, die young- who knows whats going to happen tomorrow, let alone twenty years time

[Maverick00]

Don't agree with that one i'm afraid, you have to have something to back you up in case anything goes wrong. You could have a nasty break and your career in the armed forces may be ruined. Without any qualifications to speak of you'll be up s**t creek without a paddle. There are LOADS of options of things to study for A-levels/degree so there's bound to be something of interest. Whatever you study itll never be easy and won't always be interesting but thats the way it goes.

Nothing ever comes easy and if it does it's bound to come back around and screw you over some time in the future.

Sorry about the pessimistic tone! I'm not always this depressing, honest!

[wannabe_bootneck]

Roger, I agree, whilst I have considered saying screw AS & A2 and just taking few months to REALLY hammer my Phys. the logic in me takes over & dictates if for some reason I can't join then I hav esomething to fall back on, albeit a dream would have been shattered. But they are essential, don't ever take education for granted & think how many people have fought & fight to actually have the opportunity to be educated, we are lucky to take it so trivially. And I'm not always such a preacher hand on heart!

[rambo]

After leaving school i went to college. Decided that it wasnt the life for me so i left. FOur years on now from leaving school i've finally chosen a career worth going into. Its only taken for years but its never to late. Bring on 26th April.