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Basically I've wanted to be a Royal Marine since I was about 14. I'm doing my A levels at the moment and have to decide whether I should go to University or try and become a Royal Marine Officer. The problem is that I look quite young, so would it be better to apply when I'm older and look more mature.

Alright beds, welcome to MFAT

I'm in the same boat as you, as is davidemmerson (don't think he'll mind a bit of name dropping ). Have you already applied to uni? Have you thought about applying for a bursary?

As for looking young - I haven't 'been there and done that', but I'm sure most if not all of the selection officers you meet will be more interested in your capacity to lead, work in a team, physical fitness and determination more than how old you look.

All the best.

Yes I've already applied. But it's more of a just in case I decide to go sort of thing. Hadn't really thought of a bursary. What would getting a bursary involve?

Thanks for your response though great help.

Welcom to MFAT. Am in the same boat here matey. Year 12 at the moment.

Personally I think I will go to university before starting training but I am aiming to attempt a bursary. When making the decision I just sat there and weighed up the pros and cons.

Pros:
You will have a degree before you join which will mean slightly faster promotion
You will have a good qualification to fall back on when you leave or if you are medically discharged
You will have a bit more life experience than joining at 18
There will be a lot of people applying who simply cannot be passed POC or AIB due to numbers and most will have a degree so it puts you on a level pegging
You could join the RMR to see whether that life will suit you


Cons:
University is expensive and you will start your career in debt!
You may get fewer troop command postings
Is there a course you want to do and a university you want to attend?


Personally, before I found a course that looked interesting I didn't want to go to university but I have since changed my mind and am aiming to join the RMR in my first year. Obviously these are only aims and I have a long way to go.
I think your first step should be to find a subject you enjoy, find a course and university you like and the make you decision. Don't shrug off university without investigating the option fully.

Hope this helps!

Mitch

You may get fewer troop command postings

Could you explain this. Am I right in thinking graduates, because they are usually promoted faster, do not stay at the troop level as long as officers without a degree?

This is what the RM Captain told me in my interview so I guess what you are saying is right.

Mitch

misterpurple wrote:

You may get fewer troop command postings

Could you explain this. Am I right in thinking graduates, because they are usually promoted faster, do not stay at the troop level as long as officers without a degree?

I believe they give out seniority dependant on age, they issue a letter which explains it all before POC, i've forgotten most of the details but..

Joining at age 21 gives 3 years seniorty,
20 gives 2 years,
19 gives 1 year,
18 nothing.

So someone joining at 21 (i.e a graduate), goes straight to the rank of Captain after they finish their phase 2 training (which is about 2 years as 2Lt. if i remember correctly), rather than Lt.
Therefore someone joining at 20 years old, after phase 2 as a 2Lt. would then serve around 1 year as Lt. before being promoted to Captain.

That is roughly how the letter explained it, after you are promoted to Captain promotion is based on merit. It's been over a year since I saw it, but as I remember it, the letter did not distinguish between graduates and non-graduates, only dependant on age when joining..

I only remember as I brought it up with the Captain at POC, he said as a junior Captain you will still be assigned to troop command level posts, the explanation he gave had something to do with the difference between RM and the Army in that RM YO's go straight to command a troop, rather than spend xx years as 2ic..

It's been a while since I went over my POC documents so this information may be out of date/vague/inaccurate, someone who has done this recently may be able to shed some light.

Joining at age 21 gives 3 years seniorty,
20 gives 2 years,
19 gives 1 year,
18 nothing.

I got that letter - it's all coming back now. This was before Christmas, so is probably still accurate. Cheers for that MrC

misterpurple wrote:I'm in the same boat as you, as is davidemmerson (don't think he'll mind a bit of name dropping ).

Not at all!

Beds-33, best thing you can do now at school is get involved in a few clubs, play some regular sport- particpating in a team. You'll be able to find loads of stuff on here regarding fitness and Commissions. What's your fitness like right now? Don't worry if it's not that good, we've all got to start somewhere!

Ref: University. I have decided not to apply. Basically I wanted to do something more practical so I'm going to get a job, do some travelling and maybe do something with the Red Cross, RNLI and so on. You don't need a degree to join, but saying that most people do. If you go to Uni, you could join the RMR and get some first hand experiance of the Corps. Have a look in the RMR section of the site for more.

If you don't go to Uni then make sure you do something useful!

Very few people will join up for a Commission at 18. You may be one of them, I'm certinatly not! Joining up when your slightly older will mean you are mentally more mature and will be able to cope with training that little more. It also gives you plenty of time to concentrate on your A Levels and improve your fitness.

Brows (more name dropping!) I'm sure will see this and he's done a POC so will able to give more advice.

David

davidemmerson wrote:/
If you don't go to Uni then make sure you do something useful!
/

I think that is the best advice, University isn't essential although a degree will give you something good to fall back on if the Corps doesn't work out long term.

As an officer you can study for a degree after training.

Part of your Lympstone training can count towards an Open University degree as well, and if you already have a degree I believe the Staff jobs level 2 and 3 are able to give credit (possibly all of it) to a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Transfering credit from Officer training, or high aptitude training such as Heli Pilot (of all branches of the military) to the Open University can be found on the UO website. The MBA credit I read somewhere on Arrse, so have no first hand evidence...

And if you do go to university make sure to do a proper subject and not wate time and money.

I'm in the same situation as you and a few other guys here. I was going to apply for RM Officer after my A-Levels but decided i needed a bit of life experience. Three years in student accomodation is sorting that out for me. ha. I'm halfway through my degree (1.5 years) and have been undergoing recruitment for the rmr (royal marines reserve). I've done medical, interview etc and am booked for my PJFT. I have to admit that I am well chuffed with my decision to do it like this because when I eventually apply I will have three cracking years behind me and will (hopefully) turn up to POC having already gained a green beret and my degree in English Language.

Definately do it that way if I were you!

Hi gleneagles,

I'm in the same situation you were one and a half years ago . I've decided to take a gap year, going to uni in 2009 but apply for a bursary from the RN. How do you think you'll manage balancing uni and the RMR? Has your AFCO discussed this with you? Are you on a bursary? And if so isn't there an OTC to go to?

Sorry for all the questions, and good luck with your PJFT

If i joined the RMR while at Uni, how would i go about trying to join as an officer in the regulars once i get my degree?

Beds-33 wrote:If i joined the RMR while at Uni, how would i go about trying to join as an officer in the regulars once i get my degree?

As far as I know you will have to be discharged from the RMR and then re-apply for POC. This is what I'm doing.

Going to uni this september, and applying for RMR as a commando. After 3 years and graduating, I shall re-apply as an Officer.