Trouble choosing a future, help needed!

[Nmoorsey]

Need a bit of advice here guys. Basically within the next few weeks I will be putting an application in for officer entry into either the RM, RAF REG or the royal artillery
I have spoke to people from each of the forces but have still had a lot of trouble deciding. I am leaning towards the marines, due to their high reputation and great officer specialisation eg pilot, mountain leader. I was set on joining the raf reg until I talked to other people and they were basically described as airport security guards, I do not believe this but there is a bit of truth in it. There does not seem to be the same level of specialisations or simply the excitement that the RM would offer
Finally the royal artillery. I have always been drawn to them, and would love to become a commando/para gunner.
Any advice you can give me will be valued. Im a very active guy, pretty smart at times and would like to use my head in whatever job I go into, need to find something that suits me.

[mike.dt]

It's really tough to choose a career path when you have little or no experience or insight as to what it will be like! Perhaps a look at life course would prove useful. I will say that the RM officer's course is very, very difficult and is the longest military training course in the world (I think ). Not that that is any reason not to chose that path, but there is a high chance that you could fail it. So, i'd recommend the Royal Artillery. There are many different options for you once you're in, i'm sure you're aware of 29 commando regt in Plymouth which is a RA Light Gun regt, also there's 7 RHA; same detail , but with the paratroopers in Colchester. For both regiments you would be required to complete the appropriate course to join them as a para or marine, eg the All Arms Commando course or Pegasus Company, and if you fail, it won't mean that you end up back to square one on civvi street, you'll be able to return to your previous job and give it another go when you feel that you've improved enough. I should also add that, although many people do give them stick, the RAF Reg are not glorified security guards. Whatever arm you choose to join, what you make of your own career is your choice. You could bimble through your life in the Reg or you could go to 2 Sqn and do your parachute course or join the queens colour sqn and guard Buckingham Palace. My friend who is in the RAF Reg has passed his para course, been on 4 tours and volunteered to serve on the Medical emergency response team (MERT) in Afghanistan, where he probably saw more action than some infantry soldiers. He recently came back from the jungle where he was on his SAS selection. As I said, your career in the forces is what you make it.

Good luck, and I hope this helps a bit.

[Rover]

An insight into the Royal Marine Officer Training.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0 ... er_Part_1/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0 ... er_Part_2/

One from this batch went on to command the Special Boat Service.

Rover

[armyprynne]

some good links there.

[Tab]

You will stand just a good chance in choosing by a flip of a coin, then if it goes wrong you can only blame lady luck and no one else, if it goes right she can also take the credit.