Advise please. Pay and conditions.

[C_Cummings]

I've tried to contact the CPO dealing with my application but he is on leave and I'm now sweating a bit. I was speaking with a guy who was in the Army and he has told me that when he was getting paid, he was given only half of his wages per week, and the other half was held back until he passed out.

I don't know if this is the same when your doing your basic training in the Marines. Could someone please tell me how the pay system works. Also, during training, how much does a recruit pay per month/week towards food and accomodation?

The reason that I asking is that I have some debts to pay off and I can manage it no problem IF I'm paid the basic salary in full every month (£10,700 per year I think on entry) but if half is held back like the Army does then I'm gubbed and my PRMC is only 2 weeks away! I know I haven't passed yet but it would be nice if someone can put my mind at ease.

Thanks.

[El Prez]

Years ago, lost in the mists of time, on another planet, they would extract your food & accommodation at source; the rest was placed in your grubby mitt at pay parade, unless you specified that you wanted some money paid into a POSB (the great God POSB, Post Office Savings Book)
I expect your remaining pay goes directly into a bank account these days, saves the imprest holder (money God, Golden Eagle, tight bastard with not his money) from holding large wodges of dosh. Although how and why you pay for food and accom at Lympstone is beyond me, because most of your life is spent at Butlins on the Moor.

[C_Cummings]

Was that back in the day, or is that how the pay system works now?

Still not too clear about how it works and how much is paid out for accom. and food.

Why don't they want you to have big lumps of money? I take it just incase you pi$* it up against the wall?

[gfski]

Still the same now, your yearly salary will be 10,344 you get paid monthly into your account minus tax, national insurance and food and accommodation charges and for your one bunk hilton and cordon bleu meals it is the princely sum of £98.10 per month based on 30 days, so you work it out fella not a huge ammount but then you are supposed to be working towards something not getting sloshed, should pay your debts mate unless your account looks like the books for a third world country.

[C_Cummings]

So basically you get paid the full months salary into your account, minus N.I., tax and accomodation charges and the rest of the cash is yours.

I take it thats about £550 clear a month or there abouts?

As for getting sloshed, someones elses words not mines, I grew out of alcohol when it wasn't fun anymore, probably when I turned 18 I think but I'm sure theres a few guys in the forces that can't wait for a heavy session when they are on leave.

If thats the way it works then it should be fine but if not then I'm screwed.

[gfski]

Thats the Royal Marines official lines and yeah I reckon it's about £550 a month clear. As for the "sloshed" I'm 23 and don't reckon I'll be too much up for that either it wasn't meant as an accusatory remark, most of the recruits are going to be getting legless on first days leave after payday and bonding and all that, going to be hard to not spend a fair bit that way. With some financial discipline it should be fine debt wise is going to be close for myself at first, should be ok though

[C_Cummings]

Sorry, didn't mean to sound cheeky about the drinking thing but the guy I was talking to was in the Army, and by the sounds of things thats all they spent there money on. I stopped drinking when I started training for the Marines as I was getting the ole' beer gut sydrome.

Sorry if I sound ignorant gfski but are you in training at the moment or have you still to pass the PRMC. I'm sure there will be a few pi$* up sessions between leave but a few beers and then my bed suits me fine.

As for the financial discipline, that should be OK for me as I very careful when it comes to money (well I am a tight Scottish git!) What are you doing at the moment gfski? I take it you have a job just now? I'm giving up a job and a few grand a year to join (PRMC pending) but I know it will be worth it.

[gfski]

No mate not ignorant at all I'm a scouser so everyone's less ignorant than me. Working for BT at the moment on quite a good wage but f'ing hate it, desk job in a call centre.
I Still have to pass the PRMC but I have had quite a long time between applying for the Marines and getting a date, should be at the end of October for me which will make it 11 months, not that long I suppose but long enough to do a lot of homework!
I'll be dropping wages by about 6k a year to join so it's going to sting financially but I have never wanted anything as much as this. As for the stopping drinking yeah I stopped when I started prep for the Marines as well I train on friday nights and saturday mornings so I just don't seem to have the time for it.
Financial discipline never been one of my strong points, my capacity to spend always tops out on my income leaving me skint on the last day of every month! Oh yeah and the real name is Gareth (right no Welsh or sheep shagger jokes you lot, I told you I thought her hair was a bit too curly and covered too much of her body but it was the way she called me a "baaaaaad booooy")

[C_Cummings]

Good to see someones on the same boat as myself. I work for Balfour Beatty but it too is a crap office job. I'll be giving up a nice wee flat, company car and some cash to go to the Marines (Good job I've got a loving Mother who is going to take me in.) I'm 22 in three weeks and I feel I've already wasted 5 years fudding about. I should have joined the Marines many moons ago.

I also train on Friday nights and sometimes on a Sat. morning whilst my mate are out getting pi$*ed which has taken alot of commitment but I 've suprised even myself by the progress I've made.

[gfski]

Same here I always wanted to join the forces but decided (after many discussions with my parents) that Uni would be a good idea, should have joined after 'A' levels, but instead spent 5 years building an impressive beer gut! I am just going to save as much money as I can between now and going in just in case. You got any dates yet?

[C_Cummings]

My PRMC is on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of September. IF I pass then who knows when I'll get called up but the CPO dealing with my application was asking how much notice I needed which is 1 month so possibly mid to end of October.

I'm travelling down with 3 other guys for the area but it's going to be a long day, 10 hours on the train.

[Rogue Chef]

Ahoy there!
When I joined up I remember the Old and Bold regaling us with stories about life at 42 Cdo, when on pay day everyone in the Unit had to run the Bickleigh scramble course and be at the top of the Dewerstone Rock by a certain time, otherwise you didn't get paid.
Now there's an incentive!

[Beasta]

Guys above. Ive done the same thing as you. Went to Uni etc cos I was told it was the right thing to do, passed and got a good job in IT getting a crackin wage and living nicely. Something seems missing though, just plodding along like everyone else.
Thought about the Marines before A levels but always found an excuse to move on even though deep down it was what I wanted to do. Now im too old to join as an officer so im gonna have to go in as standard entry. Stuff like money and nice flats etc are ok, but so is self satisfaction and doing what you wanna do. You only live once so you should make the best of it etc etc etc.....Sounds like a rant now.......But now ive got a bad shoulder injury and its put me back 6 months, but these things are sent to try our dedication........
Good luck boys.....

[feathers]

good luck lads,

you havent wasted any time with uni, I went to uni before joining the Para's as a Tom. The more diverse and different things you do in life the better, you are lucky that were able to get qualifications at ages 17/18, rather than spending your life doing the same thing.

Best of luck.

[Sully]

I left the Corps because I wanted to see more of my son growing up than I would have. I've got a sort of dream job now as a lawyer in the City (long story how I blagged that one) with more money than I'd ever dreamed of but if it wasn't for the family I'd jack it in and re-join tomorrow. I remember walking down Exeter high street as a nod having been on a patrolling exercise all week and I was the happiest man in the world. The shops with hi-fi's etc didn't interest me at all - I had nothing but wanted for nothing. As long as I'd had a bit of scran, some ale and my mates around me I was made up. If you do join up hopefully you'll see how empty and valueless material things are and realise that a bit of privation is good for the spirit and soul. (Now looking for a tamborine banging emoticon - "come and join us..la...la...la")

Hope you do go for it - best of luck if you do.