Interesting situation

[Philpbarnes]

Last year I decided that I would try and join the Royal Marines. So I started training, with help from some of the posts on here and built my fitness up.
Back in november I visited my AFCO and explained my plans. Great they said, come back on Jan 26th and we'll interview you and get the ball rolling.

So I went back on the 26th and had my interview. All went well, I answered all they needed to know. I explined how fit I believed I was, I was running just over a 6 minute mile so all was going well.

Ten minutes after my interview they told me that they believed that I wasn't suitable for the RM because I hadnt been a fitness maniac since I was 6. I had played all the sports at school, but because I hadnt been obsessed with keeping very fit while I was younger they believed that I was unsuitable.

Fair enought I thought. They obviously know they are doing. I have to accept that they know best. So they told me to think about my options and come back the following week and discuss a different career in the navy.

I went back the following week and had found something which I was interested in. Communication Technician. It seemed to be ideal for me to do, right up my street. I had found out a lot of details about the job, again with help from this forum and other places.

I told my careers advisor my intentions again and he told me he had to check my academic ability. This was fine because I have 9 GCSEs and a very high score on the navy test. But then he says he wouldnt be able to accept me as a CT because I had left school at 16 and not stayed on for my A levels. I didnt have enough comitment to study apparently so I would fail to pass the 4 years training to become a CT.

I explined to him that this was because of the lack of choice of study options at my particular school for A levels, and that I wanted to earn some money in the 'real world'. But no, he wouldn't have that.

Immediately he starts telling me about working on the subs and a career as an OM! Now im not knocking these choices, they just seem a long way away from what I originally went into the AFCO to do!

In my attempt to join the RM I talked to them for 30 minutes, never run a yard for them, but was training for 4 months to get myself fit enough to do it! Then I find something else which interests me and they knock me back on that too because they are judging me on my past.

So now Im not even sure I am going to join. I am annoyed by this because, as I said, I had done a lot of preparation for doing so.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Can anyone give me any advice on what I should do, or even what the heck happened! I am not angry by this, just confused!

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Phil

[HotShot]

Maybe you didn't sell yourself enough at the interview. I dropped college after 8 weeks, and I was applying to be a 'tff which includes around 4 years training, so I got the "How are you sure you will be able to cope"...etc. After constantly repeating that I'm determined to complete it, and have every confidence that I will, I passed the interview...although most of the way through it I had a feeling he was going to fail me.

I was originally going for RM too, although the same as you, I got a really high score on the RT test, and so my AFCO had a go about talking me into a career which would use my intelliegence more.

If you're academically competant, and aftrer joining the forces, I'd suggest trying out as a 'tiff. Great pay, fast-track promotion, you get a degree out of it and good chances of getting a commision if you apply for it later in life.

Although I can't really say it myself, as I went with what my AFCO suggested...apply to do what YOU want to do. If you don't get it, it's not the end of the world, but it's worth the try. REALLY drill it into the interviewing officer that you are more than competant of doing the necesary to get where you need to be, use your GCSE's as back-up of your brain...and just go for it.

All the best m8.

[speed freek]

I dont quite know what to say mate, Any chance you could goto a different AFCO ?

My situation was in the interview i just told the guy that i goto the gym regularly, wanted to be in some form of military from about the age of 15 (i was 18 at the time)

At the end of the interview he said the only small thing that set me back a little in the interview was that i never played any sports within a team as such, I kept fit but wasn't a member of football / rugby teams etc. He then said this wasn't even a problem because teamwork gets installed into you during basic training, In anycase i dont think he was prepared to not even let me attempt a PRMC, Probably thought the guys at CTCRM would decide if i was suitable or not.

I would goto a different AFCO mate if you can.

[AdamC16]

You should be telling them what YOU want and they should be the ones advising you. By the sounds of it their pulling you back for some quite pathetic reasons. Id try a different AFCO mate.

[beardo]

i think it depends on your AFCO...I stayed at college for over a year and decided to f@#k it off...and I cant do more than 2 consecutive 6 minute miles and have never played a team sport...but my PRMC is 7th march...come to manchester m8

[Hallsy]

I agree they should be advising YOU...maybe point this out and just tell them alot of thought on your part has gone into what you want to do with the RN and a CT would so you very much and your self belief and determination will get you through the 4 years training.

If they see that you are really eager about the job in hand they might realise you are a good candidate for the job.

If they still act in a negative manner then yeah go elsewhere

[HotShot]

Aye, if there is another AFCO within reasonable range, go for it. Although it would be advised to tell them about your past experiences with the other one. It sounds like they are being too picky about your situation.

[Philpbarnes]

Cheers guys. There is another AFCO only about another 20 miles extra from the one im using. Will that get through to the other one though?

I really did want to join, and I would have accepted a rejection at my PRMC if they had decided. But to be told no after talking about family, hobbies and where you went to school seems a bit off.

Thanks again

Phil

[beardo]

might depend on first impressions...what you were wearing etc...some AFCO's are very picky

[speed freek]

Cheers guys. There is another AFCO only about another 20 miles extra from the one im using. Will that get through to the other one though?

I really did want to join, and I would have accepted a rejection at my PRMC if they had decided. But to be told no after talking about family, hobbies and where you went to school seems a bit off.

Thanks again

Phil

I know some people here will advise against it but seriously, dont tell them EVERYTHING, just tell them what they need to know and unless they specifically ask about something thats when u obviously have to tell them. For the RM you just need to say your a fitness freek, just lie if u have to, who cares to be honest... The guys at CTCRM will decide if you have the motivation not a guy in an office after a 30 min chat.

[DeepBlue]

Phil

I'm surprised the RM turned you away on the basis of fitness. They always say to me that they will give that to you in training.

As for CT - Its a very specialised branch usually recruiting from within the service. If you were really set on it you could transfer from being an OM. If you are going to be a CT be prepared to spend a lot of your time in submarines - The nature of the job lends itself to the inherent stealth of submarines.