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RMR and University
Sorry Mike_222 I did go off on a bit of a tangent there, but I was just showing him similar options avaliable to him. I'll be doing construction management which I'm told is about a 30hr per week course, as I was told by my tutor at school who studied the same course. I also have about an hours train journey to my 'local' RMR det.
But hey I'm not making excuses, I can only try my best to get my green lid which I'm gona' make damn sure I do.
But hey I'm not making excuses, I can only try my best to get my green lid which I'm gona' make damn sure I do.
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mfat_man
- Guest
Good post Bigdogbigdog wrote:I think the amount of spare time you have at uni really depends on where you go, what you study, and what you hope to get out of it. If you decide to study surf studies at the Universtiy of South East Newquay then you probably will have spare time. If you go to a red brick university and study an academic course you will probably have less time. The expected independent study time for each of my final year modules was about 10 hours a week. Given that you do four modules a term thats 40 hours, the same as a job. If your happy to be average you can do less, but if you want to excell, which surely a potential Royal Marine will, then you might have to do more.
If you then have to do a part time job, this will take up more time, if you want to play sport, which again a potential Royal Marine surely will, then this can take up massive amounts of time, depending on how good you are, how good the university is and the sport. The rugby boys at my uni play train three times a week, have games most Wednesdays, the occasional Saturday and are expected to do strength and conditioning on top. Things like travelling to matches takes time and then they have to make up their studies.
I think combining uni with RMR/TA really depends on what you want out of your degree and your future. If you intend to apply for officer entry they may want to look at how rounded a person you are. There is more to uni than study. Sport I have mentioned, there are hundreds of socities, from OTC to climbing, Canoeing, debating, you name it universitys have it. There are other activities as well, I spent six months at an American university on an exchange, a friend of mine spent a year in Africa. These are both things that look good to employers, particulalry the armed forces. I feel that there is a lot to be said for getting the most out of the university experience. After all you have your whole life to be in the RMR etc.
One final thing. If you dont go to uni somewhere close to where you live bear in mind the RMR wont stop for your holidays. In order to fulfill your commitments, you may have to spend your holidays living in a student house on your own, in a city where when the students are not there you know nobody. This will also be expensive. In your first year if you are in halls you probably will not be able to stay over the holidays. This is something to think about.
Sorry for the long post.
If anyone is looking at the 21/23 option take look at "The quiet soldier" by Adam Ballinger, that is one hell of a committment for anyone let alone with the strain of a uni course. I've been doing some part-time teaching last semester, the poor barstewards
Granted bigdog.
However to use your phrase-ology, if one were a potential Marine, one wouldn't kick up a fuss about time constraints and just crack on with it. Would one not?
Essentially, if you're the type of bloke that wants it, and the type of bloke that will get it, you wont sit around all day worrying about how it will affect your course. Medical students, doctors, engineers dads with 5 kids a full time job AND an open university course to boot all pass RM/PARA/HAC/21/23 selection and training every year....It is doable. So do it!
P.S bigdog, exeter uni, OTC im sure we have mutual friends! (I am neither Exeter uni nor OTC)
EDIT: I fully support big dog's statement - that it all depends what one seeks to gain from university. Personally i dislike my course and have little interest in excelling in it. I'm young, fit and have a lot of spare time -so I want to acheive something, get some adventure and have something to show for it (once i pass that is) while i can. Well-roundedness - for potential officers - is key but cracking Cdo. course (and the like), i believe, says a LOT about a person. So long as they have the right approach one can gain valuable life-skills and insights which will aid in officer selection, training and career - which one may not otherwise have experienced.
However to use your phrase-ology, if one were a potential Marine, one wouldn't kick up a fuss about time constraints and just crack on with it. Would one not?
Essentially, if you're the type of bloke that wants it, and the type of bloke that will get it, you wont sit around all day worrying about how it will affect your course. Medical students, doctors, engineers dads with 5 kids a full time job AND an open university course to boot all pass RM/PARA/HAC/21/23 selection and training every year....It is doable. So do it!
P.S bigdog, exeter uni, OTC im sure we have mutual friends! (I am neither Exeter uni nor OTC)
EDIT: I fully support big dog's statement - that it all depends what one seeks to gain from university. Personally i dislike my course and have little interest in excelling in it. I'm young, fit and have a lot of spare time -so I want to acheive something, get some adventure and have something to show for it (once i pass that is) while i can. Well-roundedness - for potential officers - is key but cracking Cdo. course (and the like), i believe, says a LOT about a person. So long as they have the right approach one can gain valuable life-skills and insights which will aid in officer selection, training and career - which one may not otherwise have experienced.
Last edited by Mike_222 on Sat 12 Aug, 2006 12:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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mfat_man
- Guest
Aye, that is certainly trueMike_222 wrote:Essentially, if you're the type of bloke that wants it, and the type of bloke that will get it, you wont sit around all day worrying about how it will affect your course. Medical students, doctors, engineers dads with 5 kids a full time job AND an open university course to boot all pass RM/PARA/HAC/21/23 selection and training every year....It is doable. So do it!
Noticed you pointed out the HAC. I'm planning on applying at next years intake (once i'm settled at Uni)mfat_man wrote:Aye, that is certainly trueMike_222 wrote:Essentially, if you're the type of bloke that wants it, and the type of bloke that will get it, you wont sit around all day worrying about how it will affect your course. Medical students, doctors, engineers dads with 5 kids a full time job AND an open university course to boot all pass RM/PARA/HAC/21/23 selection and training every year....It is doable. So do it!
Sonne
Noble and manly music invigorates the spirit, strengthens the wavering man, and incites him to great and worthy deeds - Homer
Strength is excellent, but have a long standing injury which is preventing me being able to do any impact exercises (such as running). Good overall CV fitness however.
Been referred to UCLH for a muscle biopsy and a number of other tests which sound quite draconian. Basicly one of my muscle enzymes is off the chart and there is swelling and hypertrophy in my lower extremities.
Sonne
Been referred to UCLH for a muscle biopsy and a number of other tests which sound quite draconian. Basicly one of my muscle enzymes is off the chart and there is swelling and hypertrophy in my lower extremities.
Sonne
Noble and manly music invigorates the spirit, strengthens the wavering man, and incites him to great and worthy deeds - Homer
hy·per·tro·phy Audio pronunciation of "hypertrophy" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (h-pûrtr-f)
n. pl. hy·per·tro·phies
A nontumorous enlargement of an organ or a tissue as a result of an increase in the size rather than the number of constituent cells: muscle hypertrophy.
Basicly my muscles are swollen. They look great because they are bigger and more defined but the cell density is poor.
HAC are a little cagey about the selection process on their various websites. I've not had the opportunity to meet with them in person for various reasons but the job roles along with their ceremonial duties are very appealing.
Details can be found at:
http://www.hac.uk.com/
and
http://www.army.mod.uk/hac/
Sonne
n. pl. hy·per·tro·phies
A nontumorous enlargement of an organ or a tissue as a result of an increase in the size rather than the number of constituent cells: muscle hypertrophy.
Basicly my muscles are swollen. They look great because they are bigger and more defined but the cell density is poor.
HAC are a little cagey about the selection process on their various websites. I've not had the opportunity to meet with them in person for various reasons but the job roles along with their ceremonial duties are very appealing.
Details can be found at:
http://www.hac.uk.com/
and
http://www.army.mod.uk/hac/
Sonne
Noble and manly music invigorates the spirit, strengthens the wavering man, and incites him to great and worthy deeds - Homer
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Scottish_Kiwi
- Member
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Wed 18 Jun, 2003 2:56 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
I was led to believe that you could not serve with the RMR if you were a special Constable. May be worth checking if you are in the position.
Cheers
K
And just for the record it is very do-able, doing Uni and RMR as we had a large number of students on our RFCC, all from different universities studying different courses.
Cheers
K
And just for the record it is very do-able, doing Uni and RMR as we had a large number of students on our RFCC, all from different universities studying different courses.
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Scottish_Kiwi
- Member
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Wed 18 Jun, 2003 2:56 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Just seems to me a bit odd, that on an RMR forum you would be basically telling people to consider not to join.
I understand what you are saying about unique opportunities while at uni, however i would say that being in the RMR gives you far greater opportunities in some areas than you would get from a university and almost always at no cost to yourself.
This is not an attack on you.
Cheers
K
I understand what you are saying about unique opportunities while at uni, however i would say that being in the RMR gives you far greater opportunities in some areas than you would get from a university and almost always at no cost to yourself.
This is not an attack on you.
Cheers
K
I agree 'big dog'. It is clear that you are a well-rounded intelligent individual and will probably make a very good officer.
Essentially it's down to the individual. It does depend on your course and/or university to a certain extent. But what i was trying to get accross is that this is not, and should be allowed to become, a limiting factor. If you want it, go for it, don't let other people try to hold you back. To look at the flip-side of what 'big dog' says reference making the most out of university: You can still participate in almost everything you want to (to be honest not that I ever had much interest in attending debates/talks from promenant speakers - I'm such a philistine!) whilst joining a reserve unit. You are in your physical prime and have a lot of time to get yourself fit. You have very few repsonsibilities compared to what you may have the moment you leave university and get a 'real' job. For me it seems the perfect time to get the training/selection under your belt for such units (Cdo/Para/SF etc.). There's no reason you can't organise your life so that you can have a social life, girlfriend, play sports, get a 2:1 and pass the selection for your desired unit. It's all about sorting your life out and personal admin. But as I say, it's not for everyone.
If a commission is your aim at the end of univeristy don't think that OTC will necessarily help you -whilst at the same time don't think that joining RMR/TA will help you either. It's down to the individual and his personal qualities. Every year men join the regulars who have been in the TA, the OTC, neither and some who didn't even attend university.
In-line with big dog's theory of well-roundedness and experiencing uni life there is always this option: Join your OTC for one year. This trains you to the equivilent of phase Two TA (CIC if infantry) whilst meeting LOADS of new people (including some very questionable females, who are nonetheless 'game') from a number of different universities in your area, getting some good weekend warrior-type stuff and taking advantage of all the benefits/money/Adventure Training/ sports and the like. If you feel you can cope, and are getting what you want out of university but seek a new challenge, you could always apply to RMR/4 Para/21/23/HAC in your second year of study. Just another option to consider
Essentially it's down to the individual. It does depend on your course and/or university to a certain extent. But what i was trying to get accross is that this is not, and should be allowed to become, a limiting factor. If you want it, go for it, don't let other people try to hold you back. To look at the flip-side of what 'big dog' says reference making the most out of university: You can still participate in almost everything you want to (to be honest not that I ever had much interest in attending debates/talks from promenant speakers - I'm such a philistine!) whilst joining a reserve unit. You are in your physical prime and have a lot of time to get yourself fit. You have very few repsonsibilities compared to what you may have the moment you leave university and get a 'real' job. For me it seems the perfect time to get the training/selection under your belt for such units (Cdo/Para/SF etc.). There's no reason you can't organise your life so that you can have a social life, girlfriend, play sports, get a 2:1 and pass the selection for your desired unit. It's all about sorting your life out and personal admin. But as I say, it's not for everyone.
If a commission is your aim at the end of univeristy don't think that OTC will necessarily help you -whilst at the same time don't think that joining RMR/TA will help you either. It's down to the individual and his personal qualities. Every year men join the regulars who have been in the TA, the OTC, neither and some who didn't even attend university.
In-line with big dog's theory of well-roundedness and experiencing uni life there is always this option: Join your OTC for one year. This trains you to the equivilent of phase Two TA (CIC if infantry) whilst meeting LOADS of new people (including some very questionable females, who are nonetheless 'game') from a number of different universities in your area, getting some good weekend warrior-type stuff and taking advantage of all the benefits/money/Adventure Training/ sports and the like. If you feel you can cope, and are getting what you want out of university but seek a new challenge, you could always apply to RMR/4 Para/21/23/HAC in your second year of study. Just another option to consider
