I would always recommend going to uni, it will always look good on your cv and will open all sorts of doors for you in the long run.
However, I never went to uni, even though I went to a "posh" school where 99% did go onto to uni. I got 3 a-levels and various unconditional offers from universities, but I decided after my "gap year", rightly, not to go.
In the 3 years when I should have been at uni I gained various qualies including first aid at work, single pitch award (first rock climbing qualie), summer mountain leader, worked in France, Italy (Alps) and various places in the UK having as an instructor, I had a great time and gaining a lot of "leadership" experience. I travelled to various countries, India and Sweden to name just two. I even met my now wife while living abroad. I bought my own home, got a cat, got a nice car etc etc.
For me personally, I couldn't have done anything better in that period of my life.
Get yourself to uni, preferably one miles away from where you live now and beware of the gap year. In 3 or 4 years time as someone said, you could have your Green Lid via RMR and you will be a completely different person to who you are now. This would be a huge step to becomming an officer in the RM, if thats what you want 110%.
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Scott_Allen
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Thanks for that Alfao 
It sounds like you had an amazing time during you "gap year"
Just a question on regards to:
Say... I went to Uni and the RMR, got my green lid. Stayed at uni, got my degree.
What is the process for going: from uni/RMR to an Officer in the RM's? Is it a straightforward process are are you still treated as a civy with a degree and a "little" bit of knowledge on the RM's? Or alternativly, is it a big increase in your chances?
Thanks.
It sounds like you had an amazing time during you "gap year"
Just a question on regards to:
Say... I went to Uni and the RMR, got my green lid. Stayed at uni, got my degree.
What is the process for going: from uni/RMR to an Officer in the RM's? Is it a straightforward process are are you still treated as a civy with a degree and a "little" bit of knowledge on the RM's? Or alternativly, is it a big increase in your chances?
Thanks.
Don't know myself, but I'm sure Von or someone else can help.Scott_Allen wrote:Thanks for that Alfao
It sounds like you had an amazing time during you "gap year"
Just a question on regards to:
Say... I went to Uni and the RMR, got my green lid. Stayed at uni, got my degree.
What is the process for going: from uni/RMR to an Officer in the RM's? Is it a straightforward process are are you still treated as a civy with a degree and a "little" bit of knowledge on the RM's? Or alternativly, is it a big increase in your chances?
Thanks.
Scott,
If you are only 20 mins from Liverpool Street by train then you can easily get into RMR London in Bermondsey on a regular basis.
With regards to how much having a Green Beret helps your chances when you are looking for a commission thinking of it from the point of view of the officers doing the selection. They are trying to work out if:
-the bloke they are interviewing is a walter mitty or understands what they are joining
-whether they think he has it in him to get a Green Beret (most people don't)
-he has IQ and common sense required to be a leader
-whether when he stands up in front of trained commando they will follow him or whether they will think he is a tosser
If you have your Green Beret through the RMR they will already know the answer to the first two. Your degree will answer half of the third. They still have to make their mind up about the rest but they are far more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt on those if they are certain on the first ones.
BTW if you get your Green Beret early one how would you rather earn money during your summer breakl, stacking shelves in Sainsbury's or serving in Afghanistan. (Granted the latter is not all that likely but it has been done during a students summer break, but even if you don't go operational during leave you could still be doing stuff with the Corps.
On your point of where to go to Universtity I presume your point is that if you go to a Uni near home then you would be able to go to the same unit be it TA or RMR during leave as term time. It is a fair point although provided you go to Uni in the South East then the RMR would let you turn to at a different detachment during leave and during term time. In the case of RMR London that would mean you would have dets as far afield as Portsmouth, Chatham, Henley and Cambridge in addition to the HQ in Bermondsey.
Ref the application process for being an officer yes it is seperate from the RMR although the CO of your Unit would probably be prepared to write you a reference and a positive note from a Lieutenant Colonel never goes amiss to the a selection panel.
Rgds,
Von
If you are only 20 mins from Liverpool Street by train then you can easily get into RMR London in Bermondsey on a regular basis.
With regards to how much having a Green Beret helps your chances when you are looking for a commission thinking of it from the point of view of the officers doing the selection. They are trying to work out if:
-the bloke they are interviewing is a walter mitty or understands what they are joining
-whether they think he has it in him to get a Green Beret (most people don't)
-he has IQ and common sense required to be a leader
-whether when he stands up in front of trained commando they will follow him or whether they will think he is a tosser
If you have your Green Beret through the RMR they will already know the answer to the first two. Your degree will answer half of the third. They still have to make their mind up about the rest but they are far more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt on those if they are certain on the first ones.
BTW if you get your Green Beret early one how would you rather earn money during your summer breakl, stacking shelves in Sainsbury's or serving in Afghanistan. (Granted the latter is not all that likely but it has been done during a students summer break, but even if you don't go operational during leave you could still be doing stuff with the Corps.
On your point of where to go to Universtity I presume your point is that if you go to a Uni near home then you would be able to go to the same unit be it TA or RMR during leave as term time. It is a fair point although provided you go to Uni in the South East then the RMR would let you turn to at a different detachment during leave and during term time. In the case of RMR London that would mean you would have dets as far afield as Portsmouth, Chatham, Henley and Cambridge in addition to the HQ in Bermondsey.
Ref the application process for being an officer yes it is seperate from the RMR although the CO of your Unit would probably be prepared to write you a reference and a positive note from a Lieutenant Colonel never goes amiss to the a selection panel.
Rgds,
Von
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Scott_Allen
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Wholley
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Scott_Allen
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lol.Wholley wrote:Scott turned this post around himself.jammin87 wrote:
It's good to see this post has gone from unpleasant ranting to some very good suggestions.
So,good on him.
Scott,when you pass out remeber to give Von an invite.
Or even at parents day as he's your"Sea Daddy"
Will do
Cheers again everyone
Personally I wish went to uni!! I'm going into the Royal Marines now but if I had A-levels I would defo go to uni first, it's like a different world! I just came back from seeing my girlfriend and staying at her uni and ahhhh what fun did I have! If I fail to get in that's what I'm going to do.
Aaaagggghhhhh!
Please watch your spelling, capitalisation, and punctuation in future.
Aaaagggghhhhh!
Please watch your spelling, capitalisation, and punctuation in future.
