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Some advice required

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Sisko
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Some advice required

Post by Sisko »

Hey guy's how's everyone doing? Thought i'd post on here and ask for a little bit of friendly advice.

I have had this niggling feeling for the last few years now about a career in the military. I finished university in May last year, getting my 2:1 degree in Computer Network Management & Design....all well and good.

Before I finished uni in my last year, I had a crisis moment where I wasn't too sure IT was the thing I wanted do. But, nonetheless I continued on and finished my degree. Now however after 6 months employment in a well paid job on the IT team of an offshore company, the niggling feeling/desire/wonder, whatever you want to call it, for a military career has returned...despite the really good £££ i'm getting.


Now, my dad doesn't think I could hack a military career, he has said he wouldn't stand in my way but think's it would not be a good idea, but if i wanted to do it, fair enough. My mum on the other hand totally deplores the idea, and say's stupid things about breaking my legs to stop me joining, and she won't go through the suffering seeing her son coming off the ramp of a plane in a box....worst case scenario granted.

But, as I said before, the niggling feeling about joining up has come back. The only things that would worry me is the hit I would take financially, I wouldnt' be on as good money in the military as to what i'm on now and the fact I wear glasses and my vision is rubbish without them might limit what I could actually do in the military. But for some darn reason I cannot seem to get rid if this niggling inside me about a military career.

I've walked past the Career's centre in town many times and glanced in the window at the Royal Navy Destroyer model & Challenger Tank that sit in the display and always kept on walking. Can anyone offer any advice on someone in my position? Who seriously would like to join, but perhaps is nervous about making the leap?

Cheers, oh and sorry for the really long post. :) If you have managed to read all of this, I salute you. :D
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gpw2009
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Post by gpw2009 »

Best thing to do mate is go into the careers office and have a chat with someone there. They can give you loads of information to take away, and could help you out with the questions on eyesight.

The web site is mega too:

http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

It is a big decision mind you, and it's a shame you mum feels that way. But maybe if you knew more about what you wanted to do, you could win her round? :wink:
"Si vis pacem, para bellum"
("If you want peace, prepare for war!")

ADSC: Passed 07/07/09
Depot PARA: 18/10/09
Sisko
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Post by Sisko »

gpw2009 wrote:Best thing to do mate is go into the careers office and have a chat with someone there. They can give you loads of information to take away, and could help you out with the questions on eyesight.

The web site is mega too:

http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

It is a big decision mind you, and it's a shame you mum feels that way. But maybe if you knew more about what you wanted to do, you could win her round? :wink:
Yeah it certainly is a big decision. I'm not sure I could ever win her round to the idea, she's absolutely dead against it. I've had all sorts of lectures from her about what my grandfathers would say if they were alive. And the last time we spoke about it, a year or so ago, she was on the verge of tears because she was so frustrated with me even wanting to talk about it....frustrated about the idea last night when I suggested it.

I have considered taking a drop into the career's office, and if she found out about that she'd surely explode through the roof. lol :)

It this day and age, and the current climate the military is probably the one sector a person is guaranteed to gain employment as the military are always looking for people. Now, sure I have a degree in IT and could look to put my skills and knowledge to use for the military, but i'm not even sure i'd want to do that. I just am not 100% sure my chosen path is right for me.

I mean, for someone in my situation with rubbish eyesight without my glasses, are there any realisitc options for me with a career in the military? I assume that would depend on what I wanted to do granted.
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gpw2009
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Post by gpw2009 »

My parents were the same, and when I said I wanted to join the Para's they tried to persude me to get a trade, not the infantry. But they came round eventually, and it did help having more information. I do understand that it is a dangerous job, but hey, if it's something you want to do..... :wink:

You could do some pretty good jobs with a degree mate, especially an I.T one. Have you thought about becoming an officer?

You eyesight shouldn't be too much of a problem, a friend of mine is in the REME and he wears glasses! :D
"Si vis pacem, para bellum"
("If you want peace, prepare for war!")

ADSC: Passed 07/07/09
Depot PARA: 18/10/09
Sisko
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Post by Sisko »

gpw2009 wrote:My parents were the same, and when I said I wanted to join the Para's they tried to persude me to get a trade, not the infantry. But they came round eventually, and it did help having more information. I do understand that it is a dangerous job, but hey, if it's something you want to do..... :wink:

You could do some pretty good jobs with a degree mate, especially an I.T one. Have you thought about becoming an officer?

You eyesight shouldn't be too much of a problem, a friend of mine is in the REME and he wears glasses! :D
Lol, a few people i've spoken to have suggested I think about an officer. A mate of mine who's actually in Australia, joining the Australian army, he has said in his opinion I'd be a good officer. But, I don't know, I'm not sure how i'd fare being an officer. Especially if it involved leading men into combat. Taking order's sure, giveing them.....I don't know :) lol

I mean, is it possible for someone to become a front liner if you wear glasses?
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gpw2009
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Post by gpw2009 »

Sisko wrote:
I mean, is it possible for someone to become a front liner if you wear glasses?
Not too sure to be honest mate, there is a recruiter who post on here, MSI64, maybe send him a PM if you don't fancy going to the careers office just yet!

You may as well look into the officer side. You have the degree, so take full advantage!

What do you fancy doing or joining?
"Si vis pacem, para bellum"
("If you want peace, prepare for war!")

ADSC: Passed 07/07/09
Depot PARA: 18/10/09
Sisko
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Post by Sisko »

gpw2009 wrote:
Sisko wrote:
I mean, is it possible for someone to become a front liner if you wear glasses?
Not too sure to be honest mate, there is a recruiter who post on here, MSI64, maybe send him a PM if you don't fancy going to the careers office just yet!

You may as well look into the officer side. You have the degree, so take full advantage!

What do you fancy doing or joining?
I was thinking along the lines of perhaps Royal Marines or Para's. But as I said, i'm not sure if my eyesight without my glasses would hold me back or anything. The friggs of working in an IT enviroment....can damage yer eyes. lol :(
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Post by gpw2009 »

Just checked the information I was given at the careers office and it says that glasses are permissible (allowable) for the Para's.

Not sure about the Marines though mate! (what would you want to join those lot for anyway! :wink: )

Would double check though! :D
"Si vis pacem, para bellum"
("If you want peace, prepare for war!")

ADSC: Passed 07/07/09
Depot PARA: 18/10/09
Sisko
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Post by Sisko »

gpw2009 wrote:Just checked the information I was given at the careers office and it says that glasses are permissible (allowable) for the Para's.

Not sure about the Marines though mate! (what would you want to join those lot for anyway! :wink: )

Would double check though! :D
Yeah I would like to double check on that, keep my options (however potentially limited) as open as possible. And there's nothing wrong with the RM or the Para's. They are both cracking units that no other army in the world can compare to in ability, determination, history, courage or training :D
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Post by druadan »

Correctable vision is acceptable to certain extent in both Her Majesty's Corps of Royal Marines and Infantry regiments, although certain trades within them may not be. Depends on how bad your eyes are, I'm sure the standards required are on the relevant websites, if not it's an easy one for the AFCO.

You've got your degree and some experience already. If you join and find its not for you you're in a far better position than most to rotate back to civvy life. Alternatively with those quals you could transfer to a more civvy-esque job within the Forces if you find front line soldiering isn't for you.

I'd always recommend going for Orificer first if you've got half a brain, if only for the money. Joining on the bottom rung is VERY lowly paid; I've been in nearly five years and it's only due to substantial specialist pay that I'm now on what I consider a half-decent wage. That said, I have turned down suggestions from my OCs on a couple of occasions that I should apply for Corps Commission and if I did so they would endorse it, although I justify that to myself by saying I couldn't hack going through recruit training and then some again (in the Corps to take a Corps Commission you have to start again with the Young Officers, 14 months at Lympstone - I don't know the process for taking a Commission in the Army once serving).

I think the answer to both questions is, what if? If you don't join you'll always be wondering what life's like on the other side. If you don't go for Officer entry when you clearly have at least the academic potential to do so, you'll always wonder if you'd've made it. Certainly in the Corps Officer training is a longer and harder version of recruit training - you're expected to do everything the recruits do, but better and faster. I don't know how it works in the Paras or other infantry regiments as you've got the whole Sandhurst bit which is separate.

My 2p, if it's any use to you.
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Post by flighty »

Go for whatever you want to. You will regret it for the rest of your life otherwise.

Parents' opinions are important but it's your life ..... not theirs.

Speaking as a parent btw ...... :roll:
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