All clear now thanks :)

[ash*]

Hi guys,

Quick background, 28 years old, worked in engineering/welding for 6-7 years, now based in a family run office job(past 4-5 years). Been wanting to join ta/regs for years. Got married this year, house sorted, cc paid off - ready to go.

Went to my local afco and spoke to ta sergeant. Great guy lots of info/help left with app form and booklets, details, etc.

Filled form in and sat down with mrs to go through some corps/regs. Highlighted a couple of interests - mainly engineering roles but want something slightly different to what I know so I can long term expand my skill set.

Main concern is, if successful and get into ta am I going to be able to continue working in an effective manner in my current job (which wasn't by choice and isn't my natural interest or skill set).

Decided to go and speak to a reg recruiter at the same afco to get a better idea of reg life and was treated completely different from the first.

The chap i spoke to wasn't that helpful and suggested as there were lots of areas of interest I sit the barb (which I'd already booked with ta chap) and take it from there.

He took my application from me and said he would change the records to regs instead of ta but im not sure what to do.

Do I go down the ta route and see how it goes?
Do I continue with the reg application?
Do i go back and try to speak to someone else?

My barb next tues, do I do that and see what comes up?

I would consider myself quite switched on so I'm confident that the barb will be quite easy, I've done several attempts at the practice ones and scored 100% on all.

If i score highly on the proper test I understand there will be loads of jobs available but this isn't going to help me with my choices - either regs or ta or which unit to join.

Fitness wise I'm improving daily, run time is down to 10.50 from 11.30 and the other stuff, sit ups, press ups are going well so I have no concerns with those.

Just looking for a bit of advice - good or bad just let me know your thoughts please.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

[Hyperlithe]

We can't really tell you what to do, you have to decide that for yourself, but I will say this - look at the upper age limits for joining up either as TA or Regs...

It is a scary thing to completely change your life (I was 26 when I joined the RAF, so I know where you're coming from) but if you want to totally commit to it, it's worth it. You say your current job isn't your natural interest or skill set - what is? Don't pursue either path until you're certain you're making the right choice.

[ash*]

We can't really tell you what to do, you have to decide that for yourself, but I will say this - look at the upper age limits for joining up either as TA or Regs...

It is a scary thing to completely change your life (I was 26 when I joined the RAF, so I know where you're coming from) but if you want to totally commit to it, it's worth it. You say your current job isn't your natural interest or skill set - what is? Don't pursue either path until you're certain you're making the right choice.

Thank you for your thoughts.

I appreciate what you're saying in terms of completely changing your life. I can only imagine as an 18 year old with not much life experience (no offence to anyone there) it becomes an easier decision to make, but as someone who has life experience it can become increasingly hard.

I have the backing of my wife and friends which helps immensely and with a bit more research on here and web I will make an informed decision.

My current job isn't my natural interest or skill set, as in I would rather be out and about, hands on doing something than sitting in the office from 9-5.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

[Tab]

As said earlier this is a massive change of life style and that is probably why the recruiter suggested that you try the TA and if it does not suit you then you can walk away, but if you have signed on then you are stuck.

[ash*]

As said earlier this is a massive change of life style and that is probably why the recruiter suggested that you try the TA and if it does not suit you then you can walk away, but if you have signed on then you are stuck.

By signed on do you mean my application form? I ticked both boxes ta and regs. I was told by the recruiter that up until second interview the process is the same and you can change which path you go down.

Thanks for your comment.

[Millar]

I wouldn't join the TA only for the purpose to see what the Army is like, both life styles are very different, and the TA joining process is very similar to that of the Regular, so to go through all the training, tests, and fitness tests to turn around and then want to do it again with the Regular is a little time consuming.

But as people have said nobody can make this decision for you, I would sit down with the Wife and family and discuss it, you will be away for long periods of time, but you also receive longer holidays than most civilian Jobs, there's good and bad points, you just need to weigh them up with your personal circumstances.

[ash*]

I wouldn't join the TA only for the purpose to see what the Army is like, both life styles are very different, and the TA joining process is very similar to that of the Regular, so to go through all the training, tests, and fitness tests to turn around and then want to do it again with the Regular is a little time consuming.

But as people have said nobody can make this decision for you, I would sit down with the Wife and family and discuss it, you will be away for long periods of time, but you also receive longer holidays than most civilian Jobs, there's good and bad points, you just need to weigh them up with your personal circumstances.

Thanks for your advice Millar, I had a long talk last night with the wife and I am making the right decision with the regs. I need to put in some effort now to research the exact unit I want to join and learn as much as possible about them.

On another note my run was ruined last night by a careless owner of a dog! To be fair where I run there are a few dogs off the lead most of them are well behaved but not the beast that tripped me up! Weird looking cross breed thing was running up and down then it saw me and had to come and run with me, I was on the last third of a timed run so couldn't muster a word to tell it to sod off. The owner appeared to ignore the fact her dog was disrupting me until it went through my legs leaving me flat on the floor.

Annoyed as from my time it looked like I was heading for 10.45.

Going again tonight at a different time to try and avoid her and it!

[Millar]

Your very welcome.

I'm obligated to suggest Royal Signals, best regiment in the world! Of-course I would say that though lol

I actually laughed out loud reading about your run, good job you didn't injure yourself, even a torn muscle can hold back fitness for a days/weeks.

[ash*]

Your very welcome.

I'm obligated to suggest Royal Signals, best regiment in the world! Of-course I would say that though lol

I actually laughed out loud reading about your run, good job you didn't injure yourself, even a torn muscle can hold back fitness for a days/weeks.

I'm glad I made you laugh buddy!

Funny you should say that as the Signals are going to be my first choice! Interested in the CSE rather than the CSO but will see what my recruiter says.

[Millar]

Your very welcome.

I'm obligated to suggest Royal Signals, best regiment in the world! Of-course I would say that though lol

I actually laughed out loud reading about your run, good job you didn't injure yourself, even a torn muscle can hold back fitness for a days/weeks.

I'm glad I made you laugh buddy!

Funny you should say that as the Signals are going to be my first choice! Interested in the CSE rather than the CSO but will see what my recruiter says.

I'm going as a CSE only due to the fact there seemed to be more involvement in the field rather than being at a HQ or Base fixing things, but the Lance Corperal Rank straight after training amongst other things made CSO my 2nd

[ash*]

Your very welcome.

I'm obligated to suggest Royal Signals, best regiment in the world! Of-course I would say that though lol

I actually laughed out loud reading about your run, good job you didn't injure yourself, even a torn muscle can hold back fitness for a days/weeks.

I'm glad I made you laugh buddy!

Funny you should say that as the Signals are going to be my first choice! Interested in the CSE rather than the CSO but will see what my recruiter says.

I'm going as a CSE only due to the fact there seemed to be more involvement in the field rather than being at a HQ or Base fixing things, but the Lance Corperal Rank straight after training amongst other things made CSO my 2nd

Did my barb and numeracy and literacy tests today. Didn't actually tell me my barb score but said you can pretty much do what you want. Got level 2 in the others.

My job list includes CSE and CSO so I think they are first and second. Also looking at Royal engineers C3S which is comms within the RE. That might be third but there are a few more I need to do more research on. Looking at the available dates and future intake dates might be waiting a while.

If I can get my run under 9.40 though ...

[Millar]

I made a mistake there I was supposed to say going in as a CSO and my Second choice was CSE, totally miss typed that lol

BARB is just a general idea for them really, or at-least that's what I think, providing you don't score stupidly low then you should be fine, level 2 is a good score, I think 2 is the highest, I got a 2 in Maths and a 1 in English, but had my GSCE Grade C in English to make up for the 1.

I believe the waiting list for CSE is longer than CSO, only due to there higher popularity, but I got a High B at ADSC and got a Start date the morning afterwards, having to wait about 4 Months before starting Phase 1, so don't let intake dates put you off, if it's a job you really want

Your progressing fast it seems, I had weeks apart for all my tests and it seemed to take a life time haha, keep us posted m8.

[ash*]

I made a mistake there I was supposed to say going in as a CSO and my Second choice was CSE, totally miss typed that lol

BARB is just a general idea for them really, or at-least that's what I think, providing you don't score stupidly low then you should be fine, level 2 is a good score, I think 2 is the highest, I got a 2 in Maths and a 1 in English, but had my GSCE Grade C in English to make up for the 1.

I believe the waiting list for CSE is longer than CSO, only due to there higher popularity, but I got a High B at ADSC and got a Start date the morning afterwards, having to wait about 4 Months before starting Phase 1, so don't let intake dates put you off, if it's a job you really want

Your progressing fast it seems, I had weeks apart for all my tests and it seemed to take a life time haha, keep us posted m8.

Wow, my GP is a complete *anker! Took my RG8 in this morning and the first thing he said was ' I haven't got time to fill that in'.

I told him there was an expenses form and he took it from me a flicked through to find that page. '65 is that all?' was his next comment.

I tried to explain that I had done the work for him and he needed to tick to agree and add anything he didn't agree with (which there shouldn't be any!).

The only 'yes' on the form was I broke both my arms as a child (separate occasions) and the fact it was 16 years ago shouldn't be a problem.

He was completely uninterested in filling it out and said it would take a few weeks to do. I told him that this is my future he's holding up and 'a few weeks' wasn't going to cut it. He said he would do his best to complete it by next friday.

He finished by saying why I wanted to join, I said that my reasons had nothing to do with him filling out the form and I didn't need to explain to him the reasons why. I also pointed out that it wasn't for him to see if I was fit enough to join it was to agree with the questions on the rg8 nothing more.

Why are they such p*icks?!! He being paid to do it!

Not sure whether to take it to another doc in the surgery. I know professionally he can't put anything incorrect but I'm worried his lack if enthusiasm he will not fill it in properly and delay the process even further.

What you reckon?

[Millar]

The forms £65 or something, just for him to tick and sign, what sorta money must he be earning to turn down £65 for doing nothing!? lol

I've heard Doctors taking a while to fill the forms out, mine took 1 day though, my friends took 3 weeks, I'd give him 7 days and then if it isn't done request taking it another Doctor, only problem with that though, is you risk having to wait another week for them to do it! lol

[ash*]

Update:

Managed to get my rg8 back from the docs last Friday with minimal effort. He must have re-read what he needed to do.

I handed it in to my afco on Friday and was weighed and measured at the same time. Hopefully my recruiter posted it that day. Just a waiting game now I suppose.

I'm finding it harder to focus on work now though as I want this so much its taking over pretty much anything I'm doing.

Training is coming on well too, run time is down to 10.12 now but my target is 9.30.

Fingers crossed I'm medically accepted and I can move on to interview and pre selection stages then finally the adsc! Cant wait!