I dont think anyone who gets a B and a D at A-level should be allowed to join as an Officer. a D isnt a pass surely??
Some Royals did OK in the Forces but remember Prince Edward still went to Cambridge with Cs and Ds at A-level.
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Prince Harry
I wish him all the best....it'll be good for the profile of the 'green' Army after SAS....knitwear survival or whatever the latest thing is.
A B and D at A level is pretty poor for an officer entrant. I thought you had to have two Cs? Most I know have at least three, all above C.
I just hope he goes to a normal infantry Bn rather than Cav or Guards.
Guess there's no chance of that though......
I think the culture of being an officer has changed and I've met some of the 'old school' (mainly passed ovre Majors clinging onto the last remanants of their career) who see the Army as a colonial hunting club so I can see where some of these perceptions come from. Yes, there are still some bad officers (and there are bad soldiers) but most are good professional people. I'm a normal middle class bloke who went to a state school and most of the people I know are very similar. I'm certainly not posh and I certainly don't have a private income. The Cav/guards....well, they're a small part of the Army, one which I think a lot of officers want little to do with if they want to run around thinking that class is still of any relevance.
CTC.....ok but remember that RMAS has to run a generic course for an organisation far larger doing a massive array of jobs. Some units in the Army are full of some very high quality blokes who have been highly selected. Sandhurst...ultimately is just your basic training.
A B and D at A level is pretty poor for an officer entrant. I thought you had to have two Cs? Most I know have at least three, all above C.
I just hope he goes to a normal infantry Bn rather than Cav or Guards.
Guess there's no chance of that though......
[At CTC] he would be subject to a very critical audience and we would have known the truth of whether the lad is up to the job or not. Possibly the same could be said of some of the more robust pono regiments but if he ends up in the Guards or a cavalry regiment he will be as divorced from reality as the rest of the wooperts.
I think the culture of being an officer has changed and I've met some of the 'old school' (mainly passed ovre Majors clinging onto the last remanants of their career) who see the Army as a colonial hunting club so I can see where some of these perceptions come from. Yes, there are still some bad officers (and there are bad soldiers) but most are good professional people. I'm a normal middle class bloke who went to a state school and most of the people I know are very similar. I'm certainly not posh and I certainly don't have a private income. The Cav/guards....well, they're a small part of the Army, one which I think a lot of officers want little to do with if they want to run around thinking that class is still of any relevance.
CTC.....ok but remember that RMAS has to run a generic course for an organisation far larger doing a massive array of jobs. Some units in the Army are full of some very high quality blokes who have been highly selected. Sandhurst...ultimately is just your basic training.
I understand the Welsh Guard connection, Prince of Wales n'all. But why the cavalry, is it due to the ceremonial side? Would The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment not be a choice being named after his mother? Isn't Charles a Para, would he not want to follow in his father's footsteps? I assume he can go wherever he wishes. As far as whether or not he will be a good soldier, he deserves the same chance any one else does.
However I don’t think he should be allowed to become an officer with just two A-levels, an AFCO would tell anyone else to p!ss off. I’ve got two A-levels, an AS-level, a GNVQ, A key skill (what load of b*llocks), as well as my GCSE’s. They said I would have to do a couple more A-levels if I want to become an officer, and I thought that realistically these day’s you needed a degree too?!
However I don’t think he should be allowed to become an officer with just two A-levels, an AFCO would tell anyone else to p!ss off. I’ve got two A-levels, an AS-level, a GNVQ, A key skill (what load of b*llocks), as well as my GCSE’s. They said I would have to do a couple more A-levels if I want to become an officer, and I thought that realistically these day’s you needed a degree too?!
Prince Harry
Give the guy a break. When I was interviewing at the RCB I freely admitted I had experimented with drugs, Harry doesn't have that luxury, as everyone in the country knows by now. The Army's quite flexible these days towards the "waccy bacy." I've heard that recruits who test positive up to seven weeks into basic are excused.
As for the academic side, I'm not too concerned. I found that the very best cadets at Sandhurst tended to be the public school boys, who were already accustomed to command and leadership tests, deprivation, planned logistic deficiencies and the the inclusion of the unexpected etc.. I think its more a case of the public schools preparing the men for Sandhurst rather than Sandhurst favouring the public school system. The public school boys were simply harder than the rest of us and like the British soldier, tended to rise to the occasion. They were also more likely to go combat arms.
I actually taught in the English school system, but only year 7 to GCSE and I'm unaware of the maximum number of AS/A-levels people could complete during the 2 academic years that is sixth form (because I was from overseas in a school high in the league tables, I was assigned the lower years, which was fine with me at the time!). Don't RMAS and most universities require 2 A-levels?
In Ontario, prior to 2002-2003, we had to take a minimum of six senior level courses (one full year each) and universities (including Royal Military College) admitted us based on the percent average of your six best. The sixth form program in England to me was as clear as mud-could someone explain it to me?
As for the academic side, I'm not too concerned. I found that the very best cadets at Sandhurst tended to be the public school boys, who were already accustomed to command and leadership tests, deprivation, planned logistic deficiencies and the the inclusion of the unexpected etc.. I think its more a case of the public schools preparing the men for Sandhurst rather than Sandhurst favouring the public school system. The public school boys were simply harder than the rest of us and like the British soldier, tended to rise to the occasion. They were also more likely to go combat arms.
I actually taught in the English school system, but only year 7 to GCSE and I'm unaware of the maximum number of AS/A-levels people could complete during the 2 academic years that is sixth form (because I was from overseas in a school high in the league tables, I was assigned the lower years, which was fine with me at the time!). Don't RMAS and most universities require 2 A-levels?
In Ontario, prior to 2002-2003, we had to take a minimum of six senior level courses (one full year each) and universities (including Royal Military College) admitted us based on the percent average of your six best. The sixth form program in England to me was as clear as mud-could someone explain it to me?
"Poor Ike, it won't be a bit like the Army. He'll find it very frustrating. He'll sit here and he'll say, 'Do this! Do that!' And nothing will happen."
Harry Truman
Harry Truman
Prince Harry and RMAS
That being said, cadets with regional accents tended to go towards the county regiments rather than the Cavalry. Knew a Kiwi who was accepted by the Coldstream Guards though.
"Poor Ike, it won't be a bit like the Army. He'll find it very frustrating. He'll sit here and he'll say, 'Do this! Do that!' And nothing will happen."
Harry Truman
Harry Truman
