If it’s just a few years of adrenalin fuelled ‘Call of Duty’ time you’re after (but in real life …….with real rounds whizzing over your head with a VERY real danger of being VERY seriously tagged) and you’re also REALLY up to the challenge, then the arguments have been made above. Take your pick on the Marine/Army debate….. However, there has probably never been a more satisfying time to join up and be an infanteer of whatever colour beret takes you liking. The days of endless training exercises for infantry regiments on Salisbury Plain/Sennybridge which seemed to serve no ‘training value’ when it’s pissing down, cold and you’re stood around in sodden second rate QM supplied kit, have long gone.
But there’s more to ALL services than just the fighting pointy end bit. From my perspective, I joined the Engineers for a trade. If you’re thinking long term and you have the qualifications behind you, then my recommendation is to always go for a trade. Why waste your school education if you’ve come out with anything worth shouting about? Remember you’re always a soldier first, tradesman second and a tradesman isn’t prevented from also doing some serious infantry skills/courses/attachments if that floats your boat. Once you’ve done your 22 years and you’re picked up by the scruff of the neck and booted out the door, there’s still 20 odd years of employed life in civvy strasse to consider. (I know your average young lad will not even consider looking at themselves aged 40 but…. …. guess what guys!) Not many ads in my local rag asking for experienced ‘mortar technicians’……
On many of my postings over the years the Signal Regt lads were considered to be some of the least sharp pencils in the box out on exercise. Thing is they got trained up (for free) and after a few years, got themselves out and you’ve no idea how many ex-scalies are currently working for the Vodafone’s of the world commanding huge salaries…. Nice work lads! Who’s having the last laugh!
There’s also more to the Engineers than just ‘painting and decorating’ if you’re thinking trades. I was a surveyor ….it didn’t stop me from being out on Gulf 1 in the ‘hairy-scarey’ bit/Bosnia etc etc. There are tradesmen from the Survey trades serving in Specialist Teams attached to Cdo Bde, Airborne Bde and SAS so don’t think you’ll just be flying a desk. But there’s LOADS of trade opportunities out there…. It’s not all just ‘a-shooting’ and ‘a-killin’…
While the main posters on this site seem RM/Para heavy, there’s more to military service than just these two options. To any young lad reading this…. Let the AFCO put you through the aptitude tests and give you some guidance on where your strengths lie.
And RA_Tom: yeah guns and lanyards wasn’t it!?
