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I have been trying to apply to the Paras from Canada and the only thing left is to find a sponsor.I was waiting to hear back from a contact in the UK that may have been able to help me out,that fell short.Im alittle pissed about this,I dont know what to do and my thinking is that my last resort is to just pick up and move there.I would have done this months ago but many people including recruiters told me not to do this.

If anyone has any experience doing this,id be greatful if you could offer any advice.I know its going to cost me dollars out the ass,but im willing to part with everything i own to get in this regiment.

Thank you.

Gidday bud, why not find a hostel or something in the area, when I asked for an overseas application pack for the RM they gave me the link http://www.yha.org.uk.

What I'm thinking of doing is getting two return tickets so I can go over live with rellies and sit the BARB interveiw etc. (I'm joining the army now) Then I'll fly back home, and if im accepted I can fly back over and have the return ticket open for a year incase things don't turn out that great. It'll end up saving me around NZ$4000

Gareth

Rian.ca,

I dont know what to do and my thinking is that my last resort is to just pick up and move there.I would have done this months ago but many people including recruiters told me not to do this.

If anyone has any experience doing this,id be greatful if you could offer any advice.I know its going to cost me dollars out the ass,but im willing to part with everything i own to get in this regiment.

You and I first exchanged messages on this subject back in September. No matter what the recruiter tells you the process will be easier if you live in the UK while you're going through the process. If you get the working holidaymaker visa you can at least break even while you're there, even if it means being casual labour.

I've gone throught the process of joining as an officer. Consider the only person I knew who joined without residing in the UK at the time, an Aussie! He had to fly over twice, and it would have been more had he not had connections through the Australian Defence Forces, not to mention a lot of audacity! This guy managed to go on several regimental visits, attend the RCB briefing only to return less than a month later for the RCB and enter Sandhurst 2 weeks after that. Any time in-between was spent at minimal cost in Barracks. Again, connections.

Rian.ca, I've suggested from the beginning your life will be SO much easier if you reside in the UK. At the very least you'll get to see some of the country before you go on selection and after for that matter.

I must be blunt. Are you worried about being out of your financial comfort zone? Are you afraid to leave easy-living, soft as shite Toronto because you're not guaranteed a position? If so, you may not have the personality for the Paras.

The only Para I knew personally had a comfortable existence in South Africa and suddenly dropped out of university to do it, he summed it up perfectly "we don't give a shit about anything." Leap before you look and damn the consequences, MOVE TO THE UK.

I've been jobless and homeless upon arrival in 2 foreign countries on one-way tickets and thought nothing of it. Could I jump out of a Herc loaded down with ammunition, only 24 hours' rations, into pitch darkness at low-altitude, knowing I might be digging for three days in the rain without sleep? No.

My concern now is that if you move to the UK all your correspondence will go to Canada, once the AFCO knows an address, its like trying to stop a freighter .

Rian.ca, I'm trying to help you, PM anytime.

A young lad in a similar position asked me to help him a few years ago. He had very little money, no support from his parents, and he new no one in the UK. What I did was locate a church via the internet and e-mailed them his story, asking if they could help. Within 48 hours, I had 3 families offering to put the lad up for just the cost of his food while there. I thought that was a bloody good deal. As it happened, the little twerp bottled out at the last minute and I ended up having to contact the family who was supposed to receive him and explain. I will certainly give it more thought before doing that for anyone agin!

Rian.ca,

On this subject I've been quite blunt with a few people, yourself included, be sure to take some of it with a grain of salt. When I'm in rant mode after listening to talk radio on the way home from work................

As it happened, the little twerp bottled out at the last minute and I ended up having to contact the family who was supposed to receive him and explain.

That's always a risk. My in-laws live close to CTC in Devon and I've thought once or twice if they might be willing to help out would be RM applicants from Canada. I then came to my senses and forgot the idea.

If you're a Commonwealth applicant who can get a working holidaymaker visa to the UK, you might as well head over for the duration of the process.

Only Fijians, Nepalese and possibly, Carribean applicants have the British Army come to them, the rest of you guys are on your own. If I were the officer interviewing you during selection weekend, I'd be impressed with your initiative and risk-taking to come to the UK. I'm saying, the deeper your committment before you go into training, the more likely you are to adapt to the committment required during and after training.

But hey, if you can get joining instructions and dates while you're still in Canada, why not? What if you pass selection? Will you need to go back to Canada before basic starts? Maybe they'll offer you a selection course very close to the intake date and reserve a place for you?