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hi this is my first post
i m from the seychelles and i am planing to join the british army, i had prevoiusly served 4 years in the seychelles people defence force (basicly army)

i have already sent my overseas application form this june and when i contacted the overseas cell of the army this week they told me that they would not have any vacancies untill the next fiscal yaer (ie april 2005) and that it would be wastefull to come earlier to do the rest of the application, which i was planning to do next month, however the visa for seychellois are only for 6 months and it would be useless to come over now and do the test and then have to come back to get a second visa (especially with the immigration dificulties and the airline ticet prices)

i have read many of the forums posted ant that has helped me a lot since its difficult to obtain any info from my country. i have been in contact with the ex brittish servicemen here though there is not much that they can do.

i wish to join anytime soon and i would be most gratefull to anyone who maybe able to provide me with any advise on how best to procced, i wish to join the royal engineers and i already have a certificate in hydrography (mapping the seas: as i was in the coast guard unit of the armyand had attended an officers course in that field in india). however i would not mind joining the infantry as i already have some first hand experience despite bieng in the coast guard (no navy here )

any info would be most appriciated as it would also help some of my friends who are also applying.

Hi

Personally I know very little about overseas entrants to the armed forces but I find it difficult to understand how the entire British Army has no vacancies. You must be referring to your speciality. Your quickest way surely has to be to keep you options open.

Good luck

my first choice was for infantry
i have been watching the news lately and i thought that the downsising of the army maybe one of the cause, however what i was told by the personnel from the overseas cell was that they have limited vacancies and i would propably have to wait untill next year.

what i wish to know is that if i come over now (say in august) and apply through the normal channels ie AFCO, how long would the whole process take?
i read some posts and there have been people who have applied in late 2003 and are only recently joining up and apparently some are still waitting.
i want to join the army so much that i would be willing to come over now and try out, though as i mentioned before (it would be useless to come over now and do the test and then wait for a long time (more than 6 moths) and have to come back to seychelles get a second visa).

there are some people from the seychelles who have already joined up , so i know that nationality is no problem

ill be happy for any advise

My understanding is that it is quite the reverse. The Army are alledged to be undermanned in the majority of areas.

Ask them the question differently; "what regiment or Corps can I join expeditiously"

Good luck.