Got a letter and phone call from the AFCO today

[Gazza85]

After passing selection i have been given some choices.

I have to wait till April 2005 to start as a Electrician in the royal signals, but they cannot gurantee a place.

I can go for my second choice which is a carpenter and joiner in the RE but they cannot gurantee a start date at the moment.

My third choice Ammo tech, needed 30 on the TST, i got 28.

The royal signals will allow me to go as a radio operator in november/december without doing selection again (i got the highest score for lower back muscles in selection)

Or i can go down to the afco and choose 3 new jobs and start all over again.

I really don't know what to do. I have got my heart set on being a sparky but i dont like the fact that if i wait till april to be told i have to wait even longer.

Any Ex signals electricians and RE chippys that can tell me about their experiences?

[Chappy]

Just be careful mate, this is the next few years of your life if not the next 22.

[Come on The Boro]

Gazza, are you sure you would have to start the process all over again if you choose other job choices? I have recently changed my job preference from RMP to linguist after passing RSC (only have one job choice) and when I passed RSC the officer said if i didn't pass the linguist tests then i still have a place in the army, and that all that was needed was for the AFCO to speak to the officer about the new job i wished to join as (I assuse they will look at your report from RSC/AFCO/BARB test results etc. and make a decision).

You could always join the signals as a radio operator (which is a good job), with the view to transferring within the corps to become an electrician (i assume this would be much easier than transferring to another corps/regiment??).

[J J]

I agree with 'Boro...if you really wanna go signals,go for radio op.,then at a later stage do the electrician course!!
or maybe there are still places on my intake(RE) on the 25th...at least my AFCO said so last time i was there...but thats only if you would decide to change to RE!
but i think in your case the radio op. option would be most suitable.

[Gazza85]

If i went in as radio op she said it would be a few years till i could do electrician course.

She also said i would have to do selection as my pass only counts for RE carpenter and RS electrician.

I think i am going to stick it out and wait for a place on the electrician course.

Extra time to get fit.

O and i dident mean the whole process again, just doing selection. Already been up twice, i live in south manchester and i go to glencorse, 4 and a half hours each way, plus travelling to and from train stations.

[Come on The Boro]

Well if you have your heart stuck on Signals sparky, then good luck to you Like JJ said though, I think there are RE electrician places available (there was someone on my RSC who was going for that and he only had to wait 4 weeks!). It seems harsh that you would have to go to RSC again though mate, maybe its cause I had only one job choice in the first place that i wont have to do selection again (if i dont pass linguist tests!). Good luck any way Gazza

[J J]

ask your AFCO about the RE electrician intake dates...maybe your lucky.

[ToffeeWrapper]

I did 6 years in the Royal Engineers and am thinking of re-enlisting in a different Corps for one reason only - you hardly ever get to use your trade unless your a Driver RE or a Plant Op. A lot of people join up imagining that they'll be chippying (or whatever) only to find that 95% of their work is combat engineering. Fine in it's way but a bit of a p*sser if you joined to do your artisan trade. Just so you know!

[W.Mitty]

I agree with Toffeewrapper, while I was in the Army I worked along side the RE a lot on exercise and I would not wish a Combat Engr's job on anyone, all the young lads would do was mark out mine fields with metal pickets etc.. not fun at all and IMHO they got treated like shit by their S/Nco's.
While on OPFOR in Canada for 6 months before I left, I had to help mark some of the mine fields etc.. with other lads from my unit and believe me it was crap, not a job I would like to do on a regular basis.
My point is dont beleive everything they tell you in the AFCO, all they are after is numbers through the door and will gloss up the jobs no end to get you to join. This is in no way a Slur on the RE as they do an exeilent job, just make sure you know what you are in for before you sign on the dotted line.

[Gazza85]

Cheers guys.

Might pop down to the afco in a few days.

Got to the airport today to go to cyprus, got a phone call whilst waiting to board telling us my grandad has died.

I was looking forward to having him at my passing out parade if i made it as hes ex army. O well he'll be looking down.

[ToffeeWrapper]

Sorry to hear that Gazza. Bet he'll still be an inspiration to you, mucker. Chin up!