army careers talk at school

[crisgal]

i need someone's help!

My 16 year old has come home from school and there's been a guy in from the Army, who's proper turned his head!!

Despite never mentioning a career in the forces, he now says he would really like to join.
With the state of the world as it is nowadays, me and his dad are a bit concerned that he will be sent to iraq or somewhere (ok, it's me more than his dad!)

The army guy told him that if you don't want to go to the frontline you don't go! I can't see that being true!

He fancies doing engineering and i know it can be an excellent career.
I would really appreciate any advice from someone who has done it, or has a son or daughter who has recently joined up.

[ummmm]

lol...she'll be telling them how to do their jobs...

[wiggal]

I am quite amazed at how dillusional some people are about jobs and work these days! and I certainly wouldnt argue with £20k a year. Well it is what I am on now but when I get made redundant in a few weeks, I will be back at jobs on £17k if that!
Maybe I should have a change of direction!?

[wiggal]

Well redhelen, I have not been working many years but I do have had jobs in credit control, payroll, finance receivable & payable and also frontline IT support so you ay be able to find me something lol! :-)

[wiggal]

I do have had jobs? Not really selling myself on my English there am I?!

[crisgal]

well well - i go off to work for a day, and come back to you all bickering!
I don't want anyone to fall out on my account!

I couldn't sleep last night for worrying about this, and I do feel that, as he never mentioned it ever before, it just shows how impressionable you are at 16!

I've told him we need to find out much more about it and i certainly won't be signing any papers within the next two weeks - as he'd suggested.

I really do appreciate everyone's comments. ♥

[joggerjayne]

crisgal ...

You don't have to go to the front line.

There was a soldier in the paper a couple of weeks ago. He's been sent to prison for refusing to go to Afghanistan.

So, you see ... there is another choice.

[mike11111]

A certain young person advocating not joining the armed forces has spent a lot of time on another thread recently begging for help in finding a list of ranks in the services for a test at the Sea Cadets ( a boy scout/girl guide type of movement linked to the RN). I am sure that the leaders of this movement would be most interested to read her views on this thread. Confused.com or what?

[ummmm]

I think she's a bit immature. Don't get her started on food....apparently her Dad only cooks gristle.

[jake-the-peg]

Crisgal there are a lot of ex-army types on here

But you should see this

http://www.crimlinks.com/Sep252009.htm

I'd move heaven and earth to stop my kids joining up

[boxtops]

Yes mike. Absolutely.

[bobjugs12]

Payscales:
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/armypayscales.htm

Molly there are reasons why you are shouted at and treated like dirt. As a serviceman you are required to follow orders without questioning them whilst under extreme stress. The shouting and screaming goes a small way to simulate the adreneline levels of being on the recieving end of a lead hail storm. If your cousin couldn't hack it then that's a sign of his inability to fit in, not an institutional failure on the part of the army.

Jake, I know we've had this discussion before, and actually your facts and figures proved me incorect but not everyone who joins the army ends up in prison. The problem is there is no media value in reporting on the majority of successful resettlements where Cpl Smith retires after 12 years and ends up driving petrol tankers for £44k or Capt Bloggs ends up managing your local Tesco hypermarket and buys himself the sports car he's always wanted, or SAC Bobjugs gets the job in the ambulance service and gets to move nearer his kids. There are two sides to every story.

[bobjugs12]

Cris, the best bet with your lad is take him to your local Armed Forces Careers Office and let him speak to all three services. Remember that it isn't just the army out there (although they do have the best recruiting team lol)

Whereabouts in the country are you?

[poodicat]

My son was looking into joining the army,been on their website and also phoned the recruiting office,he wants to be a chef he has a real talent for cooking,their are no vacancies at all for chefs wanting to join any of the services,yet they are still advertising on their websites,they are trying to get people in just to join as a frontline soldier,i know that you are a soldier first and a trade secondly,but he is really upset that he cant do the trade that he wants to do!

[bobjugs12]

At the moment the most heavily hit dept of the government with regards to the credit crunch is the MOD.
As an organisation we are skint. As a result recruiting has slowed to only the pinch trades.
If your lad really wants to be a chef, then tell him to be patient and try and get some real world experience. Even if it's as a KP in your local gastropub, it's all good and will help in the long run.

If however, he wanted to look at other trades then there are still some open across all three branches

[poodicat]

Thanks bob,no its cheffing for him and nothing else,and he cant really be patient as he is 27 and time is not on his side

[bobjugs12]

He's still got a few years left poodi, don't write the mob off just yet.
The other option, has he looked at the reserves? TA, RAF Auxilliries, RN Reserve? They still have vacancies, although I don't know numbers or locations

[tamborine]

the services make men of wimps

[poodicat]

I know bob,what is your trade in the raf, i was in for about 7 years in the seventies i was in supply