If DS cant be an Army Officer what can he be?

[LoyaltyBonus]

This is DS1's dream, has been for a really long time. He's not very academic and had to work really hard to meet the entry requirements for Sandhurst (3 Ds at Alevel) but his way with people and his ability to lead is amazing. I dont know where be gets it from, DH and I are quite shy but DS has this amazing quiet confidence that he can achieve anything, whilst not being at all over confident iyswim. He can convince others they can do anything too. He was the most senior cadet in the county when be finished ACF and all the adults and cadets he worked with have tremendous respect for him, something that never happened for him at school, he always seemed to struggle there.

Anyway he's failed the medical for the Army, on something very minor but that's that. His plan B if he didn't make it to Sandhurst was always to join as a regular soldier, so life now needs a complete rethink.

Any suggestions? So far he has Police Officer, any other ideas of things for him to pursue

If he is looking at police, consider looking at BTP (transport police) and CNC (nuclear police) as well as local police forces

Border Force? They were recruiting fairly recently.

The thing with a military role is the management skill aspect (as an officer, it is done very early in training I believe). That is very valuable.

Exactly. The only similarity between an army officer and some of the alternative jobs suggested on here is that they all have a uniform.

You stand an excellent chance at appeal, without needing further medical evidence.

The first test was improperly carried out and is therefore invalid and should be completely expinged

The retest in proper conditions was H1 H1 is the only valid grading.

There is no requirement for H1/H1 to have additional hearing protection (it's the hugest possible gade - it would mean every single person in the Forces required it!)

This is a typical Crapita cock up.

Get it reviewed, and definitely get you (new!) MP on to it if no joy themselves on the basis of 'my constituent, whose ambition is to join the Army, has hearing which is in the highest category for the Armed Forces. He is however being denied the chance to proceed because this was shown in his second hearing test. The first, which was carried out incorrectly and wouid normally be disregarded, is instead being used. Such a breach of recruitment (medical) procedures is both unfair and unacceptable, especially as my constituent has been unable to have this corrected, despite his best efforts. Would My t Hon Friend, Sec of State for Defence (or even PM, depending on whose questions this gets to) look into this matter, to ensure military recruitment is correctly carried out"

OP are you on Twitter?

I agree with mpsw. Hearing tests should be carried out in a sound proofed booth, with appropriately trained staff. Most military medical centres that I have been in, have the booths in a quiet area, and when tests are being carried out have signs in the corridor/nearby areas asking for silence. His appeal should focus on the inadequacy of the inital screen- him being able to hear nurses and other backgound noise suggests strongly that it was not conducted adequately, and as mpsw suggests should be invalidated. The fact that he was distracted by the noises off should be mentioned.
Maybe the ENT specialist does not fully understand the grading and is being a bit over cautious.
If his appeal does not work, ask for help from your MP.

Thank you @mpsw and@SpringFan, that really helpful. I had almost jokingly said we would contact our MP and DS has just told me that he's an ex-officer in the Royal Fusiliers (which I didn't know), so maybe he can be of use to us! We're about the furthest thing you can get from a marginal seat, so I expect he will be staying, although I've never voted for him

@Genvonklinkerhoffen I have an account but if I'm honest I don't really understand Twitter. DS uses it though. Why?

The General who is responsible for recruiting is quite active on there. I'm relatively confident he'd pass on the issue to someone who could help. These odd pseudo medical decisions are a fairly consistent issue in recruiting. Could be worth tweeting it and tagging Commander Home Command @UrchTyrone

He genuinely cares. It's so heartwarming to see how much.

I suggest you try to sort it out directly. Twitter might be a bit public at this stage.

Unless you can contact privately on Twitter? (You can tell I don't use it much, can't you?)

Ministry of Defence. He could be posted overseas on the policy or logistics side if he works his way up.

Police starting pay is going to drop.They will also be required to complete a 3 year degree to qualify. The pay doesn’t reflect the nature of what is expected of you, and the culture can be difficult.

The Army officer corpsis actually the one that attracts the ‘poshest’ (some Guards cavalries demand an independent income before acceptance). They also have the worst working conditions.

The RAF is the best of the 3, more diverse, looked after better and less Old Boys’ Network. GCHQ is for geeks or linguists. Fire Service would be a good bet if he is physical, but he needs to research a lot before the entry process (there’s more maths than you imagine!)

I work with a lot of forces and the RAF definitely aren't posh- the army officers are MUCH posher! Lots of jokes about them liking super fancy facilities though

bunny police pay is rising in some areas, as a result of implementing the reforms. Some people also think getting a degree paid for by work is a good thing.

That's exactly what DS said @mpsw

He thinks it's best do send the appeal and contact privately via Twitter if it's not successful (I don't understand Twitter either).

@Bunnyfuller what you've said about the Army Officer Corps is bollocks. No one needs a private income in any regiment. And "guards cavalries"?

Itsboiledeggsagain

Yes, getting a degree for working is excellent. However, the police does not have the infrastructure in place to support it. My force haven’t even selected a HE establishment yet for the classroom inputs. There are also a general lack of resources to actually implement this. I currently work in QA and Qualifications for a police force, and trust me, it ain’t going to be pretty! I’m on the working group for PEQF implementation and thus far we’re stuck at providing the mentor ship scheme, as there are just not enough cops to do it. Assuming learners will do their academic in their down time is making an assumption that’s there’s significant down time between shifts. Cancelled RDs and extended duty is the norm, not the exception.

We’ve had a 2.5% pay rise. That will be it. Other than London weighting attracting an extra sum, all police in England and Wales are paid on the same pay spine.

Starting salary IS going to drop. How else will they fund providing a degree?!

The Guards regiment officers need an independent income.

The uniform itself costs about k20.

I was in the RAF for 17 years, working tri-force. Went on several language courses with Guards officers, There was no shortage of money amongst them. I’m not sure it’s on the Recruitment material but the forces still work in their own peculiar way (sadly in some cases such as sexism and racism).

he has a bee in his bonnet about not being clever/posh enough for the RAF

The Army’s much posher than the RAF, he should give it a go. My dad was RAF, my husband’s retired Army.

Starting salary IS going to drop. How else will they fund providing a degree

From the levy which they are currently paying to HMRC and not able to access.

My university looked at the draft spec for the police apprenticeship degree and laughed - we're not touching it with a barge pole!

@Alsohuman exactly! In the commissioned ranks definitely

Another vote for merchant navy. Deck Officer is more likely to appeal to him. Related to this, border force. Also look at Royal Fleet Auxiliary as deck Officer. Their staff are actually MOD90 carrying Civil Servants and the recruitment standards are that off Merchant Navy. Also if he fancied Sandhurst - what’s not to love about Dartmouth Naval College? It was good enough for Prince Charles and all RFA Officers attend there.

MI5 or6?

I can never remember which one

Do you need a degree for MI5/6?
MI5 is UK, MI6 is international

I've been a Prison Officer for well over a decade - do not let him touch it with someone else's barge pole. I'm being very serious.

I am working on my way out and only have a couple more years left. Experience is leaving in droves, retention is poor and it is getting more violent every single day. The injuries I've witnessed (which are never reported) will stay with me for ever.

Don't let him do that job.