After sticking with it for nearly 2 years, DS has given up on his dream

[FinnyStory]

Bloody Capita "managing" Army recruitment.

Since he was 13 DS1's only ambition has been to be an Army Officer. Threw himself into everything as a cadet and succeeded there in a way he never did at school.

Not naturally academic, he had to work really hard to get the A level grades needed, which he did.

Submitted his application in Nov 2018 and spent 9 months being constantly told they needed this piece of information then another piece, all of which were sent straightaway and acknowledged. At one point they cancelled his application because he hadn't responded, when he had emails confirming they had everything they needed.

Then spent a day travelling for the medical and was deferred because of his hearing. Despite having met the published standard, he showed some slight hearing loss which they wanted investigating. Fair enough but it took 4 months to arrange the follow up appointment.

The Consultant wrote a letter saying he did show slight hearing loss but no cause for concern just to be careful with hearing protection. This was sufficient for them to reject him on medical grounds, despite the fact that he had met their own standard and their doctor wasn't concerned.

He appealed and won but this took another 5 months.

Then he was due to go for selection which was cancelled due to lockdown.OK I'll give them that, it wasn't their fault.

However, the process apparently restarted in June but by this time his original medical is a year old and he needs another one, before he goes for selection which is currently set for September. He's been told he must not attend if he doesn't have an up to date medical.

He has been promised a medical date before then but nothing has been forthcoming. He has phoned and/or emailed everyday for the last month chasing up this medical appointment. The person he needs is either not there, promises to call straight back or doesn't return his calls. The emails are unanswered. He's asked to speak to someone in charge and was promised a call within 48 hours but...

This is for a lad who was the most senior/successful Army cadet in the county and has an absolutely glowing recommendation from the County Commandant, a recently retired General. They should be chasing him, not the other way round.

Anyway, today, he's decided enough's enough and it's no longer his chosen path.

I'm just venting really but isn't it reassuring to know our military is so well organised?!

This is most definitely the Army’s loss. Your son sounds like a talented young man and I wish him every success in his ‘new’ chosen career. My DH runs an Armed Forces Group and is constantly banging his head against a brick wall at all their policies and admin. He’s on the verge of giving up after over 20 yrs of voluntary work.

I doubt if the Army had any choice about outsourcing this, and the rules on public sector procurement as I understand them prevent previous poor performance elsewhere from disqualifying them from being awarded the contract.

Being the country’s best cadet really means nothing in the real world. It’s like saying someone was a great Boy Scout so they would make a great soldier. I’m sure every mum thinks their child is ‘high calibre’.
If he has hearing issues, no matter how small of course they will defer or reject him. Can you imagine in a conflict situation having a soldier saying “sorry can you repeat that” because they can’t hear an instruction properly. They have to be picky and can only accept fully fit recruits.
If a delay has put him off then it clearly wasn’t for him. They need mental strength and resilience, not recruits who will throw the towel in at a hurdle. It’s probably best all round that he’s found something more suited to him.

Why should anyone wait 2 years to be recruited due to disorganisation? I’m not sure the fact he’s given up after that long means he wouldn’t have excelled in the army. Most people would want to plan for the future / be earning a decent wage in that time frame surely.

@Pancakeorcrepe - what WarmSausageTea said.

its interesting reading those with experience of capita, the armed services and recruitment respond sympathetically to the op, whereas some other posters seem to be enjoying just sticking the boot in.

That has definitely come through loud and clear. Telling indeed. I bet most of those sticking the boot in haven't a clue about serving their country and the bureaucratic incompetency side of it that puts many good candidates off.

And ftr, every single male member of my family has served in the military, some for their 4 years, some as a career. But every single one has. And they will all tell you about the bureaucratic nonsense that goes on as well.

Would you stick with a job application process that took 2 years?

Yes, I would, if the job was my dream.

Helmetbymidnight
Spot on

pancakeorcrepe
Fuck knows what you’ve read but their are no mummy googles. It’s a factual account of total incompetency by a frustrated parent who is disappointed for her son. That’s called normal parenting.

@Coldspringharbour what on earth are you on about? The delays are down to the inefficient, waste of money and ridiculously incompetent running of recruitment. OP isn't saying he was rejected and arguing why he would have been amazing, but highlighting the fact that he has been dedicated to joining for years. Also many soldiers have issues with their hearing due to their not being legal noise limit restrictions on equipment, and as they are woefully short of people joining, the picky comment is stupid; even more sore when he hasn't even not met the standards so that isn't the issue. It's intriguing what inspires people to come on here and just be nasty. Getting annoyed at waiting 2 years for a process which needn't be that long, and definitely wasn't when it was done in-house does not show a lack of resilience.

Am definitely on the, Capita are crap bandwagon having personal experience. My guess would be that they somehow get awarded huge contracts that they have absolutely no idea how to fulfil.

So sorry OP that your son has had to choose another career based on their incompetentcy

My reaction and the other similar reactions are due to the OP’s melodramatic title and waxing lyrical of her son in a ridiculous way and yes sounding absolutely entitled

Bollocks. That you read it that way says far more about you than the OP and her son.

Cold spring harbour - clearly you know absolutely NOTHING at all about how the cadet force works in this country. 🙄

Your son has shown real dedication and persevere throughout a shambolic process.

I don't suppose his County Commandant knows anyone that could give someone at Capita a kick in the arse? At least a complaint to someone senior there?

If a delay has put him off then it clearly wasn’t for him. They need mental strength and resilience, not recruits who will throw the towel in at a hurdle. It’s probably best all round that he’s found something more suited to him.

Another one! Stop talking shit.

AIBU has always been robust, but it seems to attract some absolutely spiteful arseholes these days. Usually within two replies to the OP.

They do it because they think it's clever , they're more than likely hardly noticed in real life but they know their nasty posts will be read in here and commented on.

Time40- and if you were offered another good job in that time? That appears to be the decision here... Wait around for even longer for a very ardorous interview, which he may not succeed in, or take a good job offer. I think most people would take the job offer, how ever much they wanted Plan A.

No one will ever know if this lad could have been a good Officer as he never got the chance to show due to incompetence. And that is a shame.

All the snarks, have any of you been in the forces? Serious question.

Anyone who has had any dealings with Capita - in any field - comes away hating them.

It is no surprise to me that they are just as useless at army recruitment as they are at software developent.

@Coldspringharbour

Being the country’s best cadet really means nothing in the real world. It’s like saying someone was a great Boy Scout so they would make a great soldier. I’m sure every mum thinks their child is ‘high calibre’. If he has hearing issues, no matter how small of course they will defer or reject him. Can you imagine in a conflict situation having a soldier saying “sorry can you repeat that” because they can’t hear an instruction properly. They have to be picky and can only accept fully fit recruits. If a delay has put him off then it clearly wasn’t for him. They need mental strength and resilience, not recruits who will throw the towel in at a hurdle. It’s probably best all round that he’s found something more suited to him.

Do you actually know what you’re talking about or are you just making thing up as you go along?

I'd see it as a blessing, tbh. Also, whilst I can understand his frustration if he really wanted to do it he'd continue.
What else does he have in mind now? Could he go to uni?

Sadly it doesn't surprise me at all. I know people in the RAF who have been promoted to corporal which means they can be offered further service, but they're so far behind the admin PSF aren't doing it in time before they get into their 11th and final year, so the tax payer is paying thousands in resettlement processes, going through courses as if they are imminently leaving, but knowing their paperwork will come through to make them substantive and therefore extend their contract.

It's ridiculously inefficient and wasteful but the tip of the iceberg. I am so de-sensitised by it all now nothing surprises me.

I'm really sorry your son is going through that, I understand his lack of faith in it now, I hope he can find something else that suits him.

Lol. Took me ten years to properly 'crack into' my industry.

If he wants it that bad he will continue to push for it, not just give up. The army are surely looking for resilient people, not those who walk away moaning because their emails haven't been responded to as quickly as he'd like

Christ, another thread with nasty posters with no advise, what is the matter these days?

Well done your son, op. Could you ask the former general advise how to overcome administration.

If it was 2 months and he was giving up the moaners would have a point. However after 2 years and being offered another job he's being sensible. Young people who are good at what they do have choices and they dont need to put up with such treatment. Just make sure this is what he wants and he's not just had his confidence dented.

It was a very similar scenario for a work colleague's son too, he jumped through all the necessary hoops, chased emails etc etc then all went quiet despite being told he'd 'got in'. Whilst going through the process he was also training for a trade in which he's now working.

I get people saying keep trying but there's only so much one can do and yes Capita are a total shower!

Good luck to your ds OP