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?!

Fuck me, this thread is exhausting.

OP - sounds like you are (quite rightly) proud of the young man your son has become. If that's the calibre of candidates Capita are weeding out through their incompetence, it's not just the army who are losing out but the whole country as we need a first class army.

Honestly can't get over how nasty some people on Mumsnet are. This site has gone right downhill recently, full of snide arseholes who seem to take delight in saying things they'd never dare to someone else's face. As we say in Scotland - shitebags

Comment of the night to @Malaya though!

Laughing at @Coldspringharbour mocking the OP and her "soldier boy" son yet she sounds more soldier boy with her so called credentials "personal experience" knowing soldiers from different regiments, thank you for your service mam.

FYI police specials are akin to TA, not the cadets, police have their own cadet process for youngsters too. As much as those who serve do mock cadets, let's face it who don't they mock, it is a highly resourced and regarded organisation entirely designed to recruit the next generation of military personnel. So wind your neck in.

This is really sad, I feel for him - Capita are awful.

Would he consider joining as a Reservist along side his apprenticeship?

He would get to do lots of training and there may be opportunities for him there in the future?

@Coldspringharbour, what is wrong with you? Nasty, obnoxious responses and you're not the only one. Why do so many people enjoy sticking the boot in every time they see the slightest opportunity. OP, I'm sorry for your son's experience, with his dedication I'm sure he'll do well regardless.

I also can’t understand why this thread has brought out the cunts, unless they are jealous that the OPs son seems such a wonderful hard-working young man. Personally I think he has dodged a bullet though. I hope that he is able to get a trade that he excels at.

The negative and sneery comments are common amongst failed and passed over squaddies and fantasizing store corporals ..jealousy shines through ...stellar cadets are valued even if they need a bit of reminding they're starting at the bottom again..used to listen to duff soldiers sneering at the Junior Leaders too...amazing how jealous and negative some members of the forces can be.

Good luck to your son. I'd advise him not to apply for anything in the Home Office or any other government department. The selection processes are even worse. Just awful.

Unfortunately CCF is very different to services as a career. He could be in a situation where hearing loss could affect outcome not just for him but for colleagues.
I am sorry, but they reached the only possible decision.

Contact your MP, he will get their attention.

'You haven't come this far, just to get this far'

I totally empathise with the shit show he's been out through. Hopefully he finds his way to where he wants to be

I think you and your ds are perfectly entitled to be annoyed after 2 years of trying. Not a strange attitude at all to say they would be lucky to have him, and it does sound like their loss. I hope the new opportunity works out well for him.

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.

This

That sounds very frustrating and at this stage I would be encouraging him to put his energy into a different job/career.

Whats for him wont pass him by.

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

Yes. And have done. It paid off in the end.

@sadpapercourtesan

Am smiling at the thought of him going through basic training with Mummy's "remember darling, they're lucky to have YOU!" ringing in his ears though. That would have gone well.

Who's pissed on your chips?

🍋

"AIBU has always been robust" it wasn't in AIBU

It was never my dream that he'd be a soldier, why would any mother want that?

As a taxpayer though, I can recognise that this is ridiculous and this is one story I'd quite like the DM to pick up

@Shallowsubmarine

It sounds like both he and you think he deserves special treatment. Maybe he’s just not that high of a priority....

Come off it, since when did basic competence amount to "special treatment"?

My organisation uses Capita to handle recruitment. They are cringingly, chronically awful. From a candidate having a successful interview to starting work usually takes 3-6 months. Unsurprisingly the best candidates can't and don't sit around unpaid, they find jobs elsewhere. We are left with staff shortages that drag on for months (don't get me started on the maternity cover that they failed to recruit until 1 month before my colleague returned to work) and new recruits who aren't the prefered candidates.
Your DS has my sympathy.

Capita seem to be notoriously awful yet, we, the taxpayer, keep employing them?

@itsaratrap

Unfortunately CCF is very different to services as a career. He could be in a situation where hearing loss could affect outcome not just for him but for colleagues. I am sorry, but they reached the only possible decision.

Which "only possible decision"? The original decision to defer him based on this? Clearly not, as it was overturned on appeal. The decision to operate a 5 month appeal process? The decision not to offer a new medical date in time for September? The numerous decisions not to bother to return phone calls and emails? The decisions that people in charge will not keep promises to call back within defined periods? Why exactly are those "the only possible" ones?

Yep, it’s been frustrating reading all the snarks and snides who seem to relish an opportunity to stick the boot in in order to feel a teeny bit better about themselves. However, the kickbacks have been wonderful and the bully element hasn’t derailed the thread.

Op, hopefully your main takeaway will be that there is a lot of empathy for what your son is going through and the hideous and inept bureaucracy that seems to be blocking a valuable candidate. Also respect is due to you and the help and encouragement you’ve provided to help him achieve his dream. Like some others, I detest the latent sexism that goes into the ‘mummy’ comments. It’s crap and unfounded. Since when has being a supportive parent been something to snipe at, especially when your son has shown focus, resilience and perseverance? These are qualities any parent would be proud of.

I hope all goes well with his apprenticeship. They obviously have the foresight to identify him as an asset and are investing in his talent. I also hope he does consider the reserves which could potentially prove a fulfilling way forward.

@sadpapercourtesan

Am smiling at the thought of him going through basic training with Mummy's "remember darling, they're lucky to have YOU!" ringing in his ears though. That would have gone well.

Perhaps your username says a lot about you....sad...in that you think your quote is funny! It’s actually pretty pathetic that you are taking the piss out of the OP and her son, because a really keen youngster, who has devoted his teenage years to the Army Cadets, has been treated so appallingly.

I dare say you wouldn’t be feeling quite so “smilingly” if it had been your son who was treated like this!

My nephew joined the RN this year and will be trained to degree standard as an engineer. He is very spotty and absolutely loves it especially the competitive aspects between teams and problem solving. He too is not naturally academic but worked relentlessly to make sure he got grades to get in.

it’s all about resilience and commitment.

So the army chooses to employ an utterly incompetent recruitment company to allow applicants to demonstrate resilience and commitment, @Coldspringharbour? Come off it. They're not so dumb that they can't work out that the most likely result of that sort of policy would be that they actually deter the most competent candidates - not least because they are the ones who will have plenty of offers from other potential employers who know how to reply to emails.

If this sort of thing is a problem, he should also probably rule out the entire public sector!