Army life - what's it really like?

[SirChenjins]

Apologies if this is in the wrong thread topic - I thought there was one called Armed Forces but can't see it.

I realise the question is very broad, but not really sure where to start. DS is 17 and in S6. He's not academic and loves to be on the go. He's a great lad, goes to school without question, quite quiet, easy going, hasn't given us any real headaches, has good bunch of friends, a lovely GF, lives for footy, and has a weekend job in a shop. He hasn't got a clue what he wants to do when he leaves school and has been getting quite annoyed if we mention it - if he gets cross he simply walks away and you know you've really pushed it.

Out of nowhere, he came home from school and said he'd been to a careers fair and had been speaking to the army guys. Seemed quite enthused, and was talking about the different careers he could have - seems keen on the engineer side.

DH and I know nothing about the army. FIL was in the RAF in the 50s and 60s but the army is a whole new territory. We'll go and speak to the local recruitment office with him but my initial thought is I don't want my boy to be sent overseas to get blown to bits. I've heard horror stories of bullying and suicides, and tbh I'm not thrilled by the prospect - but if that's what he wants to do we'll support him. What I don't want is a glossy recruitment centre promising fantastic opportunities and him get sucked into it all. Any advice/thoughts for a complete newbie to this?

This all sounds very positive - thank you all for sharing your stories.

A couple of things - is there career progression? I doubt he’ll be in at officer level unless he pulls his Highers out of the bag. Will going in at non-officer level hold him back? Also, can he leave before the minimum term? I’ll take a look at Harrogate but not sure if that’s just for the English regiments?

I would have a look on the army recruitment website to see all the roles available. It's really informative and tells you which qualifications you need for which roles.
It's a very long process, especially the medical side of it.
And no, once you sign up and complete training you have to stay in for 4 years.

I’d steer him against the infantry but if he’s serious about a trades route I think it’s worth considering further

a good friend has spent her entire career in the army, now technically retired but still working for them as a civilian. The moving around was very tough (esp when the kids came along) but she speaks highly of it. Done some amazing things, based in some nice places like Cyprus and Canada, never been anywhere near a war zone

I do think there is scope for joining as a
non officer but being promoted down the line, a question to ask

Definitely steer him away from the infantry.

Not much scope for gaining qualifications unless he goes down the officer route.

And yes, watch a few docu-series on BBC, like PP said, there was one on the BBC not that long ago.

I can't speak for the army but mine is a navy engineer and life is amazing. Still in training (2.5 years!) but loves it, been to sea once so far. Initial training isn't for the faint hearted, long days, 7 days a week physically and mentally tough but after 9 weeks that ended and been living a great life since. Ok is an officer but you can work your way up in the navy, many colleagues were in as ratings.

I agree about the infantry. As much as its prestige, he would do best with a trade and engineers or signals is a better place to be.

A short service commission would always be my recommendation, but from your OP it sounds as if he is not that way inclined.

Also perhaps not think about what to do afterwards in civilian life. There are other options, such as transferring to the US or Canadian armed forces later. It's rare but it can be done and the opportunities there are immense.

Most of all, he needs to get stuck in and enjoy it. Do all the extra curricular stuff and not spend off-duty time in the bars or local pubs. There will be lots of negative banter, but he needs to let that wash like water off a duck's back.

Not sure about army but DH has been in the marines for 22 years. He's been to war 6 times. Sierra Leone/ Iraq / Afghanistan.

Does he realise that he may have to go to war?

Dh is a Sergeant and the amount of lads that joined in the last 13 years are now leaving as they are concerned they will be in conflict.

Strange to think they've never been to war.

The Section is called Forces Sweethearts.

Hardly anyone uses it.

My friends son has just passed basic training, he joined at 16 now 17 and he is loving it.

DH is in the army, 25 years in. It’s an entirely different world to when he first joined. He has seen active conflict many times but it’s very unlikely to happen these days. For a start, they don’t have the money to get involved to that extent. Also the way they fight is very different. Cyber attacks are probably a bigger threat these days.

It’s a brilliant career. I’m not sure why there is so much resistance for the army and encouragement for the RAF. If your DS wants to join as an engineer, he will pick up many qualifications that will do him well within his army career but also on civvy street. As PP mentioned, many opportunities for travel and sports. He can join as a soldier now but if he shows leadership qualities etc there is the possibility to transfer as an officer. Although he may be just as happy as a soldier; they have very different roles.

The truth.

They will strip you of your identity
Turn you into a killing machine
The only outlet for your aggression will be alcohol
If there's a conflict (Afganistan for example) They'll ship you out wher you will see horific incidents. You' ll end up with PTSD for the rest of your life and will get some therapy that won't work.
If you get married while your in make sure it is to someone extra special because they will come second every time.

Thousands enjoy it and have long 20-30 year careers.

No personal experience but stepdad was in the army in the 60s/70s and loved the life. Talks about it often.
A friend’s child is currently serving, he’s 20, junior officer, and also loving it. An huge range of experiences already.

The armed forces is a good choice as a career path.
I'm RAF and would choose RAF over the army. If he is after a technical kind of role then he will be set up with lots of transferable skills and qualifications.

There is a lot of work now tri-service, but the RAF do get it slightly easier at times and do get treated more like adults.

There are pretty good posting opportunities and chances to get away on exercises, deployments, extra support tasks.

Promotion in the army is a little quicker as their careers are usually a lot shorter in length (20-25). But on the flip side, promote at the right points in the RAF and you can easily hit 35+ years if that's the aim.
Career prospects and development as just a normal ranker is good.

Current AFPS15 pension as non-contributions is really good compared to anything on civvy street. Not as good as the 75 or 05 but still good.

Accommodation wise, the RAF is slightly better than the Army, but both can be hit and miss dependant on location.

Leaving before the minimum term? Yes you can apply to leave before that point. I signed on for 12, extended to 20 after promotion and then applied to leave after the 8 year mark.
The support you get leaving if you have hit 6+ years is insane. A lot of support for job hunting, CV writing etc and funding to do courses etc. That in itself makes it worth it.

One of the bad points, is the food. Unfortunately the extra change to pay as you dine makes it pretty lacklustre as its pay per item. A lot of the army bases are covered by Sodexo who leave a lot to be desired. Ess/Iss who cover a lot of RAF areas are slightly better. But still the quality is lacking.
I now cook for myself as its cheaper, better portion and quality.

I didn’t join the RAF as an officer, and about half of my officer training course were also already serving but that varies quite a bit by course. You can commission from the ranks in any of the Services if you can pass selection. You don’t need to be an officer to have a good career though, anyone who has a bit about them, applies themselves and does well can get promoted and work their way up through the non-commissioned ranks.

There are pros and cons like for many other careers, but I’ve done 20 years and wouldn’t change it. It’s just really important to do your research.

This is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard.
Tell me you know nothing about the services without saying you know nothing about the services.

. My identity remains the same. Still a crazy metal head/rocker with a love of video games and light hearted comedy shows.
. Hardly a killing machine. Touch a firearm a couple of times per year for annual training or guard and that's it.
. Plenty of outlets available to talk through any issues. Padre, SSAFA, Welfare sections. Drinking culture isn't really what it was back in the 60/70s.
. Not all armed forces are front line so you can deploy on Ops and provide support without seeing much. Also it is pretty organised and planned out for hoto etc.
. Family comes first. Yes being married can mean extra upheaval at times with postings being every 3-5 years or for the army when the Battalion etc move. But if emergencies or issues arise, the support network has been great.

My son joined the army last year. Seeing him pass out as a paratrooper was wonderful and he has found his thing.
He studied carpentry at college and worked in a joinery but he said it never felt right.
So,in a year he has been posted to Oman and France and is currently in Louisiana USA . Then Sweden next. His friends in a different platoon(?) are helping in Ukraine .
He has got his HGV through the army already and other skills.
He says he won't mind going to war if he is ever called up and thrives in his new life.
He lives in Colchester when not posted away and comes home probably two weekends in four as all the others seem to go home too so he drives back here in the Midlands.

Another one that would encourage the RAF just because you are physically more distant should anything kick off. The same engineering opportunities exist. Culture wise it is more suited to your quieter types, RAF has been co-ed pretty much since the beginning and generally attitudes are a bit more modern. Same opportunities for sport and travel, food is the same.

Re the army and bullying, what happened at Catterick was awful but I do think it forced a bit of a cultural change and a more in-depth look at new recruits MH and the bullying - break you to make you culture, I knew one of the men that killed themselves and he had had a very traumatic childhood and didn't have strong MH from the outset so I can see how that combination of things could trigger what it did.

Your DS isn't signing up for life just 6 years to start with, so just three years longer than if he went to uni and in that time he'll have gained lots of independent living skills, academic and vocational qualifications, possibly travelled, great leadership and team work skills, will be physically fit, could do HE qualifications if he wanted to. Being deployed into high conflict areas overseas happens less although he might go out on humanitarian aid, more drones are used etc. Could save up ££££ and buy a house on exiting and generally be in a lot better position than others his age

More able bodies young people should think of the opportunities the forces offer rather than discount it straight away

He should join the cadets and get a bit of a taster. Much easier to back out of that than joining up and then finding it's not for him. I also think they're very particular about who actually gets to join. I know one woman who had to work really really hard to get her weight down to a certain level to be able to join. She wasn't fat at all, just a short stocky build. Now she's been in several years, maybe 10 and is very happy, it all worked out for her in the end. Perfect as it's all she ever wanted to do. They put her through her driving test and then HGV and no doubt countless other useful courses since then. She'd likely never have had the opportunity otherwise as from a disadvantaged background and working low paid jobs.

@SirChenjins

Which subjects is he studying at school, OP?

Is he looking to join in the autumn of next year?

I don’t know whether this helps, but joining the military is often in families - usually because the new generation grows up inside or close to the organisation and sees what their parent/older sibling/aunt/uncle/grandparent did and think it sounds positive.

I am an Army nursing officer; I earn the equivalent of a B8 or 9 in the NHS, work inside NHS hospitals to keep my clinical skills up, but also get to go away with work on exercise (to use military clinical skills), sport and adventurous training.. the variety is so much more satisfying than I can describe.

I would also add that as an engineering officer in their specialty, my dc knows they can walk into a six figure salary job in the private sector after 10 years or so, but in the interim they are paid well for age, more than many grad schemes with subsidised housing (£300 a month for a 3 bed) trips home paid for when working away and extra pay when working away too. (Don't just look at base salary).

Then there's at AT opportunities (adventurous training) including trips all over like skiing which counts as work! Parachute training, sailing in races, mountain training ...

Ok there's that war thing you have to bare in mind but war isn't like it used to be and as an engineer you are as likely to be in Britain/further back or doing useful humanitarian work even.

I was an army child. We moved every 2 years. The family structure was very traditional because dad was always away for 6 months+ on tours. We lived in army barracks, and there was a real sense of community you don't get in other locations because everyone was an "army spouse" so would really help out when needed. There is a lot of ceremony and doing things because a senior person told you to. You have to love routine and be very disciplined. You have to respect authority for no other reason than that they have a higher rank than you.

Retirement age is quite early (typically about 55) and obviously you will still be expected to have a career after this - not a lot of people can retire comfortably at 55. Adjusting to civilian life can be difficult, as normal work places aren't like army life. My father really struggled with treating people "below" him with the sort of respect that a normal work place allows. Army pensions are generous. You form real friendships with your colleagues because you go through things that other colleagues don't really have to experience.

It can be hard in families and children. You have to be prepared to have no family around when your children are very young, as you'll be moving around a lot. There's a lot of ironing involved...

I loved being part of that world but I didn't know any different. There were lots of family days on the barracks where we could sit in helicopters and try uniforms on.

My father has severe ptsd from what he saw. He really struggles. He was sponsored by the army to undertake a masters degree, and supported to do that full time while still "employed". There are a range of roles you can discover once you reach a certain rank, you can specialise in a wide variety of things.

No, Scottish regiments once they turn 18 too. If they come out of Harrogate before they are 18, they go to a barracks in England then when they are 18 they get the regiment.