To not tell Army Cadet teen who has heart completely set on a military career that they won't get in?

[CadetMum]

DC is an army cadet and doing amazing there, the instructors have said they can see potential in them and dc has even been put forward for promotion alone. It's all they want to do. Either a medic or a dog handler.

Cadets is the only thing they enjoy and the only time they will happily leave the house.

The problem is there isn't a chance DC will get in due to some SPld, recent school anxiety which will likely result in medication and very probable Asperger's as well as a history of inhalers. Although not had asthma problems in years DC was given an inhaler last year for a chest infection.

It's all they want to do but looking at the entry recently I extremely.doubt they would be taken. Do I let them try and find out for themselves or do I try steer them away. I have tried before in a oh this looks good kind of way with no success.

If anyone knows any military type similar jobs I would be grateful for ways to point DC!

You DC might want to avoid police it they want to be a dog handler- a lot of forces are cutting dog teams to the bone.

It's interesting because a lot of parents "push" for diagnosis when it won't make any real positive difference to the child and can be a real disadvantage to have the label later in life

You can't get a diagnosis simply because the parents "push" for it, it's actually quite difficult to obtain a diagnosis and in most areas you can't even get a referral for assessment unless you meet certain thresholds and criteria.

The positive difference a diagnosis makes for a child is that the "label" gets them the support they need in school, helps them to apply for DLA if they need it (a diagnosis isn't essential as it's based on care needs but it helps smooth the process), gets them access to specific therapies and interventions, relevant support groups, and so on.

No one seeks a diagnosis for shits and giggles, they seek it because it's needed.

Ulcerative colitis is on the list of conditions for exclusion. Would you make such a comment about a parent who sought a diagnosis for their child's intestinal problems? That they disadvantaged their child by pushing for a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis?

Ohhh you are all fantastic thank you.
Just going back and reading everything.

Will the recruiters just talk to me?

Bestsellers massive fingers crossed for your boy!

Adult volunteer is definitely something we are looking at if it all goes pear shaped.

Thanks so much Tiscold will PM when I get home.

Thanks for the suggestions. Will do some reading .

You're talking about your experience Ewits. If you work in the professions you do meet people who want a label for their child. Not everyone of course but it is far more common than you think.

Sadly the DLA thing is a big motivator. I once had a parent scream at me that it was all our fault that her DC had to share a room because we wouldn't (couldn't) provide the evidence she needed for her application.

Other people want it to justify behaviour or in a warped way because having a child with issues somehow makes them special. It all very sad but it definitely happens.

Yes Cadet Mum they are normally quite welcoming on the AFCO, just ask to speak to someone.

Good luck.

I would tell them, I went to join the Australian Navy when I was 16 and it wasn't until I was at the recruitment office i was told I couldn' because I needed to be off my asthma medication for two years and I had only been off them six months and I was never off it again for a period of two years . I had done work experience in the Navy and no one had told me me that, to say I was disappointed is a understatement it was all I ever wanted to do, it still disappointments me 30 years later and I do wonder what if.

OP, are you London based?

I think there is actually a chance, but he will need to not go on any medication. I got turned down for army reserves not due to my also mild asthma but because I had been on citalopram (ADs).

Also the private sector in the areas he wants to work in is growing a lot with them taking on more roles that the army once did There are absolutely loads of options outside of the traditional forces route.

As someone who didn't try for the thing I really wanted (serious full time dance school) because I thought I wouldn't get in, I can tell you I've always regretted it. I am fairly sure I wouldn't have got in, but there is a tiny part of me that thinks I don't know that and that part wonders what it might have been like, and what could have happened, and wishes I'd tried. If I'd tried and not got in, then yes, that would have been horribly disappointing, but I could have then moved on. And I think that if I hadn't tried because my family told me I wouldn't get in, then I would be resentful.

Up north Mad.

OP, is there a particular regiment your DC is interested in joining?

Because of Capitas' failure to deliver, many regiments now have their own recruiting teams that are made up of regular soldiers. They will be happy to chat with your DC informally and give you a more realistic idea of what your DC can expect.

Most regiments have a Facebook page where you can contact them directly without going through Capita (many AFCO's are now staffed by Capita).

DS is currently training with the royal navy. He mentioned that one of the recruits at the selection board last year was very open with other candidates about his Aspergers - and DS heard that he too was selected to progress to initial training.

Try to avoid medication for school related anxiety if possible. I know how hard it may be (I was on meds for a couple of years for anxiety / depression / PTSD), but if he can get through it without them then it will put him in good stead.

I know someone who has dyspraxia. We were worried about him going in the army, but it actually did him good and he’s now really successful. He handled it all amazingly.

CadetMum, there's an AFCO in Middlesbrough but there's a link to all of them here. They tend to have all three services represented at them so don't worry about it being an RAF map.

www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/recruitment-centres

Being an ODP or Paramedic or other ambulance staff member is not as exciting as you may think. It's actually quite mundane and sedate most of the time.

Being an ODP is definitely not cool either.

The army especially have been very keen to change recruitment in recent years. Out with the FreeTommeh poppy fixated types for more professional, thinking people and more women (thus that advert that upset people who call everbpdy else snowflakes).

So this could work in his favour I should have said.

Why are so many people assuming it's a boy? OP has been careful not to say.

Because of Capitas' failure to deliver

Really? It doubled the applications from last year

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/08/snowflake-generation-recruitment-adverts-see-applications-join/

Prison service is also an option for dog handler. They will have to do regular prison officer training first but maybe another path to consider.

My dh wanted to join the forces when he was a teen but his history of asthma excluded him. He joined the prison service instead when he left school and has been there ever since.

HMP gets a rough ride and isn't as well recognised a service as the forces, police, fire and nhs. But for a long term career, dh has certainly had that and plenty of variety within it. You get out what you put in.

apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join/medical

There is no mention of autism/aspergers on the Army's list of medical conditions that will prevent someone from joining. There's also no mention of anxiety and depression (which I'm sure there was a few years ago when I looked into joining!).

If he's not regularly prescribed inhalers then I don't think it should be a problem.

Best bet is to go into a recruitment place and ask them, they're very helpful. Hope she/he gets on well .

Our eldest DS has just been rejected from a gap year commission role due to a locum GP prescribing propranolol for exam stress during his GCSEs. He didn't take these tablets and had literally only been to the doctors 3 times in his entire life prior to that.
He has been in cadets for a full 5 years. Loved every minute with them. Promoted several times.
Also really sporty and competes in a team sport at national level.
Capita are idiots
He was absolutely gutted.
He has decided to train as a nurse and will apply to join the OTC at uni. From there it's his intention to reapply to the military as a qualified professional. Hopefully his stress at GCSE will be far beyond him then.

I really hate Capita. Makes my blood boil when I see all the Army recruitment adverts even though they are rejecting excellent candidates.
Maybe your DC could appeal the decision, or could train as a professional first and then apply. Civilian alternatives could be outdoor pursuits instructor? PE teacher, prison service or an NHS role.

I dont mean to sound harsh but those entry requirements are there for a reason, how much worse is getting shot at constantly in a strange environment with no sleep going to be than exams?
PTSD is already a big problem, I could understand the army rejecting people with pre-existing mental illness like me.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking

Applications have increased because the regiments have had to invest their own manpower and resources to attract recruits.

Unfortunately they are still beholden to the Capita processes, which can then take the best part of a year. Many recruits give up and take other employment because they can't afford to wait that long.