To want to somehow stop Dd from joining the army

[Witchonastick]

Dd is currently y11.
Her choices for A-level are quite academic and at the moment its borderline if she’ll get the GCSEs to be able to do those subjects.

She’s told me her back up plan if she doesn’t make the grades is to join the army!

I know it’s possible to to have a good career within the army, but she’s talking about infantry.

Normally I’d never want to stop her doing whatever she wants to do, but the army?
And infantry?

I could cry with worry over this, but it how or if I could talk her out of it.

I live near the Army Apprentice College (basic training for the youngsters) and they all seem to have a fab time!
Just the other day I drove past some girls marching in the pouring rain and heavy wind and yet they all seemed to be loving it!
They look so tiny!
They're well looked after in the town too, all the local businesses give them heavy discount etc.

I take your point though.

There was a tv show about the AAC a couple years ago. Might be worth trying to find it and have a watch?

@JJTWhite When you say "Here we are now" do you mean AAC? If so, howdy neighbour!

@Jimdandy I'm in Harrogate. Your son is in a lovely town who all look out for the lads (& lasses of course) from the AAC. The taxi drivers especially!
Whenever I pass them marching they always look to be having the best time! Bless 'em! 👍🏻

Well done @exLtEveDallas for making it to Warrant Officer as a Mum as well! Fair play.

And well done to @cazza7777 s daughter for going for infantry, it's bloody hard going!! 👏

I'd ask her her reasons for wanting to join the army, if it is purely a back up plan then it doesnt sound like she is committed to it so I would show her videos of basic training, start waking her up at 6am and make her do work outs ect and see how she feels then

@Insaneinthemembury thanks for the lovely comment...it is hard that's for sure..my Daughter is making me so proud..just being there and being the minority takes alot aswell..
Anyone who joins our forces are all amazing in my eye...hats off to them all.. xx

The Royal Navy is the senior service. I would recommend joining as an officer.

It can get quite tedious but your daughter can always leave quite easily if it’s not for her.

The Uniformed Public Services course at colleges covers all sorts of things to do with sport, armed forces, police and also law. This may be an option for your DD to look in to.

Get her to consider the navy- you can guarantee she won’t get killed. Being a sailor is fun, trust me

Ps. The army treat women like crap. I know from experience. I was in the Navy but had a few jobs alongside the army and the attitudes of officers and troops towards women is awful. Harassment, bullying and misogyny is still rife in the army.

I worked with the army, I am a woman and I was treated really well. By officers and non-commissioned. They were like brothers to me and there was a real sense they 'had my back'. The banter is pretty raw but I am quite unshockable.

Always interesting how people are always worried about their family/friend being killed while in the army but never say anything about the civilians in other countries that they are helping to kill.

Get her to consider the navy- you can guarantee she won’t get killed Try telling that to the survivors of HMS Coventry or the families of the 61 killed in Afghanistan.

@CherryPavlova sorry didn’t mean to disrespect- it’s actually a quote from a spoof navy advert ages ago which I forgot to reference... my fault. I admire the bravery of my predecessors and did not mean to cause offence. Xx

@okiedokieme fair play to your daughter! Respect ✊

@AgeLikeWine er.... medics? There’s lots of female medics that have been right in there

No offence caused at all Herbalteahippie but I’d hate someone to join RN assuming, incorrectly, it was a soft option. I think all armed forces in UK offer amazing careers, for the right people. Not always an easy career but certainly rarely boring.

Don’t let her join the armed forces.
Right wing shits, who want to kill people.

Dontevenstart. I have to say, my son and most of his peers believe they are saving lives through humanitarian support rather than having a desire to kill. Most are courteous and pleasant young people with a commitment to service and global security.

Lol!

@CherryPavlova I’d guess those of whom you speak are officers?
I believe you to be very naive in any case.

I thought of your thread when I was reading this story. This is American troops but a similar thing could affect British. Goes to show there's no such thing as a safe job in the military.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51243888

Dontevenstart Yes, Officers mainly but a mix through rugby teams. I’m not sure I ’m that naive, I know full well there are those who are a disgrace to those they serve with.
There are bullies and even some who would happily torture but that’s not my experience of those I’ve met. Most are decent young people.

@motherheroic which civilians?

After 10 years in the armed forces helping civilians, rescuing children from chemical attacks, liberating villages from the Taliban so kids could go to school, helping to liberate my
Mt sinjar from isis so medicine and food could get thro...
The armed forces does a not nice job to help some of the most vulnerable, oppressed and desperate people in the world.
The Yazidi people on my sinjar were very very grateful for our help.
But hey dont let facts get in the way of your ignorant and incredibly ill informed opinion about what our security services and armed forces ACTUALLY do

Mt Sinjar! Not My Sinjar.