partner wants to join the army

[tinatsarina]

so he's wanted to join for ages and so he's started working out to get his fitness levels up to scratch. he's 30 6ft and just under 12st. is it likely he would be accepted at his age? will i have to move to be with him? we have two kids and one on the way. we arent married but have been together for over 5 years though less than 10.

basically im just trying to suss out what our potential new life would be like. we're currently in northern ireland so i think we would have to move as there are no regular bases here.

I know two people whos husbands are in the army. Both of the women live in N.I permanently with their kids, while their husbands spend a lot of time in England etc and come back to N.I when they're on leave just. Their husbands can go months at a time without coming home but they both married after husband was in army so knew what they were signing up for so to speak

see i was unsure about that as i dont mind travelling with him but its uprooting the kids lives. i suppose we have to discuss that side more.

As it stands you'll need to be married to get married quarters (unless he's in one of the trial camps, I'm not sure what the army one is, they are changing the accommodation model to be more flexible but currently most people need to be married). These are houses provided by the MOD, cheaper than standard rent although not as cheap as they used to be.

You won't be able to live with him during training, but after that it's up to you. You don't have to move with him, you could stay where you are and he'd get some money to get him come home regularly, you could private rent near base or get a married quarter depending on eligibility. How often he is posted entirely depends on the trade.

Has he checked the recruitment page to check what trade he wants to do and the age cut off? The RAF have recently raised their age limits for quite a few trades. If he's within the age limit and can pass the training then being an older candidate is fine (if not frustrating living with mostly 18 year olds!)