whats the married quarters really like?

[YouNeverKnowIMightFlounce]

dh and i both applying to join army. w e are married with 2 dds

what are schools and houses really like?

thanks!

can i say thanks too!

you have helped me alot tonight i shall keep you posted on our choice

Do you know what, you will probably love it, forces life can be great! It is hard, very hard at times, but there are always people ready to rally around and help!

If you dont like it, you can leave, i cant remember how long the return of service is, 4 years? Am i right?

one more qu!
can i take my kitten???

yes 4 yrs

i want toi get involved with everything as much as i can
really get to know people etc

i just sooooo want a fresh start for my family

Have you thought about you joining and your DH staying as a civvie? it could work. Or you could become a childmidner, there is much need for them on military bases.

We lived on DH's wage alone for aobut 5 months, although admittedly he has been in for 22 years so it's not bad. Rent wise We pay £129.89 for what we were told is a grade 2, but we paid more than that in Fife for a grade 3, so not sure. Then CILCOT is £101.68, which I've jsut noticed ahs gone up, it used to be about £89,then Garage is £24.80 for a garage we can't actually use for the car! and DH also pays £10 "contribution" for his duty travel.

Good luck whatever you decide to do. Keep us posted.

husband is very much 'wanting to work and be the family support'

just spoke to him on the phone and hes taliking to boss tomorrow to get redundancy sorted.

i will be sneaking my cat in

yes childminder would be great option!

who was it who was already??
any advice please!!

Shoshe is a childminder.

ooooh shoshe all advice would be grealty appreciated!
my girls would love that they sover anyt other kid in kisses

does it keep you in your toes?
is there really a demand for it?

If it's just your husband who's considering joining uop you need to consider the following things:

1 - His age. He's at the upper end for joining the Army, so this might limit his promotion/advancement prospects. He's too old for officer entry (cut-off point is 29 for Sandhurst) and the cut off for soldier entry is 32yrs 11 mths.

2 - His qualifications. Depending on his qualifications/interests/experience, there might be a wider variety of jobs open to him. Once he joins his regiment/corps, he will do a variety of jobs, changing with each posting. So he needs to be aware that he can't join and expect to do just one type of job.

3 - Deployments. Plenty of these to go around at the moment, I'm afraid. There are a few people who have managed long periods without deployment on ops (my husband hasn't been away since Jan 2001) but it's a rare thing. Most people are deploying regularly.

1. Housing. The Army is under no obligation to house you while you are training, so you need to be able to afford to stay where you are while your husband completes his basic. That being said, exceptions can be made so you need to make sure you find out about that.

The Army is not without its downsides but it can be a terrific life and you will meet somewonderful people who will be friends for life.

Just one thing - bear in mind that for recruiters it's not about what the Army can offer you and/or your husband but about what he/you can offer the Army!

imo one of the best things about being in the services is the job security-if you are sick you still get paid, even if you have to get invalided out you get a long time to plan for it etc on full pay and may get out with a medical pension (disclaimer afaik!) It is a great feeling to know that nobody will tell you-sorry no job tomorrow!

Also although yes you do get seperated etc with tours and excercises you also get a generous leave allowance (6 weeks standard plus bank holidays or days off in lieu plus i think on a 6 month tour 2 weeks in the middle and 2 weeks at the end etc) At the moment there is also a bonus when you finish a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan(about 2000 pounds for a 6 month tour I think although I could be wrong).

So in a lot of ways although there are many downsides with the army (any branch of the services) there are many good things too. I suspect one of the things your husband will find hardest is having to take orders from guys 10 years younger than him, and obeying orders that will probably seem stupid.

Anyway good luck, and feel free to ask any more questions-my husband joined REME in 1995 and is permanatly attached to the Air Corps. We got married in 96 and have been posted in Germany, Northern Ireland and UK so have some experience!

hi all
will try to answer if i remember right!

yes age is a factor for him as he is now 32 (turned 32 in october)
he did do well in gcse's but i don't think he has a levels!? will ask him he's at work at theminute!

deployments are what scare me the most as obviously there is also that what if

with regards to housing hes in steps to take redundancy so will keep us afloat for some time... dependant on where training was etc was thinkoing of either saying with family (possibility?) or rent out somewhere smaller and lots cheaper?

with regards to the recruiter yes its worrying... i am trying my best to get as many views on it as possible... is that possible! lol

husband is worried about the age thing and being barked orders at.... is that likely to be wirth the training mostly? (sorry ignorant me )

the seperation worries me i wont say it does not, we are incredibly close and very happily married... as i am sure many of you are! how do you cope??

trockodile.... what does your dh do? is he always in danger when away (ignorant again!)
being abroad doesnt affect me to much obviously away from family... the girls are young 3 and 1 so are adaptable at this age

when they are deployed away how long are they home normally?

They will always be barked orders at! Just have to grin and bear it. Discipline is key in the Forces after all.

Being deployed to Iraq/Afghan could mean they are away anything between 3-9 months or longer. They would get a break back to UK half way though.

oh hubby home its the
royal logistics corps all bit mind boggling because on the site
driver air despatcher

god its all so scary

He is an avionics technician by trade (deals with the electronics in helicopters) although as he moves up the chain he deals more with manning/paperwork/planning deployments etc. There is always some danger, but he would usually stay in camp, but sometimes would have to go out in a cab-eg to air test or fly somewhere to repair a helicpter.

Deployments are not usually longer than 6 months and can often be for less depending on his trade/cap badge. For a 6 month tour you usually get 2 weeks R&R (Rest and Relaxation) at somepoint where the soldier would be flown home. Dates for this will probably change at least 3 times and then he will arrive home unexpectedly on the day that the house is a mess and you haven't shaved your legs!

Don't know enough about training to say for sure but your dh should expect a bit of shouting etc in training afaik but not bullying. If he is physically fit and knows when to keep his mouth shut he should be ok.
How fit is he? Can he run and carry weight, do press ups etc?
HTH -keep asking questions!

yes very fit. and has very active job. so yes quite fit lol

hes always wanted to do some kind of forces.

hes also quite laid back and hold his tounge. hes a man i am very proud of

is it easy to make friends on camp??
so many people keep saying RAF are better for homing etc etc

What does your dh do in real life?

Easy to make friends on camp - although some you may not want to be friends with! LOL

he is a ramp co-ordinator team leader at the airport does alot of loading of passenger and cargo aircraft, pushes the planes allover place and does all other equiptment etc.

i make friends fairly easy... talk to anyone me!

who would i not want to be friends with odd balls?

I think all that hf means is that, just like on civvie street, there are all kinds of people in the Army, some of whom you will like and some of whom you won't. Nothing more than that, really.

my dh has been in 10 years but is leaving in the new year woohooo dont expect it to be anything ike you imagine its bloody hard and getting harder as they are away more and more a year not just deplyments , courses, excersies ect my hubby has been in hi current post for just under a year and spent 9 months of it away and to be honest we would rather be skint in civvie street than skint in the army like we are now and any couples i know in the army one norm ends up leaving as the pressure is too much as the are often apart and yes dental nurses do have to depoly and they wont give any special treatmant to mothers iykwim?

he should look at Air Movements in the RAF too... i recruit for the reserves
so if he changes his mind about being a regular or wants to do it part time, you know where i am lol...

benandalex thats worrying post as thats exactly what i dont want to happen.