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!

39 is very good - esp for infantry. You're right about it being competitive, especially since all the amalgamations - it's harder to get ahead than it used to be. It's usually a bit easier in the Corps but not that much - they really have to justify every 'early' promotion to MS boards (my husband used to work at the APC, so he knows the system well).

He's 34 now (35 next year) so his first look at pinking will be 2011 but he's not really expecting to pick up until 2012/13. Mind you, it all depends on the operational tempo and the PVR rate -he might be lucky!

Apologies to any very capable female officers - but I aint half seen some useless ones pink!!

I know what you mean hf.

Every year when the beige/pink/blue lists come out, the bitchy conversations start. It's an annual tradition best enjoyed over a glass of wine!

Very true!

dh gets first look next year lol, but has moved into the 'well, it depends what job they offer me' camp... picky picky.

and i can't decide if i'm very capable or not lol, but as i'm only a part timer these days it doesn't matter much

Ooh picky dh!!

Sorry Romy!

The closer my husband gets to the sixteen year point, the pickier he gets...

wow girls you have lost me lol!!
sounds like your dh's are all doing well though..

dh's aim is to work hard and to get as far as you can he seems quite eager the more its spoken about!

Thats interesting...t'would seem that there is definitely quicker promotion from Capt to Maj in some regiments in the Army compared to RAF from what you are saying (if you are good)...however it then seems quite slow from your conversation..even if you are a thruster. There is a possibility that dh will be picked up to Wing Cdr next year (more likely the year after) and he is same age as your dh jcscot....so quicker between those 2 ranks. However it took him 1o years to go from 21 year Pilot Officer to Squadron Ldr, which is considered quite quick in the RAF...but nothing to your DH's 6 years.

I remeber years ago when I was serving sitting in a car with some Guards Lt Col who looked about 12! I was an ADC at the time and he was staff officer to the Army equivalent to my Boss. My Boss and I were trying not to giggle as he and his Boss talked about 'bagging big game in Key-na' and how the London 'season' was this year.

Sometimes there is a real culture gap between the services......

Are you saying we're posh?

Yep!

Although I know that some regiments are posher than others.

Oh yes - a very definite pecking order!

Guards & Cavalry
Infantry - Scottish Regiments are definitely posher.

Won't say anthing more in case I get lynched!

tee hee.

we're def not posh.

all that oil lol. and not a horse to be seen.

what branch is dh notyummy?

we have our very own culture gap in the house. it's hilarious.

is there any rivalry amongst the wives?

Def not posh here either - Corps generally aren't. Mind you, the quicker promotion and the avoidance of poncing around London dresses up for the tourists makes up for that!

Rivalry between wives?

Well it depends what you mean by rivalry. Every camp I've lived on has been different. Just like in real life, you get cliques and groups and people who share interests. There will be people you like and people you dislike.

Definite rivalry between wives where I come from. Who can throw the best dinner party, who can cook the best souffle, who has the finest collection of single malt, how many labs/horses per family, the list could go on and on!!

I'm sticking with the RN - not that I've got much choice .

Where we are in MQs, there is not too much interaction and certainly no curtain twitching that I have noticed. Haven't had any invites to DPs yet, but we're giving a little one next week. It will be low key!

hf- we spent two years in Camberley and there was a definite rivalry there. Then we were at Shriv and there was no rivalry - depends on the patch, I suppose, doesn't it?

glasgow - two different book clubs based on how many garages you had.

ok, that's a slight exaggeration, but you had to be invited to join one, and after a trial visit, they had a secret vote to see if you could become a member.

rofl.

they invited me and i said no.

now i'm really hoping none of you lot were there all very nice people but a tad too exclusive for my tastes lol.

Glasgow - husband was in the APC for a year (late 2006-late 2007) but we didn't live on the patch.

Our first patch had a book club like that - run by scary Americans - the liked to read very 'proper' Christian literature. Not my scene, I'm afraid. I love reading and when someone told me there was a book club I asked how I could join and I was told to call this lady. I did only to be told that I had to be invited to see if I would 'fit'. Told them that, rather like Groucho Marx, I didn't want to join any club that would have me as a member. Never heard back...

I really miss patch life now - civvie street isn't as friendly.

jcscot I used to live at Camberly!!

No rivalry here......because there's no-one here!

we left 05 - really liked the patch - dead handy for the hospital lol