Ds15 would like to join the army, I have no clue how to advise, any experiences please?

[TambourineShaker]

DS15 is very interested atm in joining the Infantry.

The family has no military connection so I'm at a loss for guidance.

We attended the Harrogate Virtual Open evening recently avd sll looks very intriguing.

He originally mentioned Sandhurst to be Infantry officer, but the early access to the Army - Sept 2022 is appealing.

I'm very content to step back and let him make his own decisions but I feel he'd be better suited to doing A Levels and joining at that point, but an reluctant to interfere with his life choices.

We have an informal appt at the Army Recruitment centre next week but after the chat with a member of staff there yesterday I'm worried.

Arthur's reassurances that it doesn't really matter what GCSEs DS gets as there's always a place in infantry for any level of achievement. especially if he applies in December (earliest he can) as there's limited spaces and that early application should get him in, if fitness and medicals are passed.

I'm exceedingly concerned that DS will just then have the ethos of "eff it, I don't need to work hard, I'm pretty much guaranteed to get into Harrogate".

This really concerns me.

Any advice, please?

Remind him he needs to think about post-army jobs?

Have you looked at Welbeck? Army VI Form?

Check out youtube army training blogs. Ds joined at 18.2. He was extremely fit..
The physical training is gruelling. Seeing what is expected of him will help your ds! Ds has been in 2 years now. Def the place for him.

How academic is he? A- levels? University? That makes a lot of difference in terms of when would be best to apply.

Has he had the opportunity to find out about other parts of the army/millitary? If you think he could do A-levels Infantry might not be the right place for him.

Sorry- hit send too soon. If you're not academic and just want to leave school asap, army post 16 can be a good option. A friend did that and got loads of employable skills (swim instructor, learned to drive an HGV, mechanics etc). However, other friends have joined post Uni as officers (did a year out with army and then got sponsored through their degrees in return for a minimum commitment) and that's probably a less brutal route in, plus you're starting in a much higher rank.

I thought WElbeck too but they closed down Jul 2021!

Well tbh that is true and is a likely attitude. However! If he wants to promote he needs to have requisite numeracy and literacy qualifications, if he wants to take advantage of a number of schemes which exist to help service personnel access further and higher education (for free or minimal cost) then he needs the GCSEs to gain admission. If he wants to excel then he needs to realise that being well rounded is the goal of excellence within the military, not just being super fit or whatever. He will learn about history through battlefield studies; he will learn critical thinking and decision making through the application of planning and orders. If he sets himself the mindset now that all areas are important then he will do very well as an infanteer. Unfortunately some approach with a mindset that they can run a sub 8 minute pfa and so have nothing more to do, but will find themselves passed over for promotion and wonder why!

@TambourineShaker - no advice but not sure if you meant to write DS’s name. MN should be able to edit it out for you.

What is it about the Army that attracts him? Is it a particular trade? Is it travel? Or is it the lifestyle? If he can narrow that down, it will be easier for the recruitment centre to advise him

My ds 20 has given up his carpentry job and has just done his assessment in litchfield,he desperately wants to join the paras. He ran his heart out and even though faster than the other 25 or so applicants,he was just short. He has been asked to run to try again again,or he can join the guards.
We have no army background and I have no idea but trying to support son!
It has been a long process with lots of meeting the guy at the recruitment centre, practising cognitive tests,phone calls from the army dr and then doing the maths test as he failed gcse. It's taken a year and hopefully son gets in.
Good luck to your son.

@Ellmau

Remind him he needs to think about post-army jobs?

That's a good point, thank you.

OP does his school have a career center or career counselor? It would be good to ask them for advice as well that he can compare with what the army says.

Has he said why he wants to go into the army? Does he play a lot of military themed games? Because if so, his expectations might be somewhat skewed.

My ds went in after 2 years at college doing electrician qualifications..

He also needs to think about what if he is invalided out either during training or later. More qualifications will give him more options.

@Etinoxaurus

Have you looked at Welbeck? Army VI Form?

He's found a scholarship scheme that pays him to take his A levels, if successful. But after seeing the Harrogate Open Evening (virtual) he wants to try that.

I'll have a look at the Army 6th Form options, thanks.

I'd rather have him at home for an extra couple of years, selfishly.

@Monsterpumpkins

Check out youtube army training blogs. Ds joined at 18.2. He was extremely fit.. The physical training is gruelling. Seeing what is expected of him will help your ds! Ds has been in 2 years now. Def the place for him.

Excellent advice! Will do.

Just found The Locker Online which looks useful.

@Insert1x20p

How academic is he? A- levels? University? That makes a lot of difference in terms of when would be best to apply.

He's more academic than the basic requirements for Harrogate, I think he wouldn't be feel stretched there, truthfully, but he can't see past the amazing facilities at there.

@porites

Has he had the opportunity to find out about other parts of the army/millitary? If you think he could do A-levels Infantry might not be the right place for him.

I'm going to keep looking, I've managed to set up informal chats with both Officer Team recruitment and soldier recruitment next week.

@porites

I thought WElbeck too but they closed down Jul 2021!

Ahha, okay thanks.

@Flogert

Well tbh that is true and is a likely attitude. However! If he wants to promote he needs to have requisite numeracy and literacy qualifications, if he wants to take advantage of a number of schemes which exist to help service personnel access further and higher education (for free or minimal cost) then he needs the GCSEs to gain admission. If he wants to excel then he needs to realise that being well rounded is the goal of excellence within the military, not just being super fit or whatever. He will learn about history through battlefield studies; he will learn critical thinking and decision making through the application of planning and orders. If he sets himself the mindset now that all areas are important then he will do very well as an infanteer. Unfortunately some approach with a mindset that they can run a sub 8 minute pfa and so have nothing more to do, but will find themselves passed over for promotion and wonder why!

That's all really interesting thank you. He's really working in his fitness at the moment, but there's a lot more to consider to be a persuasive candidate for both routes. Which we'll work on.

[quote NameChangeinHaste]@TambourineShaker - no advice but not sure if you meant to write DS’s name. MN should be able to edit it out for you.[/quote]
Ahha, nope that was a fake name for the person I spoke to at Local Recruitment Office.

@ThreeB

What is it about the Army that attracts him? Is it a particular trade? Is it travel? Or is it the lifestyle? If he can narrow that down, it will be easier for the recruitment centre to advise him

Another good point, think we'll have good chat over half term.

He's met a Grenadier Guard (Buck Palace bearskin etc) recently and I think this may have started him on this path.

@kerkyra

My ds 20 has given up his carpentry job and has just done his assessment in litchfield,he desperately wants to join the paras. He ran his heart out and even though faster than the other 25 or so applicants,he was just short. He has been asked to run to try again again,or he can join the guards. We have no army background and I have no idea but trying to support son! It has been a long process with lots of meeting the guy at the recruitment centre, practising cognitive tests,phone calls from the army dr and then doing the maths test as he failed gcse. It's taken a year and hopefully son gets in. Good luck to your son.

Thank you for all that info.

He's generally a path of least resistance chap, so the arduous entry process may mean that this isn't actually a goer.

Being without A levels (or equivalent) is a punchy call nowadays.