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?

@CaptSkippy

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 experience frim his older sibling is the careers advice at scholl isn't great. 😬

No he doesn't play war stuff really.

@TeenMinusTests

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

Ooh excellent point! The Guard he chats to might be getting invalided out soon, so this is a real outcome I can make him consider. A levels might be a better safety net for him to have as a back up.

Hi OP my DH has been in the army for 20+ years, he has had an amazing career, some highs and lows, and some losses, he has made some fantastic friends (and I have along the way too).

It isn’t for everyone, it is a way of life not just a job, but it can also set you up for life in terms of skills, confidence etc.

My only words of advice would be : life is much much nicer as an officer !

I know next to nothing about the services, but from the TV programmes following recruits, a number seem to fall by the wayside due to injuring themselves during training etc.

He needs to really think about this.

Infantry is a short career military wise. Injuries are higher due to the physical demand and also the nature of warfare is changing meaning swathes of infantry men are not required, regiments are getting disbanded and companies amalgamated. Modern infantrymen hate their jobs, they are sat about doing fuck all except training exercise after training excersice and pointless shit. Sign off rate is at its highest.

Unless you are looking for a Royal Marine or Paratrooper with possibility of SFSG (special forces support group) rotation....prepare for 7 years of Brecon, and block jobs.

Now, trades and intelligence. Yes! But these require good GCSE's. So this could be your way in to get DS to concentrate on his GCSE's. Language courses, military intelligence, remote piloting of drones, signals, REME with trades like mechanics and electrical engineering. They also allow transferrable skills to civvy street post career.

Can he join a local cadet group so he gets a good idea of what would be involved before committing himself?

https://armycadets.com

Dh has been in the army for 23 years and his advice is people that can get A levels (and if possible) a degree should and join as an Officer.

If that isn't possible he believes it's best to join something with a trade. A career which can be 20+ years but one day you will leave and it's easier if you have something to fall back on, although I know the infantry always seems the more 'glamorous' option to lots of young men.

How sad that Welbeck has shut down, my brother went there and had a great time.

Looking at wiki though I didn’t realise it was fee paying….my parents said it was free and wouldn’t pay for me to board anywhere!

I think a fair number at Harrogate AFC are still studying level 2 (same as GCSE) English and maths - the tutors are great, but I doubt even they wouldn't say they're aiming at A-level standard.

Might be worth watching squaddies at 16 if you haven't already:

www.my5.tv/show/raw-recruits-squaddies-at-16/season-2/episode-1

Definitely would say he needs to get his A Levels. My nephew dropped out at end of Y12, joined for the paras, did brilliantly and then a few months in had to be medically discharged.
He doesn’t want to go back to college, not many apprenticeships available and his options are VERY limited without Level 3 qualifications.

As a cadet instructor, I always recommend that people join as an adult when they are 18. It is better to get A levels and there is no guarantee he will get through training. I know a few that have wanted to join for a long time but have then either not been able to or left during training due to injury and haven't gone back.

A while ago I read Kelly Holmes' biography and she said that she needed certain qualifications to be a physical education trainer in the army and she didn't have them so she learnt to drive an HGV instead. It's well worth reading her book actually even if he just reads the early bit about her Army life.

So if there is something he really wants to do it would be better to get the qualifications first.

My ds started at Army Foundation College 6weeks ago. Absolutely amazing staff, they just received an Outstanding from Ofsted. I am delighted that my ds has gone to Harrogate at 16yrs, as he will receive 49weeks of training (and education), he'll then move on to another army college for a further 22weeks as he'll will still be under 18. So I know that when he joins a regiment at 18yrs old, he will have had the maximum amount of training and experience before committing himself to an army career.

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Firstly, he should join the Army cadets.
Why does he want to join the infantry, why would he not want to learn a trade? This would be much better for when he leaves the Army.
My brother is in the Army now and his advise to DS who wants to join is to go in as an officer and to get a trade. He doesn’t understand the rush to join at 16.

DS is at the junior soldiers college in harrogate. Have a look at their website

@Gwrach

"Unless you are looking for a Royal Marine or Paratrooper with possibility of SFSG (special forces support group) rotation....prepare for 7 years of Brecon, and block jobs"

What does this mean exactly? In relation to Marines?

Genuinely interested as my DC wishes to join the Marines after A levels and I suspect has an unrealistic idea of what life as a marine will be like .

Marines and paratroopers tend to get the more active service and also have access to Special Forces Support Groups.
However, covid and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan has meant it's not just the army waiting for action.
Marines do exercises on Brecon but also further afield (as do the army) ....not sure what the balance is like for the army.

16 is very young. Better to stay in education til 18 and keep his options open.

I went on an army ski trip with a chum in the army and was shocked by how young they were. At 24 I was one of the oldest and at 5ft 10 one of the tallest. Most were just kids. First time abroad etc. He had to help some of them open bank accounts etc.

I know nothing about the army but I suggest talking to someone who has left for whatever reason and take on their experiences, many homeless people are ex forces.

One thing I do know is that under 18s don't get certain postings ie to war zones (sorry I'm not sure of the details) and surely if you are joining the infantry that is what you want to do?

As for not needing GCSEs, well until he is 18 you can stop him joining so you can set minimum grades so if he doesn't get X GCSEs you won't sign the paperwork.