Army knowledge

[Sarawonders]

Ds studying history at Camb (on course for a 1st) wants to join the army on graduation. He says either intelliegence corp or logistics are where top, top grads apply to. Is he right?

Intelligence obvs. Forgive typo

The Intel Corps are very highly thought of, and really do some interesting work.

Thanks for replying. I am amazed DS interested in army. Not being precious but he is so very clever (at Camb and on course for a first) so world his oyster. Intelliegence corp only require a 2.2 from any uni…

DS is in the Int corps and loves it. He has worked with some amazing people often on his own more or less. So he has been the only person from the British army deployed with an American contingent for example, which might not suit everyone. The army is also paying for his master's which he is studying for part-time. No offence at all, but it won't your sons degree that sets him apart. Sure they need to be clever but as you say the right person with a 2:2 will also get in. They looking for so many other things as well -leadership, fitness, resilience, adaptability, independence etc. My boy is not so amazingly clever as yours, but he is very personable, very strong minded, very resilient, super dynamic.

Your boy sounds wonderful. Sorry if I have painted a one-dimensional pic of my son - he is super clever but not a nerd and well-rounded like your DS (he is a qualified football ref, prof lifeguard, head cox)

Absolutely, that is also the sort of thing they like to hear about. The Int corps seems very flexible to me, he is friends for example with all ranks within the corp. Lots of women involved at all levels. Very collaborative, he often calls the others colleagues, which seems a bit weird to me. They don't seem particularly hung up about appearance. So when he deployed with the royal lancers for example the poor sergeant was beside himself about DS hair and beard, when no one in the Int corps had cared. Good luck whatever he decides.

Not logistics. Not high status

@Revengeofthepangolins that is good to know, thanks. DS has been told by Camb that Intel is the one to go for on brain power but Logistics is best for transferable skills if and when you leave army (logistics corp get snapped up by retailers)

If you want "high status" (and a chance at seriously senior rank) then it needs to be infantry (maybe artillery, tankie). Status is related to being in active fighting role

He needs to talk to an Army careers office, not a Cambridge careers adviser.

The "top top" grades, by number are in the Engineering Corps, or the professionally qualified corps (such as doctors, lawyers, dentists, vets and padres) but they're not particularly high status either

What does he actually want from a military career?

Status aside, what does he want to DO?

Where does your DS see himself after the Army, or is he thinking of a military career? I think he should work backwards from his career goals.

Eg for Civil Service Intel sounds great preparation but Logistics is possibly also a good choice. For career military he presumably wants a combination of interesting work and good prospects. Etc I agree with @mpsw that talking to an Army careers officer is an excellent idea

If he wants to go into retail, and reach senior leadership, then he might do better joining a retailer's graduate entry programme.

Those who join from the loggies by and large work in retail logistics, and can aim to be the distributions manager. I don't know what profile that role/function has in the wider organisational chart. Has he looked in to it? Is that where he wants to be?

And does he want to live in Grantham? The HQ of the RLC is on the outskirts, and it's no coincidence that a number of free-standing commercial distribution/logistics firms have HQs and depots near there too.

The big problem with the army is that you don’t apply for a role but for a generic officer post, so you’re selected for Sandhurst but not for a regiment or corps. Once you’re there you’re then competing for a place in (say) Int Corps part way through the course so you might end up not getting selected for your preferred role. Hence why the army selection process can be a bit odd compared to the RAF and RN because it’s selecting generic officers.

Thank you all so v much for replies. To try to answer questions and seek further guidance: DS is so clever but does not want a desk job. Under no circs he says. He wants to earn a reasonable salary but is not money-motivated. Above all, he wants work-life balance (to be able to football ref and row/cox) and camaraderie plus he likes structure and working for the greater good - hence armed forces. He is thinking of a military career in itself for long term - not with a view of gaining transferable skills and leaving (sorry, I didn’t know that when I posted but he has now read this thread and clarified).

further to @Definitelyrandom post and his own research, he is gravitating towards navy (warships not submarines!)

If he doesn't want a desk job he'd be much better off not going in as an officer, he can always go for his commission later but he'll have a much more hands on role going in as a private. If it's like the RAF anyway, RAF officers seem to head straight to a desk after training, unless they're pilots of course.