Teen DD wants to join the army

[Andformynexttrick]

Looking for first hand experience around the consideration of, preparation for and life in the army. DD 17 currently doing A levels, decent predicted grades but no desire to go to Uni. Deeply committed to army cadets having joined at ~14y & progressed through the training programme - currently working towards Master Cadet. Has a horror of a desk job, loves the cadet fieldcraft aspect (playing soldiers outdoors for us uninitiated folks). We are not a military family, but DH wanted to join the RAF (and prob regrets not doing so but that’s another story!) and DS 20 was a committed Air Cadet (wants to be a pilot) - but I digress . . .
We are obviously aware of the state of the world etc etc as is she (as far as a 17 yo can be) and I don’t want to discourage her just because of risk. What I do want her to know is the good/bad/ugly of the job of an army officer (infantry or armoured corps possibly?) in general and as a woman. So practical aspects eg living/travel as well as training (?Sandhurst & beyond). And any other things I don’t know that we should be asking. TIA
PS. I’m not quite sure whether this is the best topic to post on. Point me in the right direction if not.

Has your dd had any cadet experience at all? If not maybe she’d be interested in the work experience days you can sign up for to get more of a feel for the military side:
’Students keen to explore careers in the Army can book onto our four-day residential work experience. For 14-18 year olds . . . ‘ there’s an email address on the army careers page.
I can understand you’d be more apprehensive coming to the idea cold; I’ve had a 4 year lead in 😉
Good luck - they need to be as sure as they can be before embarking on a career

Also interested in this - DD has had a careers talk at school from a serving soldier who represented the Army in a sports team all over the world - this has really appealed to my DD who was thinking of the military anyway - does anyone have any experience of this and if so, how good do you have to be?

DD has been in cadets for 3 years. I think she thinks it will all be like camp.

Im just grateful she's august born so she wouldn't be able to start at Harrogate until April - well after she'd have to start at 6th form.

I think my biggest fear is that she's joining a culture that I don't know and don't understand and can't experience. It took a while to understand the cadet language and, quite frankly, she's only 15 and I'm not ready to lose her to a different world. Im also scared it will break her emotionally.

Of course she might well have to kill, with her bare hands if it came down to it.