Can single parents join the TA?

[Scaryfeet]

Hi folks

I was in the army cadets when I was a teenager and planned on joining the army. However, I made some wrong choices and had my children young.
Recently, I was randomly killing time and browsing the internet when I came across an as for the TA. I'd never considered the TA before but now my children are getting older I'm wondering if it could be a possibility. Does anyone else have any experience/advice regarding this?

Many thanks, Jo.

I'm sure you can but there's no special exemptions for single parents so you need some other support if you were to be sent on tour

Yes, but you will be expected to sort your childcare.

You can't predict the chances of a lengthy tour, but you will need to be able to attend regularly, especially when on the training pathway (else you might become time expired for parts and have to go back to the beginning) and this will include weekends and camps. Do think about the practicalities of that.

But if it is manageable, go for it.

Thanks for the replies. The weekends and annual camps and things are no problem. Obviously I need to think about mobilization, how did others handle this? How long was it for you?

I should have added, by the way, that my children will be able to split the time I could be away between their dad's and grandparents. Not quite sure what I would do with my dog yet!

Yes I am the TA and there are plenty of single parents in my unit. I however, am having to resign due to DS only being 2 and a half and ex being a twat and won't have him when I need him to have him for training. You will enjoy it. I always have and the social side is great fun plus lots of opportunities to do skiing, sailing etc etc

Go for it. They are on a recruitment drive at the moment.

Thanks Happylander, it's great to hear from someone with experience. I'm not worried about training and things, I know it won't be a problem for childcare. Do you have any experience of being mobilized? I've read it's for up to 9 months at a time?

No it is not up to 9months. I have gone away for 3 months then extended it to 6 but this was before children and I am also a Nursing Officer so we have the option to only deploy for 3 months not sure about other trades.

There were people on my deployment with kids and it was fine. Communication is good and getting better so very easy to stay in touch. My friend has just come back from a 3 month employment and although her 2 year old was a bit clingy at first she isn't now and she is a single mother.

They might include pre-deployment training in your actual deployment and for some trades this could be 9 months if doing a 6 month deployment but it still seems a bit long to me. generally you end up doing more weekends the nearer your deployment.

What trade were you thinking of?

From the little research I've done it seems it's usually up to 6 months tours, but with the length of time of training and R&R and all that, to allow up to 9 months away.

The only corps near me are engineering and medical. I've not looked into it fully yet because I have to make sure it's feasible in the first place before I make plans and things :)

Also do you need to be superfit? I'm nowhere near fit enough at present, need to get on that before I even apply!

You need to be able to a mile and a half in around 11-13 mins depending on age and at least 20-30 press ups in 2 mins, at least 40 sit ups all depending on age. You also need to do a combat fitness test which is 8 miles in 2 hours at a fast pace carrying 15kg for medics and 20-25kg for other branches. Sorry I am not a bit more accurate. You should be able to find a training programme on the Army website.

Try and go medical as they only do 3 month tours unless you volunteer for more. This could however, change with the new plans for more TA less regular and all the redundancies.

Just call up the local units and ask to visit and have everything explained to you they won't mind.

Okay thanks, no that's very useful to me! Gives me an idea. I'm nowhere near able to do that at present lol.

Oh that's great to know about medical. I really would love to volunteer for tours, and 3 months would be much more suitable for me.

I will get in touch with them, thanks again!