Anyone else's teen thinking about going in the Army?

[mumblechum1]

DS has been Army mad for a few years now. His plan is to join as an officer after Uni (he's lower Sixth now). I was anti at first, and his dad is still anti, but my view is that he's got this passion, this life plan all worked out, and I'd rather he did something he loves than sit around unemployed after Uni which is what a lot of people seem to do.

Anyone else in the same boat?

However-you can only advise-the decision is theirs.

I think it has changed drastically in the past few years which is why so many senior officers are leaving. We have had some fun times too, but the balance has well and truly tipped (housing, schools, pension, allowances) and I was just trying to say the strain it puts on all the family now is not worth it. Probably still fine if you are young and single but get out before you start a family.

I agree with janinamc it is a worthwhile job for a few years but maybe not these days as a career. We wouldn't want our DC to join and we were both in the army ourselves. The annoying part for us is the general of lack of concern for the families which is meant to be part of the military convenant
mumble do check how many join straight after A levels. The average age for Officers being commissioned is mid 20s I believe. They often like people to have done something else first (not necessarily University) before Sandhurst so that they can mature.

janinamc "Truly, as a daughter of and now a wife ( so 40 plus years experience) I really would never, ever recommend it"

But as a daughter and a wife, you are not IN the Army. So this bears no relevance to the OP and her DS.

My quarter is old, but it is big, comfortable and warm. Market rent in my area is approx £1K per month for a 3 bed (my friend is renting a 2 bed for £800) - I pay £120. NOWHERE would you get that in civvy street. I have served for 21 years and have lived in 12 places. Since marriage (8 years) I have lived in 4 quarters. I've never had a bad one - and I miss my last Grade 1 quarter every day! The worst single accommodation I lived in was truly awful, but I only paid £33 per month for it. More money to spend on beer - so I didn't care!

DH and DD have an NHS Dentist. DD is in a lovely church school. DD starts Brownies next month.

I have spent time with the R Signals, Cavalry, Infantry, RLC and lots of 'joint' units. The best time I had was with the Cav.

There are feral children everywhere and in all walks of life. There are racist people everywhere and in all walks of life (although any unit that would allow a racist soldier to continue needs its arse kicking - it is very very easy to discharge them)

Oh and I currently work 0830 - 1630 with one 24 hour duty a month, for a bloody good wage.

Yes it has been bloody hard at times, but soldiers (and sailors and airmen) work are and play harder - and I dont regret a single day of it. If DD or DSD wanted to follow in my footsteps I would not discourage them.

Thank you all so much for your input, which is all welcome, warts and all!

DS isn't planning to spend his whole career in the army; I think the plan is to do 4 to 6 years after graduation, so he'll be about 27 when he leaves, and then who knows what he'll do.

I'm friends with someone whose dh is an Army doctor. They own their own rather posh home now in Surrey but before that visited them in their MQ in Sandhurst which was a four bed detached with a large garden. Not plush, in fact pretty basic, but it was very cheap. I guess the idea is that if you're earning £45-50k and only paying £120 per month for quarters, you can save for a house elsewhere and rent it out to pay the mortgage. Not sure whether ds will even get to that stage, though.

Hey mumblechum - think I'd better warn you - When I joined I was absolutely certain that I wasn't going to do any more than 5 years.

Then I signed for 8 to qualify for an uplift in wage.

Then I wasn't going to do more that 12 (to qualify for half pension and get an £8K pay off).

Then I had DD and was going to get out once I'd 'paid back' my maternity leave.

Then I was going to do 22 so I would get my gratuity and full pension.

Now I'm going to do 24 because there are no jobs on the outside!

(damnit!!)

lteve. You have been so helpful to me on these threads.

DD is still keen on going in either the RAF or Army (starting to veer towards the army due to all the RAF cuts, and she thinks she will have more opportunity). Was keen to go to Sandhurst but is now thinking of going in as a private after 6th form, either that or study armed forces at university and go in as an officer after that.

She also only plans to stay 3 years or so, as her ultimate wish is to be a copper.

I have no experience of army life, and know nobody who is in or has been in the army, so I have always been a bit apprehensive, however she has been going to air cadets for 2.5 years and has loved it. I think it would be good for her.

I have suggested that we go and speak to someone in the army careers office just to see how the land lies however she is mortified at the thought of going there with her mother. Those insightcourses look interesting, though.

getorf, you can study armed forces at Uni?

Not sure whether to tell ds that, he's enough of a barmyarmybore as it is!

There's no way that ds would go to any of these meetings with me - tonight he has another interview with someone at the TA centre and I;ll just drop him off. He is 17 though, so to all intents and purposes an adult.

Yes, dd was looking for military history/war history courses (which is probably what she will end up doing, either that or geog) and found that a couple of unis do armed forces and/combat engineering (Wolverhampton) and at the end of it you get a guaranteed place as an office.

courses.wlv.ac.uk/course.asp?code=LW031H31UVD&tab=desc#courseNav

You' re absolutely correct LT Eve that I am not serving and I certainly would not wish to offend those that do...although it often feels as if one is an unpaid social worker for the Army! I was only trying to make the point that I think, for a lot of serving people, they feel their families are put under increasing strain due to cutbacks etc and this then detracts from their job satisfaction. I think you have been very lucky regarding your SFA, schools, etc as this has not been mine, nor a lot of friends/associates' experiences, especially in recent years.
I did smile when I saw your hours though and can honestly say that I don't know anyone that works that in the Army! Please can you tell us all where you are so our partners can apply? Have just had dinner with friends this pm and her DH left home today at 7am, came in at 1830, dinner, quick chat with DC and then off again saying, "Home about 11". This is NOT abnormal at this unit...nor in my (partner of) experience others. And before you ask, no, it was not a function but like a lot of soldiers these days he is covering 2 jobs. DH covered 3 posts for 6 months recently. And this is another reason so many are leaving.
So again, apologies to serving members and back to the OP, it is true, probably if you try to discourage them it will make it worse and yes, if they feel passionately then great. But, was just being honest and saying IMO I would not want my DC to put their lives on the line for such scant reward and regard for (any future) dependants they may have.
And am still smiling Lt Eve...do you job share? :)))))))

Totally agree with you janina - we're a military family and I'd hate it if my kids wanted to join up.

Obviously, it's not my choice, but I can't pretend I'd be happy they were doing it.

Luckily, I don't think they will go down that route, although Ds1 is in cadets. He has seen sense and changed his career plans, thank God.

My youngest wouldn't entertain the idea either, so I feel fairly confident he won't do it.

I think I would want a refund on DS's school fees :) hee hee! Seriously, I accept the sentiment that they have to choose themselves, but think mine will be put off anyway as they cannot believe how little their Daddy gets for what he has to do. DS loves CCF so who knows...but I stand by my point that most serving (with families) these days are very unhappy and planning their exit sooner rather than later. Still smiling about the hours:)

Janinamc, I wasn't being snippy about you not being in the Army. It's just that Serving is a very different experience. I've also no doubt that families sometimes 'have it worse' that the soldier - on Ops I'm concentrating on ME and MY TEAM and nothing else - the world tends to disappear. It's an experience like no other, and I loved it. You can't really explain until you've been there - until the adrenalin kicks in. Things changed when I had DD, yes, but until that point I would happily have volunteered to go every year, and know many that do. Being IN and doing that is completely different from waiting for a loved ones return.

Working hours differ at different units, and different types of units. They also differ depending on rank, job and experience. Also by area.

I've done the long hours, but not doing them now. At Regt I worked 0800 till 2100 whilst the boys on the tank park went home at 5. At Regt we finished work after COs run on Fri (about 1000) and didn't start again until 1300 Mon. In Cyprus the working hours are 0600 to 1700 on Mondays, but 0600 to 1300 the rest of the week.

At Bde it was 0800 to 2000.
At a trg centre 0800 to 1700
and now 0830 to 1630 (and I'm also double hatted - most people are these days it seems).

I've done my share of moaning, but as disilusioned as I can be, I can see that I get loads of 'perks' too. Like I said, the quarters can be bad - but when they are We pay pennies for them. And this from someone who spent 3 years living in a room that was 6ft by 9 ft with all her worldly possessions (except my wardrobe, that didn't fit in the room so was padlocked in the corridor!).

Oh and I'm not sure that 'most' serving are unhappy - not of the spate of LE applications and V Eng Long applications at my place are anything to go by. People with 20-22 years experience all seem to be signing for more!

Such a useful thread as my 17 yr old ds just starting to express an interest in joining the army as an Infantry solider.

Can anyone answer a couple of questions:

1. Are the army recruiting right now - thought the recession/cutbacks meant regiments were letting people go, not recruiting. It looks like they're recruiting still on their website though.

1. My son seems to think he can just walk in and join up! He's shown no interest in it in the past (unlike ds1 who was an army cadet for 2 years). Are they looking for anything in particular from recruits?

1. Yes, although they are cutting back they are letting older people go rather than clamping down on recruitment because they still need to maintain a fairly young army. They are always looking for more infantrymen in particular. This is because a lot of young recruits are more interested in the technical branches that will allow them to learn a trade. Can I ask if he has a particular regiment in mind? Recruitment levels vary hugely between different infantry regiments.

1. Not really, particularly if he wants to join as a soldier. He will be put through a battery of tests but as long as he's young, fit, healthy and willing to work they will have a serious look at him. He doesn't need to have been through cadets or anything.

Agree with uruculager, but with the caveat that they are being more 'picky' with new entrants at present regarding fitness/BMI levels.

They used to let people in that were slightly over the optuimum BMI, as the fitness training in Basic would generally sort this out, however I've seen more and more teens turned down, or told to 'go away and lose a stone' or 'go away and do some running' as they can be a little more selective these days.

Berni - your son could go on a 'look at life' course. These are really well attended and will give him a better idea of what he wants to do. I rate them very highly.

Thanks for that guys, really helpful.
He doesn't have a particular regiment in mind yet.

The BMI issue is interesting though - he's a "big" lad (bit of a greedy guts!), but fit, strong and muscular - I wouldn't want to have to fight against him! Could be the incentive for him to stop being such a pig!

Have looked into the course - I would have thought it's a neccessity before signing up, to get an idea if it's suitable, especially if you've never been a cadet .
x

I just wanted to add another voice of support for your children. I joined the Army at 19. I think my mum was absolutely horrified, though to her credit she never showed that to me. My years in the Army were without doubt the happiest of my life, I would recommend it to anyone. My mum in the end agreed it was the making of me!

I also agree being in and being an Army wife are hugely different I LOVED serving but I am now an Army wife and I hate it with a passion. I deeply regret leaving the Army but it seemed like the only option at the time.

I am sure your children will do brilliantly and if it not the path for them they will have the opportunity to leave during their training.