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Hey Dakka, I've reached the stage where I need to start thinking about what I'm going to do as a career. I'm in my last year of A-levels and plan on then going on to university, after which I was considering joining the Army as an officer. Does anyone have any experience with regard to a career in the Army, any advice they could share with me? Would you recommend it at all?

Wait until the War ends.

Hey mate.

I can give some experience from the ADF. In Aust we have a military uni called ADFA where you study a degree and become an officer. This is a much better option than first going to uni then joining because they will pay for the uni as well as give you a wage while you're studying. In return you give years of service. In Aust you don't get to choose your Corp you put in a preference and they give you some options. I'm not sure how close this mirrors the UK but we are from the mother country.

What did you want to do in the Army?

If you're thinking military in general instead of Army specifically, you may wish to send a PM to MattyM and ask for his input. He's a Royal Marine and for reasons beyond the scope of this thread will not be able to respond to you here but I trust he would give you honest and accurate advice.

What is it that personally attracts you to the prospect of an Army career? It would probably be helpful for people to know in order to give you better advice and I'm a nosy bastard.

Well I'd like to join the Army mainly because I'd like to be in a position of responsibility and to lead others. I don't really like the idea of a desk job, mainly because I lose focus quickly in that sort of environment. Also I'd like to experience the world beyond the UK and perhaps have a role that involves making things, as that's what I really enjoy.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

MSRC27 wrote:
Hey mate.

I can give some experience from the ADF. In Aust we have a military uni called ADFA where you study a degree and become an officer. This is a much better option than first going to uni then joining because they will pay for the uni as well as give you a wage while you're studying. In return you give years of service. In Aust you don't get to choose your Corp you put in a preference and they give you some options. I'm not sure how close this mirrors the UK but we are from the mother country.

What did you want to do in the Army?

I'm not sure yet; perhaps a combat role but certainly something that gets me active and outdoors.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Ouze wrote:
If you're thinking military in general instead of Army specifically, you may wish to send a PM to MattyM and ask for his input. He's a Royal Marine and for reasons beyond the scope of this thread will not be able to respond to you here but I trust he would give you honest and accurate advice.

Cheers Ouze, I'll do just that

 Banzaimash wrote:
Well I'd like to join the Army mainly because I'd like to be in a position of responsibility and to lead others. I don't really like the idea of a desk job, mainly because I lose focus quickly in that sort of environment. Also I'd like to experience the world beyond the UK and perhaps have a role that involves making things, as that's what I really enjoy.

Ossifering in the military will involve a lot of desk job-type work.

Shh! People aren't supposed to know that until they've signed up for their tour.

 Banzaimash wrote:
Well I'd like to join the Army mainly because I'd like to be in a position of responsibility and to lead others. I don't really like the idea of a desk job, mainly because I lose focus quickly in that sort of environment. Also I'd like to experience the world beyond the UK and perhaps have a role that involves making things, as that's what I really enjoy.

Well, I'm not a Brit, but I am of the commonwealth and an officer to boot.

If you want to lead others in a practical way and not administratively/managerial, being an officer might not be for you. There are incredibly few officer trades (in the Canadian forces, though I imagine a lot of similarities) that remain in non desk job positions, which would be limited to pilots and navigators, naval officer trades, and combat arms trades. However, the combat arms trades (infantry, armoured, arty) will rarely get to lead anyone for long and will often be driving a desk. Pilots and naval officers fare a little better, though both have a lot of paperwork.

I can't recommend which trade to go after, but I will say that in my ~6 years in I've had a lot of fun, some great experiences, a free education, and almost have my wings as a pilot. Everyone's experiences will vary, but part of it will be what you make of it. I don't know what I'd be doing with my life if I didn't sign those papers years ago, so my opinion might be a little biased.

Either way, Air Force, best Force.

 Banzaimash wrote:
I don't really like the idea of a desk job

I'm afraid that is what an officer does. An officer is a manager, they rarely get their hands dirty (unless you are specific trade) and your day to day work is almost all paper/email or meeting based. The same is also true for SNCOs but to a lesser extent.

I joined the army to do a specific job and I was offered a chance to attempt officer selection during training due to my qualifications but I turned it down simply because being a generic officer would bore me to tears. The only way that I would accept a commison is if I get it in trade so that I would still be able to do my job at least a bit.

My advice to anyone thinking of joining the army is to have a definate goal in mind for when you leave and thouroughly research the job that you want to do. Assuming that you do your full length of service you will still have about 20 years of work ahead of you so you will need real qualifications (military qualifications are all but worthless in the real world) and some trades provide civilian qualifications. It may even be possible to get the army to pay for your degree (it worked for me and I may well be getting my masters paid for by the army as well).

If you want something 'exciting' rather than a career then consider joining as a soldier and leaving after a few years. That way you will get the real military experience (if you join the right cap badge) and you can then carry on with your chosen career after you leave.

What ever you do don't join the Royal Army Medical Corps......at least unless you have a professional trade in mind.

I have 8 years of service in the British army and I am still serving, MattyRM isn't even a real soldier

 Blacksails wrote:
Either way, Air Force, best Force.

This is a pack of raving lies.

And you never answered my question about what you're flying, dude. It better be Hornets.

 Seaward wrote:

 Blacksails wrote:
Either way, Air Force, best Force.

This is a pack of raving lies.

And you never answered my question about what you're flying, dude. It better be Hornets.

I must have missed the question. Choppers, training on the B412 now.

Had the option of jets, turned it down and I'm loving every second of the hovering life.

 Banzaimash wrote:
Well I'd like to join the Army mainly because I'd like to be in a position of responsibility and to lead others. I don't really like the idea of a desk job, mainly because I lose focus quickly in that sort of environment. Also I'd like to experience the world beyond the UK and perhaps have a role that involves making things, as that's what I really enjoy.

I own a company that builds websites, this sounds a lot like how I would describe my job. Even the desk part, I do my work from wherever I happen to be at the time.