Thinking of joining the British Army.

[steveyboy]

So yeah thinking of joining the RAF navy or the army but im not sure which one to join and what as. I wanna be able to go a few places.

Just wondering how often you get sent abroad because I hear you get sent away for 6 months with 2 weeks break in the middle of it.

[Theinquisition]

So yeah thinking of joining the RAF navy or the army but im not sure which one to join and what as. I wanna be able to go a few places.

Just wondering how often you get sent abroad because I hear you get sent away for 6 months with 2 weeks break in the middle of it.

lucky ducks, we here in the U.S. are are usually gone for a year with 2 weeks as a break during that period.

Brits can drink overseas too....grrrrrr

[Deleted]

British army officer here (infantry), I can answer anything you would like to ask.

How often you go abroad varies a lot, with Afghanistan winding down it is unlikely you will ever be sent there. We do 6-9 month deployments and yes there is a small break in it. We do not follow the US example of sending soldiers out there for a year or more at a time, thats how you piss off your troops.

---------- Post added 2012-05-23 at 07:35 PM ----------

lucky ducks, we here in the U.S. are are usually gone for a year with 2 weeks as a break during that period.

Brits can drink overseas too....grrrrrr

In very limited amounts though, unless you smuggle it in.

[steveyboy]

British army officer here (infantry), I can answer anything you would like to ask.

How often you go abroad varies a lot, with Afghanistan winding down it is unlikely you will ever be sent there. We do 6-9 month deployments and yes there is a small break in it. We do not follow the US example of sending soldiers out there for a year or more at a time, thats how you piss off your troops.

---------- Post added 2012-05-23 at 07:35 PM ----------



In very limited amounts though, unless you smuggle it in.

Could you give me some insight into how fit I need to be?

Also I am thinkin of joining as a officer. Whats the training like for that?

[Deleted]

Could you give me some insight into how fit I need to be?

Also I am thinkin of joining as a officer. Whats the training like for that?

Do you have a degree?

Fitness wise try to aim for 10:30 for your mile and a half, thats infantry minimum. Other branches of the British army have their own fitness standards, but aim for the infantry one. You do not want to be the unfit bastard that drags the rest of your platoon down in training.

What job were you looking at in the army?

[steveyboy]

Do you have a degree?

Fitness wise try to aim for 10:30 for your mile and a half, thats infantry minimum. Other branches of the British army have their own fitness standards, but aim for the infantry one. You do not want to be the unfit bastard that drags the rest of your platoon down in training.

What job were you looking at in the army?

Im not entirely sure to be honest.

I have Alevels and a Foundation degree in physics. According to the website all I need is alevels.

Job I was thinking either going into the standard foot solider possibly specialise in something else......

[Deleted]

Im not entirely sure to be honest.

I have Alevels and a Foundation degree in physics. According to the website all I need is alevels.

Job I was thinking either going into the standard foot solider possibly specialise in something else......

A foundation degree is fine, ignore the crap about only needing A-levels to join as an officer, that only applies to the royal family.

If you do decide to be a standard foot soldier (Infantry), expect to be very active. We get to play with some very cool toys but you pay the price in terms of how hard they work you. Infantry is without a doubt the best branch to join if you want to be an officer, the leadership standards are much higher than in non combat roles. Promotion can be quick if you are not a complete dunce, this can lead to some great job offers within the service.

[steveyboy]

A foundation degree is fine, ignore the crap about only needing A-levels to join as an officer, that only applies to the royal family.

If you do decide to be a standard foot soldier (Infantry), expect to be very active. We get to play with some very cool toys but you pay the price in terms of how hard they work you. Infantry is without a doubt the best branch to join if you want to be an officer, the leadership standards are much higher than in non combat roles. Promotion can be quick if you are not a complete dunce, this can lead to some great job offers within the service.

How long did it take for you to get to officer level?

Also is it true they teach you to drive and pass your test too?

[Deleted]

How long did it take for you to get to officer level?

Also is it true they teach you to drive and pass your test too?

I did 3 years in the navy in order to pay for my degree, I then left the navy and applied as an Army officer, been in the army for 8 years now.

And yes, they do teach you to drive if your job requires it (most do).

[fidelm]

Just remember, if you go the shiny route (officer), don't treat your enlisted guys like crap. Listen and learn from them, butter bars aren't a whole lot better than a private.

[Deleted]

Just remember, if you go the shiny route (officer), don't treat your enlisted guys like crap. Listen and learn from them, butter bars aren't a whole lot better than a private.

Most new Lieutenants are switched on enough to listen to the NCO's, it is one of the first things they teach during training. I have found the worst officers are the ones that have worked their way up through the ranks and still think like NCO's, it is a very different kind of management.

[steveyboy]

Most new Lieutenants are switched on enough to listen to the NCO's, it is one of the first things they teach during training. I have found the worst officers are the ones that have worked their way up through the ranks and still think like NCO's, it is a very different kind of management.

Can I apply any time of year to join as infantry? Because I really need 2 months to get fit enough to join.

[Deleted]

Can I apply any time of year to join as infantry? Because I really need 2 months to get fit enough to join.

Yes, you can apply anytime. If you applied tomorrow you still would not get a join date for anything up to a year. The paperwork and tests they make you do take a long time to process. You can delay your Pre joining selection weekend for as long as you like if you feel your fitness is lacking.

Do you have an Infantry regiment in mind? They like to give you a choice.

[steveyboy]

Yes, you can apply anytime. If you applied tomorrow you still would not get a join date for anything up to a year. The paperwork and tests they make you do take a long time to process. You can delay your Pre joining selection weekend for as long as you like if you feel your fitness is lacking.

Do you have an Infantry regiment in mind? They like to give you a choice.

I don't understand what you mean by that sorry.

[Deleted]

I don't understand what you mean by that sorry.

Every Infantry regiment is unique, not at all like the US system. Individual regiments have their own customs, ways of doing drill, different colour berets and different cap badges. It is something truly unique to the British army. Once you join a regiment, it is damn near impossible to transfer to another one, but most people never even try. You get so attached to your unit that you think you are the best in the world, It inspires a lot of loyalty among the troops.

Where are you from, I can tell you your local regiment.

[steveyboy]

Every Infantry regiment is unique, not at all like the US system. Individual regiments have their own customs, ways of doing drill, different colour berets and different cap badges. It is something truly unique to the British army. Once you join a regiment, it is damn near impossible to transfer to another one, but most people never even try. You get so attached to your unit that you think you are the best in the world, It inspires a lot of loyalty among the troops.

Where are you from, I can tell you your local regiment.

Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent.

I know a lot of people from our county more than most joined both world wars.

[Deleted]

Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent.

I know a lot of people from our county more than most joined both world wars.

I was born in Stafford, Staffordshire

Your local regiment is the Mercians.

http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/mercian.aspx



Thats the badge and beret you would wear if you chose to join them. You are not forced into joining your local regiment, but it is encouraged. This means that most of the people you would be working with are from the same area as you. Its great if you can't drive and need a lift home for the weekend, half the people there will live nearby to you

[Reeve]

My co-worker was in the British Army, and he always talks to me about how great the regimental honor and brotherhood and such is in Britain.

[Deleted]

My co-worker was in the British Army, and he always talks to me about how great the regimental honor and brotherhood and such is in Britain.

It truly is the best thing about the British army, you do not get that individual pride in your unit anywhere else in the world. Apart from special forces of course, but that's a different matter entirely.

[steveyboy]

Oh, I would want to stay local.

Sounds like fun. Starting to get fit tomorrow.