British Army

[Destroyer^]

I take it your in the army atm lee? after basic training is it possible to have a computer with internet access? still need to bea bit of a geek lol#



what does rear ehcleon mean anyway?

[AledJ]

Well im not going in to be a frontline soldier... i want to be a specialist in the signals dealing with i.t and communications... far from front line as possible haha... from my reading the only heavy duty training will be the 6 week basic training i get at the start?

Being in the Signals does not mean you won't be in the tick of it!! An old friend of mine who joined up about3-4 years ago, went into the Signals (think he did a specialist course in IT communication or something) But I know for a fact that on his last 2 tours to Iraq he has been attached to front line troops to provided comms for them. In the conflicts the Army is fighting today there is no 'far from the front line' position really.

I'm in the process of joining the Navy and one bit of advice is do as much as you can before the basic training etc. My 1.5 mile run is down from 13 min to 9 min and 15 seconds

Good luck with it all

[Blitzen]

Just had a look, the 1.5 mile requirement for Sigs is 14mins

EDIT: Oh and you only need 1 heave/pull-up IIRC

Bloody hell....you can walk it in that!

[Destroyer^]

Well... ok, still its an option for me tbh.. any one had experience with RAF and doing something I.T?

[Blitzen]

I saw someone mention the Navy and afaik, the basic training process for army is similar to the Navy.

BTW....The 1.5 mile run.............unless its changed, it must be done in under 11 minutes, not 14 minutes.

[Zadock]

The point about the army chaning people, I would have to concur with that. I recently met up with a couple guys I used to go to school with who joined the army, met them quite randomly in a club. they'd been to afghanistan... my word! they were royally FUBAR. One of them got so drunk that he could barely string a sentence together, when I met him in the street a few days later he apologised and said that he'd seen some utterly horrendous things and just needed to drown them out.

the other guy, didn't say much at all. Was really quiet, just said he wanted out.

I couldn't ever be in the armed forces, I have a problem with authority. I would also have a problem with commanding officers demanding your respect unconditionally, so far as I am concerned respect is something that is mutally earned. Probably get flamed for thinking that but thats just the way I operate.

[Blitzen]

The point about the army chaning people, I would have to concur with that. I recently met up with a couple guys I used to go to school with who joined the army, met them quite randomly in a club. they'd been to afghanistan... my word! they were royally FUBAR. One of them got so drunk that he could barely string a sentence together, when I met him in the street a few days later he apologised and said that he'd seen some utterly horrendous things and just needed to drown them out.

the other guy, didn't say much at all. Was really quiet, just said he wanted out.

I couldn't ever be in the armed forces, I have a problem with authority. I would also have a problem with commanding officers demanding your respect unconditionally, so far as I am concerned respect is something that is mutally earned. Probably get flamed for thinking that but thats just the way I operate.

Thats exactly what i expected to happen to me aswell.
I served 10 years in the Royal Marines serving in places such as Iraq and Africa.

I had MAJOR issues with authority before i joined up and would punch someone for just looking at me the wrong way.
I joined the Forces.
I gained self respect.
I gained discipline.
I now have a fantastic life.

I can walk into a pub now and just laugh at the idiots that think its big to start fighting or getting too mouthy. (then slap 'em if they go too far )

The forces isn't for everyone, and some do become 'conditioned' to military life.

Other don't......and if you fall into this group, life should always be good from that point onwards.

[AledJ]

I saw someone mention the Navy and afaik, the basic training process for army is similar to the Navy.

BTW....The 1.5 mile run.............unless its changed, it must be done in under 11 minutes, not 14 minutes.

I have my psychometric test in January and then after I pass that, I have my first interview and fitness test ( going down the officer route)

But yes Blitzen for the Navy the 1.5 mile run must be done within 12 minutes!!

[Salazaar]

I served 10 years in the Royal Marines serving in places such as Iraq and Africa.

If the advertising's to be believed then being in the Marines is quite a bit different to being in the regular Army? Arguably better trained and more respected?

[Blitzen]

I have my psychometric test in January and then after I pass that, I have my first interview and fitness test ( going down the officer route)

But yes Blitzen for the Navy the 1.5 mile run must be done within 12 minutes!!

Which branch of the Navy are you looking at?
I was an OM (Comms) then transferred across to RM.

I can highly recommend the Communications branch (Warfare), as it is widely know as the most professional training and alos HMS Collingwood is the newest and most comfortable shore establishment in the RN.

There is also a bowling alley right across the road and its a £1 a pint with your ID card

[Destroyer^]

Well im tempted by either army doing communications or possible RAF doing comms .. dunno bout navy... me and on a ship lol hmmm

[Blitzen]

Well im tempted by either army doing communications or possible RAF doing comms .. dunno bout navy... me and on a ship lol hmmm

Its the best money out of the 3 forces, and also the most respected.

The best feeling in the world is standing on the quarter deck watching a Sea Dart fire off.

[Zadock]

Thats exactly what i expected to happen to me aswell.
I served 10 years in the Royal Marines serving in places such as Iraq and Africa.

I had MAJOR issues with authority before i joined up and would punch someone for just looking at me the wrong way.
I joined the Forces.
I gained self respect.
I gained discipline.
I now have a fantastic life.

I can walk into a pub now and just laugh at the idiots that think its big to start fighting or getting too mouthy. (then slap 'em if they go too far )

The forces isn't for everyone, and some do become 'conditioned' to military life.

Other don't......and if you fall into this group, life should always be good from that point onwards.

Sounds like you got a lot out of it, and being in the Marines you must have seen some pretty nasty stuff to.

I get the impression that to be in the forces, get through the horrors of war and still be "sane" at the end of it you need strength of character. You clearly have a very strong character Blitzen (judging by many of your posts, lots of confidence and conviction in what you say), I dare say that there are people that have been in similar situations to those you have been in who haven't come out the other side in a fit mental state.

Does the psychometric test filter out people who are more prone to mental problems? Saying that is it even possible to assess, prepare or condition people for things that they may or may not witness?

[Destroyer^]

What you mean the navy blitzen? most respected? thought everyone thought the navy was full of... non streight people

[AledJ]

Sounds like you got a lot out of it, and being in the Marines you must have seen some pretty nasty stuff to.

I get the impression that to be in the forces, get through the horrors of war and still be "sane" at the end of it you need strength of character. You clearly have a very strong character Blitzen (judging by many of your posts, lots of confidence and conviction in what you say), I dare say that there are people that have been in similar situations to those you have been in who haven't come out the other side in a fit mental state.

Does the psychometric test filter out people who are more prone to mental problems? Saying that is it even possible to assess, prepare or condition people for things that they may or may not witness?

Psychometric testing has nothing to do with your mental state. Its a test which tests you on numeracy, English, mechanics and a few other things. Basically its there to see if the candidate has what it takes to be trained in the forces.

[Blitzen]

What you mean the navy blitzen? most respected? thought everyone thought the navy was full of... non streight people

Women have been on ships as serving personnel for a LONG time now.
Its the most respected because:
a). Army - Good fellas but not the sharpest.
b). Air Force - 99.9% of them just push a pen
c). Full active service for over 90% and remember...it IS the senior service for a reason.

BTW.......I am many many things....a 'brown hatter' isn't one of them

The test is mechanical reasoning and nothing more.