48 replies to this topic

[daranmate]

yea i was in the army goood fun but i would rather b out drivin my mini so much more fun and you can do what eva you like out in you cant do anything

[Ethel]

right, the only thing stopping me joining any armed forces...is the fitness aspect. im not the fittest, im not a good runner, jumper, or any good at assault courses or the like. but i always wanted too join the armed forces...whats the fitness training bit like?

Join the RAF then

Seriously, have a look on the forces recruiting websites they'll tell you what to expect on the physical tests during selection and how to prepare for them. The ruddy marines must have pedelled more fitness videos than Jane Fonda

[Jack Jones]

my step uncle was pretty high in the marines in dorset section bit he loved it
a mate of mine is in marines im sue he sign up for 10 years or something??? he wants out so bad he is looking to by the contract out

marines is a bit full on i think, they all seem so be mr/mrs superfit
im in a debate army/raf/navy

a friend in the navy seems to have been everywhere in the world
a women that i love as a friend she is an amazing person has told me to go for raf but i dont know anything about them other then they fly

if someone was to come out of the RAF if they had flown planes would they be allowed to fly the likes of bowing 747 jumbo jet jobbies become a pilot for like virgin atlantic????

[Ethel]

There are no female Marines , essentially they are infantry (rather good infantry) so have had a busy time lately just like the sharp end of the Army. The Navy get to see the inside of a ship all over the world - not quite the same cultural experience as been on the ground with the Army: even if the locals are shooting at you. RAF also fly passenger aircraft but by the time they've got their monies worth out of your pilot's training you'll be knocking on a few years and I think a Tornado pilot will need a degree of retraining before being let loose in an Airbus.

[kooky]

Join the RAF

Where else can you be at work on a Sunday morning at 01:37 and surf the web whilst getting paid.

Much better than living in a hole you've dug yourself in the desert somewhere.

remember the Army dig-in the RAF check-in!!

To be serious for a sec if you are thinking of joining, you do need to have a reasonable level of fitness. It will make the whole initial training alot easier.
Give yourself a couple of months of gym training before applying, all the armed services seem to love running, if you can run up and down a gym you will do well.
If you look here http://www.raf.mod.u...rwomen_pjft.cfm or here http://www.defence.g...TC/fitness.html it will give you an idea of the level you need to be at but be aware this is a minimum level and when you actually join the test is alot harder, but they will help you with your fitness.

That Army site did make me chuckle it actually explains how to do a push-up and a sit-up, now i'm not saying the basic Army recruits are thick but...

Right must go got some more tea to drink.

[Jack Jones]

Join the RAF

Where else can you be at work on a Sunday morning at 01:37 and surf the web whilst getting paid.

Much better than living in a hole you've dug yourself in the desert somewhere.

remember the Army dig-in the RAF check-in!!

To be serious for a sec if you are thinking of joining, you do need to have a reasonable level of fitness. It will make the whole initial training alot easier.
Give yourself a couple of months of gym training before applying, all the armed services seem to love running, if you can run up and down a gym you will do well.
If you look here http://www.raf.mod.u...rwomen_pjft.cfm or here http://www.defence.g...TC/fitness.html it will give you an idea of the level you need to be at but be aware this is a minimum level and when you actually join the test is alot harder, but they will help you with your fitness.

That Army site did make me chuckle it actually explains how to do a push-up and a sit-up, now i'm not saying the basic Army recruits are thick but...

Right must go got some more tea to drink.

good links they will come in handy best start getting down the gym do a bit on the weights and treadmill

[Bounce]

If it's the uniform 'n excitement of facing conflict and danger on a daily basis that appeals wht not be a traffic warden?

Have look around on the Arrse forums for a feel of what serving soldiers think and ask questions, but bear in mind squaddies have a compulsion for hyperbole.

The RAF is just like working for the AA but less unsociable hours.

As well as Arrse (Army), there is e-goat (RAF) and Rum Ration (RN). Most questions about joining up and life in the forces have been asked and answered many times.

right, the only thing stopping me joining any armed forces...is the fitness aspect. im not the fittest, im not a good runner, jumper, or any good at assault courses or the like. but i always wanted too join the armed forces...whats the fitness training bit like?

When I joined the RAF I couldn't even do one press up and I was ******* at running. If you really want to join up you'll have to get your self some determination to improve your fitness. Just doing an hour once a day three times a week will see a vast improvement from doing nothing. After the first month you will have lost a fair bit of weight, which in turn will make training alot easier.

yea i was in the army goood fun but i would rather b out drivin my mini so much more fun and you can do what eva you like out in you cant do anything

You sound like a Walt to me mate.

if someone was to come out of the RAF if they had flown planes would they be allowed to fly the likes of bowing 747 jumbo jet jobbies become a pilot for like virgin atlantic????

1st Not everybody in the Air Force is a pilot. I'm an Aircraft technician myself. You can teach a monkey to ride a bike. But if the chain falls off he's f***ed.

2nd Yes, they can. Anyone can. All you need are the relevant licenses. Everyone in the forces has the chance to continue their education by distance learning or day release almost for free. Using this method anyone can set themselves up for a future job whilst in the forces.

[miniman.matt]

im in the royal engineers, joining the army was the best and worst thing i have ever done. its real hot and cold. i have done and seen some amazing things, but on the flip side i have done and seen some horrible things. For me the good times outweigh the bad. besides im an engineer so get to fix our kit and blow stuff up which i think appeals to the young guy in all of us lol.

I would say go for it, there is plenty of time to get out at the begining if you hate and if you never try things you will live life wondering what if...
As for the danger aspect you are more likely to die on the road than on ops (and lets face it we drive minis which tend to bend a bit lol)

[*Raz*]

My cousin is, and he is in Afghanistan now

[Jack Jones]

i can just about do a few press ups
not very good at sit-up's
pants at running
i need to put on weight rather then loose it myself
im sure i can become determined if i got get the bug. Mainly because if i pay for something i want the most out of it, so paying for a gym membership should make me get down there almost everyday

if i did join the RAF i would be annoyed if i didnt learn to fly something and if i came out with the right licenses then hopefully i would have a job lined upafter

obviously if i had a chioce i would be aiming to be a level 5 brigadier but i have o idea what all these names and levels are but 90,000 grand a year does sound pretty good

i want to serve my country as the alot of my family have but i really have know idea of the choices available i dont really want to be working on vehicles

i wouldnt mind being a driver though

[Gazw]

Join the Fire service that's what i did after i left the Royal Marines. Obviously the Marines
is a toatlly different way of life but at least you grt to come home to see the family were as
army life your away for long periods of time. Not saying that i did'nt enjoy it. I thought about
the army as my mates had joined years ago but i wanted something more challenging
and to be different so i jioned the Marines, best thing i did got to see the world and made me
into a better person probably helped me get into the fire service first time!! But it's your choice
you know what your getting in to.

[flat-eric]

hi i've been in the RAF as a driver for the last 6 years, pays well and i dont realy do any fitness, just get tested every 6 months

need to get to 9.10 on the bleep test
35 sit ups
13 pressups

never regret joining

its suprising how much you get to do "and get paid to do"

rob.

[Mr Duck]

hi i've been in the RAF as a driver for the last 6 years, pays well and i dont realy do any fitness, just get tested every 6 months

need to get to 9.10 on the bleep test
35 sit ups
13 pressups

never regret joining

its suprising how much you get to do "and get paid to do"

rob.

Exactly - I've just been on a days 4x4 Off Roading course near Aldershot. Hills that are at a 30-45° angle and the trick is to put your foot to the pedal and FLOOR IT! On one hill we had to stop as the engine wasn't giving enough grunt, stuck it into reverse so the engine would provide braking as we went back down again. The gearbox popped out into neutral and we went down the hill backwards, at some rate of knots, bouncing and going airborne twice! Everyone was gob-smacked and the instructor near cra*ped himself as he watched!

And if that doesn't float your boat, there are Inter-Force Ski Championships that are held in Europe where you can ski for a fortnight at a fraction of the cost in Civvy Street. Or maybe train to go parachuting.

[mattdc2r]

RAF Check in??? Used to be the case, not as much anymore, unless you're aircrew. That's why we spent 6 weeks in Sep/Oct in tents on a deserted airfield. joy of joys, similar thing happening on Jan the 6th as well in the north of England. Why can't we have these exercises in the summer when it's a bit warmer?

As Ethel said before, decide what you want to do, get as much information as possible and don't let the guys in the careers office bully you into another trade.

Certain trades end up in Iraq and Afghanistan more often than others. RAF Regiment and Firefighters are out there pretty much once a year.

if you want to see a lot of nicer places around the world, then you want to be Aircrew or Aircraft technician, they do tend to stay in hotels when away as well.

Not everyone in the RAF is or can be a pilot. There are lots of support trades as well, Engineers, suppliers, admin clerks, stewards etc etc.

Don't be put off by the fitness side of things, that is something you can quite easily do something about, it just takes a little commitment.

Good luck

[fatmini]

Firstly there is no 'S in TA it stands for Territorial Army not Army's

The pay is only less because you don’t do as many days as the regs however your daily rate is the same, dependant on your trade and rank!

Tours of afghan and Iraq are the same as the regs because when you go you are by all accounts a regular soldier! There is no difference!

Depends on what trade you are going to do or what regiment u are going to join will depend on whether you get a good grounding for civi life after you leave, the army careers is like any other form of advertising its a bit biased, if you think you will be absailing, windsufing and skiing for 9moths of the year then think again!

It has its ups and its downs like anything, you just have to take the ruff with the smooth, and it’s not like the Vietnam films or bad lad’s army either!

The Army is the poor cousins of all the forces (least paid,least loved)

the RAF is generally considered as civi's in uniform they are better paid better fed and have better accommodation and deal with less bull *banana* !You treated better as your taken on with a higher intellect ( so they recon ) so ur treated accordingly
Also you will have a more transferable trade which you can take to Civi Street I.e. working with planes in the RAF and then working with planes for British airways OR working on a tak in the army and then ......................................................we don’t have tanks as civi's

But I would like to ad do it when you’re young as when you’re older it’s too late and you will regret it!!!