Tough decision

[carlnicholson...]

I left the RAF 4 years ago, and missed my chance to serve in Op Telic, the invasion of Iraq. At the time I didn't want to, I had already applied to leave the service and was planning to marry my fiancee.

I am now married with a fantastic daughter, and another due in April. My life is good, and I earn good money, but sometimes I want to cry for missing what may have been my only opportunity for active service on real operations. I thought the feelings would go away, but they are only getting stronger.

I spoke to my wife about me rejoining ther RAF or Army, but she doesn't want to move away, she is happy for my to join the TA though.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a death wish, just an unrelenting, burning desire to fulfill what has always been my dream for as long as I can remember, to serve, and fight, on active service. The T.A. will almost certainly give me this opportunity should I be up to standard. I have a huge fear of sitting in a retirement home crying over what might have been, not fulfilling my lifes ambition, but I don't want others to be hurt by my choices.

So, do I satisfy my burning desire and potentially upset my wife should I be mobilised (she does understand the implications of reserve service) or fight my feelings and just get on with my life in a different direction?


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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[Robby]

So you have a burning desire to go to a sandy country, and alternate between boredom, being shot at, and killing people you don't know.

To serve our oil companies.

Just go bungee jumping instead.

[st3v3]

Sky diving is all the rage.

I don't know what I'd actually have the gut's to do but it's easier to sit here and dish out advice.

Do it, you live once and then you can satisfy your dreams, your wife and kids will/should always be there. I know what it's like to want to stay comfy in your current environment with your OH all settled etc but this will only eat at you.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[carlnicholson...]

[stinkwheel]

[carlnicholson...]

Good point, especially already being a qualified aircraft engineer, I could almost walk straight in to an engineering role. The problem is all the engineering facilities are miles away from me. Not least I'm sick of spanners by the time I get home from work anyway!

12 coy, 4PARA is only just down the road from me, they have a huge chance of being mobilised in support of 1,2 and 3 brig, and time with the Para's will help me getting into more serious professional security later in my life. That's what I hope to be doing long term.

P.S. I'm led to believe the willy waving is not compulsary!!
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[Tarmacsurfer]

The "serious professional" security industry is a tie wearing old boys network, time served in the manner you're referring to may be applicable to a more commercial "celebrity protection" company than anything else. They like self important and slightly deranged looking human bling.

If you're looking to break into guard work and close protection then it'll be 2 parts skill and 8 parts luck if you've not already got the contacts in place.

Apologies if this comes across as trying to piss on your chips but it's a *very* hard industry to get a toe hold in, also bear in mind it's not a glamorous or exciting job regardless of what the movies and thriller writers would like you to believe. In fact I'll go further, if you're going to be good at it on the "serious" end of the scale then it's not a job, it's a vocation and will take over many aspects of your life. It's hard to switch from on shift to downtime, can make relaxing outside of work difficult and will impact on most relationships.

Having said that, good luck with it all. It's nice to see a post talking about doing something rather than a "woe is me, the chance has gone"
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[carlnicholson...]

I'm aware of what the industry involves, I had a dabble before I left the RAF. It is a very closed industry, with work going to mates of the contractors, understandably, people don't like to risk their lives with individuals they don't know.

Celebrity protection isn't really my thing, being treated like a man servant to an over paid unaprecciative little git isn't how I envisage my future. There are other opportunities providing a service for non public figures, which although less glamourous, certainly pays better. Besides, working abroard keeps me out of striking distance from the wife.

If it was easy to get into, then it wouldn't be nearly as rewarding when you do. It's the challenge that inspires me.
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[Tarmacsurfer]

It's the "other opportunities" I'm referring to. No one in their right mind wants to go into the celebrity circuit

It can indeed be rewarding. It can also be boring, frustrating, hugely stressful and an absolute bastard. Why do you think I went into couriering for a break
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[carlnicholson...]

[stinkwheel]

[bazza]

[bushguy]

Going to resist having a rant at certain posters who seem to be offering "advice" despite having sweet F.A experience with the forces or our motivations to do what we do and whom we do it for.
I recently completed training with the TA and passed out into an infantry regiment and I have to say it is one of the best decisions i have made. If you want the chance to go and serve on your own terms then it really is the best way forward, and I can think of no better unit to do it with then the para's.
Some would say other trades will serve you better in the long run or put you at less risk but I have to disagree there. In my company they are offering multiple forms of extra training ranging from getting my HGV licence to various construction type courses that are completely over my head so do not be fooled into thinking the inf is a dead end job (and if your gunna be a soldier you may as well be a proper squaddie ay? ) as for the "less risk" that is again untrue, due to the nature of the conflicts we are fighting there is no true front line and as demonstrated by some of our most recent casualties no one is safe out there.
In short I would say go for it, the risks are there (although I would say riding a bike probably poses more risks on a day to day basis) but it truly is one of those experiences that I would not have wanted to live my life without. Of course this is all just an opinion of someone who has not yet been out there (deploy to Afgan early next year) so feel free to ignore at will

[carlnicholson...]

[bushguy]

7 Rifles based in various places around the south east.

I think to be a para you have to truly want to get through the crap those strange people like to do to themselves, but if you arrive adequately prepared the fitness will be doable (you will still hate every minute of it i dare say but its worth it in the end) but the same is true of any reg, do not make the mistake of thinking it will be easy in any unit you join (even if it is a core unit).

Arriving fit means you have one less thing to worry about and can focus on all the fun bits like getting kit pressed and weapons made immaculate. I would also warn you that inf life has its boring bits too. Being on stag at 3AM after running around all day in the freezing arse end of Scotland has to rank as one of the worst things i ever did to myself.

Having said all that when its bad, its shocking, but when its good, it is the single most awesome job.......ever and I personally wouldnt give it up for anything.

I would say go for it, go down on the next open evening and ask, worst that can happen is you decide its not for you, but just think what could happen if you decide to go for it!
Feel free to PM me about any q's you might have RE training/general life (life in an airborne unit/on tour i will have to get back to you on though )

[stinkwheel]

[bushguy]

[stinkwheel]

[meach]

I point you to your sig
"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."


Or you could buy COD4???????????????
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2005 xt660x in red, not everyone's cup of tea but neither is coffee
https://www.youtube.com/imeach

[bushguy]

While I would agree a regular soldier of any trade is likely to be better then his TA counterpart (this may not be so true in certain trades because of civilian experience a person may have) I would disagree that a cook or mechanic is a better infantier then a TA rifleman.
The CIC is conducted to the same tests in both regular and reserve forms the sole difference being that the TA soldier will be less experienced then a regular but unlike the regulars just because a TA soldier has passed out does not mean he is immediatly able to ship off to wherever duty calls. He will normally undergo a length of time back in his unit where he can gain some of the experience he lacks immediatly after training. Further to that before he goes on ops he will normally undergo a 3 month beat up training process to prepare him and hopefully bring him in line the the regular army.
Once again again this is all the reasoning of a crowbag straight out of training waiting to go on ops rather then someone who has been there and done it so I am all to keen to find out if reality differs from what I have experienced in my short time in the forces

[Chriss]

Hi, I'm up in Lossiemouth as an ATCA, feel free to swap jobs if you like?

In the rear with the great, but still get shiny shit for it.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[carlnicholson...]

[Chriss]

Loving it mate.

This place is much like Marmite.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.