Anyone in the Armed forces

[Marcg868]

Just wondering is anyone in the Armed forces? Just wondering what you did to get fit for the selection procedures etc. And also whats the lifestyle like? And any other experiences you've had.

Cheers
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[bazza]

Try asking on the Army Rumour Service forum:

https://www.arrse.co.uk

https://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/images/british_army_ARRSE.jpg
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[MarJay]

[WildGoose]

There is also a chap on here called superstacker, he is in the RAF, and I think he just returned from Afghanistan, might be worth dropping him a PM to get a decent picture of current events out there. Particularly for non front line operatives.

In my opinion it's a bad time for joining up, with record numbers leaving the armed forces across all three services, and the recent round of redundancies within the RAF, everything is short handed. There is a reason these people are leaving, that is the key thing to remember.

The massive push in recruitment recently, particularly through the tv advertising campaign, should be setting off alarm bells for anyone. It's not a pleasant existence for most, and all you will likely hear about whilst your in, is how good it used to be, and how crap it has become. This was something I found. Everywhere I went, felt like being 5-10 years late for the good bit.

You will most likely find yourself on extended tours in all the least desirable places, leaving no time for all the beaches and skiing they advertise on the TV.

The lifestyle..(to generalise for a moment) for the most part, alcohol. You go to work, you finish work, then you go on the piss, and go to work the next day. If you're not particularly into that then don't bother. You only have to pick up half a dozen military bio's of enlisted ranks to see for yourself.

As for training for the selection procedure, there are plenty of suggested routines on the websites of all three services, but basically just run, run and run some more, every night/day for at least 6 months, on the pavement, on grass, up and down hills etc.

Press ups, sit ups, pull ups. Nothing else really matters.

If you are thinking about combat. Basic fitness requirement for royal marine commando's;

5 pull ups (no time limit, over grasp position), 50 sit ups (2 mins head and torso must pass through the vertical on every repetition.

Squadded 1.5 miles run in 15 mins, followed by a best effort run in 11.5 mins or less.

If you can meet this, then they will take you the rest of the way as required once you begin training. Obviously the requirements tail off depending on the role you apply for, but a good level of physical fitness will be expected at the beginning.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[Marcg868]

The only reason im thinking about it, is becasue i really wanted to join up back when i was 18/19 but had various set backs, in the form of knee injury at selection ( i tripped on the 1.5 mile run) and smashed my knee in. Fractured my wrist 2 weeks before going to selection again so i thought fuck it. Reapplied again in 2006 got to the selection process, and then split up with my missus at the time and just didnt have the heart.

So now that i have no commitments, im thinking why not! Ive always wanted to do it, and now apart from the current war situation is as good as any.

I just need to bulk up and get a bit fitter.

Im looking at more logistical roles,engineering or medical type roles as opposed to combat type roles.
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[JonB]

[Mister James]

Goose sums things up well, especially ref. the current situation vis-a-vis the ongoing deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The forces are desperately short-handed, the Army is down around 4000 soldiers, many of them front-line infantry. The RN is making do with ever-diminishing budgets and an ever-shrinking (and creaking) fleet that isn't fit for purpose, and the RAF is flying antiquated aircraft well beyond their service limits in hostile skies.

Many personnel are leaving simply because of the endless grind of back-to-back operations in Iraq and Helmand; the ticker-tape is often not even swept up from the home-coming parade before the ramp-up starts for deploying to whichever dusty hell-hole you avoided last time. Try maintaining any semblance of a normal family life with that going on - if you can manage it you're doing better than the thousands leaving for that reason alone.

You can also expect to not get correctly paid - or even get paid at all - thanks to the atrocious JPAC system that is currently gouging the services for every penny it can. The press has carried stories of senior officers being stiffed and stonewalled by this agency - imagine the hoops the poor dogfaced infantry is going to be jumping through! The Telegraph today printed details of an RAF pilot who had to sue the MoD through the County Courts to get his Flying Pay - ironically, the whole idea of Flying Pay is to retain trained pilots who could earn much more flying for BA or Virgin. Having to sue to get it is hardly going to have the positive effect it's meant to, eh?

I note that you are interested in joining one of the support arms - don't think that will reduce the risk; due to woeful force levels, second echelon forces like the Royal Artillery have been carrying out patrols that by rights should be shouldered by trained infantrymen - and we all know hat happened to the 6 MPs in Basra a couple of years ago.

[streaky]

I am a Colour sargeant in the Infantry currently serving across in paderborn germany, Done most of the tours around the world in the last 18 years. send us a PM of what you want to know mate and I will try to help.

I am also looking for other bikers over here in paderborn area fun ride outs and meets.

Its not as bad as people make out as long as you do adrenalin

Also look for theeddies he is moving back to england soon as a sargeant major
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The Kawasaki NUT!!!!!

[Itchy]

What happened to the thoughts of university?

oh and taken from craig's list (not me) , infact also taken off one of my colleagues who was a marine buck sacked it of to become an accounts type person

[Mister James]

Except of course they aren't all other people's economic interests - we live in this country too, and we all like using petrol and being able to buy stuff like food in the shops.
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[Marcg868]

[bazza]

[Marcg868]

[JonB]

I think he means you need to make your choice sharpish as before you know it you'll be at the PO collecting your pension.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Marcg868]

[JonB]

[Marcg868]

[bazza]

[.Chris.]

I wouldn't go into the armed forces for love nor money.

When my dad was at school they had a presentation by one of the recruiters. He was going on about the windsurfing and all that when someone at the back of the room shouted out "what about the killing?"

Good point I think.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Mudskipper]

My mate has been in 16 years, it can be a good life if it's the right kind of life for you.

It can instill good personal traits like self-discipline, punctuality and strong work and team ethics. But it can also turn you into a resentful alcoholic with fucked knees and ruin families.

She is pension-trapped now so will graft on for 6 more years, but if she didn't have that holding her she'd be out tomorrow.

Retention is bad, not just cause of sandy expeditions but just general bullshit these days.
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"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[superstacker]

I found this thread by complete fluke searching for bike alarms lol,

I've just got back from a tour in Helmand so i can give you the basic gen, but everyone else has pretty much hit the nail on the head.

Manpower is low, so dont be having any wet dreams about holidays in Barbados. You WILL be deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan at some point.

Units like mine, im either on an exercise, prepping or de-prepping for an exercise, or training for an Operation...and thats just the UK. The military has definantely got busier over the past 6 years i've been in.

The new buzz words are "lean", "cost effective","non cost" and so forth. Especially as the military thinks it can streamline everything like a production line at Toyota.

Its not all bad, you'll get regular exercise, you'll see things and countries that civilians wont see. People will tell you they appreciate what you do and shake your hand a fair bit. Cheap food and accomodation, (google pay as you dine )

If you need more info about the RAF, try the RAF rumour site (E-goat)

or drop me a pm

Lee