SAL
Premium Member
Registered: 19th Dec 05
Location: Radlett, Hertfordshire
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been playing on my mind for a few days that it might be a career path worth choosing before its to late ?
whats your views on the army as a job/lifestyle etc
any advice would be great thanks 
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topshot_2k
Banned
Registered: 1st Dec 03
Location: Northampton Drives: Pug GTi-6
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i looked at it when i left uni, then thought do i really wan to give up my current lifestyle for this dickhead politicians and peacekeeping for muslim extremists?
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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I wouldn't put my name to a lot of things the army are involved in. For that reason I would never join.
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andy1868
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Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
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hard work for comparitively little pay, but apparently well worth a go  apart from the obvious occupational hazards people i know that have been in the army have said its one of the best times in their lives, others say they hate it. i think it depends alot on the way you are, ie react well to dicipline etc. give it serious thought but definately don't go in on a whim.
another good idea is to go in and get a trade, infantrymen come out and find themselves not as prepared for civilian life as people coming out with engineering qualifications etc. i got into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) after school but decided it wasn't for me after all
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SAL
Premium Member
Registered: 19th Dec 05
Location: Radlett, Hertfordshire
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just a thought as all my mates are getting 20 k + and im only on 17 k and im fully quilified...not beeing greedy but i want more in life than what i have now...
thought this might be an ansew ?
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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The army doesnt pay well....does it?? 
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Nath
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
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I have 2 mates in the Army, both are on a real decent wage. Money is shit for a good few months, but if you want to progress and earn more the opportunity is there. One of my friends got his HGV, 7.5tonne, car, and bike licenese for free. If you get posted abroad it's an ideal opportunity to save a wedge of money. One mate went to Iraq for 6 months, and due to not being able to spend anything he came back with £10k in his bank. They both served 5 years, and for that you get a couple of grand bonus. Only thing is trying to quit can be a problem, 12 months notice is needed.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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You'll be on 3k a year more, but you won't get more of a life...
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andy1868
Member
Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
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i'll admit i don't know that much about the pay side of things, but they'd have to pay me alot of money to go fannying about in the middle east
also what Ed said, recently at least
[Edited on 11-03-2007 by andy1868]
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
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quote:
Originally posted by Nath
Only thing is trying to quit can be a problem, 12 months notice is needed.
Also you may die
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Nath
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
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quote:
Originally posted by andy1868
i'll admit i don't know that much about the pay side of things, but they'd have to pay me alot of money to go fannying about in the middle east
also what Ed said, after all the "mistreatment" of Iraqis etc.
One of my mates loved Iraq, but then he is slightly nuts. And the mistreatment thing isn't very well reported over here. Speaking to people that have been over there first hand, they paint a very different picture. But thats bound to happen I spose.
He is now in the recruitment office in MK for the Army and is on £26k. Not bad really.
My other mate got a total of 14 weeks holiday last year and has been posted to Canada before.
But then the other has been to Afghanistan, Kenya, and Iraq. Slightly less glam
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Its not really a job though is it...its a way of life!! Your away most of the year........posted wherever, could be nasty, could be nice!! I think theres other ways of making decent money though if thats all you want in for.
One of my mates joined, then didnt see him much after, the army become his life, got a phonecall the 1st Ney Year to say he was in the Hawai living it up, then he went to Germany, then Cyprus, then 6 month tour to afganistan, then Iraq for a bit, now I hear hes back in the UK in an english base working as a trainer, hes married now aswell. Never see him though, when hes up for a weekend or whatever he doesnt bother letting you know!
[Edited on 11-03-2007 by Colin]
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topshot_2k
Banned
Registered: 1st Dec 03
Location: Northampton Drives: Pug GTi-6
User status: Offline
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48months in a year 
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andy1868
Member
Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
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wholeheartedly agree Nath, in my opinion the army is very much made for some people, which by the sounds of things your mate is, whereas alot of people would hate it.
my cousin came back from Iraq years ago, as he was there during the actual invasion and painted a different picture of Iraq than what the media did, as you have also said
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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quote:
Originally posted by topshot_2k
48months in a year
Changed that..............I dont know what the terms are but from what ive see they dont get home much!!
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Nath
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
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quote:
Originally posted by andy1868
wholeheartedly agree Nath, in my opinion the army is very much made for some people, which by the sounds of things your mate is, whereas alot of people would hate it.
my cousin came back from Iraq years ago, as he was there during the actual invasion and painted a different picture of Iraq than what the media did, as you have also said
The stories they come back with are amazing. Personally I couldnt do it, i've not got the right mentality. But some people are made for it.
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Nath
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
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quote:
Originally posted by Colin
quote:
Originally posted by topshot_2k
48months in a year
Changed that..............I dont know what the terms are but from what ive see they dont get home much!!
Unless you are posted you can come home nearly every weekend. Unless you are on exercise or guard juty. Which isn't that often.
[Edited on 11-03-2007 by Nath]
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Fonz
Premium Member
Registered: 12th May 06
Location: Newbury, Berks
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if not for the money go for the life experience!
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Join the TA for that
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Rachel H
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Registered: 12th Nov 03
Location: Berks
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My mate was in the signals for 4 years, he was involved in the invasion of Iraq sitting on top of a Challenger tank shooting stray dogs
Anyway, 4 years later he leaves the army and gets a job with a security firm in Baghdad doing their communication, he is 22 years old and earns 80k a year and only works 9 months a year.
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Nath
quote:
Originally posted by Colin
quote:
Originally posted by topshot_2k
48months in a year
Changed that..............I dont know what the terms are but from what ive see they dont get home much!!
Unless you are posted you can come home nearly every weekend. Unless you are on exercise or guard juty. Which isn't that often.
[Edited on 11-03-2007 by Nath]
Well im just going from what ive seen of mates that are in the army...........not alot of them
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andy1868
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Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
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ditto, nath
i've always been fascinated with such things, spent alot of time in the army cadets but thats a whole different world from the regulars.
my cousin came back with pictures of members of delta force members and vehicles but got in trouble for taking pictures of american helicopters
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Rachel H
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Registered: 12th Nov 03
Location: Berks
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachel H
My mate was in the signals for 4 years, he was involved in the invasion of Iraq sitting on top of a Challenger tank shooting stray dogs
Anyway, 4 years later he leaves the army and gets a job with a security firm in Baghdad doing their communication, he is 22 years old and earns 80k a year and only works 9 months a year.
And only pays tax on 15ks worth of that 80
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachel H
My mate was in the signals for 4 years, he was involved in the invasion of Iraq sitting on top of a Challenger tank shooting stray dogs
Anyway, 4 years later he leaves the army and gets a job with a security firm in Baghdad doing their communication, he is 22 years old and earns 80k a year and only works 9 months a year.
Thats fine but is £80k really all that much if your only home 3months (90days) to enjoy it
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andy1868
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Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
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the TA get posted to Iraq and Afghanistan too robin, my aforementioned cousin was only a member of the TA but had recieved NBC training afew years before and got called up to go.
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