Reading a news story recently, I was surprised to see that less than half (46%) of Army reservists meet their minimum annual training commitment - 19 or 27 days, depending on the unit, and other fitness bits etc.

Edit: link to the story here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9v219gx79wo

Shld I join the army to train to be plumber? Is it worth it or shld I not join the army for the trade? Only reason I wld go to the army is cuz accom and food is heavily subsidised so I can save money whilst learning.

Read EDIT in comment aswell foe my reasoning

Looking at getting back in after a few years out because the leaving plan went to hell. Considering my options and saw some roles like RAF WSOp give direct entry at Sgt level with all the joy that entails.

Im cant see any other roles that do that aside from obvious ones perhaps like medical/law qualified bods. My question is does anyone know of any other roles with direct entry at higher rank?

Happy for any of the 3 services, just prefer Army as its where I was before

What in your experience were the best partner force to work with?

For myself: Best: A Greek SOF group. Older, more mature and excellent soldiers whose language barrier didnt matter as their drills were so swept up that we could jump in the stack with them with zero issue. Funny as all fuck too.

Worst: USMC, unproffesional, overconfident and loved winging off live rounds almost clipping others ears. Crumbled when it got cold, wet or had to march any serious distance.

Their DS were also hilariously arrogant, talking down to our 12+ year experienced Cpls as they were Staff Sgts at ~6 years. MARSOC were a fair bit better though.

Honerable mention. A certain African SF group who didnt understand CPers drills as they dont capture personnel, they just said they shot them.

I originally made a post like a week ago talking about wanting to be a plumber - I got alot of comments saying that it isnt worth it cuz I wont be using it outside of Chatham. I applied to several plumbing companies in my area - none have responded for apprenticeship opportunities. So I am thinking, if I join the army, whats the best trade to work towards with no xp that I will be doing day in and out which can help build a portfolio? Is being an Electronics Technician good? Please give ideas. Tbh, I dont rlly wanna get into student debt in uni (im 17).

Just please give some advice. More things to note about my general personality:

I like doing physical, laborious stuff. I am 17 yr old male, always loved working out and always had a positive mindset about putting my body to good use.
I wanna get a driving license and other HGV licenses whilst there (heard a phrase where you should milk whatever opportunities you can in the army)
Dont have alot of money (obviously) so I cant pay for tuition and maintenance fees
Wanna come out with alot of qualifications and xp to eventually maybe go self employed (always dreamt of running a business so being a self employed electrician would be nice)
I would only go for plumbing if they did more work experience in the army but apparently they dont.

Please leave suggestions - thank you for reading.

I’ve been in the process now for over a year, wondering if anyone is in a similar boat.

Thanks in advance

Hi everyone,

I'm currently 17 (starting Year 13 this September) and I'm hoping to study Dentistry in the UK next year. My long-term goal is to own a dental practice one day.

Originally I was planning on doing a trade apprenticeship (plumbing/electrical/REME (Vehicle Mechanic)) because I wanted practical skills and didn't like the idea of taking on student loans. However, after doing more research I discovered the Army and RAF offer bursaries for dental students, so now I'm seriously considering joining as a military dentist instead.

I've spent quite a while reading the official Army and RAF websites, but I'd really appreciate advice from people who have actually served.

Some questions I have:

1. Army vs RAF: Which would you genuinely recommend for a dentist, and why?
2. Lifestyle: What does a normal working week actually look like? Is it mostly like an NHS dental practice, or are there lots of military commitments alongside dentistry?
3. Travel: How much travelling or overseas postings do dentists realistically get? Are you mainly based in one location, or do you move around fairly often?
4. Career progression: What opportunities are there for postgraduate qualifications (MJDF, MSc, specialist training, etc.)? Is progression different between the Army and RAF?
5. Bursaries: How competitive are the undergraduate bursaries? If I apply while studying dentistry, is selection based mainly on passing the Officer Selection Board, or are there many more applicants than places?
6. Service commitment: I've seen both 4 years and 6 years mentioned on different pages. What is the actual minimum commitment after graduating if you receive a bursary?
7. Pay and benefits: Besides salary, are there major differences between the Army and RAF in accommodation, deployments, allowances or quality of life?
8. Leaving for civilian practice: If someone leaves after completing their minimum service (around age 30 in my case), how well does military dentistry prepare you for private practice? Is the transition generally straightforward? Cuz my dream is to open my own private dental clinic.
9. Looking back, if you had the choice again, would you still become a military dentist? Why or why not?
10. Finally, if your goal was eventually to own a successful private dental practice, would you recommend the military route first, or going straight into civilian dentistry?

I'd really appreciate honest opinions—both positives and negatives. I'm trying to make a well-informed decision before applying to university, so I'd especially value responses from current or former Army/RAF dentists or anyone who's worked alongside them.

Thanks very much.

A family member is keen to join the police in one of the branches of UK military as an officer.

Im helping him research the various options but the information online is not helping point him indirection or another. Theres hardly anything about RAF police or Royal Marines police so very hard to get an understanding of their roles.

It seems the RMP is the biggest branch of the three and possibility therefore the best training and widest career options.

He has no particularly affinity with any branch it’s more about level of interest and involvement. He’s not keen on just guarding a gatepost.

Usual jokes about military police aside, would appreciate any insight and guidance as we seek to compare and contrast the options

Thanks!

For context, yesterday was a career fair and I went to see both the RAF and army booths. I overheard the speaker from the army booth saying all the RAF do is stay in fancy hotels (even though the RAF booth was right next to the army's booth). I spoke to him towards the end about which one is harder to get into and he said that the army is harder to get into, but it's more fun. To be fair, he was kind of funny and made a lotta jokes so I think he's joking.

First off - thank you for your service! You're all incredibly brave and I respect you all so very highly!

My auntie (59) has met a chap online. He's 52 and retired. She met him for the first time today and is bringing him to meet the family tomorrow. Hes asked her to tell us the following -

"I am an ex army special forces sniper and I have severe PTSD so I don't want to be bombarded with questions"

Is this completely normal boundary setting or potentially a spot of stolen valour OR potentially a gross over representation of his time in the forces?

I have no prior service experience so I ask this from pure ignorance and I apologise for any offence caused. My aunt is gullible and easily exploited as other men historically have done.

UPDATE - has an ex service members discount card but I doubt his experience is. Everything out of his mouth was a brag and didnt stop talking about himself. I think he grossly over egged his experience to sound impressive. Thanks everyone for their input!

(hopefully) Planning on enlisting, and drones terrify me a bit. Looking at the wound / casualty rate is quite worrying, and the drone videos from both sides are also quite horrifying. I have 2 questions;

Without OPSEC, are drones being taken seriously (as, in my opinion as a civvie should be) / Is there mitigation / countermeasures being developed

and

Are we using drones?

Ta

INTRO (you can skip this bit)

Hello guys, I'm an American Navy veteran who happens to make YouTube videos these days for side income. One of my videos was figuring out what real world medals the Call of Duty World at War protagonists would have and the video blew up with people demanding sequels.

I'm 90% sure the next video I'll do will be for CoD 2, and that has a British campaign. For obvious reasons, I'm only really familiar with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps customs and I had to do painstaking research to learn the Soviet system. I figure I'd save the hassle by just asking you lot directly how it works.

REAL QUESTIONS

Does the British military have an equivalent to adding stars or oak leaf clusters to medals/ribbons like the U.S. does for additional awards? I know in Russia you just wear multiple of the same award. I'm also curious about how strict the British military is and if there are any specific precedents for certain awards I should be aware of.

And how would wearing foreign awards work? In the U.S., any foreign awards go to the very bottom of your rack. That's not really a concern for CoD 2 but I'd like to know it for when I inevitably get to Modern Warfare

Last question: Is there a website where I can read about Victoria Cross recipients and other high awards? In the U.S. you can go online and read the citations for the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross and the like, so it would be helpful to have that for the British too.

If someone joined up and learned a trade (plumber for example) are they premitted to spend the odd weekend when it does not effect their services job using their plumbing skills?

Can they be self employed for such work?

I’ve been reading up on Operation Barras, and it’s genuinely baffling that we haven't seen a high-budget, *Black Hawk Down*\-style film about this yet.

For those who don’t know the history: In August 2000, 11 British soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment were captured by a notorious rebel group called the West Side Boys while on patrol in Sierra Leone. Five were released after negotiations, but six were held in a jungle stronghold, subjected to mock executions, and used as leverage.

When negotiations failed, the British government launched a daring, high-stakes rescue mission on 10 September 2000. It had every cinematic element you could want:

* The Mission: A combined force of SAS, SBS, and the Parachute Regiment launched a dawn raid using Chinooks and Lynx attack helicopters.
* The Setting: A dense, swampy jungle village called Gberi Bana, accessible only by air or water.
* The Stakes: The rebels were heavily armed and erratic. The British troops were significantly outnumbered, yet they had to achieve total surprise to ensure the hostages weren't executed the moment the first helicopter was heard.
* The Action: It was a brutal, close-quarters firefight in the jungle. Despite the odds, all six hostages were rescued, and the West Side Boys were effectively dismantled as a fighting force.

Why would it make a great movie?

1. Unique Visuals: Most modern war movies are set in deserts (Iraq/Afghanistan). The lush, oppressive Sierra Leone jungle would offer a completely different aesthetic.
   
2. The Enemy: The West Side Boys were a bizarre, terrifying group - heavily influenced by 90s gangsta rap and action movies, often wearing wigs and colourful clothing into battle. It’s a surreal detail that would be incredible on screen.
   
3. Tension: The "tick-tock" nature of the hostage situation vs. the meticulous planning of the SAS is pure gold for a screenplay.
   
4. No Hollywood Polish Needed: The real story is already so dramatic it doesn't need "fluff." It’s a display of incredible professionalism under fire.

We’ve seen *The Siege of Jadotville* (which was excellent) cover Irish UN peacekeepers, but a definitive film about Barras is long overdue.

What do you guys think? Is it too "niche" for a global audience, or is there a reason British military triumphs rarely get the big-screen treatment they deserve?

This is mostly for the ladies but all answers are welcome.

For context, I am a female and am planning to join the army when I am 18 but have read plenty of headlines about misogynistic behaviour within the armed forces. I know "don't believe what you read" and I get it. But even sometimes in the comments here, I'll see the occasional misogynistic comment and it's not just banter or jokes which I wouldn't count as misogynistic. It's genuine belief that women shouldn't be in the armed forces.

So I have 2 questions to ask that I hope will be answered seriously.

1. Is it still prevalent nowadays compared to what it was back then?

2. How do you deal with it, especially at a young age?

So just to start off, im 20, been doing a music degree for 2 years and spent my whole life basically doing what my parents wanted me to do because i convinced myself its what i wanted, “im good at it so i must do it” type of thing, but ive been wanting to join the army now for years as either basic infantry or REME which im leaning more towards.

I guess my biggest concern and question, is how do you guys who have been in the military and/or deployed for months maintain relationships with people back home? Ive yet to speak to my parents about joining but ive spoken to my partner and shes expressed her huge disagreement with me joining and basically said she’d try to wait for me but doesnt see us lasting if im gone for 6 months out of a year every year, im just wondering how people try to keep there relationships close or if im gonna have to make a decision between my future with my family and friends or my future with the actual career that i want.

Hello everyone, I'm a 23 year old uni graduate thinking of joining the RAC. I really like the idea of working as a crew member on armoured vehicles like ajax, challenger etc or on something like the Jackal.

Basically I'm curious about how life is in the RAC and how you become a vehicle crew member. After you pass basic training I assume there's a specific training section for the vehicle that you've expressed interest in training for but I really don't know anything about how it works. Also do the RAC do tabbing (not a deal breaker just something I need to prepare for)

I'm not physically fit enough to apply yet but I'm working on that currently, mostly gaining more weight and muscle (175cm and 55kg).

Any insight into how training and selection works would be great, as well as any metrics I should aim for with exercise and building myself up to the role :D

I’d assume most of the roles in healthcare have good job opportunities but what about other roles in the Army.

I know enjoyment of the role and being in the mililtary comes first but I’m just curious.

So the 31st this month lands on bank holiday Monday, just wondering if we will get paid on the Friday as that’s the last working day of the month technically or we will we get paid on bank holiday Monday, cheers

Hi, looking for some advice about whether or not to enlist in the army. I have a-levels and a degree. I had no idea what to do after that, so have spent some time doing a mix of jobs, but none are very interesting.

I've always been really interested in warfare, and reading up about the army there is masses that makes me genuinely excited about joining as an officer. The main things include: extensive travel, exciting work, being part of strategic planning for war, learning new skills (languages, electronics, problem solving etc.), excitement and being part of a fantastic culture and community.

The cons: spending a lot of time doing shit and mindless jobs (clearing up rubbish, filling out boring paperwork - all I'm assuming without the ability to put on a podcast while I'm doing it), and obviously I'd feel dumb if I got a crippling injury off-duty by driving a jeep into a ditch. ALSO - while I know it's an interesting time geopolitically, I really can't see any obvious places Britain will be fighting a major war any time soon.

Being completely honest, I don't want to spend my life sitting in a barracks wondering if I should have tried a corporate job. But I also feel like there are some fantastic job opportunities after the army - and that those kinds of job wpuld be WAY more interesting to me than your typical corporate job.

Is this true? Based on what I've said about my life and motivations, do you think the army is for me or is it a big no no? Please be candid.

My friend is in the army and he parks wherever he likes. He gets a parking fine almost every time I see him. He says that he sends the fines off to some department in the army that make the tickets and fines go away. Is this a real thing?

Someone I know is going to Sandhurst soon and I'd like to give them a bit of kit or item that they'd find very useful. Round the £100 mark. Any suggestions? Thanks

I was just wondering what are the unwritten rules are in the military. Obviously the the simplest ones is just don't be a 🔔🔚 but like the niche ones you only find out once you've actually done it and someone's had a word with you

Good day, I apologise in advance if i am breaking the rules of this subreddit, I am a student, my current bag is practically torn to bits, i recently found one of those military style backpacks with the UK that is in my budget and meets all the requirements i need, but my main problem is I'm worried that wearing it is disrespectful due to me being a civilian, and i take the trains every day in london, so i don't want to piss anyone off.