Mixed Feelings

[tatsblisters 10,068]

Got home from work yesterday and the wife told me our 16 year old Grandson had signed up for the British Army i hope he progresses in his chosen path though with everything that is going off in the world it has made me a tad worried. How would most lads feel if their son or grandson chose this path.

[WILF 47,353]

I think you have to separate the Army and politics.

From what I have seen these lads want to do the best job they can do, the fact that it’s military has no bearing.

We can question the whys and wherefores of military campaigns but what you can’t question is that these lads are professional people doing highly professional work…..there’s a lot to be said for that “bench mark of excellence” attitude as it’s so sadly lacking in most area of society these days.

Good for him mate, I hope he grasps it with both hands and makes the very most of it.

[tatsblisters 10,068]

1 minute ago, WILF said:

I think you have to separate the Army and politics.

From what I have seen these lads want to do the best job they can do, the fact that it’s military has no bearing.

We can question the whys and wherefores of military campaigns but what you can’t question is that these lads are professional people doing highly professional work…..there’s a lot to be said for that “bench mark of excellence” attitude as it’s so sadly lacking in most area of society these days.

Good for him mate, I hope he grasps it with both hands and makes the very most of it.

He is a good kid mate and an active one i call him the mountain bike maniac . The grass cutting and dog walking round he got in the pit village he lives everyone said how polite he was sadly he did not get fantastic grades in his exams though he exelled at P.E i hope he makes a go of it though its early days yet.

[NEWKID 27,277]

Good luck to the lad, hope he has a great life and career...

[Greyman 28,796]

55 minutes ago, tatsblisters said:

Got home from work yesterday and the wife told me our 16 year old Grandson had signed up for the British Army i hope he progresses in his chosen path though with everything that is going off in the world it has made me a tad worried. How would most lads feel if their son or grandson chose this path.

I’d feel exactly the same as you mate, but we have to encourage nurture and support there dreams otherwise it would just end up a life of what ifs

[THE STIFFMEISTER 16,111]

One of the true talents that the army has is that it finds skills people thought they didn’t have . Or didn’t know they had rather. 

Leadership , teamwork and communication are massive things that the army push. So they’ll develop him in a way that he wouldn’t get anywhere else as a civilian . 

the facts that it seems that he’s not shy of hard work , does pe ( wether that be sports etc) and had the back wheels in the first place to put his name on the line does him well. I don’t know where or what arm he’s joining , but what I would say is quite complicated . 

there’s two viewpoints , get a trade you can use when you leave , or immerse yourself in one vocation. For example if he wants to be a tank gunner or a paratrooper or a chef , do that . Go all in. 

anytjing with a corps such as the medics ; the engineers , reme , signals , there’s such a diverse set of skills and tasks that you become master of nothing . A typical week for me can be anything from digging with excavators , rifle ranges , lessons , briefs , risk assessments  , courses , administrative work , everyday Is completely different . You can’t define a typical day . When you add in 6 - 8 hrs of pt a week and numerous other activities  your days fly in . 

as a final regard I’ll say one thing . The army gives you a home . You can be posted two hundred miles from home and spend every Friday and Sunday travelling If you wish , or you can be a block orphan and live like a f***ing rockstar two weekends a month in whatever town is local . It’s a fine line . But if he does join up and pass through whatever training is mandated for his desired role, you will see a young man who has at least stretched himself past the boundaries of his school friends and peers . You will be proud of him . 

I wish him all the best . 

 

 

 

 

[WILF 47,353]

34 minutes ago, THE STIFFMEISTER said:

One of the true talents that the army has is that it finds skills people thought they didn’t have . Or didn’t know they had rather. 

Leadership , teamwork and communication are massive things that the army push. So they’ll develop him in a way that he wouldn’t get anywhere else as a civilian . 

the facts that it seems that he’s not shy of hard work , does pe ( wether that be sports etc) and had the back wheels in the first place to put his name on the line does him well. I don’t know where or what arm he’s joining , but what I would say is quite complicated . 

there’s two viewpoints , get a trade you can use when you leave , or immerse yourself in one vocation. For example if he wants to be a tank gunner or a paratrooper or a chef , do that . Go all in. 

anytjing with a corps such as the medics ; the engineers , reme , signals , there’s such a diverse set of skills and tasks that you become master of nothing . A typical week for me can be anything from digging with excavators , rifle ranges , lessons , briefs , risk assessments  , courses , administrative work , everyday Is completely different . You can’t define a typical day . When you add in 6 - 8 hrs of pt a week and numerous other activities  your days fly in . 

as a final regard I’ll say one thing . The army gives you a home . You can be posted two hundred miles from home and spend every Friday and Sunday travelling If you wish , or you can be a block orphan and live like a f***ing rockstar two weekends a month in whatever town is local . It’s a fine line . But if he does join up and pass through whatever training is mandated for his desired role, you will see a young man who has at least stretched himself past the boundaries of his school friends and peers . You will be proud of him . 

I wish him all the best . 

 

 

 

 

The very worst that could happen is that the poor lad gets posted to your camp and has to listen to your craic all day……that would give anyone PTSD !

[TRUEBRIT66 1,600]

The day my lads hit 16 I had a recruitment pack sent to the house, neither of them joined and I still have the oldest one (31) living with us, how I wish I would have pushed it harder    

Good luck to your Grandson. 

[Daniel cain 45,843]

Best of luck to him, something I had planned to do ...but f****d my chance up...my only regret in life so far,grandads,dad,uncles, cousins ,school pals all served/serving still...I think he could make worse choices of a career

[FLATTOP 4,503]

My son joined the RAF at 16 I’ve never forgot taking him to RAF Halton for his basic training, he done well he excelled at sport mainly rugby but also skydiving in great locations across the world, he did see a bit but he’s made friends and memories for life he even got a few medals, I wish your grandson the best of luck but it’s more self determination that will get him where he wants to be he won’t regret his decision all the best to him.

[littlefish 586]

Be proud......always.

 

[Lenmcharristar 9,841]

Tell him to stay the feck away from it until reform take back control of the nation or else he will not be safe or looked after when his time in the forces is finished, too many snakes in our government trying to side with the enemies

[Welsh_red 4,688]

Im sort of going through the same thing with my son.  My boys 13 and has said for the last few months that he wants to join the army , he's said special forces but I imagine all young kids think that way .

I put a post up a few months ago about a weekend me and him did that was army centred where we went out and did missions which has had a real impact on him.   Their was lots of military men running it out of the local gym and up in woodland and I think being around them has stoked his interest . He's only 13 so who knows how long his interest will last but he's a driven kid so it might be the thing for him. 

For me I'm actually quite happy for him to go to the military,  he's top of his class in everything and In line to get a's and b's I'd imagine and that's down to my Mrs stressing good grades . But I know my son like the back of my hand and university and office job no matter what money he would get will ruin him . I'm sure he's got ADHD but we've never had him tested and being stuck in regular job day after day would buckle him . If he does eventually decide to go to the army their will obviously be the worry of what happens to him and his mother will be beside herself but if its something he can love and thrive in I'm all for it . I've been a builder for 20 years it's all I've known and all I will probably do but I've never loved it same as most i imagine. I know some boys from the military and they love every bit of being in the army and if he can find that level of enjoyment and pride in what he does id rather that than the drudge of a job he doesn't like 

He wants to go in at 16 the same as your boy , I've floated the idea of going in at 18 and doing 2 years after school working with me building to give him a taste of like before he joins . 

[MH1 1,879]

Tell them to give the Signals a miss

 

[Jonjon79 13,358]

Good luck to him - I hope he does well

 

I wish I hadn't been too much of a dip shit to sign up at that age.