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  • Joining the British Regulars

    As some of you may remember, I was going through the application process for the Australian Army Reserve as a General Service Officer. I passed everything in spite of a few medical niggles (I have a eustacean tube dysfunction which means I can't do anything with really rapid changes in pressure, ie. Parachuting, Diving, but I'm still perfectly fine with air travel and mountain climbing etc.).
    However I was turned down at the Officer Selection Board, our British members might be familiar with it as we have the same system and I don't think it's changed in a long time, on the basis of my youthful lack of leadership or management experience, which is fair enough. I passed the PFA without really having to try (not like it's hard, I still need some work to meet the challenge of the BFA however). Anyway with that avenue closed, and my personal desire to serve as an officer waning, I've decided to make an application for the British Regular Army. I know that one can volunteer if they are a Commonwealth citizen, so I'm right on that mark, and I already have a myriad of specialist reports on that eustcean tube issue that should clear me (I'm going for Gunner OP Assistant, Infantryman (non-Para obviously), Tank Crewman). I finished high school and scored in the top 15th percentile of my state so I should be pretty right as far as education goes and I am of course profficient with English and Computers. I'll be able to meet my travel costs for the period in which I would be going through assessment, as I was saving for a trip to Europe anyway, so my question is this:

    Do the Crown Armed Forces types think I have a decent shot at getting in? Would I be devalued because I'm Australian or would I be treated the same as UK recruits? My desire to join stems from an attraction to the Global nature of the British Army, the chance to be posted overseas and the greater opportunity to serve in Afghanistan or somewhere similar (who knows what's around the corner), the chance to earn pounds instead of Australian dollars, the fact that your Army has a pension where our's does not, a general desire to get out on my own and do something (very) different with myself for the next 4 or more years, among others.
    I am curious also if service could earn me points towards British Residency? I figure being an English-speaker who digs the general values of the UK, and who has 4 years of service under his belt would at least have a chance. I'm also hoping to be posted permanently in Germany, as I assume this is not difficult with the 1st Amd being located there with 3 Arty regiments I could serve in (Assuming I get the OP Assistant place, although I'm willing to take any job they want me for), as, the way I see it, anywhere is going to be a long way from home for me, I might as well take one of the overseas positions so that some guy with a wife and kids in Bristol doesn't have to be separated from his family. I can pretty much guarantee that I won't get homesick since I have little family to miss, and my father is moving to France anyway so I'm going to find it a lot easier to stay in touch with him this way.
    With this in mind, do you professionals think I will make an attractive recruit?
    Many thanks for any help that can be offered.

  • #2
    SpoonmaN..having "College drop out" in your title worries me a tad!!:) I think the best for you is to return to your Recruiting Office. They will give you the information you require, though I don't think it will be an easy road for you. If all goes well and you join the Armoured Regiment of your choice, don't expect to be posted to Germany for the duration. Germany/UK is in the phase of pulling most Regiments/RAF out of theatre. Good Luck to you

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    • #3
      Originally posted by dave lukins View Post
      SpoonmaN..having "College drop out" in your title worries me a tad!!:) I think the best for you is to return to your Recruiting Office. They will give you the information you require, though I don't think it will be an easy road for you. If all goes well and you join the Armoured Regiment of your choice, don't expect to be posted to Germany for the duration. Germany/UK is in the phase of pulling most Regiments/RAF out of theatre. Good Luck to you
      It's because I literally dropped out of my university course, largely because it turned out to be a dead-end waste of money. And there is no recruiting office, I have to do everything by correspondance, as I live in Australia. Like I said I sent out the request for an application pack so once that arrives (supposed to be a week and a bit) then I'll fill it out, send it back and I'll be notified with further instructions.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by -{SpoonmaN}- View Post
        Anyway with that avenue closed, and my personal desire to serve as an officer waning, I've decided to make an application for the British Regular Army. I know that one can volunteer if they are a Commonwealth citizen, so I'm right on that mark, and I already have a myriad of specialist reports on that eustcean tube issue that should clear me (I'm going for Gunner OP Assistant, Infantryman (non-Para obviously), Tank Crewman). I finished high school and scored in the top 15th percentile of my state so I should be pretty right as far as education goes and I am of course profficient with English and Computers.
        Are you still intent on becoming an officer, or are you happy to go the non-commissioned route? If you still want to go for a commission then you may have to be a UK resident for up to five years (more likely one or two) before you can start at Sandhurst.
        Also, I've got some experience of the whole officer cadet selection system. This sounds like it's simply a matter of age, experience and confidence. If you really want to become an officer go away and get some experience dealing with awkward people under your belt and try again in a year or two.

        Originally posted by -{SpoonmaN}- View Post
        Do the Crown Armed Forces types think I have a decent shot at getting in? Would I be devalued because I'm Australian or would I be treated the same as UK recruits? My desire to join stems from an attraction to the Global nature of the British Army, the chance to be posted overseas and the greater opportunity to serve in Afghanistan or somewhere similar (who knows what's around the corner), the chance to earn pounds instead of Australian dollars, the fact that your Army has a pension where our's does not, a general desire to get out on my own and do something (very) different with myself for the next 4 or more years, among others.
        Unlikely to be a problem.
        Rule 1: Never trust a Frenchman
        Rule 2: Treat all members of the press as French

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        • #5
          The only Australians I encountered in the British forces were on exchange postings. There were however serving members who came from abroad especially to enlist from New Zealand, Rhodesia (as was) and South Africa to my certain knowledge. Some were commisioned, others not. Good luck!
          Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.

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          • #6
            Good luck to youn your quest Spooner!
            In Iran people belive pepsi stands for pay each penny save israel. -urmomma158
            The Russian Navy is still a threat, but only to those unlucky enough to be Russian sailors.-highsea

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            • #7
              Originally posted by pdf27 View Post
              Are you still intent on becoming an officer, or are you happy to go the non-commissioned route? If you still want to go for a commission then you may have to be a UK resident for up to five years (more likely one or two) before you can start at Sandhurst.
              Also, I've got some experience of the whole officer cadet selection system. This sounds like it's simply a matter of age, experience and confidence. If you really want to become an officer go away and get some experience dealing with awkward people under your belt and try again in a year or two.


              Unlikely to be a problem.
              No I'm just planning on going in enlisted. And I was advised to try again in two years but I honestly don't want to put my life on hold any longer, so I've decided to go with the NCO path instead.

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              • #8
                Wouldn't college education improve your chances of being selected as an officer in the Australian Army?
                "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Ironduke View Post
                  Wouldn't college education improve your chances of being selected as an officer in the Australian Army?
                  Not really, most of their cadets are pre-uni, or are still continuing their studies when selected. Like I said, I'm not really worried about that, it was their idea for me to apply for it in the first place, so I guess I was a little annoyed that I was lead down the wrong path, but generally I really only wanted to be a Cavalry Scout. However, I'll have more of an opportunity to actually do something in the British Army, plus I'll be able to travel a lot more as part of the job, as opposed to here where I'd most likely be posted to some camp in the middle of the desert, and the possibility of gaining British residency isn't a bad one either. I won't be leaving much behind since my parents are moving overseas anyway, and my friends got along fine before they met me, they'll get along fine after I'm gone.

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                  • #10
                    Cavalry Scout = Recce? If so, depending on what regiment you pick you may get the chance to end up spending a lot of time parked on a horse outside Buckingham Palace for the tourists to gawp at. Not compulsory - the Household Cavalry aren't the only units doing that role - but worth thinking about when you pick what you would like to join.

                    Edit: Just had a thought. For this sort of thing you're best off trying the Army Rumour Service forums (British Army Rumour Service) - there is almost certainly someone who has been through the same process as you on there, or someone who knows someone who has. Something like 10% of the army seem to be members...
                    Rule 1: Never trust a Frenchman
                    Rule 2: Treat all members of the press as French

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by pdf27 View Post
                      Cavalry Scout = Recce? If so, depending on what regiment you pick you may get the chance to end up spending a lot of time parked on a horse outside Buckingham Palace for the tourists to gawp at. Not compulsory - the Household Cavalry aren't the only units doing that role - but worth thinking about when you pick what you would like to join.

                      Edit: Just had a thought. For this sort of thing you're best off trying the Army Rumour Service forums (British Army Rumour Service) - there is almost certainly someone who has been through the same process as you on there, or someone who knows someone who has. Something like 10% of the army seem to be members...
                      Recce indeed. And as I said, my first preference is for OP Assistant with the Royal Artillery, it's sort of similar. Failing that I'll go for Armoured or Mechanized infantry, or Tank Crewman. And 10% of the British Army a were foreign citizens at the time they joined now, so I'll hardly unusual. There are also 650 Australians serving according to wikipedia.

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                      • #12
                        SpoonmaN as an Officer in the Australian Forces you will have much more opportunity to travel overseas an an Exchange Officer than you would have as an "ordinary jock"..Get back into Education,work hard and get what you want out of life..Dont wait for your boat to come in..jump in the water and swim out to meet it!!
                        Last edited by dave lukins; 18 May 07,, 15:41.

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                        • #13
                          S/man , first you have to change your name to RUPERT , then your halfway there

                          good luck .:)

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by tankie View Post
                            S/man , first you have to change your name to RUPERT , then your halfway there

                            good luck .:)
                            Eric is that Rupert or Woopert

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by dave lukins View Post
                              Eric is that Rupert or Woopert
                              Normally its Wuss , as in Wuss Abbot Or Wussel Crow

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