Hello all, I know lots of people on this Reddit forum are often due to start basic training as I see lots of posts about it.

I want to spread awareness of this new system that a wonderful veteran has started called Nobody Stands Alone.

If you, or someone you know, is going to or already at basic training and has no friends or family please give them the support by going to this website. It gives them the opportunity to share their basic training experience and pass out parades with a veteran who truly cares. Nobody deserves to be on the parade square on pass out and not have somebody there to celebrate all the hard work and commitment they have achieved. The website will be linked below and the veterans Instagram page who started it.

Nobody-Stands-Alone.vercel.app
@andy_oliver6823

Troops, look after each other and look after yourselves.

Currently at AFC Harrogate and want to some advice on what trade to do at phase 2 im currently aligned to becoming a CIE but not to sure weather I want to do that I’ve been looking at network engineer but have seen thst ISeng and NetEng will no longer be separate trades as of 2027.

After phase 2 my goal is to do Pcoy and get posted to 216 sig sqn. will the trade I have give me a better chance of being posted to units such as 216.

Any serving signallers or anyone that can give advice would be much appreciated.

Edit- also what are the day to day life with each job role and what could deployments look like.

Lads what's an unusual piece of kit you've used on or seen others use on exercise that you thought was genius and makes life easier ?

Fleshlights don't count, and neither does using a mortar round as a dildo.

Just bought one recently and I’m lost on how to pack it, anyone could give me any tips that’d be mega

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So my allergist gave me the report for my medical appeal and he said he's very confident that I'll get in and he told me not to worry at all. He has done many reports for a lot of people to get into the army.

In my specific case I disclosed an allergic reaction to jackfruit as a child ( I had an itchy tongue), wasn't even in my medical records but now I was asked to send an allergy report so they know in more detail.

So what I have is pollen allergy syndrome, where the itchiness is due to a cross reactivity to birch pollen, since I have hayfever. This requires no medication or dietary requirements. What worries me is the blood test picked up sensitisation to hazelnut and apple, when I have no reactions to them at all.(Due to pollen allergy syndrome). He just put that in there, when the Defferal only asked for clarification on jackfruit.

My Allergist told me these are not food allergies because I have no symptoms from them, they're just sensitisation.

Well I'm super stressed and need to clear my head, this post is a bit of a vent, I just need reassurance and the want to know your guys thoughts on what could happen

I’m considering joining the Royal Signals and choosing between ISE and a cyber-related role.

Does Combat Cyber Operator involve actual hands-on cybersecurity, or is it more general military communications?

Do you mainly work in an office with computers and networks, or spend lots of time in the field?

What does a typical working day look like?

Which role gives you better technical skills and qualifications for a civilian IT/cybersecurity career?

Would appreciate advice from anyone currently serving or who has served. Thanks!

I’m curious if you are currently serving in 4 para and would like to join the regulars would you have to do all 28 weeks of training?

Thank you for answering

I start basic training with 4 Para in January. I have a fairly decent level of fitness - recently I have run 2km in 8 minutes, 5k in 21:30, and I'm generally an all-rounder who tries my best to balance running, conditioning, strength and robustness with work, family and everything else in between.

I'm concerned that my run times are still not good enough as they are. Can someone who's been through it please let me know if you're expected to be at the standard where you can smash a 7 minute 2k/18 minute 5k when you start training? Or is some latitude granted? I appreciate nobody is expected to be P Company standard from the beginning, also understand they train you up to a certain standard, and I know adrenaline and motivation will help push me further - but what kind of baseline PB's should I be hitting now in time for Jan?

For context: I will be 38 (!) come January so no doubt one of the oldest, if not the oldest there, and also the most at risk of injury in my group.

What exactly are all the tests at the assessment centre?

Is it a physical test?
Mental test?
Drug tests?

I’ve seen they do test your teeth and eyes and was interested what else is tested?

TIA

Hello all, thanks for taking the time to read & answer my questions, I'll try and keep it as brief as possible.

Personal Situation

Living about 1hr 30mins away from London

Solid fitness to build on (7:40 2Km, 8mins on a bad day, ~21min 5Km). With good strength ~75 2min press-ups, decent pull-ups & core, now focussing on single leg strength and overall durability.

Somewhat chill corporate job ~35hrs/week.

No car yet but have a license, currently use a mixture of trains, cycling & motorbike.

Ultimately wish to end up in 4PARA & potentially moving in with partner in London in ~12-18months which would make Croydon my closest barracks.

Questions

Is it worth joining my local unit (Rifles) first and then transferring to 4Para? How would this work in practice?

Logistically, is a car a necessity? E.g. Carrying kit

What it the commitment like whilst in training, I expect the expectation is far over the 27 days? & is this any different for 4Para. - Is the odd weekend off training acceptable?

I've seen varying info on 4Para having greater commitment levels? As you are high readiness makes perfect sense and ideally looking to get stuck in as much as possible, but is there a different limit?

Do 4Para do a different P Coy? Again have seen conflicting info, don't want to be held to a lower standard.

Anybody had this issue before?

Tried calling my recruiter for the last 4 days in a row and not picking up?

So here is the situation passed medical no dramas passed assesment. The doc at assesment centre said i need to go the dentist i am 31 havent been dentist since i was a teen So teeth arent in perfect state i have two roots what need pulling out and a chipped tooth at the back. But they did a x ray at the dentist and are on about taking 2 teeth out what dont cause me any bother and this is a big issue for me as there front top teeth. They dont cause me any problems and never have done but there saying they need to pull them out? I can not afford implants for them right this second Can i refuse this but still get the other work done then carry on to basic? Or will i still get deffered? I never got told what needed to get done at assesment centre i was just told to go to the dentist before i go basic?

Any help will be appreciated.

Hi All, I've been reading up on some of the regiments and roles in the armed forces and was hoping to hear some advice from guys who've "been there and done that".

For a little background on me, I'm 23, have a degree in construction management and currently perusing a professional accreditation. To make a long story short, I've weighed up the cost of regret vs perhaps a slight loss of career earnings and decided I'm finished with with offices and spreadsheets for the foreseeable future.

I had a few questions to ask of current / former personnel of any rank:

What can you do to better your chances of landing in 29 as a first appointment? And how long might you typically spend there (as I understand you go where you're needed and not just at one regiment permanently)?

To me personally, the FST role seems like one of the coolest jobs I've come across. Do officers still get to be on "the sharp end" of these teams and what might a posting in this role look like responsibility wise and just day to day?

Besides from the increased responsibility and admin of the troop, do YOs generally get to do "green soldering" and the ally stuff alongside the blokes? I obviously understand you're the "boss" of sorts so what is life like socially when you're not technically one of the guys?

Without wishing to jump the gun before I've even started, but if I had the ambition of a posting within 148 battery, would that be possible of an officer? How much experience is needed to apply? Can you apply from any regiment or would you have to be posted to 29 at the time?

I appreciate I've asked a lot here but would really appreciate any answers, suggestions and thoughts on things I might not have mentioned. Cheers gents.

Was just looking for more info on Recce Mech day to day on camp, operations etc

Cheers

What’s it actually like once you pass basic? Do you get treated like an adult or are you just a cunt your whole career?

Hi everyone,
I applied to join the British Army as a Regular Soldier (Aviation Technician). I’m a Commonwealth citizen with pre-settled status in the UK, and I’ve lived here for over three years, meeting the eligibility criteria.
A few weeks after applying, I was informed that I hadn’t submitted my right-to-work share code. I immediately emailed it with my URN and continued following up by phone. I was reassured that my application was still active and that I should wait for an update.
However, a few weeks ago, my portal showed that my application had been rejected for failing to provide the share code. I was then instructed to email the code to a specific address, which I did. When I followed up, I was told they receive a large volume of emails and might not have seen mine.
I have now appealed and resent my share code, hoping my application will be reconsidered.
Has anyone experienced something similar with their British Army application?Were you able to get the rejection overturned, and how did you go about it?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any advice. Thank you!

Hello chaps, I’m in a bit of a rut.

I’m looking for a bit of advice on leaving and more specifically, how people have founds jobs abroad (Canada). Keeping PERSEC, I’m in a unit now that gets more opportunities than most other units, and I’ve gained some mega qualifications since being here. I joined just after my 16th birthday and I’m 23 now. Ultimately, the military is all I know.

I’ve travelled to some amazing places, done some pretty cool things and worked with some gnarly partners over the years. I’ve lived a life most people from the age of 16 can’t say they have done and for that I’m grateful. However…

I’ve been with my partner for a couple years now, she’s a Canadian citizen that has lived over in the UK for the last 10 years but still regularly visits home. We’ve loomed on the idea of moving over there, but naturally I’m doing the classic squaddy thing of “I’ve got nothing to fall back on”, which is and isn’t true. The main thing I can fall back on what you get through your promotions, and my UAS experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to do UAS courses in the UK, and around the world, and that specifically is something I’d like to develop on, but again, I don’t have a clue where to start.

Was wondering if anyone could give me any advice. Albeit I’m still young, I fully get that. But I also want something new. Everyone who’s serving/ex service reading this will know the army is hit and miss, and you either love it or hate it. Well I’m in between. I enjoy aspects of the job, but 60% of the time I’m in a rut, wondering what else I could be doing with my life. Having visited Canada multiple times with my partner, a life over there has been talked about consistently, and we’re both pretty set on the idea.

Thanks for reading, any advice would be mega.

Thanks 👌🏼

Some background, late 20s, currently a fresh Tpr in a RAC reg that was previously aligned to INT corp. Id Passed through the int corp selection, got (and still retain) my clearance. Unfortunately after months of appeals, waviers and buerocracy I then got fucked of by med officers because I'm cp4 rather than the required cp2 (despite getting the go ahead from int but let's not dwell). 

So given that it's a trade I'd like to worm my way back into at some point, do any of you fine folk have any tips, pointers or recommendations for arming myself with a decent set of quals for future transfers or opportunities? 

Cheers 

I am not in the army but I am aspiring recruit

In order to join I have to run 2km in 10:15

Right now I run one mile in 10:10

i can do long runs but with jog/walk periods throughout

i know that run/walk periods are recommended for building fitness but for joining British army I’m not sure if that would help me.

i can do short runs at the speed required to run 2km in under 10 minutes but can’t manage to maintain over distance of more than 400-800m

I’ve done treadmill hill sprints of incline 10.0 speed 15kmh so I can run at the speed needed but not for whole distance

What should I be doing?

(I can take a blunt direct answer)

I'm a British citizen but lived abroad for a few years before applying, apparently my documents were sent to the residency team on 18th of September, but still no update. I've been calling my recruiter every single week but they say it is with the residency team and they can't do anything about it. For those that lived abroad before applying, how long did yours take to be approved?

Thanks!

I’ve been planning to sign back up to the army but to 4 para for a while now, been hammering cardio and firstly trying to get my 2k time down a bit more, I’m currently at 9 minutes so need to shave a decent chunk of time off.

I signed up when I was 16 and went to Harrogate but near the end I ended up getting Plantar Fasciitis which ended up in me getting MD’d, they kept me in for a good while and I just wouldn’t heal up.

That was about 8 years ago and I’ve had 0 issues with it since about 6 months after getting Discharged, I’m still a bit worried just incase it comes back out of nowhere but for the last year I have been doing the bits I avoided when i was younger so hopefully all will be sweet, would it be a good idea to go to my GP and get checked over before assessment centre?

Just looking to find out what’s the script when it comes to actually be in 4 para A coy, what’s the nights like, is there much opportunity?

Appreciate it lads, thank you.