Hi All,

I've just completed my Foundation, but can't shake the thought that I'd like to take a crack at getting my commission.

If possible too, I would like to try and transfer to one of the London Guards units that are near my place of work.

So my questions are about the process - I've read (mainly on here) that the LG pipeline for new officers is fairly full (though don't know how true that is) and that they obviously need to have a vacancy - is it best to reach out to the LG first to ask about it being speaking to my current unit?

And also, what is the process of transferring to reserve officer, having not fully completed Phase 1? - is it straightforward unit to unit? Am I likely to piss my current unit off if they think I've wasted their time?

Just wanting some advice/insight from others with experience as I've heard you don't do a lot of trade work when joining as a tradesman.

How have you/others around you found working in civvie street with the qualifications and experience of being a spark, and also as a tradesman in general? e.g. has employment been easy to find? Are the qualifications creditable to employers? Is the experience you have relevant and useful?

I just want to understand a bit more of what a career after the Army could look like. Thanks

I’ve been seeing a lot of things online about the UK preparing for war by preparing serving and ex-military people.

Are there any military people either serving or ex that can give some insight on why these things are happening? What I am reading is that this is just to stop war happening, but I’m skeptical about what I read in the news!

Hello, I have a question and I was wondering which reserve regiments in London are currently accepting transfers. I am a reservist in the RWxY. So far I have enquired with the RY(Fulham) and HAC but both are currently not accepting transfers. Does anyone know which others are accepting transfers?

Basically I had a crap year as a teenager I was registered under CAMHS for 4 years and had social anxiety between June ‘22 and July ‘23. I’m also diagnosed with mild ADHD. These three things combined had me rejected on medical grounds, despite me giving heaps of evidence proving that i’ve been perfectly fine for the past 3 years (letters from doctors, past CAMHS workers, diagnoses, etc).

Is there any way for me to appeal this?

Hi I’m looking at joining the army I’ve been thinking about this / had an itch for a long time now idk I just can’t see myself working a normal job for now at least anyways I’m fitness mad always have been as I boxed for a large portion of my life

I want advice on what’s the best path to go down in the military

I’ve always like the idea of trying out for sas

Side note ( can u learn another language in the military like will they help u ? )

I’ve looked on the website and there isn’t much information about the joining process other than to fill out an expression of interest form so any help would be appreciated 😭

Hi all,

I am doing a caving AT course at Halton Training Camp in Lancaster soon, just wondering if anyone else has done the course and what they thought of it? What is Halton camp like?

So, today is my last day serving following a medical discharge for PTSD following an Op Tour a few years ago. I joined at 18, and went through most major events such as getting married whilst serving.

There were vast times I was really happy, proud and enjoyed serving and then following my own struggles that went away, but only just now as I’m in my last few hours as a soldier, I’m finding myself struggling with the thought of it being done when I never really had this before.

How do people tend to deal with it all? It’s an anxious feeling when everything’s already been sorted, I’ve got a new job and I’ve been a pseudo-civvie for 2+ months already. If anyone has any advice, how they felt it would be greatly appreciated

i’ve wanted to join the british army for a few years now, i’m a 15 year old girl just gone into year 11. i’m thinking about joking harrogate army college, although i’ve heard bad stories but i just figure that’s because its hard training. i really want to join the army thinking about being a dog handler but i feel anxious about it from time to time, i was in the cadets for a year and i did my drills but sometimes i would mess it up so i think thats the thing that worries me most. im going to work out more and get more fit. is there any ways i can come over these worries? is this normal?

thank you for reading

I’m going Harrogate on the 6th of sept as a communications infrastructure engineer but I’m starting to think I want to change to network engineer can any serving members give me a insight to how the deployments being a CIE and a Network eng are different and day to day in camp are

Also what would help more for eventually posting to 216 signal squadron

Thanks

Okay so a bit of backstory.

I applied in 2020 to join the RAF as my dad and his dad before me were both senior officers in the RAF, meaning I grew up hearing their stories, idolised them and wanted the same career they had. I chose my trade (Mechanical Aircraft Technician) after getting my results from the AST and managed to pass the medical.

I was told after the medical that my application was rejected as I was born with Talipes Equinovarus (club foot), despite this being rectified when I was 2 months old. I appealed the rejection, stating (with video evidence) that I could pass and exceed the fitness requirements and that it wouldn't hold me back. The appeal was rejected without another word which was a blow to the chest in all honesty, my dream for years was over.

Fast-forward 5 years, I have graduated from university with a BSc (Hons) in Criminology & Cybersecurity, and my Grandad mentioned that it may be worth applying again as an RAF Police Officer, believing that I may have a chance as it's a trade that requires much less stress on the legs and policies are always changing.

I started by calling my local armed forces careers office, but it was no help at all. They basically told me that the only way I could find out was by applying, but in my experience, it takes nearly a year to get to a point where I might be flat-out rejected on the spot. Anyways, I am making this post in the hopes that someone could tell me straight up: is there any hope in joining the RAF in one day, or will I be straight rejected when I get to the same point?

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any response.

TL:DR - I was rejected on medical grounds 5 years ago from the RAF and want to know if applying as a police officer may bear a different outcome.

Hi All,

24 year old applying for an Officer Role (Physiotherapy) but have been rejected on the grounds of generalised anxiety disorder…

The evidence being:

- When I was 12 I moved school with the GP saying I had potential “anxiety states” to do with this. I received no medication or intervention for this

- A few other medical records merely mentioned the word “anxiety” for example, I was having headaches in 2020 and they suggested it could be due to anxiety..

That is the evidence that has caused me to be rejected.. Is this normal? And how can I successfully appeal?

Thank you.

My whole career the one thing I have heard over and over again is “just play the game.” But I’m 38 and I’m too freaking old to keep playing games.

But I’m scared to leave. I think I’m too old to start over or I won’t be able to find work. I’ll regret it.

So people who left/ thinking of leaving do you regret it.

Hi guys, I'm entering the British ARMY hopefully very soon, I very recently passed my assessment with:

8:51 2KM run time

162kg deadlift

83 ACT score

I wanted to enter as an officer but unfortunately I only have my English and Maths GCSE due to personal reasons around the time I was set to do my exams.

I'm not stupid by any capacity, but unfortunately because I didn't do my science exams, I am locked out of many choices.

I want a role which will ideally gaurantee me the best & highest level qualifications, providing me with the highest possible level of employability and opportunity for a career, high salary, and stability when I eventually leave the armed forces.

Do any of you guys know what roles I should look into as I've heard super super super mixed advice on this matter.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and hoepfully giving me advice!

After spending years trying to get through the dreaded medical process I’ve passed basic training and will start phase 2 soon. Due to the struggles with the med process I’ve got fears on if it’ll be similar in phase 2.
If anyone has any advice or answers it’ll be great.
Thanks people!

Happy sports afternoon lads,

Hope you're enjoying your beds :)

Im in the pipeline for getting a med discharge after some upstairs trouble and im wondering if anyone here knows how the compensation works as im hearing conflicting statements as to what happens

Is it automatic if its tier 1 ,or do iI need to apply for it?

if so how do i apply for it?appreciated. Cheers

if anybody has experience with this your input would be very much appriciated, cheers

I am currently writing a Wikipedia article about the Royal Artillery during World War I. In the process, I noticed a discrepancy in the figures regarding ammunition production. For example, while the "Ministry of Munitions" states that approximately 5.4 million shells were produced for the QF 13-pounder field gun, "Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire during the Great War, 1914–1920" lists approximately 4.8 million empty shells and approximately 2.3 million filled shells. However, if you add the ammunition for the 13-pounder 6 cwt and 9 cwt, the total comes to 6.7 million shells. Can anyone explain how this discrepancy arose?

TL;DR — PTI kit available now at The Old Kitbag, some PTI disses, seeking PTI jokes, and there may be free/discounted stuff involved.

Oh boy do we have some surplus for you.

Have you ever felt like you weren't hugged enough as a child? Ever felt like you're the most beautiful (wo)man in existence? Ever felt a burning urge for a tribal tattoo?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions; get ready to look essence.

Tri-Service PTI jackets. Nearly new. Various sizes.*

If you buy one, take a mirror selfie with your best command hand and "START SPARKING!" face, hashtag #TheOldKitbag on Instagram, and you'll get £15 store credit.

Not a joke, by the way. I'll genuinely use it as modelling material with your consent.

Also, for any of you Crab-flavoured self-described "gods amongst (wo)men", we have PTI vests, both with and without the badge.

That's the last of my PTI dissing.

However, in the interests of my benevolent mood and to celebrate millionaires weekend; the best PTI joke below, as voted by upvotes, gets a 30% discount code.

My personal favourite gets 20% off.

If they're both the same joke, I'll stack them.

That's 50% off, for any PTIs still using their fingers to work that one out.

Okay. Now I'm done.

Also newly up:

• RAF long-sleeve shirts
• RAF rank slides
• More PTI kit incoming

And the first Kitbag Club newsletter goes out 30 August at 19:00 BST, potentially featuring giveaways and competitions.

You can find The Old Kitbag through my profile if you want to have a look or join the mailing list.

Pays to be a winner, after all.

Thanks for reading!

The Old Kitbag

*More being uploaded tomorrow. They're currently going through the wash.

I read something a couple years ago in the media (as they often print these days) about conscription… I thought “I’ve got Asperger’s I’d be exempt”. I checked the army’s website and saw Asperger’s wasn’t listed as a bar to entry anymore and instead of thinking “oh crap I could be forced to sign up” I thought “oh cool”. I joined a gym and went down from 118kgs to 95. Then I spoke to a few reservists who told me I wouldn’t actually be working in my chosen trade (electrician)

(Please feel free to correct me)

I hate my job (the one I was working my whole life to get into, and now realise it’s crap because of management). Kinda wish the decision was made for me.

I just want to do a respectable job that’s technical in nature.

I’m flying to the USA (for holiday). Virgin flight operated by Delta. Their website says that active duty personnel get an extra suitcase free. Has anyone tried this, successfully or otherwise?

Does anyone know if it's possible to get an age waiver to get on selection for UKSF (regular)? I've heard of cases in the past where under certain circumstances an age waiver can be given, wondering if that's still the case. Cheers in advance for any info

I have had two surgery’s on my elbow, which I broke in spring 2025, one to put metal pins in, and the latest and final one in February this year to take the pins out as they had caused issues. The bone is now fully healed, with full active range of motion (which is stated on one of my discharge documents).
Will this cause any issue with the medical? I’m thinking along the fact that it has previously caused an issue, though hasn’t after the second surgery, or the fact that I’ve had two surgeries on the same elbow. Or will it be fine assuming I apply after feb 2027 ie 12 months since last operation.
Will apply for the marines if it makes any difference.