(-A-)

Well I'm going to do army stuff in a different colour/font, because some people really don't like reading about the topic, i don't think ill ever understand their reasons but i at least respect their decision.

Anyways, my plans have changed some what over the last 2 weeks which is why I've been majorly busy. I went with mum to visit a family friend (ill explain in another post) but hes a very high ranking armourer who explained loads of bits I'd of never got from the internet/books

Most will know my original plan of joining the Para's, what i didn't know is i can do p-coy (the para specific training) at any point in any career, i can also do the all arms commando course at any point in any career as well (both i intend to do) which opened up kind of everything

So after this looked at every other job there is, choosing what i'd want to do or find interesting then narrowed it down by pro's and con's like what skills/qualifications i could get out of it, what the army is most likely to need (they are cutting back, example: chefs contracts aren't being renewed/none are being taken on) how close to the action i'd be, civilian prospects when i come out etc

What i'm going for is to be an armourer, in short it means i'd fix/modify the army's weapons from small arms and rifles to complex machine guns, right up to the challenger 2 tank gun and artillery weapons.

(this is all as far as i know)

• i'd learn every weapon the army uses inside out and get to play with them all. thus incredibly interesting to me, i love the idea of getting payed to play with guns.
• skill and qualifications are ok
• future prospects not so much unless i moved to America where guns are legal
• i can be attached to any regiment from infantry to tanks/artillery so on the job stuff or i can stay back in the workshops and fix them through orders so how close i am to the action will depend entirely on me and can chop and change
• theres a shortage in the army (so far as i know)
• it will also leave me with time to do a lot of adventure training, like i really want to head back to boxing and do skydiving (i may have mentioned this but if i get to around the 200 jump mark i can learn to bass jump in Spain)
• then add in doing P-coy/ the all arms course at some point over the 4 years and i can be attached to the 16 air assault brigade and the para's, sticking to the original plan
• if i don't fancy it i can also apply for pilot training (helicopter) after 4 years of service, now you can see why i'm getting so excited, this is amazing to me

so all in all pure win, its just about getting onto the course now and passing the tests, i delayed it so its tomorrow morning now, i've filled out the online application so all i need now is to basically pop in, go over it and sign it, then go straight into my first interview and arrange a date for the barb test, i'll fill you in on the rest as it happens

Be good to know your opinions as well, i mean if you where to join the army, what would you do given the choice? what would interest you? from medical to tank driving? also if you have a spare 5 minutes, take this, it makes for interesting reading about yourself, http://pathfinder.armyjobs.mod.uk/

xo