Full Careers

Should i try for a career in the army?

I am currently doing A-levels in college and since the age of 15 i have always seriously considered a career in the armed forces, especially in the Army and the air force. As a career path in the army i would join the parachute regiment, i have told my family this and they did not seem enthusiastic at all (probably because of the paras rep & the conflict in afghan/iraq etc)....they suggested that "the RAF is better for you", so i searched the careers site and in the RAF i am considering a fast jet pilot, when i leave college i am sure i will have the right qualification requirements, but on forums and from other people etc, have said that the compitition is high and a physics/science degree is what they are looking for, so i am not getting my high hopes on that . But i feel that i have much more military knowledge in the army than the RAF and more chance of becoming airbourne. In conclusion i would like some advice on this, that would be great. so....Army (paras), RAf (pilot) or Uni?

Public Comments

1. Choose Air Force if you don't want to die in Iraq.
2. I really want it why not!.. good luck to your choice.
3. yes the army helps with collage and all that but a revolution is coming so i would wait
4. Why? So that the blood of innocent Iraqi kids will be on your hands and all for one reason - OIL.
5. now a days there is no adventure in army....................... no one likes to fight, there are so many organisation which comes between before you start attacking a country........... so leave it.
6. Choose Life.. Take the challenge of a career in which you preserve life not train to take it away. Look at the men who lie behind the decision to go to war. Would Bush put his life on the line for you? Rumsfeld? Defending ones country is a noble thing. Declaring war on an emotion , such as Terror, is madness.
7. the good thing about the army is that you get a $20,000 bonus just for joining unlike the girly- force ha! (i heard a retired air force guy say that i thought it was hilarious!)
8. Whatever you decide, I have respect for you. Just take a look at how this Gov. treats its veterans. You want to spend your time in service in perpetual war? That is what the right wing wants.
9. its all about you and what you decide that you want to do, the path for becoming a pilot is a long and slow process and there are a lot of tests that you have to pass before they will even consider you but if thats something that you are interested in then go for it. i would say the best way to go about it would be to go in doing something with planes/jets/choppers so that way you are getting time in service and getting experience then after a while ask some of the officers to recommend you for it.
10. Entry into the Armed Forces as a pilot is indeed extremely competitive. Now practically every concerned parent has... well, concerns over their sons potentially serving in the infantry. If you want to give the Paras a try, apply anyway and they'll warm up to the idea if you're successful. As for a career - apply for the military, but cover your bases. You won't know whether or not you want to make a career out of it until you've already underway in military service. It's not what a lot of people expect. If you are giving Uni some serious consideration, then perhaps the Territorial Army might be a good choice. Do your degree while doing part-time military service. The Parachute Regiment even has a Battalion in the Territorial Army.