What's that you say? You want me to dig a trench?

Good heavens!

Originally Posted by tom_dkg

I think you are asking two separate sets of questions here?

a. are private/public school applicants very different from Comp applicants in their motives?

b. why would anyone want to take on the profession of arms, with its particular hardships, compared to any other occupation?

On the first:

1. many "private schools" are used by parents, who don't have that background you seem to indicate, but choose instead to spend money they have grafted for for that purpose.

2. how many of your fellow comp students have those experiences of mucking in with the work of a family and home, or getting out to work voluntarily with people in worse situations than themselves, or indeed these days or "real hardship"? I suggest no more and no less than any family of high income - that is down to parenting style, not school, class or money.

3. I think there is still a small core of entry by habit, as the family just do that, but I suspect this is declining.


On the second:

1. Why does anyone take it on? Perhaps they simply want to be soldiers? Using your own arguments on those you see as privileged, why especially would that group do anything at all? ?

2. Why would a comp student who goes on to get a first or a 2.1 Hons degree go to Sandhurst? They could choose a host of other easier occupations? But they do.

3. Something they see as challenging?



There is, and I think this applies across the board, and to both questions, and though maybe with more choice in occupation available to guys who don't have to get out and earn a living quickly, an element of guys who wish "to serve" in the respect of doing something for their nation.

Sorry, I'm not sure how to do the "quote a bit, respond, repeat" thingy yet...I would say that there are a fair few volunterring opportunities at the my state school to help in the community and things and so we've definately got a perspective on hardship. Also, i juggle studying with a part-time job, which is something not many private school people do I doubt!

I suppose the adventure and excitment and patrotrism is classeless though!

Originally Posted by otc wannabe

Not all privately educated officers are rich.

...or educated.

Originally Posted by Idrach

The people who had the least culture shock on my basic were the lads who had wandered in straight from boarding school. It was just boarding school with polish and without buggery, as far as they were concerned. On the other hand, some lads with decent post-grad degrees banged out quickly having found being treated as vermin unconscionable.

Wow, really? Guess leaving the ivory tower was a bit of a shock...

Not all public school boys live in multi million pound houses, dad was a squaddie when I went off to boarding school and only got his commission half way through my school life. I'm joining because I think it's a rewarding job that provides security for wife/kids in the future.

Originally Posted by Chocolate Labrador

Not all public school boys live in multi million pound houses, dad was a squaddie when I went off to boarding school and only got his commission half way through my school life. I'm joining because I think it's a rewarding job that provides security for wife/kids in the future.

No offence but how could they afford boarding school on like a squaddies wage?! Aren't these places like 30k a year or something mental like that?

I went to a private school that prized itself on being a dickensian hogwarts, except that there was nothing magical about the staff - they were idiots.

My favourite film is now 'If...'

After seven years of horsehair mattresses, shite food, a ludicrous uniform, no heating, bed blocks, no privacy and having to march to lunch - RMAS was a sophisticated, enjoyable, comfortable, entertaining and testing year.

.

I would say that hardship in monetary terms in probably less well understood at public school, but in terms of physical or mental hardship, public schools defiantly provide that in bucket loads so I think it's probably difficult to say absolutely who has the better 'perspective on hardship'. Also, I'd like to add that public schools have community service as well, and they are more similar to comprehensive or grammar schools than you might think.

I have noticed that officers i see being interviewed for the news speak nothing like officers did when i was a soldier, this would seem to indicate the privately educated contingent are on the decline. How are you supposed to recognise them in the dark on exercise......