Originally Posted by eye_spy

It has its moments SFA!

Yeah, and working with me is but one of them!

Seriously SFA - good luck with the slime - top chaps and 'damn good looking girls'!

Bet it's not as much fun as Ashford, though!

LOL having read through all this lot, maybe I should jack in my plans of "MI Operator" after all?!
Nah, I'm seriously up for it, even if I've got to gain nearly a stone/hide my temperamental side to get in I'm currently training my ass off in the gym to try and reach physical standards for RSC Pirbright....passing that, I should hopefully head off to Winchester...(She says.)
Any tips on how I can prep for Int. Corps training, guys? I'm 20 and female, but don't bother buttering up your words, heard it all before. Just gimme some details and I'll be on my way

Originally Posted by CelenaGaia

I'm seriously up for it, even if I've got to gain nearly a stone/hide my temperamental side to get in I'm currently training my ass off in the gym to try and reach physical standards for RSC Pirbright....passing that, I should hopefully head off to Winchester...(She says.)

Having read some of your other posts on the site, I think you might find that you will have problems joining the Army and, particularly, the Int Corps. You will need to convince the recruiters that your medical 'history' is behind you and that you are fully functional both physically and mentally.

'Training your ass off' isn't necessary to pass through recruit selection: you need to be reasonably fit, that's all, and it will be much more beneficial to your case if you can show that you have lived a reasonably stable existence for a few years.

I'm not trying to be cruel or heartless, but I don't think the Army is for you at the moment.

Originally Posted by CelenaGaia

LOL having read through all this lot, maybe I should jack in my plans of "MI Operator" after all?!
Nah, I'm seriously up for it, even if I've got to gain nearly a stone/hide my temperamental side to get in I'm currently training my ass off in the gym to try and reach physical standards for RSC Pirbright....passing that, I should hopefully head off to Winchester...(She says.)
Any tips on how I can prep for Int. Corps training, guys? I'm 20 and female, but don't bother buttering up your words, heard it all before. Just gimme some details and I'll be on my way

Um. There isn't a gentle way of saying this, so here goes, with apologies in advance for any upset this may cause (and bear in mind that I'm probably the same age as your parents, so by definition insensitive):

I'm with cpunk on this. I'm sure you're much better than you were and that you're on the road to recovery - and all the very best with that, incidentally - but you need to bear in mind that the Corps is particularly interested in recruiting bright people who deal well with stress and unusual and fast-changing circumstances. While most of the Corps' work is pretty mundane, a lot of it can involve fairly serious psychological pressure. Add to this the need to carry a pretty intrusive vetting load, which looks in some detail at factors like financial regularity, personal circumstances and psychological state. Altogether, you might well have some difficulties, with selection and then, if selected, with training. Don't set yourself up to fail; take another year out, I should, to be sure you're better. You don't need to hammer the gym, just do enough to stay in reasonable shape - in my experience, when it's time to sweat, the Army will make sure you're sweating.

Originally Posted by CelenaGaia

Nah, I'm seriously up for it, even if I've got to gain nearly a stone/hide my temperamental side to get in

hide your temperamental side to get in? why bother...it will come out during training and you may prevent someone else who doesnt have temperament issues gaining a place.

I'm currently training my ass off in the gym to try and reach physical standards for RSC Pirbright....passing that, I should hopefully head off to Winchester...(She says.)

if you need to train your ass off to meet female standards at RSC youre not quite the exercise addicted freak you would have us believe from previous posts. a semijog in about 13 mins for 1.5 miles...COME ON!

Any tips on how I can prep for Int. Corps training, guys? I'm 20 and female, but don't bother buttering up your words, heard it all before.

if youve heard it all before, why ask for advice?

AS IM KIND...Do things to overcome shyness issues, develop a thick skin, become computer literate, do as you are told the first time, learn fast, go on the piss but dont let it affect your work, and keep your legs closed. If you keep your head down, and get on with things without attracting unwanted attention, because of your behaviour/attitude you will do yourself a favour.

Act like an adult - own up to your mistakes and take the consequences. Apart from that, the training is on the whole, quite enjoyable.

Just gimme some details and I'll be on my way

a fairly nonchalant attitude. do not dismiss the training. people do still fail OPMI training (god knows how though).

if youve heard it all before, why ask for advice?

No, I meant I've had all the "softly-softly" approach before, not heard the actual content before. Gotten sick of people pussy-footing around me coz i've been ill, big deal. I'd rather hear the facts up front. Relating to that, I can't thank you guys enough for being this straight with me. Cold hard facts is what i'm essentially after, and you're advice was worth the lump of bitter resentment/disappointment i felt in my chest upon reading your posts. I admit, i've probly still got some way to go before trying for recruitment in the army. I'm just so bloody BORED with civilian life in my straight-jacket town. I'm trying hard not to be a gung-ho nancy like chris from platoon, gagging for adventure and to "prove himself", but its kinda tricky when you've been stuck in the same place, after travelling with your folks when they were in the RAF for the first 5 years of your life, for 15 years. And ive done the hospitalization thing for this disorder, and have been back on track for some time now, so am real keen to get out in the world. I'm 20 now, it's about time i did, can't sit around sponging off the country anymore. I wanted a career that involves the things i love - exercise, outdoor life, communication, literature, independent living, etc - and the army (particularly Intelligence) seemed the way forward. But if you don't think im ready, or might not make it....well, you're the professionals. Its such a bummer tho. This illness has done more than waste four years of my life, its probly tarnished my future hell loads too. At least i wasn't sectioned, that really would screw my records up proper. Got any suggestions what i can do instead of sitting around twiddling my thumbs? I really can't bear the thought of an all-day office job, or even a half-day office job to be honest. And regarding my training,

if you need to train your ass off to meet female standards at RSC youre not quite the exercise addicted freak you would have us believe from previous posts. a semijog in about 13 mins for 1.5 miles...COME ON!

I'm already classed as fit, but am "training my ass off" to try and gain muscle mate, remember im on a weight gain diet, the last thing i need is to put on a stone of fat instead of muscle. I know its inevitable i WILL gain some fat, its only natural, but i'd prefer the majority of the gain to be muscle. That's what i meant. And Cpunk, I dont think you're cruel/heartless, actually i dont think that of any of you. Just plain and honest, which is what i came on this site counting on to receive. Like i said, i can't thank you enough for the honesty.
Cya round guys,
Celena

Originally Posted by CelenaGaia

if youve heard it all before, why ask for advice?

No, I meant I've had all the "softly-softly" approach before, not heard the actual content before. Gotten sick of people pussy-footing around me coz i've been ill, big deal. I'd rather hear the facts up front. Relating to that, I can't thank you guys enough for being this straight with me. Cold hard facts is what i'm essentially after, and you're advice was worth the lump of bitter resentment/disappointment i felt in my chest upon reading your posts. I admit, i've probly still got some way to go before trying for recruitment in the army. I'm just so bloody BORED with civilian life in my straight-jacket town. I'm trying hard not to be a gung-ho nancy like chris from platoon, gagging for adventure and to "prove himself", but its kinda tricky when you've been stuck in the same place, after travelling with your folks when they were in the RAF for the first 5 years of your life, for 15 years. And ive done the hospitalization thing for this disorder, and have been back on track for some time now, so am real keen to get out in the world. I'm 20 now, it's about time i did, can't sit around sponging off the country anymore. I wanted a career that involves the things i love - exercise, outdoor life, communication, literature, independent living, etc - and the army (particularly Intelligence) seemed the way forward. But if you don't think im ready, or might not make it....well, you're the professionals. Its such a bummer tho. This illness has done more than waste four years of my life, its probly tarnished my future hell loads too. At least i wasn't sectioned, that really would screw my records up proper. Got any suggestions what i can do instead of sitting around twiddling my thumbs? I really can't bear the thought of an all-day office job, or even a half-day office job to be honest. And regarding my training,

if you need to train your ass off to meet female standards at RSC youre not quite the exercise addicted freak you would have us believe from previous posts. a semijog in about 13 mins for 1.5 miles...COME ON!

I'm already classed as fit, but am "training my ass off" to try and gain muscle mate, remember im on a weight gain diet, the last thing i need is to put on a stone of fat instead of muscle. I know its inevitable i WILL gain some fat, its only natural, but i'd prefer the majority of the gain to be muscle. That's what i meant. And Cpunk, I dont think you're cruel/heartless, actually i dont think that of any of you. Just plain and honest, which is what i came on this site counting on to receive. Like i said, i can't thank you enough for the honesty.
Cya round guys,
Celena

You might consider joining the TA locally. This would give you a taste of the good things about the Army, keep you interested and occupied part-time, generate a bit of cash and give you a chance to find out whether this is something you might enjoy. Don't know whereabouts in the country you are or how mobile you are, but R Signals have pretty comprehensive coverage and they're not a bad crowd, with some interesting things to do, or, if you're in the right neck of the woods, Int Corps TA is a possibility as well.

The TA Int Corps has just the same vetting as the regs so it's not an easy option from that point of view. Also, at 20 you'd be one of the youngest applicants and might struggle to demonstrate sufficient maturity during the selection interviews and (if you get through) selection weekend (not saying you will though, just be aware). The regs tend to take far more youngsters than we do, as you'd expect. And a mobilised op tour would then be inevitable.

You will however fit right in to the recruitment profile of most other TA units and those won't have the same depth of vetting. I'm assuming you're not at uni, much as we may deride the OTC it's a good way to get a feel for life in green without committing to anything.

My biggest piece of advice would be not to discuss your problems with anyone in your squad or DS outside interviews until you're in a way, you know them well and the subject comes up naturally in conversation. Tell everyone within 10 mins of meeting them and you're labelled as a potential nutter and drama queen - besides, everyone has problems, yours aren't special. Keep quiet, crack on and impress them and you're someone who earns respect for dealing with your life in an adult fashion without any dramas.

Good luck.

CD

If you think you are bored now, I can assure you it will be nothing like having to stag on in a trench all night, or worse experience the wait for an RAF flight!! So you are certainly not going to escape from that.

I do agree with some of the others that you would no harm to wait a while to get yourself together. Once you get into phase 1 and 2 training your feet will not touch the ground, it would not harm you to give yourself a bit more breathing space to get your house in order.

Good luck.

PS: I was wondering if you once used to live on Washington Ave ??

Lol, nope, never been near the place. Wolverhampton child born and bred, then spent four year cruising around europe while mom and dad got posted to different places (Gutersloh Germany mostly, tho, but thats not even an english base nemore, boo.) Now been stuck in one town for 15 years. I was a benefits sap for about a year then got sick of it and despite meds advice went back to work as a cleaner. No regrets, except for levels of boredom, but hey, it's work ain't it. Thanx again for advice. Celena.