Officer Careers Advice Thread

**in_the_cheapseats** · 14-10-2008, 06:55

Juvenile charges?

**desouza** · 14-10-2008, 07:24

No, I was 18 at the time. Crimes were not theft/sexual/assault etc in nature.

I'm 26 now and have done nothing untoward since. It's hideous having this stuff coming back to haunt me. I had all but erased it from my memory and moved on :(

Moral of the story? You'll never get away with being a little sh1t.

**cpunk** · 14-10-2008, 08:57

Originally Posted by desouza

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

If it's going to be a problem, they'll let you know. As a general point, being completely open and honest is the only way forward here and may gain you some credit.

As far as I'm aware, a minor criminal record is not necessarily a bar to commissioning but it will very much depend on what you did.

**desouza** · 14-10-2008, 09:41

Sorry if i'm being a bit slow, but just to clarify...

Are you saying that I can just list the convictions on the form and if it's going to be an issue the AFCO will let me know....

or, when you say "be completely open", do you think I should put a call in before sending this form into my AFCO?

Thanks for the advice.

**cpunk** · 14-10-2008, 11:21

List the convictions on the form and send it in. When you are asked about them, as you will be, be open and honest about the circumstances, what happened and why.

**desouza** · 14-10-2008, 11:35

Thank you, cpunk.

**Coracao** · 14-10-2008, 12:35

Can anyone provide with a brief outline of the day-to-day activities of an Officer? I've had a brief look through this thread and haven't really found what I was looking for. I realise that this may depend on your actual role.

Many thanks.

**Teeman** · 14-10-2008, 19:23

hi there

just a quick one, does anyone know where i can book an army medical? i've looked on the mod site but can't seem to find a link.

regards teemen

**Unlucky_Alf** · 15-10-2008, 07:44

Originally Posted by Coracao

Can anyone provide with a brief outline of the day-to-day activities of an Officer? I've had a brief look through this thread and haven't really found what I was looking for. I realise that this may depend on your actual role.

Many thanks.

No, they can't really do that. It varies immensely depending on such factors as appointment, cap badge, unit readiness etc. One of the best things about being an officer in the Army is the variety of life and for this reason your question is actually difficult to answer in the way I suspect you would like it to be.

Sorry for that, not what you were after I Know, but the recruiting literature available from the careers office may be a better bet than arrse to answer this in a generic sense as in reality it does vary greatly and the experiences of each officer will be quite different.

**in_the_cheapseats** · 15-10-2008, 08:48

Originally Posted by Unlucky_Alf

Originally Posted by Coracao

Can anyone provide with a brief outline of the day-to-day activities of an Officer? I've had a brief look through this thread and haven't really found what I was looking for. I realise that this may depend on your actual role.

Many thanks.

No, they can't really do that. It varies immensely depending on such factors as appointment, cap badge, unit readiness etc. One of the best things about being an officer in the Army is the variety of life and for this reason your question is actually difficult to answer in the way I suspect you would like it to be.

Sorry for that, not what you were after I Know, but the recruiting literature available from the careers office may be a better bet than arrse to answer this in a generic sense as in reality it does vary greatly and the experiences of each officer will be quite different.

I'd agree with Alf. If you want a job with continuity and a lack of diversity, go elsewhere. The one thing you can guarantee to get as an officer is an exciting time, whatever cap-badge you choose. You will have a life in interesting times! :D

**SpottyDog** · 21-10-2008, 14:26

I have a question about age. I have just turned 27, have I left it too late? Having checked the careers website most capbadges seem to stop recruiting officers at 28.

**WCR26** · 21-10-2008, 15:29

I am the same age as you and was told by many people that I was too old, certainly for the infantry.

However, I had an AFCO interview that went well and I am booked on the POC for the Paras, and also have an interview with PWRR. They're both aware of my age and I don't suppose they'd waste their time or mine if I couldn't be considered.

Of course, I'm yet to actually get in..........

**ocelot** · 21-10-2008, 15:38

I am studying a degree in IT, currently doing IT & Multimedia, but considering a switch to Computers Forensics.
Anyway, I will be completing my degree then doing a Post Grad in Education (which means I will be qualified to teach). However, after looking into the ETS, it seemed to tell me they see no or very little action. So I then looked into the Signals. But joining as an officer in the signals, what exactly would be my role, and as an officer what would you suggest I do for the fours years before I join up (fitness wise, experience wise etc)?
Thanks
TerryW

**cpunk** · 21-10-2008, 16:05

Originally Posted by Terryw

I am studying a degree in IT, currently doing IT & Multimedia, but considering a switch to Computers Forensics.
Anyway, I will be completing my degree then doing a Post Grad in Education (which means I will be qualified to teach). However, after looking into the ETS, it seemed to tell me they see no or very little action. So I then looked into the Signals. But joining as an officer in the signals, what exactly would be my role, and as an officer what would you suggest I do for the fours years before I join up (fitness wise, experience wise etc)?
Thanks
TerryW

As a Royal Signals officer your job in your first tour will be commanding a troop, which is mostly about leadership and people, very little about the technical side of communications which will be handled by specialist NCOs and WOs.

In the time before you join the regular army, you should consider joining the OTC or the mainstream TA but it isn't obligatory and there are plenty of other worthwhile things you can do to broaden your life experience, as well as getting fit etc.

Finally, are you sure you really want to do a PGCE before you join the army if you aren't going to join the ETS? It's something you could equally well do after you leave, if you still want to teach, and having an up to date qualification may stand you in better stead than one you did several years before.

**ocelot** · 21-10-2008, 16:10

Originally Posted by cpunk

As a Royal Signals officer your job in your first tour will be commanding a troop, which is mostly about leadership and people, very little about the technical side of communications which will be handled by specialist NCOs and WOs.

In the time before you join the regular army, you should consider joining the OTC or the mainstream TA but it isn't obligatory and there are plenty of other worthwhile things you can do to broaden your life experience, as well as getting fit etc.

Finally, are you sure you really want to do a PGCE before you join the army if you aren't going to join the ETS? It's something you could equally well do after you leave, if you still want to teach, and having an up to date qualification may stand you in better stead than one you did several years before.

I emailed the "local" OTC earlier today.
As for doing my PGCE earlier, I was thinking, get it out of the way now so later when/if I feel the Military is not for me, then I could easily switch over to ETS or a regular teacher without another year at uni. That was my initial thought, until now haha.