ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by django_strikes

Does anyone know anything about these? Maybe been on one?

The rough gen I have is that they are 15 month courses at Beaconsfield, followed by a tour as an interpreter (so plan on 2 years out of std cap badge activites).

Thing is, 15 months sounds a bit hard core - I get the impression they expect you to live in and study etc.

I am really fishing for more info before I make any more moves.

pm inbound

Ditto.

Charlie

D_S

As you have probably gathered from your PM's it is very intense.

Came as a bit of a shock to a friend of mine.

YM

Originally Posted by django_strikes

Does anyone know anything about these? Maybe been on one?

The rough gen I have is that they are 15 month courses at Beaconsfield, followed by a tour as an interpreter (so plan on 2 years out of std cap badge activites).

Thing is, 15 months sounds a bit hard core - I get the impression they expect you to live in and study etc.

I am really fishing for more info before I make any more moves.

a bit hardcore cos they expect you to study? the bastards.

actually it's all changed with modern technology. because of the demands of modern military students' outside lives, you will now find yourself effortlessly "sleep-learning" - they give you vocab tracks to download to your MP3 player and you play them on speakers in an endless loop whilst you sleep.

saves all that pesky "studying" ;)

Yeo-Man, I think I know the guy you're alluding to.

Hmm.... yes and no. The first five months ( ish ) are pretty painful as you struggle to adapt to the intellectual ( mostly memory ) challenge, and there some intense periods of feverish study pre-exams but overall it isn't too bad. Initially its a sprint, and one which causes quite a bit of stress, but thereafter its a long run.

Its easy to persuade yourself that it is very difficult, but by comparison with any field-formation we are very lucky. I am no massive intellectual, but am managing to have a pleasant social life in London while doing reasonably well on the course.

Its definately worth looking into.

Professionally - If you want to be part of the solution in Iraq / Afg, by helping us engage with the locals rather than plodding around their place helping to smash it up, it is great.

Personally - As an intellectual challenge it is pretty big, but I'm glad I'm giving my brain a beasting after letting it atrophy for a while. Also for the Dari / Arabic guys its an opportunity to begin to understand a completely different culture from a much closer standpoint than a non-speaker. As for Pashto - unlucky... not many cultural challenges there, unless you're a fan of Bacha-Bazii ( and why not, if you're a Para? )

Career-wise - Don't think its much good for a career minded-regular. The few regulars here are generally doing it with a view to realising a personal ambition / doing something different ( with commercial potential ) prior to getting out. As an investment, I would be suprised if you'd regret it - the courses here are packed with some very intelligent and ambitious TA guys who know that in exchange for some hard work and tours they can earn a good deal for KBR and the like, or return to their Security-related work with significant experience and promotion prospects.

The new courses started yesterday, the next intake will be in January.

Charlie

Yeah, maybe I should clarify - on the course, are you expected to live in, married unaccompanied for 15 months IN ORDER TO Study/bond with coursemates etc. followed shortly by a 6 month tour. This might be a problem (Divorce?)... as opposed to just being expected to study. Which is harsh enough I agree, but there you go.

There are quarters at DSL-can't comment as I lived in but people seemed happy enough. Living in accom ain't wonderful but the bar is/was ok and there is a good spread of people there. You won't all be heading for the same job. It can be a bit of a culture shock as the environment will not be what you are used to and-frankly you are at the bottom of the food chain. That said the quality of the tuition is (generally) excellent and you are 2 mins from the M40 and 10 from the M25 so handy for doing one. Also the kebab van on the main drag does a fekkin ace spicy chicken on fresh pita (drools over desk)

Ah but Kebab sauce maketh a marriage not. I can't see Mrs Django taking the news well that she is to stag on unaccompanied mit kinder, while I am 25 miles down the road, then on an Op tour.

I understand the necessity to live in on courses, but surely on one as long a 15 months they might apply sense?

(Django chokes on his own tea at re-reading this last comment - he is fully aware that application of sense is NOT in the heirarchy's lesson plan - or at least is only included in stealth lessons of the type mentioned above with IPODs while sleeping...)