Go for it. If I don't get in by May then my ACO indicated that I could go in Sep (two weeks after my 26th).

Yeah I'm going to for it for sure. Hopefully that'll be my case, although I'll be 26 and 2 months!

Thanks for the advice mate, where are you up to with your application btw Beardyman?

1. I was 24 with no degree and passed.

2. Go to interveiw.

3. Just because they say an intake is full does not mean they will not put you into one if you pass. I passed in the June and was on the September intake.

4. This was 1999.

jsolace;

I had my ACO interview last week and am about 70% into the paperwork (CV & Medical Form). I have a FAM visit to the Infantry booked in in addition to a couple of regimental interviews.

I am due to attend the board in May as I work full time and we have a gert project coming through. It will also give me time to make sure I am on the front foot with my phys and up to date with current affairs.

I'm already bricking it as I really want to get in but I'm going to do the prep and do my best so I should be ok.

If I don't get a Cat 1 (say a Cat 2:12) then I'll be trying for the RAMC (MSO) as the age limit is 29.

Any other advice? Well I had some about 35 years ago when I went through this (successfully till I resigned but don't worry about that bit). At the selection board which was then about 3 days of faffing about an assault course, public speaking, solving problems by essay etc etc .... is there a stooge in the bar? Who knows, they say not but act as though there is. Don't drink too much. Avoid the older clever clogs in the corner who bats on about the (alleged) benefits of the army pension (I saw about 6 sitting around him enthralled ... they failed). Don't tell people you want to join the army to kill people ... he failed too. Engage brain every time before opening mouth & if the conversation ain't too clever, walk away. The other guys are, for now, competition not friends. Later they'll be friends.
Out on the assault course you do NOT have to get around it, I saw a guy who did & he failed. You need to show guts. They let you tackle the obstacles in any order you want, to see who has guts. I don't, but I pretended to. There is a 'window' of scaffold poles .... run at the bloody thing and dive through head first, not many others will. I wear specs & am a whimp, it scared the bejeesus out of me, but was easy. Do it, and right near the start ... you'll feel good & they'll love it. There is a sandpit, I made a cantilever from planks to clear it, which they quite liked, then I was invited to have a go without the planks & still cleared it. I failed to get over a high wall, too tired ... kept trying ... failed ... they said try something else. Bet if I had not dived that window they'd have given up on me ...
On the group tasks, be a little generous to others perhaps and feel free to seek group input if the solution is unclear to you ... and yet still ensure the proposed solution has not been designed by a committee and lead it well if you are sure of the solution. Enjoy this test, its great fun!
Interviews ... can't say really, some of the above, and I took along a neat CV with several group photos to try to show I'd done interesting things and had enjoyed teamwork ... untrue, but the CV implied it, worked for me. I was 21 so not a lot to show but stuff like Duke of Edinburgh award, sailing licences, orienteering awards ... don't sound very group after all ... sort of action stuff anyway.

Good luck. No, forget that ... you make your own luck.

Originally Posted by beardyman

jsolace;

I had my ACO interview last week and am about 70% into the paperwork (CV & Medical Form). I have a FAM visit to the Infantry booked in in addition to a couple of regimental interviews.

I am due to attend the board in May as I work full time and we have a gert project coming through. It will also give me time to make sure I am on the front foot with my phys and up to date with current affairs.

I'm already bricking it as I really want to get in but I'm going to do the prep and do my best so I should be ok.

If I don't get a Cat 1 (say a Cat 2:12) then I'll be trying for the RAMC (MSO) as the age limit is 29.

Yeah thats all you can do mate, do the prep and give it your all. I'm sure you'll do fine, you got your head screwed on by the sounds of things.

It's a bit daunting knowing you have to get a Cat 1, seems the bar is set pretty high for us "old farts" eh? Ha ha...

Any info on what to expect at AOSB when you've finished it would be most welcome too.

Thanks man, I appreciate it

Thanks Micheal English, that was a great read.

Inspiring stuff, I'll be sure to dodge the stooge. It's funny you should say that, I read somewhere that the dinners and informal drinks etc. used to be assessed by the Army but now they say in the AOSB videos on their website that these are no longer assessed.

I suspect there may still be an element of it today though.

Cheers, I'm off to dive through small holes in my duds

Just a quick one, the window to dive through no longer exists, too many injuries or health and safety busy bodies. So you'll have to find a different way to impress!
All the same, tackle the harder stuff first, it just makes sense as the easier stuff takes less time. Get round it once to pass, or die trying!

To add, wall is 8 foot. There's no grip - thats what catches everybody these days. Especially in shitty weather. So practice makes perfect, remember foot first like a running kick onto the wall, so you're dispersing the run up energy and not having to just use upper body strength to get over. Because you'll be bloody tired by the time you get to it.

The Territorial Army Near You - For Those Interested in Joining the TA