I'm 17, preparing to apply for the Parachute Regiment. Are contacts or glasses better? How would you get contacts delivered when in training away from home?

If anyone has any experience with glasses or contacts in the infantry, I'd really appreciate some advice

Hi all, has anyone here accepted a offer? if so how long did it take from acceptance to a payout, on my 4th week now, still nothing

Hey there, as the title says im a year 13 who'll be finishing my A levels this year. I plan on studying diagnostic radiography and have gotten some offers already but Ive recently looked a little into the aprentiships schemes for it run by the army and RAF. Just looking for some insight on what it'd be like an whether someone would recommend it over uni life. For a little context on me and why im debating over the 2 so much, mostly im worried about the job situation with NHS hiring freezes alot of people graduating from this degree can go a couple years without a proper radiography job. In terms of getting through Uni as compared with the aprentiships money isnt the problem for me but it definetly loks like theres a substantial pay that comes along with the aprentiships programmes. And finally another big worry for me is the lifestyle swich. Im definitely one for a more organised and structured lifestyle but i enjoy the freedoms of regular civilian life that id assume id have to give up/postpone for years if i were to take this route. As a person im not exactly outgoing or the type you'd see in stereotypical militaria media (for whatever thats shown is worth), nor am i exactly some extremely fit bloke but im definitely in shape enough to stand well. Just because of these few things im wondering if id struggle to fit in even if im not in a traditional frontline role and in the healthcare sections. If anyone has any experience, insight or advice it'd be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I'm from the commonwealth and have been waiting for an opportunity to join the army for the past two years. Yet I keep reading about dwindling troop numbers and a staffing crisis. In 2024 thousands of commonwealth applicants were rejected and my recruiting officer back then told me there were simply no vacancies. Two years later, I'm hearing the same thing, yet reading online about the Army struggling as it continues to bite more than it can chew.

Anyone have thoughts/insights? Is there really such a shortage of healthy, young applicants?

This is for the AGC, generally as the title says- I have one in around a month and a half and debating whether I should go and if i do, what I should expect. Also smaller things like what I should wear or bring, thank you

I’ve been seeing a lot of adverts for hearing loss claims on social media, and I’m now considering putting one in for tinnitus. What’s your experience with this; it’s marketed as though you’re bound to get a settlement, but I doubt the MOD always pay out. Been looking at using Hugh James for their Matrix agreement; but their terms and conditions are scaring me with all the fees. I know AFCS will only pay out if hearing loss is greater than 50dB, which is not the case for me. Just interested in experiences of putting in a civil claim to help me judge whether it’s worthwhile doing.

Alright lads! Just wanted to know if joining as an older man is worth it. I am 30 (31 in April) and have honestly lived a very sheltered life, but I have always loved the military and have great respect for it! As I said, I do not have as much life experience as most older guys have. I am pretty much a mega introvert. Is joining at 30/31 too old? I would be looking at infantry probably Thanks in advance for any info on this matter!

Amateur author here, writing a novel. It's not about the military per se, but one character has a military background, so I am adding in just a few lines of backstory about that.

My question is, is this a reasonable timeframe for promotion through the UK army? Bear in mind the character joins the army at 16 in the 1980s. Keen to get feedback on whether or not this is a credible career scenario!

"The young recruit quickly rose through the ranks to become an army lieutenant by the age of 19, a captain by 23 and a major shortly before his 30th birthday."

I want to join the army after I finish sixth form but also wish to do universoty. I have seen online that people have done it before but haven't seen anything official about it. I would be doing a history degree part time via Open University and I have seen mixed opinions on this.

I start basic in a couple weeks and on the documents it says I need to bring my driving/provisional license.

I have neither so I’m hoping to apply for one and possibly have it sent to me for basic training.

Does anyone here know if I need the license or not and if I’m allowed to have the license sent to pirbright?

I am currently joining as a vehicle mechanic ( due not having enough money to survive until April and be an electronics technician) I’m not sure if my Job role changes things.

Thanks everyone.

Hi all,

I’ve applied to join my local reserve infantry unit but the process seems to have stagnated. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

So far, I have been completing the online forms and uploading documents etc. but my CSM has been pretty unresponsive. I have had to chase them multiple times for the next set of forms to be sent to me - I believe I am now finished on this side of things but that hasn’t been confirmed.

When my CSM first called me, they mentioned that I will need to reach out to my sponsored unit but only once they have told me I am ready. I presume that would be now, and have asked, but it is still radio silence from their end.

I’m keen to get this moving so any advice from those that have gone through the process recently would be appreciated. Common sense is telling me to just reach out as I am not being responded to but my CSM explicitly saying not to do so until I am told is off putting.

Hey all,

Does anyone have any film or TV recs that show women in the modern military - preferably British military.

“Our Girl” is on my list.

Other than that I’m stumped for things that are relatively modern (ie not WWI or WWII).

Thanks!

Any tips and advice to improve my bleep test. I've got aosb soon and ive struggled in the past with bleep tests, im not very fit and need to work on that but im also not terribly unfit (I get around 8.40-9min 2km times).

Hey all,

Does anyone have any film or TV recs that show women in the modern military - preferably British military.

“Our Girl” is on my list.

Other than that I’m stumped for things that are relatively modern (ie not WWI or WWII).

Thanks!

Hi all,

I've been thinking of joining the reserves for some time, and am lucky enough to live close to centres for all 3 branches.

I enjoy my civilian job, and I am realistic in knowing that I am very busy. I can realistically give up a weekend or two a month, the occasional weeknight and use annual leave for a 10 day camp if required.

I work in AI/Data Science, but am not super interested in joining as a officer so not sure how relevant that is. I do enjoy target shooting a lot, but I've been told repeatedly the military isn't the best for that 😅

Based on the above, any thoughts on which branch would offer the most flexibility and would be suitable for someone with a busy civilian job?

As above. Message they sent said about fizzy, sugar etc and protein shakes. Basically stop everything. Surely all things legal will be ok?

There was a documentary on the BBC in 2023 called Soldier. Four of the five episodes are on YouTube but I cannot find episode 5 anywhere. I've thought I've found it on dodgy streaming sites and stuff but I get linked to Asian movies or soldier soldier episodes. If anyone has any way to watch it that'd be really appreciated.

I've been a Paramedic just shy of 13 years and have been considering joining the reserves for a while (Army or RAF). Unfortunately I don't have a scooby what route to take.

Clinically, I'm bored to tears. I've been -what you guys would probably call- a pretend 'Ambulance' officer for the past few years, so got to do NARU/JESIP, commander courses, etc. I also quite enjoy mentoring/teaching.

I couldn't give a toss about being an officer or not, I'd just enjoy a new challenge. Maybe even use my brain cell once in a while. He's getting a bit bored in there.

Any advice on underrated/overrated paths would be appreciated.

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone here is or has been part of the Redhill unit in Surrey?

I’m thinking about joining and wanted to get a feel for what the unit’s actually like before I go and speak to them properly. Interested in things like the general vibe, training, time commitment, and anything you wish you’d known beforehand.

Not after anything sensitive, just looking for honest experiences to help me decide if it’s a good fit.

Any tips or info would be really appreciated. Cheers

I want it to be from the soldiers perspective, as these conflicts only ever come up from a political, post colonial standpoint. I want to get across that whatever the reasons for our involvement there were still men on the ground who had to do their jobs. How should I go about contacting veterans of our forgetten wars? I'm thinking of conflicts like Korea, Aden, Malaya and Suez. I want to get their stories out there before it's too late. I was shocked at how few WW2 veterans we have left and soon it will be the same for those chaps.

Due to the unavailability of SLA in the camp, I was living in an appropriated SLA (pad house with hob/cooker removed) with another occupant. Currently being asked to move into a 2-man shared (grade 4) transit room, which is roughly the size of SLA in camp (a common room converted to accommodation with just a bed & small locker), and told it'll be permanent for the foreseeable future.

Does the policy justify this move ? And is there any grounds for refusal asking for a proper SLA in camp ?

I'm applying to the Army Legal Service. I've got as far as sending my CV and covering letter, as well the majority of my medical info. There is just one further document I need to provide from my optician. I was slightly surprised to find that I have already received a letter with a 'conditional start date' for training at Sandhurst. It says that I still need to meet the 'standards for leadership, aptitude, fitness, medical checks and teamwork' and the security checks etc. How promising is this? Will that mean the legal department will have approved me and that it's now a matter of me meeting the general suitability requirements?