Would You Join the Army again?

“Regrets, I had a few!” Would you do it again – join the Army.

Do you have any regrets about signing up and taking the ‘Queens Shilling’ in joining the Armed Services? Do you ever regret not doing more to enhance your army career? What is the difference in yesteryear’s army (1960s and 1970s) and that which is today – 2012? Do squaddies have the same career prospects for promotion if they are really ambitious?

I sometime think about this. I had a ‘love – hate’ relationship whilst in the army. It was the ‘bull’ and ‘bullying’ that went on at times in some units. I must say, soon after I was promoted to a lowly Lance Corporal, I did feel a bit more comfortable, but then it was the responsibility of the rank that made me a bit paranoid at times – that fear of being found out that I was a fraud. One PTI whilst stationed at 28 (BR) Sigs actually came up to me and said that I was “a fraud, and earning my army pay under false pretenses” because I was fat, and unfit!! My response was to be very sad, get the hump, and go over to the NAAFI after duty hours and stuff myself with cheese rolls and beer!! (My f*ck it buttons had been pressed)

When on courses after being promoted, I often felt out of my depth, especially in doing Squad Drill, and taking control of the squad for drill purposes – I really felt like a “cow handling a musket!” There was a great lack of self confidence in this, which of course affected my ability in performance in front of course instructors. I liked the drill when I was part of the squad, and not in front of the squad being the ‘drill instructor’ as it were. But then, I was a lazy so-and-so during my time (nothing has changed there yet!!)

Looking back on my time in the army, I wouldn’t have missed it, as it gave me experiences that I would never have gained if I had just been an ordinary civilian. If had my time over again, I would perhaps have joined the Royal Air Force. The ‘softer, easier option’ perhaps? I did try to join the RAF in 1963, but they had stopped recruiting at that time. I tried to join up as a Matelot, but my eyesight failed me, so the only option was to take the “Queen’s Shilling” and ended up in Catterick Garrison for basic training. Mind you, it was all a very big culture shock as I had come from quite a sheltered upbringing.

As to what made me join the army – well that was a bit of delusion. My Granddad had been in World War One and had been promoted to Captain. My own Dad had been in World War Two and had been an officer (ending up as a Major) in the 7th Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Ghurkha Rifles. I, being a tad egotistical meant that I decided that I must also join the Army as well. Well, as it turned out, it was a decision that affected the rest of my working life as to the career I followed after leaving the army. My training and role as a ‘bleep’, a Data Telegraphist gave me the grounding to work in IT as a Computer Operator, and later as an IT Help Desk Operator.

However, if I know now what I knew then, I possibly would have joined the RAF, and gone into the same trade group as in signals and communications.

unclevanya ... a question I've often asked myself .. would I rejoin .. in a heartbeat .. should I have stayed on .. yes and no .. if I had stayed on I would not have enjoyed such a happy life with a wonderful wife for 41 years until her death from cancer .. I would not have enjoyed being a dad to two great boys. If I had stayed on I would have possibly re badged to the infantry .. I am tremendously proud of the Royal Signals who are often under rated by other arms .. believe me they ARE Soldiers I can attest to that. But I have always been a 'dog face' as the Yanks call them at heart. .. I took every weapons and drill course I could wangle to get on .. all my annual Confidential Reports as a Signal's NCO bear resemblance to one another .. .... 'this NCO is totally wasted at Brigade level' .. 'why has he not been promoted' (well that was because in my naivety when I enlisted I requested Cipher's, a trade that was recommended by three ex WWII Signals guys I worked with, and as I was hardly ever employed in that trade I did not get the necessary trade qualification for promotion within that trade, I was too happy playing 'Soldier' at Brigade levels.)
My last confidential report given by Major Jack Knowles MBE, GSO II (Ciphers) HQ MELF sums it up ..'Cpl Payne is a high caliber soldier, totally wasted in the Royal Signals, I feel that if he were in the infantry he would be a valuable Platoon Sergeant by now' .... So I guess its Yes and No.

Len (Ciphers)

Hi there,
I did 23 yrs (man and boy), loved most of it. Regrets........being married to my first wife who was German restricted my options because she refused to leave Germany !! Should of got rid sooner.....would of got promoted sooner.......and as for the rest, we'll never know.........lol.
Would I do it again in todays Army with all this choas........'not bloody likely'.
atb
pinky
HUSSAR
WO1 - STILL
lol.

At the risk of sounding smug I have absolutely no regrets about joining up and thoroughly enjoyed my 24 years in the Gunners. My perception of todays Army is that it is different from the one I joined, but I don't really know much about it.


Non, je ne regrette rien!




(WO1 Pinky - only another 27 posts to go. Stag On!!

No no no.Maybe the airforce though!

Would I join the army again ?

I D F T S !

I don`t regret joining.It got me a good trade and set me up for civvy work..Apprenticeship at Harrogate was great.One year in Germany was interesting the other three were a bore..Singapore Great Great Great ..School of Signals .one big yawn...Like Jock maybe the RAF

Not at 17 and definitely not on 1st of April again but I think I would.

Gordon likes Singapore which was a great posting indeed.The last time I was out there was 1971 with the ANZUK force based at Nee Soon camp with the Aussies and New Zealanders up the road from us.We were only there for six months until the Argylls were reformed and we returned to Ritchie Camp Kirknewton Mid Lothian which was the pits of a place.I studied for my 5 'O' levels and 3 'A' levels whilst I was serving, so in other words the army helped me to get further education which stood me good for another career in the police.

Thanks Gen. Shelldrake, working at it !!
LOL
HUSSAR
Pinky

no way, it could never be as good as years ago , your own little room wiv duvets and curtains , what about the banter of 30 blokes in a nissen hut during a bull session . . tv and laptops in rooms . wot about 3 card brag with the lads , just imagine going to the cookhouse and eating food thats edible. no proper uniforms , no bumping the floors , no body shouting or swearing at you . having to watch your back wiv all the iron hoofs , they dont even peel the spuds wiv clasp knives today .cant be any fun being in todays army , and they get more than 3 quid a week , ginger

gingerjim wrote:

no way, it could never be as good as years ago , your own little room wiv duvets and curtains , what about the banter of 30 blokes in a nissen hut during a bull session . . tv and laptops in rooms . wot about 3 card brag with the lads , just imagine going to the cookhouse and eating food thats edible. no proper uniforms , no bumping the floors , no body shouting or swearing at you . having to watch your back wiv all the iron hoofs , they dont even peel the spuds wiv clasp knives today .cant be any fun being in todays army , and they get more than 3 quid a week , ginger

Wot a boring life it must be.

gingerjim wrote:

no way, it could never be as good as years ago , your own little room wiv duvets and curtains , what about the banter of 30 blokes in a nissen hut during a bull session . . tv and laptops in rooms . wot about 3 card brag with the lads , just imagine going to the cookhouse and eating food thats edible. no proper uniforms , no bumping the floors , no body shouting or swearing at you . having to watch your back wiv all the iron hoofs , they dont even peel the spuds wiv clasp knives today .cant be any fun being in todays army , and they get more than 3 quid a week , ginger

You have said it exactly as I have always thought the army has turned out.Especially the one where the Sgt Maj etc is not allowed to upset the troops by swearing at them.I'm sure that is not the truth of the matter.What do they do when under fire, shout, after you young man.

Pity we can't turn the clock back I would join up again but only if it was 1980 believe it or not I actually enjoyed basic I felt so proud on pass out Parade a sense of achievement I wanted to be a drill pig and be god but hay ho things that could have been

Hang on Sir.......I'll do my block job.....I'll clean my rifle.......I'll do a bit of drill......I'll press my uniform............once I've finished texting !!!
CAN YOU IMAGINE !!!!
atb
pinky
HUSSAR

I joined aged 17 and never regretted it, not once, best thing I ever did. I've regretted leaving once or twice and my army years are rarely far from my thoughts. Regrets...yes of course, if I had my time again there are things I would certainly do differently but that doesn't diminish the memories, not one jot. Would I join again? hell yes, of course I would, you just cant experience anything like it in civy street.

My only regret is that I jacked it in after only 3 years.
I originally signed on for 22 years (in '56) with the option of leaving after any period of 3.
Had I stuck it out,I would have avoided the trauma's of the loss of an infant, divorce,and several reduncancies, plus I'd have had a decent pension at the end of it too.
What a wonderful thing hindsight is!

Join again?
In a heartbeat, part of me is still there holding my place in line!. Ok I know we only remember the best bits but hell Civvy Street is nothing special and I found it generally an easy ride. Wish I'd Ignored my first wife and stayed in. If I had, I'd still have been out in time to meet the present wife and get the same jobs (except the mistake of another uniform, PC was not my favourite rank.) so might have been much better off. Somebody wrote "I will never forget I was a Soldier, there is no higher calling and I would do it again in a heartbeat", well said that man..

I suppose deep down we would all join up again.The camaraderie is fantastic even with the ups and downs.But,in the new forces of today I don't do huggies with other men sorry.

rucjock, I was an ASA for 24 years before I retired, the only thing I didn't see was 2 Lesbian Gurkhas.

My you have led a sheltered life Shelldrake

It was my day off.

Well put this way guys ye widnae bend doon in front of some of they wee Gurkhas when ye were in the shower noo wid ye.

Talking of which rucjock, when I served with them in Belize we were told to wear our underpants in the showers so as not to offend their sensibilities.

its not the same , the csms sheer poetry . you are a jumped up orrible little cabbage wiv maggots wot are you lad , you orrible lump of extoplasm . look here lad you were not born you were bloody invented , all that shouting swearing and insults the army can never be the same without them . and 30 geezers asleep in a cold nissen hut ., just imagine 30 blokes snoring , groaning. farting and dreaming all by numbers . life could never be the same . not forgetting 30 pairs of sweaty feet . with no windows open . ginger