army

[K99]

What do you actually do in the army?

Someone I have just met is in the army but don't want to ask him case I come across as thick

[Buenchico]

Every army soldier has to, at least in the early stages, do a lot of square-bashing, fitness training, small-arms training, hand-to-hand combat training, etc.

Beyond this, careers diversify. If you join the catering corp, you'll spend a lot of time cooking. In the medical corp, you'll train up to the field equivalent of paramedic level. There are loads of other jobs. The nearest army base to me is an airfield. Most of the guys there are pilots, mechanics, technicians, etc but they've also got pay staff, caterers and most other jobs which you'd find in 'civvy' life.

Some army staff spend a lot of time on ceremonial duties (e.g. the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace) or working as musicians but they're all fully-trained combat staff.

So, really, asking what people do in the army is a bit like asking what people who aren't in the army do. There are so many different occupations that it would take ages to list them all.

For more information, start here: http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/j obprofiles/profiles/profile470/ and then follow the links at the bottom of the page.

Chris

[Andy008]

As a former TA soldier, the answer is not a lot.

The army is incredibly underfinanced, much of the time is spent sitting around drinking coffee in the mess, with the occasional drop of "duties", whatever they are.

[twiglet4frog]

www.army.mod.uk is full of info about the army, the roles within it etc

[Kathyan]

Sorry Andy buit I have to disagree. Maybe that's what they do in the TA but in the regular Army it's very different. My husband is in the Army and has been for the last 25 years. His job is very demanding and due to cutbacks, he is doing the jobs of 3 men. He is always busy and even at weekends he sometimes has to go into work to do something or other. At his time of life it would be nice for him to 'sit in the mess all day drinking coffee' but in reality it is very different.

[Careers_Advice_Service]

Hi there,

Chris - the link you posted has now changed to http://careersadvice....lename=Army%20Soldier (Army soldier) and http://careersadvice....lename=Army%20Officer (Army officer).

Thanks,

Careers Advice Service