army careers talk at school

[crisgal]

i need someone's help!

My 16 year old has come home from school and there's been a guy in from the Army, who's proper turned his head!!

Despite never mentioning a career in the forces, he now says he would really like to join.
With the state of the world as it is nowadays, me and his dad are a bit concerned that he will be sent to iraq or somewhere (ok, it's me more than his dad!)

The army guy told him that if you don't want to go to the frontline you don't go! I can't see that being true!

He fancies doing engineering and i know it can be an excellent career.
I would really appreciate any advice from someone who has done it, or has a son or daughter who has recently joined up.

[bobjugs12]

I'm an imagery analyst poodi

[poodicat]

Thats a new one on me,is that when you look a photos and analyse them lol

[bobjugs12]

Yeah, pretty much. The pic's come either from sattelites or the jets, we then report on them producing intelligence.

Boring job really lol

[SemperVeritas]

If his heart is set then the best you can do is help and support him, definately try to steer him to a trade and the R.E.M.E.* are a definate place to look. My cousin was with them, and he spent his time on the front line supporting the troops during the first gulf war. Now he has left the army but has stayed on to work as personal security for british personel out there.He now owns his house in england and a place out there too.Remember, our troops are some of the best in the world and your son wants to be a part of that.
* Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers

[jackthehat]

My boy was a REME Av Tech - a greenie.
He's still officailly attached to them until he completes his current training and then he becomes part of the AAC.
There are many, many possibilities in which the likelihood of facing angey bearded men with guns is minimised.

[zzxxee]

my other half did 14 years royal marines never regreted a single moment of it !!!!

[bobjugs12]

Crisgal, has he been down the careers office yet?

[crisgal]

we've had a long talk, and his grandad, (ex army) has talked to him too.
we've agreed to compromise:
he goes to college as he'd planned, then, if he still feels the same he can sign the papers himself.
as i said to him, he doesn't really know what he want s to do with his life, so how can he justify a big decision like the army - from out of nowhere?
It turns out that many of the lads at school wanted to join, after this careers talk, but none of their parents are letting them (which helped my cause too!)

Thanks everyone for your comments. i do appreciate you taking the time to answer. x♥x