army based jobs

[geckos_ftw]

okay...well, being a fifteen year old im thinking about my future a lot, and lately ive been finding myself intrested in the army. im wondering several things at the moment, including, is it abnormal for a fifteen year old girl to be intrested in something like that? is it a good area of employment? and what would my parents think? - (typically). i feel that i have to live up to my parents expectations, and that i have to follow only the paths that they have chosen/give me the green light. i am a less than feminine female and i enjoy extreme "boyish" things like playing violent full contact games in the wet and mud for example takedown and manhunt and rock climbing/abseiling/camping in extreme weather conditions/night hiking. i was wondering if anyone has any opinions or ideas...am i out of my tree? or is it perfectly normal? cos im confused outta my head  :-[


distressed, confused and generally undecided  :-/

sophie.

[a1]

I am only 13 so this is a teen's opinion.

I don't think that the army needs to be all boyish. Besides I think it is good to have a feminine side to the army. Your personality is unique and special. All of the things you mentioned doesn't always have to be in the male area. Anyone could do those things now. You are completly yourself in the way you act. Just act natural.  ;)

[fighter25]

Heck, I'm 13 and I'm interested in the U.S. Air Force! Now who said that the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other military related jobs are boyish!? Females need to be serving for there country. It is not the 1950's anymore! Women arn't housewifes! They can be anything they want to be! Okay, here is the teen speaking, I doesn't matter if your parents approve of your choice, but I'm sure they will support you either way. Join if you want to, somebody will be there to support you weither it is your mother, father, lil' bro, aunt, uncle, ect.  ;) Be who you want to be.

[Isak922]

Gee, I feel old now  ;D (17, by the way  :P)

Wanting to serve your country by joining the Military is a great idea. However, being a girl might put up a few.. "road blocks" so to speak. I'm not sure exactly what they limit you to in terms of what you can do, but I'm pretty sure that the Army will NOT allow you to be a Marksman/Sniper type job. However, being a pilot I'm pretty sure you can do no problem.

My suggestion: Don't join the Army right when you turn 18. Go through College (Joining the ROTC or National Guard is viable at this point). Get a good education, and that will open many, MANY more opportunities to you should you still wish to join the Military.

I'm wanting to join the USAF myself, by the way  

[Anark]

[quote]Heck, I'm 13 and I'm interested in the U.S. Air Force! Now who said that the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other military related jobs are boyish!? Females need to be serving for there country. It is not the 1950's anymore! Women arn't housewifes! They can be anything they want to be! Okay, here is the teen speaking, I doesn't matter if your parents approve of your choice, but I'm sure they will support you either way. Join if you want to, somebody will be there to support you weither it is your mother, father, lil' bro, aunt, uncle, ect.

[kingmarktheaviator]

Hey
It would be a good idea to do your best in your GCSEs, and then A levels.  (If you live in the UK).  If your grades are good at A level you could go into the Army, Navy or RAF as an Officer.  Also, they can sponsor you through university if you want to get a degree.  
However you don't have to have a degree.  But it is a good idea to at least try and get some A levels, as this would open up many doors for you after you leave the Armed Forces or if you decide not to join them or don't pass the various interviews and basic training.
I don't know about the Army, but the RAF don't allow women into the RAF Regiment, the RAF's land army who protect the bases and such.  Women aren't allowed to fight on the front line by law, for some reason.
You can join any Armed Force as a rate with no qualifications, but you would be doing GCSEs anyway if you are a brit.
The Armed Forces is a good career path, but only if it suits you.  It tends to be very rewarding.  Your parents may not totally agree with it but in my opinion, it would be wrong for them to limit your careers to traditionally "girly" things.  Being in the Armed Forces isn't a "boyish" thing, there are loads of women in our forces and they do a damn good job!
It's perfectly normal to be interested in these things, and you are not too young for it.  It's getting near the time where you need to decide.
I'm in a bit of a pickle at the moment!  I have to decide what I want to do.  My A level maths exam was nothing short of a farce which has closed the doors on what I wanted to do previously.  Looking at some other degrees up north in London now!
Hope I helped you in some way, feel free to pm me.
Check out these links:
http://www.aircadets.org -- The Air Training Corps website, you may be interested in it
http://www.armycadets.com -- The Army Cadet Force website
http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk -- Nobody other than the Army
http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk  -- The RN
http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers -- RAF Careers

Hopefully they will be of some use.  Also it may be a good idea to pop into your local AFCO (Armed Forces Career Office) where you can get loads more info on Armed Forces careers.

Cheers,

Mark

[john_uk]

wow im the odl fogie in here so far (18 yrs of age)

you have to be careful about wanting to join the military, think is it realy for you, is it what you want to do, because you cant just turn around and say no i don't want to do this anymore. my parents objected to me joing the RAF and although i respected their opinion i still wanted to join, so it is more about your own wants more than your parents. also with the budget cuts to the UK military (thats if your in the UK) its becomeing harder to get jobs in the Army, Navy and RAF so the competition is getting tighter.

but if you want it, go for it!

john

[geckos_ftw]

thanks,  :)
ive taken a look at the official UK website, there is an alternative 6th form that i could join in 2009 its pretty similar to a regular sixth form, but there is much more activity. you do rock climbing abseiling etc. im really intrested in going there, but it is, (i think) a bit of a distance from home and all my friends. its called the army foundation college, and its at harrogate..i live near bristol. im intrested in joining because it is more than just hours in a classroom, and i dont really like the sixth form in our school cos we have to walk for ten minutes from the lower school to reach it and its not particularly modern. also the 6th form is hours of classwork which i find beyond boring. i think it would probably be worth it, because you get paid when youre there, you get taught in class and out in the elements...all i am unsure of is what subjects you can take. i am very intrested and i am going to put the idea to my parents sometime. my uncle serves in the navy, so i think i shall talk to him about it. i think i should, because he knows what kind of stuff to expect...

is there anyone currently serving in an army/navy/air force/etc. on the forums?

beginning to feel less confused
sophie

[Tom...]

Google is your friend

[john_uk]

thanks,  :)
ive taken a look at the official UK website, there is an alternative 6th form that i could join in 2009 its pretty similar to a regular sixth form, but there is much more activity. you do rock climbing abseiling etc. im really intrested in going there, but it is, (i think) a bit of a distance from home and all my friends. its called the army foundation college, and its at harrogate..i live near bristol. im intrested in joining because it is more than just hours in a classroom, and i dont really like the sixth form in our school cos we have to walk for ten minutes from the lower school to reach it and its not particularly modern. also the 6th form is hours of classwork which i find beyond boring. i think it would probably be worth it, because you get paid when youre there, you get taught in class and out in the elements...all i am unsure of is what subjects you can take. i am very intrested and i am going to put the idea to my parents sometime. my uncle serves in the navy, so i think i shall talk to him about it. i think i should, because he knows what kind of stuff to expect...

is there anyone currently serving in an army/navy/air force/etc. on the forums?

beginning to feel less confused
sophie

erm i think splat is and esselbech is currently stationed in iraq but they are with US military

if you are interested in the armed forces, join a local air cadet sqn or army cadet troop. both a good laugh

[geckos_ftw]

im looking into army cadets right now...it seems so much more active than even my previous scout troop...i also have a few mates in the local air cadets...hmm...i just have to persuade my parents to let me enroll.  :D hopefully it shouldnt be too difficult.

[spitfire boy]

[quote]okay...well, being a fifteen year old im thinking about my future a lot, and lately ive been finding myself intrested in the army. im wondering several things at the moment, including, is it abnormal for a fifteen year old girl to be intrested in something like that? is it a good area of employment? and what would my parents think? - (typically). i feel that i have to live up to my parents expectations, and that i have to follow only the paths that they have chosen/give me the green light. i am a less than feminine female and i enjoy extreme "boyish" things like playing violent full contact games in the wet and mud for example takedown and manhunt and rock climbing/abseiling/camping in extreme weather conditions/night hiking. i was wondering if anyone has any opinions or ideas...am i out of my tree? or is it perfectly normal? cos im confused outta my head

[geckos_ftw]

[quote][quote]okay...well, being a fifteen year old im thinking about my future a lot, and lately ive been finding myself intrested in the army. im wondering several things at the moment, including, is it abnormal for a fifteen year old girl to be intrested in something like that? is it a good area of employment? and what would my parents think? - (typically). i feel that i have to live up to my parents expectations, and that i have to follow only the paths that they have chosen/give me the green light. i am a less than feminine female and i enjoy extreme "boyish" things like playing violent full contact games in the wet and mud for example takedown and manhunt and rock climbing/abseiling/camping in extreme weather conditions/night hiking. i was wondering if anyone has any opinions or ideas...am i out of my tree? or is it perfectly normal? cos im confused outta my head

[BFMF]

is there anyone currently serving in an army/navy/air force/etc. on the forums?

erm i think splat is and esselbech is currently stationed in iraq but they are with US military

Yep, i'm here in Iraq, but you're right, i'm in the US Army, so things may be different between the British and American military regarding policies with females. In the US Army, you might not see any female infantry 'grunts', but they do serve a vital role in Admin, Medical, Aviation, Mechanics, Military Police, as well as many other areas. I've even seen a lot of females who were in the chemical corps, and that's no joke. I know I've met quite a few female soldiers & marines who could kick my a$$...
There is no 'front line' here in Iraq, so there are very few areas where you are completely safe. We have a few female mechanics who role with us all the time, who have been shot at, blown up, and when we get hit, they're on the ground helping us recover blown up vehicles. One time, one of our female mechanics helped us get rid of a roadside bomb. On the other hand, not all guys are gung ho as much as you think. I've met plenty of guys here who don't know how to operate a machine gun, and are happy staying inside the wire.


But my advice is, if you're unsure of what you want to do, do some research. It wouldn't hurt talking to everyone you know has served, or is serving in the military.

[Mushroom_Farmer]

The biggest regret I have of being in the USAF is not staying in longer, especially after I found out I was to be moved up to a crew chief position had I stayed in.