Army-Be The Best (Army, The)

Member Name: Squiddly450

Product:	Army, The
Date:	26/01/09 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Being Part Of a Big Team

Disadvantages: Restrictions on leave, being away from family

I'm going to put my head above the parapet and review the Army as an employer!!

I joined the army as a PQO-that is Professionally Qualified Officer, this cadre includes Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Vets, Padres, Solicitors/Lawyers, Pharmacists, plus some really clever technical type people (but only a few).

After working in the NHS, this job for me is a dream come true, working with soldiers is an absolute joy, they have such a great sense of humour I laugh y way through most days at work.

I'm not naive enough to think that everyone in the army enjoys life as much as I do, nor do I enjoy every aspect of my job but believe me, there are much worse careers out there.

My husband was an infantry soldier (leaving after 24 years) and his lot was a totally different one to mine, a large part of that was due to the era in which he went through basic training. The emphasis then was a great deal on the cold war and the IRA. Clearly things are different now, and there are different pressures on the army.

A lot of the soldiers I work with left school at 16 or 17 with few or no formal educational qualifications. They then join up and from the minute they sign on, they are given clothes to wear, a bed to sleep in, food (although this is changing), and the opportunity to gain many civilian qualifications.

When the lads come to see me and I ask whats new in their lives, a few of them will say "I'm getting out next year", often, onvce they have looked at what jobs they are qualified to do, what salary they will be on and how much they have to pay for a roof over their heads, they will rethink their decision.

The army is not for everyone, I believe it suits young men and women who didn't get on with formal education, it suits Uni graduates who don't know what to do with themselves, and it suits professionals who want to get off the treadmill for a bit.

I would be so happy to answer any questions about the army, I will do my very best to find out answers for you if I don't know them myself. Just bear it in mind if the recession really does put paid to apprenticeships-you can do these too!

Summary: There is a job for everyone in the army