Right then I'll try and keep this relativly short. I'm planning on joining the Royal Marines but am unsure of which route to take, be it the officer or rating one. Now I have 240 UCAS points as well as the relevant GCSE's and have also passed the phychometric test so both routes are still open to me, but there are a few things that are concerning me. And I have a few questions I need to ask.
The first one is the length of time that I would have to wait to join as an officer, that is IF they feel I have the required abilities to become one of course, as I have been told that training would not commence until September 09. I was also wondering what happened if you got injuried, as I'm presuming there is only one intake a year, then an injury would mean end of training for you, and a career as an officer ?
Secondly I'm worried about the class issue, with officer's percived as being typically higher class compared to ratings that are made up of prodominantly working class people. I am from a working class family with a typical estate attitude, and with my school being bang next to two private schools it has slightly clouded my judgement of the upper class, especially of private school boys. Is this the case in general within the RM nowadays or are things more on an evan keel compared with when my father and other ex-servicemen and women that I have been talking too.
I did however have a chat with a mate from football who server within the signals and has alot of experience within the armed forces and by the sounds of it would be very well respected and he advised me to go for it if I can get it. I would really want to go in as an officer but these two above are sort of putting doubt in my mind.
On a side note, seeing as I would have alot of time to firstly gain and maintain my fitness would it be possible for my to train with a RMR unit, but not join them if you get what I'm saying. Take part in the physical side an all but not join them.
Thanks - Booker
The first one is the length of time that I would have to wait to join as an officer, that is IF they feel I have the required abilities to become one of course, as I have been told that training would not commence until September 09. I was also wondering what happened if you got injuried, as I'm presuming there is only one intake a year, then an injury would mean end of training for you, and a career as an officer ?
Secondly I'm worried about the class issue, with officer's percived as being typically higher class compared to ratings that are made up of prodominantly working class people. I am from a working class family with a typical estate attitude, and with my school being bang next to two private schools it has slightly clouded my judgement of the upper class, especially of private school boys. Is this the case in general within the RM nowadays or are things more on an evan keel compared with when my father and other ex-servicemen and women that I have been talking too.
I did however have a chat with a mate from football who server within the signals and has alot of experience within the armed forces and by the sounds of it would be very well respected and he advised me to go for it if I can get it. I would really want to go in as an officer but these two above are sort of putting doubt in my mind.
On a side note, seeing as I would have alot of time to firstly gain and maintain my fitness would it be possible for my to train with a RMR unit, but not join them if you get what I'm saying. Take part in the physical side an all but not join them.
Thanks - Booker