Some Friendly Advice?

[RossP]

Ok, so i'm thinking about moving back to the UK sometime in the near future, as to be honest with you, can not get a decent job in Cyprus. Yes, I'm enjoying what i'm doing at the moment and the pay is excellent for Cyprus, but it's not something I can make a career out of to be honest.

I've always had a long term desire for joining the forces, and very nearly did after I finished school, but changed my mind to spend some more time with my girlfriend, who dumped me soon .after. *****! That's one of the biggest mistakes i now regret.

So i've narrowed it down to two things i can see myself ideally doing;

Joining the forces

Joining the police

Has anybody got any friendly advice for me?

[Kerby]

if u join the police you can still have some sort of life if u know wot i mean, and if u join the forces u might just end up back in cyprus :P

[Robie]

Yeah Join the RAF and go to Cyprus :)

[msherry21]

Join the police, great career, great benefits and a good wage, plus if you decide you want to emmigrate again for any reason, your pretty much guaranteed a visa and job anywhere on the planet. Also ifo you want to start your own business/franchise its a great thing to have on your CV.

p.s I'm thinking of doing that too.

cheers,

Michael.

[Demonic Angel]

I would say do what you feel you want the most!

However my brother is in the army and its a very worthwhile career which takes you all over the world.... plus the salary is excellent too (although the danger aspect is higher than police!)

Just weigh up the pros and cons of each ands whichever has the most pros/less cons then do it! You have nothing to lose!

Best of luck!

[chrisb]

Ive heard that the police take a big wedge of your wage for your pension etc!

Mind you you cant go wrong with the pensions, family healthcare etc in the forces, no pension companies going bust and you ending up with no monies!

Good security and benifits!

Was seriously considering joining RAF or police myself but seemed to drift away from the idea!

Good luck in what ever you choose!

CB

[Scottish_SR]

Have you any idea what sort of specialist job you would like to do in either the police or forces?

I looked into joining the army as an engineer, looked like a good option but decided to stick to "civi street" to start with as employability afterwards isnt so great for engineers.

[clarky]

Not stating the obvious here ... but, in todays world if you join the army or armed forces theres a fare old chance you'll see action. An awful lot of people I went to school with joined up and were very surprised to discover this was the case.

Saying that if you join the police then you're guaranteed to have to deal with the low lifes of this world..

[Demonic Angel]

Not stating the obvious here ... but, in todays world if you join the army or armed forces theres a fare old chance you'll see action.  An awful lot of people I went to school with joined up and were very surprised to discover this was the case.

Saying that if you join the police then you're guaranteed to have to deal with the low lifes of this world..

←

True but who joins the army for an easy life? If you dont want to fight then dont join up - cause the liklihood is you'll be called up - and not just for wars like in Iraq, but also peacekeeping. My bro spent almost a year in Kosovo after the crisis there and although it was peacekeeping you still have to "fight"

[clarky]

Please dont think that Im suggesting thats the norm - quite the opposite and Ive a lot of respect for our guys (and girls) in the forces - just trying to be objective.

[RossP]

Cheers for the advice people!

I wanted to be a fast jet pilot in the RAF, but i've got bad eyesight and i'm about 2 inches too tall. Apparently if i ejected i would lose my legs at about the knees...OUCH! Otherwise, the other job I fancy in the RAF is in the Regiment. Best of both worlds IMO! Have already had interviews with Careers officers in the past and was offered a scolarship as well for sixth form, but i turned it down. WHY!!!???

Otherwise, in the police, the two things I really fancy is Air support and Airport security, possibly also dog handler. But whatever i wanted to do in the police, i'd have to wait two years before i chose which thing to specialise in...Decisions, Decisions! Well I should be back in the Uk for three months this winter coming, I'll see how I get on, if i do alrite, then it's decision time!

[scionic]

Join the police.

The police don't get sent to Iraq.

[RossP]

Let's not get started on Iraq please (this goes for everybody). I know the risks of both jobs and know what to accept and am willing to take those risks. Alreday had three mates in Iraq, and two in Afghanistan as well. Lets leave it there, I don't want it straying off topic.

[Avensis wagon]

Let's not get started on Iraq please (this goes for everybody). I know the risks of both jobs and know what to accept and am willing to take those risks. Alreday had three mates in Iraq, and two in Afghanistan as well. Lets leave it there, I don't want it straying off topic.

←

I vote for the police -- whatever government is in, whatever the small change in policy, there aren't many exceptions to the rule of doing good for society.

Now, without mentioning any specific wars, when you sign up to the armed forces you accept that whatever the cause, whatever the moral justification or complete and utter lack thereof, you agree that -- if the situation arises -- you go where you are sent and become part of the killing machine and risk getting killed. That's OK when the cause is noble, but what if it isn't?

We do need defence forces and there are many good causes that need people to sign up. It's sometimes very admirable. If you can say "this is my place, I'm part of the machinery and I do as I'm told by superiors without questioning it" that's good. But if you're the kind of person that when someone tells you to do something your first reaction is "on the wider perspective, why would I want to do that?", maybe it's not for you. Can you fit in as part of the machinery or are you the type to take a couple of steps back and mull over the wider perspective?

I also favour the police because you still get a normal life -- it's a job, you do the hours, you buy a house, get married have kids, do the shopping, pay bills etc. Life in the armed forces is often much more institutionalized, especially in the early stages and for some it always is. A friend of mine does security in the RAF and has just come back from you know where (to think my old school mate signed up at 17 and has done 18 of his 22 years already -- time goes so quickly!). Naturally it wasn't a pleasant experience, but no details here. Back in the UK, however, he's only happy when on base, and they'll be kicking him out in four or five years. What then?

I'm sure he'll find work, and... ah, sod it. You know, he'll adapt. Travelled a bit got paid ok, pensions sorted, still alive. Maybe it's not so bad. But bear in mind that you get more independence in the police and are paid enough to take holidays abroad -- in the destination of your choice and without people trying to shoot you. And there's a lot to be said for that!

[scionic]

Let's not get started on Iraq please (this goes for everybody). I know the risks of both jobs and know what to accept and am willing to take those risks. Alreday had three mates in Iraq, and two in Afghanistan as well. Lets leave it there, I don't want it straying off topic.

←

OK, then join the army.