What's your honest opinion on being an army reserve?

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bobaboo42@reddit

Always wanted to, however it would have gone at a significant cost to me for the yearly attendance requirement (the training weeks etc). While I wanted to do it, I didn't want to pay through the nose for the experience.

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Dense_Yogurtcloset43@reddit

Pay is criminal - soldiers don’t get respected enough in the U.K.

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Voodoopulse@reddit

In what way aren't they respected?

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

When we leave, employers don’t respect us at all. The experience and capability that a soldier has gets overlooked so much, it’s incredibly hard to get a job after the army despite us being more valuable that most people out there.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

despite us being more valuable than most people out there

I have some experience "with" but not in the military (cadets, family). I've also worked with quite a few ex-military people both in the normal tech industry and... more related private sector stuff. My experience is mixed.

You can definitely tell that some adapt better than others. Some still really expect to be trained to do a thing, and then do that thing according to the training. Some seem to have an attitude that the military "way" is better and other approaches are wrong. Some seem to make much hay of their transferable/soft skills while discounting domain/industry-specific skills. Some are great, of course. But thinking back to when I was a hiring manager - I would be cautious of relying too much on only military experience when considering a candidate.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

I appreciate that. My experience as someone in his 20’s who left the army a few years ago is this- I’m more disciplined than lads my age. I’ve got a hell of a lot more integrity and initiative than my civvie counterparts, and I can endure and adapt to a lot more than most people who haven’t served. But that gets discounted when on paper I only have my 9 GCSE’s and a few years in the army, because employers will take the person with a degree and a year in the field. Of course not every ex-army bloke is like me, but my point is that if you put me through the course needed for a role and hired me, I guarantee I’ll be one of your best workers within a year. I will overtake those who already had a year in that field. You’ll probably be able to trust me more too. But I’ll likely not get that chance because employers won’t give me the time of day as soon as they see British Army on my CV.

I won’t bore you with details but my role in the army was based around military intelligence, yet I was denied an interview to work in McDonald’s. I’m by no means entitled to anything, but I’d like to think my few years of service in a specialised field should count for at least as much as a few years partying at uni.

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DalMakhani@reddit

I recruit occasionally and would probably see military service as a positive, especially if the candidate is able to explain clearly how x experience or situation demonstrates y quality or skill that we are looking for. Not disputing your capabilities but, in the nicest possible way, you may not be making the best impression if you are using similar lines in your cover letters and interview answers. Don't focus on what other applicants may or may not be bringing to the table, all you can do is give the best impression of yourself. Also I would avoid making those sorts of 'guarantees', it sounds like something from The Apprentice. Again, not intending to ruffle your feathers, hope it works out for you.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

Yeah, it's not my area of experience but if I was hiring someone to do a repeatable job reliably to spec then I'd look on military experience quite favourably. But industry experience trumps most things most of the time when applying for jobs. And with things like McDonald's they get a ton of applicants and some low-end places favour under-21s because they can pay them less.

I don't know your situation but you might want to consider options for getting more qualifications (you might find it easier now you're a bit older if you didn't get on with school) and/or look at apprenticeships in MOD/defence sector.

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Fullmoon-Angua@reddit

Well for one, the salary for a professional soldier is less then a starting firefighter, NHS nurse, or bog standard newly minted PC. Plus the pensions are also less than all of the above and the only people seemingly trying to pressure the government to change that are either serving servicepeople or veterans - not the general public trying to redress the imbalance with us.

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Fullmoon-Angua@reddit

I mean, is any more proof needed than the number of people downvoting a simple statement of fact about the relative salaries/pensions?

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euanairbourne666@reddit

People who kill for the government shouldn't be respected imo

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KnockOneOut178@reddit

Respectfully, fuck off mate.

You clearly have no idea about anything that the army/military does apart from that stereotypical “they are just employed to kill people” assumption.

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euanairbourne666@reddit

Remind me how many people have died in every war ever and then remind me who does the killing in every war ever?

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HurloonMinotaur@reddit

I’ll remind you of that when the Chinese/Russians come knocking

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ResplendentBear@reddit

It's one step up from Dad's Army. Has got a bit of a reputation for people who want to play soldiers at the weekend and be all tough...and then go back to being an estate agent.

I think it's an admirable thing to do generally. You're probably providing some benefit to society. And it's certainly more productive than most hobbies.

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

It's one step up from Dad's Army.

Yeah.... I mean, just no. Maybe once, not in 2025. A huge number of reservists fought front line, with all manner of units, in kinetic warfare over the last 2 decades.

At one point, if you wanted to, you absolutely would go to war via joining the reserves.

And for some people, even though they didn't want to, they did. Iraq utilised mandatory mobilisation and sent reservists to fight on the front line.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

Have you served? As someone who has served, I can tell you from experience (and many will agree) that reservists are nowhere near the regulars. Sure I respect their choice to serve, and there’s only so good you can get when training a few nights a month- but trust me you can tell a reservist a mile off. They’re usually in clip, with landing pads for berets, and have shit drills. Basically still a civvie mindset in a soldier’s uniform.

Maybe they were great in actual conflict. But our last active conflict ended in 2013, so most reservists now wouldn’t have seen that.

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

Have you served?

As I said in my own reply, I was in the Reserves but got binned due to an injury.

I can tell you from experience (and many will agree) that reservists are nowhere near the regulars

Nobody has said otherwise - you're never going to be the same as a regular solider with those hours. But after 6 months of PDT you'll be pretty close.

But our last active conflict ended in 2013

WTF?

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

The comment I replied to had no mention of you serving. But if you got injured in training and went on the biff, that doesn’t count for much.

And no. A reservist will not be at the same standard as the regulars, or close- that’s why all the tests on any course have lower pass standards for reserves.

Wtf what? Name an active conflict we’ve been involved in since 2013 after we pulled out of Afghan? Go on, name one.

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

But if you got injured in training and went on the biff, that doesn’t count for much.

I didn't ever say it did.

A reservist will not be at the same standard as the regulars, or close- that’s why all the tests on any course have lower pass standards for reserves.

I didn't ssay "the same standard" - you're the only person who has ever made that assertion, which is a complete strawman. My assertion was that calling it "One step above Dad's Army" is ridiculous. And yes, they will be close - I stand by that. I've spoken to regulars who have served operationally with reservists and they didn't come back with much negative to say - a little, perhaps.

Wtf what? Name an active conflict we’ve been involved in since 2013 after we pulled out of Afghan? Go on, name one.

You beat my edit, I'd misread and already removed it.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

I didn’t serve on any combat tours no, I wasn’t old enough to join at that time. I fully believe that reserves in Afghan could’ve been decent, but coming from a modern day perspective reserves are generally useless- the fact they were good 15 years ago doesn’t change that.

And fair enough then. To answer it anyway, the difference with regulars is this- they still live it, day in, day out. Reserves spend the majority of their time on civvie street, so never truly have the same mindset or ability as regulars. Of course the bottom third of regulars are still mongs, but that’s only a part of the regulars.

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Digesting-Reddit@reddit

We have a much more active role now and fill vital spots that regulars can't do quite often these days. Back when it was called TA I would agree but not now.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

Mate, reservists now are absolute shite. Go look at any course, your standards are lower.

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Digesting-Reddit@reddit

I disagree we get tons of good opportunities. Might be a sigs thing though can't speak for other regiments.

Entry standards are a little lower but to deply we have to meet regular standards, same for a course or advancement, as we do it with the regulars.

I think you are looking at the old way, things are different now.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

Funnily enough mate, I’m ex-sigs. And I only left the army in 2021 so how much has changed in the past 4 years?

And sure opportunities may be the same, but you guys stick out like sore thumbs. As for course standards they are different- look at P coy, reserves get extra time on the tabs. SF selection, reserves don’t do the jungle. I could go on. Fair play, you’re better than a civvie, but every reserve I’ve met and my mate’s have met are always in shit state and that can’t be a coincidence.

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Digesting-Reddit@reddit

Well shit nice to meet a fellow scaley.

I think some will be shit but that's down to the individual. The skill fade can sometimes be a bit of a killer but if you take the time to get hands on the kit you are all the better for it. I detest lazy reservists. Point taken on those courses, the BAC is the same for all though, I guess it depends on the course.

You have to remember that you are seeing it from a reg point of view, from ours some regs come across as complete mongs. My point is it swings in round abouts, don't allow a shit experience to generalise.

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

Oof, you're making me feel old now. And I guess that's the difference in perspective - the TA in the 90's was...pretty shocking.

Even right up to Iraq (And people often forget that the early years in Afghanistan were quite low energy), I don't think it had fully dawned on many that they'd join a war fighting force.

Then Iraq kicked off, which saw mandatory mobilisation, and then Afghan really heated up.

As I say, by the mid 00's, if you wanted you you could join the Reserves and near 100% guarantee a front line tour. It was constant deployments to Herrick, fronted generally by 6 months of full time pre deployment training.

It'll be a shame if they've managed to forget all that in such a short space of time, and truly reverted back to the mentality of the 80's and the 90's where it was basically "Unless it's WW3, we're not going to be involved"

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

But if you got injured in training and went on the biff, that doesn’t count for much.

I didn't ever say it did.

A reservist will not be at the same standard as the regulars, or close- that’s why all the tests on any course have lower pass standards for reserves.

I didn't ssay "the same standard" - you're the only person who has ever made that assertion, which is a complete strawman.

Wtf what? Name an active conflict we’ve been involved in since 2013 after we pulled out of Afghan? Go on, name one.

You beat my edit, I'd misread and already removed it.

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ResplendentBear@reddit

Fair enough.

The OP asked what i thought of it, and that's what I still do think of it. Reputations don't always equal reality.

As my 2nd paragraph indicates I did suspect it was more useful than that.

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

I get it was an opinion, but it's just a really outdated opinion.

Maybe in the 90's it was like that - it's how I think of it, as somebody coming into adulthood in the 90's. And certainly through that period of peace there was a constant desire to downscale it.

But as I say, that's a long time ago now and the wars of the last 20 years really should have changed opinion.

It's a niche example, but the Reserves, via providing highly qualified medical personnel, took the lead on about half the medical tours in Afghan and provided about 40% of the medical staff. It's a massive contribution and honestly reducing such things to "A step up from Dads Army" is really reductive.

Fullmoon-Angua@reddit

"sitting in an office where you realise 9/10 people are mongs who have no sense of purpose."

I'll add 'a sense of urgency' to the lack of sense of purpose. No offence to anyone who's always been a civvy because it works in civvy life for you to an extent but no end of veterans get frustrated when they come out into civvy world as a boss somewhere because of their qualifications/experience and want something done straight away and find that when you ask for something done, it just isn't fucking done.

u/goingpt yeah, you got that quite right really - they're always asking for new recruits and making it out to be better than it really is in reality because they lie about what the reality is. You get good training, good opportunities, travel etc. but what they don't tell you in the adverts that is very key is that even with secondary duties, your promotions up the ladder are going to be limited and not anywhere near as fast as they should be if it was just on merit alone. Otherwise we'd all be colonels/group captains.

The reason they have to do these James bond-esque adverts is because once you're in............ you're in to get fucked over and deal with it. So people leave and take their new found skills with them.

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AJMurphy1986@reddit

That's if it goes well, the military can create great people.

Then there are squaddies who signed up cause they didn't have anything better to do before and still don't after.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

That’s true. I would say though that plenty sign up with nothing, then the army turns them into something- that doesn’t really happen on civvie street.

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non-hyphenated_@reddit

Which is why there are no iPhone adverts

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sheepandlambs@reddit

My honest opinion? There are 3 types of people who join the army:

People who failed their GCSEs.
People who like the idea of being allowed to shoot foreigners.
People who played Call of Duty and decided it looked fun.

Remember, you asked for honesty.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

You’re completely wrong, what are you basing this on? Have you served yourself?

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Curiousinsomeways@reddit

Of course they haven't.

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pm_me_your_mole_rats@reddit

I think the army is for meatheads who are too stupid to see that they are just meat to be sacrificed

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non-hyphenated_@reddit

And yet I know plenty who joined up as private soldiers, left with a degree or two and now have a 6 figure income in their second career all before their pension fully kicks in. Hardly meatheads.

If it's not for you then fair enough, it doesn't mean you have to try and belittle those who it is for.

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

The only person in my social circle who has paid off the mortgage (of their massive house) is an ex SF soldier. Just endless drive and determinitation. Took his cash at the end (I forget what they called it), skilled up in a totally new trade, and promptly went on to make the kind of cash most grads can only dream of.

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non-hyphenated_@reddit

And yes, our Officers deploy front line and fight door to door, face to face, with their troops.

Then you can consider the long held doctrine that soldiers should be able to think and make decisions on the battlefield (Arguably something that makes the British Army such a small, but incredibly effective and respected fighting force) it just doesn't stack up.

Yes, there are squaddies whose life goals start and end with a punch up in the bar - but if you actually spent time around the military, around soldiers, I think you'd find most are perfectly intelligent individuals more than capable of grasping their situation, both politically and otherwise.

I can't recommend a career in customer service then

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smoulderstoat@reddit

Having to be anally clean and tidy

Kinky.

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Digesting-Reddit@reddit

As a reservist I find it supplements my day to day job in IT really well. I can get all sorts of qualifications for free, extra pay to have a laugh on the weekend and a second bonus every year ontop of my normal wage.

At nearly 40 it keeps me fit as an added extra. Plus it's all voluntary, you get back as much as you put in.

Well worth it imo

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Glittering_Copy8907@reddit

It's not really job in itself - you get a few quid which is nice, but it's a token gesture (unless deployed).

I was going through training and unfortunately got a (somewhat) life altering injury which put pay, but a mate I joined with went onto to serve in Afghanistan. He had a good experience, and considered going to the regulars after, but in the end left both due to work and life commitments and I think he felt he'd "Done it" if that makes sense.

It's fairly what it says on the tin - join the army without the fulltime commitment. Reserves do get looked down on a bit, that's inevitable, but it's also a lot better than when it was the TA and basically a drinking club.

Just remember, mandatory mobilisation exists and has been used. There is a real, and genuine, possibility that you are called to a real, and genuine, war.

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Fullmoon-Angua@reddit

They used to get a bad rep from the regulars when I was in the forces - however the reality is that as a regular you sign up for a certain amount of time in the military and it comes with a specified amount of time to also serve in the reserves when your full time commitment (e.g 9yrs full time + a further 6 in the reserves) ends so at least half the reserves are made up of former full time professional service people.

I think tours like afghan and iraq though changed the perception of the reserves quite a lot because it became a lot more likely that the reserves were finally called up to get off their arses and go on something other than gucci training weekends and they held their own really well and so their rep went up a lot - plus again, at least half of htem were former full time so knew their shit right from the off.

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SilyLavage@reddit

It's worth considering what you want to get out of it and whether the reserve is the best way of going about that, but it's not a bad option to consider. You basically enter into the usual army trade-off of being trained up and taught useful skills on conditon you might be called up to serve at some point.

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CoolJetReuben@reddit

I respect them alot. Especially after 30 working and keeping up an army career on the side. Alot of people shit on them as a drinking club or less than regulars but I only put up with hearing it from Regular veterans.

It's a good opportunity too. Especially for young folk to dip their toes without fully committing to the regulars. Know a few guys that started reserves and ended up in the Royal Marines and other elite units. If you're interested you should go for it. There's no real commitment if you don't like it.

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