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Armed Forces: 20 Questions for Potential Candidates

Step 4: Meet the recruiter

20 Questions for Potential Candidates

HMForces.co.uk offers a lot of information to help you decide if you want to pursue a career in the Armed Forces, but military recruiters have the most current information on job availability, new deals and changing requirements.
Once you decide to talk to a recruiter, you should arm yourself with as much information as possible, develop some idea of what you want, and know the questions that you want answered.

In general, your questions should help you:

• Understand eligibility and military life
• Pick the right Service for you
• Understand the jobs you’re eligible for
• Understand the benefits you can get
• Get the best benefits package possible
• Prepare for Basic Training and a military career

Here are some recommended questions to start you off:

1. How long do I have to sign up for? What’s the minimum commitment?
The minimum commitment after completion of initial training for the different Services is:
Royal Navy – 3 years and 6 months
Royal Marines - 3 years and 6 months
Army – 4 years and 3 months
RAF – 6 years

2. Am I eligible for any special enlistment programs or bonuses? Make sure you tell the recruiter all your qualifications and if you are thinking of doing any trades like engineering that are currently in demand as you might qualify for a Golden Hello.

3. What are the major differences in pay, benefits and job opportunities between Services? While the wages are broadly equivalent across each Service, the travel opportunities, job availability in the different trades and promotion rates can vary greatly. If you are considering more than one Service, ask the recruiters the same questions and compare the answers.

4. Do you have films or literature about military life and particular jobs? Most recruiters have videos and literature about their Service and particular jobs. In most cases you can either take the videos home or watch them at the recruiting station. Remember these are promotional materials and will focus on the positives.

5. How long is Basic Training? Where is it? What is it like?
• Army Basic Training depends on when you join. If you join as a school leaver it takes either 20 weeks at Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire, or 42 weeks (with extra education) in Harrogate in Yorkshire. If you are 17 or older it takes 12 weeks, or if you join the Infantry it takes 24 weeks, but that includes specialised Infantry training.
• RAF Basic Training takes five months for the Gunners training course at RAF Honington in Suffolk or nine weeks for Non-Commissioned Aircrew at RAF Halton, in Buckinghamshire.
• Royal Navy Basic Training takes eight weeks at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall.
• Royal Marines Basic Training takes 32 weeks at Lympstone in Devon.

6. What physical fitness requirements must I meet to enter the military and succeed in Basic Training? Physical standards vary between the Services, see our Fitness Section for more details.

7. What jobs are available? Use our job matcher to find jobs that match your interest, and ask your recruiter about openings in these and related fields. You should ask your recruiter about the entire career path in that chosen field. Most military specialties have follow-on training as you gain expertise and rise in rank.

8. What are the possibilities for being posted overseas? It is very unlikely that you won’t ever serve overseas in your military career. If you have particular places you want to serve in you can ask about that, but bear in mind that locations change regularly.

9. What are the training and advancement opportunities for jobs that I’m eligible for? Military promotions are based on performance, time in grade and job knowledge. While the system is objective, certain specialties seem to fare better in promotion rates. Ask your recruiter about the promotion rates in your chosen field and compare them to several other related fields.

10. What would pay be like? Military pay is no secret but can seem complicated for an outsider. Check out the pay guides in the Benefits Section and ask your recruiter to explain how Overseas and Operational Allowances and other special entitlements affect your bottom line.

11. Do I get paid while in training? Yes. Military training is part of military service and you receive your pay based on your grade and entitlements.

12. How much money can I get for university? Read our Education Benefits Overview to see the many ways you can earn money while improving your education. Then sit down with the recruiter and calculate how much you’ll earn based on the programs that you enlist under.

13. Can I take university courses or other training programs while in the military? Yes. The Armed Forces encourages you to continually improve yourself. A lot of the training that goes towards formal qualifications is free, and after you have served for a set time you get grants for further education outside of the Armed Forces.

14. Are there any upcoming military events in the area, such as air shows, Navy days etc.? Recruiters will have full information about military events and may even be able to offer you special deals to help you attend them.

15. Can a friend and I go to Basic Training together? Yes. Although you should expect to make lots of new friends as you work as a team to pass the training!

16. What appearance standards such as haircuts or tattoos will apply to me? Military standards are strict but vary slightly from Service to Service. Generally hair should be short and smart for men and collar length or tied back for women and tattoos should not be visible when you are wearing your uniform.

17. What sports can I do in the Armed Forces? Sport of all types, especially adventurous sport is encouraged in all the Armed Forces. If you are very serious about a particular sport ask your recruiter about it. For example, you may be able to train to Olympic standard if you have the potential.

18. What are the next steps? Recruiters have no problem telling you what to do next. Ask them to draw you a road map. Then make your own decision without any pressure.

19. Ask the recruiter to write down the answers to all your questions. This will help you go over their answers later and compare answers across services. It also makes the recruiters think carefully about their answers.

20. How can I get more information? The best way to get the answers to your questions is find your nearest recruiters and make an appointment to see them.
British Army
RAF
Royal Navy
Royal Marines

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