It’s easy to doubt yourself I think most of us ex squaddies always had going back in our minds in the first few few years of civi st. You’ve not been out too long so remember why you chose to leave in the first place, and really weigh it all up. I had some mates return and they went on to do to the full22 But a couple left again after 3 years. You have age on your side so you can still afford to mong about in civi st for a couple of years and still pick up a career should you decide to rejoin. Just think of your time now as a gap year 😁. No need to rush a decision mate

Bro I respect your honesty, a lot of ppl leave and act like it’s all gravy and majority of the time it doesn’t add up to what they expect the street to be.. so hold ya head up bro come back and make the most of it… hope to meet up soon gangsta🤜🏽

You need to keep yourself busy don't get sucked back in the longer you stay in the harder it is to adjust when you finally leave being in charge of your destiny is more important sieze the day brother

MPGS is also a good choice, I left and did civie st for 4 years, rejoined MPGS and never looked back! 12 years in on top of my previous. Pension sits well, no tours, silly exercises and can plan my life! All is good. Built my van and looking to go bigger now. Keep it real you have options brother.

The reason you left in the first place will still be there if you wish to return mate. Focus on yourself mate and finding true happiness man and appreciate the freedom you really have that the army cant provide. Would love a chat with you man

It’s always tempting to go back , but the reason you left won’t have changed . Having a plan even a general one will help , because when you leave it feels like you have no focus. Good luck bud , stay happy.

I’ve done vanlife on camp, worked really well.

good to see you smiling again Brandon. Things didnt work out for me in the regular army but then went Into the local TA regiment, Royal Mercian & Lancastrian Yeomanry in Wigan. This made me. It was the happy medium between civvy life and militray life. Give it a try mate, nothing ventured nothing gained. Rooting for you mate. 🦾

Take the van to otterburn …. That’ll settle you mind on going back in :)

Definitely go reserves, good way to get the best of both worlds, can go on FTRS if you wanted or just go away for various stints from weekends upto weeks or months, extra money in your pocket too and will work around Van Life and other work you have, also be a great opportunity for content in turn building your channel!

Please stay safe and keep your chin up. ❤️❤️ As an US Army Mom I support the defense of one’s country but you and my son have done your duties. It took my son years to find himself again and he is still finding himself. Finding what came after his service. He still thinks about going back after 12 years of being out when life gets hard. ❤️❤️

I felt the same when I left the mob, you realise how easy life was back then. Remember why you originally left, stick with what you’re doing and everything will work out

Jake join the Reserve, You mentioned The Commandos, They have Reserve Units all over the Country, Being a Reservist You get paid, So extra money coming in, You can also do attachments to the Regulars for short engagements 6 Months etc, Also their are Para and Special Forces Reservist.

taking your balls by numbers, by numbers one, shave the head, stick with the dream and if it does not exactly fit then fix it or adapt. I get the loss, I really do, it does become a historical memory eventually and it is not be any means an easy choice, take charge and make changes were required. Remember what made you choose this life and stick with it

Yip, I think most of us doubted our decision to leave the army. I also joined the local TA. Was the happy medium I needed. After 3 years of doing a job I hated, I joined Police and as of yesterday, I’m retired. Don’t rush into any decisions but remember why you wanted to leave and re-assess your options. Loads of options out there. Stay focused and you’ll get there.

Ive done my 22 in the MOB but honest advice is if you didnt use your resettlement to its full then id recommend getting in contact with your resettlement officer se if there's something you can yous your ELC on

As soon as you walked back into barracks you would regret it. Although living in a van through winter won't be fun

This video was very comforting whilst I had a shit at work 😊

Coming out is super hard to adjust but you’re doing really well. Things happen for a reason

Keep going Jake 👍👍👍👍sweet work pal.

Jake, Don't be hard on yourself - civ div is 100% better than being in the "Green machine" you've not been out long enough bud. To be honest I did the same, I remember going back to the careers office and trying to sign back up, lucky enough one of the recruiters was my screw in depot and my section commander in Bn talked me right out of it 😂 It's difficult to adjust mate, don't forget you've been institutionalised for 7 years, and I don't care what anyone says, you don't work in the Army. I think, like all of us who get out reality has hit and you now have to work for a living 😉 Civvy's don't give a shxt about what you've done in the past - it's just the way it is mate. Save the dit spinning for when you're around the bro's. You've got youth on your side mate, re train all the opportunities are there bud then you'll find a nice path to follow, remember the Army has taught you lots of things civvies don't have such as motivation to succeed and self discipline. TA might be an option for you, but just enjoy yourself...it's a shock but you'll be ok I'm sure. If you ever think you want to go back, remind yourself of your reasons for leaving in the 1st place, or recount when some lizard kicked you while you were gonking in your scratcher with "Your stag mate" at 0200 and it's raining and you're wet & cold. 😂😂😂

You will gain more out of the army than you will in, there is some much to offer outside just be creative original and keep going with what you’ve already created. You never know where it will all lead.

You have options dude, we have all thought about it. Don’t look back your not going that way👍🏽 Needs must

Mate I got out for 2 years and hated it and got really low, that said if I got the job I wanted I don’t think I would of rejoined that said give it time and see how you get on pal, you just gotta weigh up the pros and cons

Premonition: Becks will end up with allllllll the clothes storage 😂 You will have under bed only

I would. Personally with everything going on in the economy, Bills, rent etc etc if I was young enough and didn't have a family I would go back in a heartbeat.

Try a different service or trade? RAF Movs travel / be on shift? RFA 4 months on 3 months off…!

Keep moving forward, going back to the Military isn't the answer. I stayed when I should have left, you will find yourself; give it some time.

can do reserves, best of both world.

It's always worse for work in your first year or 2 especially if you are freelance/self employed you've got a lot to learn and a reputation to build which will come in time. Eventually you'll be able to pick and choose what jobs you want to do once you have more experience/contacts etc and not bother with the crappy and lesser paid ones. You've spent a lot of time on your build too which is probably behind the scenes!

Keep it crazy hair is 👍

Get yourself in 23. More money, new challenge and keep Your hair long

Don't join back up full time mate, reservist ain't a bad shout tho dip your toe back in to see if you miss the bullshit plus it ain't bad money if you hit the required days. (not sure what they are)

When i left i missed the guys and the adventure but, life had to move on. i did a crappy job for a while and went back to study and did a teaching degree. life is good now but you do need to work at it. Hope you find a new challenge.

Give it time mate. Try a few things out before thinking about putting the green skin back on. The Army is brilliant but you can make it without it. Bang a few more trips out first. Also wait to see how the whole Ukraine thing pans out. You might get a call to pop back anyway. Chin up champ . Oh and get a bloody haircut. 😍

Jake, can see ya struggling with ya decision. The world's a big place and it's not going anywhere, if ya thinking of going back, don't leave It and regret it when ya older. Like I said the world's not going anywhere. Chambermaids would take ya back. X

its the blokes you miss most of all when you leave...made worse by the fact that you're pretty much on your own I'm guessing.

Safe bro if you want to go back into the army go for it do the things what's best for you

dont let the microwave get in the way when cooking on the stove ;) dont wanna be banging ya head!

I left the army and realised you need a life work balance I would suggest getting a four day working week steady money coming in but time to still do things. Plus if your channel does get bigger you could drop down to 3 to 2 etc...

You take care x

What are you gonna do with the ceiling seen as it is currently just insulation?

do your 12 years then reassess. alternatively the reserves is a good one

If you need some work drop me a line

I've just hit the button after 14 years. I was told 'When the fun stops, stop.' Of which it definitely has. You've said the party lines we've all heard- Money is shit, fun sometimes, shit other times etc, but this time you're saying it about the vanlife. Shows that Army, Vanlife or any other job, its 1% excitement and 99% bullshit. I'm thinking once I'm out to be in the reserves, purely Saturday and Sundays, to help with the transition. Maybe that's what you need to keep yourself in, but not. Head up mate, I think if you did go back it would solidify why you left. Always about to chat @the.tattooedgardeneruk