Joined the Marines, basically we are amphibious infantry. So hypothetically a “trade less job” however, you can do courses within service that can set you up post service. Also the standard trade routes that I have seen, most lads can’t use that qual post service anyways. Good video dude! Keep this info coming

16yrs in the Infantry, Pl Sgt. Never did me any harm, learnt a lot and got me jobs in civvy street, more about man management, self reliance and working as a team. Didn't need a trade for that...

Was in infantry l cpl , I was a airport terminal manager with 30 people below me and now a firefighter, the infantry push me hard and now nothing stops me. Best thinking I've ever done, not to mention i have mates who have been in force longer less medals than me never be over seas. Infantry was good grounded

I spent five years in the RAF as a Photographer and have to say I was lied to, because most of that time I was waiting for a Ground Photography course and spent my time packing parcels, printing pilot's air flight path books for inside the cockpit, and pouring buckets of developer and fixer into industrial film and contact printing machines. On leaving and trying to get a job in photography found I simply did not have the skills, training and experience expected and ended up going into Civil Engineering. Surprisingly, the one thing I did get out of the RAF that allowed me to go on to become a Deputy Head teaching Maths and IT and then a Senior IT Trainer/Consultant was the five years I spent learning Tae Kwon Do. In a way physically, character development, self-discipline, focus and overcoming my fear in sometimes (especially we pulled no punches and kicks back then) , over coming my fear was in a way very similar to what I expect I would have received if I had joined the Infantry. Too much to write here, but the discipline, physical demands of going up and down the gym practising kicks and punches over and over again, was what got me to 'study' in my early ONC and HNC Civil Engineering courses. At only aged 26 being a Site Manager in charge of very 'challenging' and older Irish labourers who tried every trick in the job to not do their job properly and skive off. Most of all facing parents and classes of 35 tough inner city teenagers and not only put the fear of god in them but got them to learn and respect me, So 'Yes', I agree very much what Craig Holman states in his video and having gone on to train many people in civvy street I often found senior people in management, owners of a company and many CEOs were often ex military and had served in the Infantry.

My utmost respect and support for my fellow soliders. Been a few years have been wanting to join. Made the jump and gone for it. My grandfather was a WW2 veteran who served in the British Army. He has a few medals which we have on display at home, his service for our country is something am proud of. Passed a way in 95 when we were kids. Anyhow, looking forward to the challenges being a Communication Infastructure Engineer. I wish you all the best.

Instead of joining infantry I’d go Royal Marines. I was set to start basic training back in 2018 but I got injured! Held me back months and in them months I found out I’m becoming a father. Thinking of re applying and trying to get the green lid. Or joining the royal engineers and doing the all arms commando course. Great vid!

Thank you so much, I’ve been set on joining the paras for 5 years, I’m going in less than a year, everyone tells me to go a different route and get a trade, now I can show them the opinion of a serving soldier, thank you so much

Best bit of advice ever. You should be planning resettlement from day 1. I'm infantry and have been for 17 years and have earned many many qualifications.

I joined the Armoured corp QOH in the eighties, no practical trades to transfer in to Civvy street , left after 9 years , thoroughly enjoyed it , I joined the Fire Service , when ex Army was a positive thing for recruiting in the Fire Service , did 26 years had transferred my Army pension, bonus ,retired with a good pension at 54. Best of both worlds 😁😁

Those exact pieces of advice from careers and family is what drove my army life off a cliff, awaiting a reply from my application to re apply but for the paras this time, like I originally wanted 🤘🏻

As an American I agree with you. Even in grade school /high school our instructors told us in JROTC ( you could call it air cadets or similar to harrowgate) to not join without a getting a job you can utilize when getting out of the military (civvy street) . Our regulars have great educational benefits while serving and better benefits when you exit. The only problem is when you are in and arrive at your first unit you aren’t really allowed to start college online for at least a year or two.when you arrive on station you have qualifications that you need to study for to get certified on your job. You have to get this before anything else. Also, you would not be able to start college anyways because your schedule can change from month to month.you can go from day shift to night shift or be sent to field training at any moment. Those who are focused on college like myself joined the reserves, it was better fit for those wanting a trade and degree. Also you have a good point about the trades. In the reserves I was trained in surgery, I was somewhat qualified for this job in civvy street ( and still had to pay and earn a national certification )but only worked at two companies doing this job for a total of 6-8 months. I worked in this field as a civilian while in the reserves The job didn’t pay enough .

I did a trade in the Army it was good and really helped me when i came out now im working on medical equipments but sometimes i wished i did more infantry stuff. But yeah you right do what you enjoy and what you want to do, not what other people tell you what you should do.

Very true Craig, I was told many years ago to get a trade & I’ve never used it , if your going for the army go Infantry all day long , I wish I had gone with my gut , good topic Craig as always 👍👍💪🏻

I remember back in 2004 my parents and a lot of people trying very hard to talk me out of joining infantry. Everyone seemed to think REME or RE was the way to go.. Follow your gut, do what you want. If you have a passion for a trade do it, if you want a combat role just do it. If you go the other way you'll only regret and wonder what if for your whole career. It's also an absolute bastard to transfer sometimes (sometimes easier to TX and rejoin than transfer, and that takes years)

The infantry can teach lots of things, namely how to say fuck 14 times in one sentence

Was 16 when I enlisted and went to Harrogate then catterick after that Nijmegen company Grenadier guards, never did they give me a driving licence nor put me on the trade transition scheme before being temperamentally unsuitable discharged its a scam I have nothing

Apparently there is a lack of mountain leaders in civvi Street. There is a new trend of people wanting to climb mountains and take cool pictures for their Instagram but a lack of qualified instructors to keep them safe, this includes mountain rescue and cave rescue. All quals you can get in infantry

Thanks for the video man, really useful. Really great timing, just had this exact problem. Family and careers office pushing me towards more of a trade based role that I'm really not fond of. Really just want to get a job i actually want to do, and that I can stick to

People join for many reasons. Some for social reason, you may go in as a Chav but will come out a self reliant individual regardless of what branch or regiment. Served my time in The RGJ , no regrets.

I did a short time in the Infantry. I did well. I left and a few years later become a refinery control room operator for a multi national oil company and now 25 years later, a petroleum/solvent control room operator. Looking back I would have enjoyed something trade based or more technical. My score for the Army was low. But the oil company tests for processing and analytical were high. Just goes to show. I now run a multi million pound plant mostly on my own.

Spent 22 years in the infantry it was a love hate thing would change a day of it 25 years on I still have the same great mates. Swift & Bold

Nice to hear a young soldier speaking the truth.

My advice would be if you want to join the Infantry to do soldering, don't join the Guards or Household division...unless you want to do public duties I.e Buckingham Palace...also I'd advise you to be 100% committed as to pass out in the British Infantry is a hard and tough slog ...56 in my intake and only 12 of us passed out ...its tough, hard and grueling.. takes a special kind of person to be a Grunt ....I was a Grunt and proud to say ...you will serve with hard lads that will never let you down ...I'm still in touch with them now even after being left 17 years ...Best mates you'll ever have . Also you'll learn proper life skill such as Integrity. Selfless commitment. Loyalty. You'll also not become a weak worthless winging civilian. You'll become a Man . 👍🏻

This applies to your buddies across the pond. When you sign that dotted line you agree to be their slave.

I joined in 2008 and left 2016 moved around 3 capbadges in that time through choice, back then was the Iraq and herrick eras for a soldier, I get your video and why people would say get a trade etc now a days, But let’s put it bluntly, there are no real combat deployment opportunities oversees apart from that horrendous Estonia 9 month exercise thing they do nowadays and maybe a Kenya or Poland, lads are learning all these skills and tactics and putting nothing to use apart from sticking a BFA on and get back to conventional war fighting which was depressing to say the least during my time in, you mentioned about engineers using their trade very little over their careers but now you are having companies and platoons on parades these days with no medals and no combat experience, this will soon be obsolete and what will really be the infantry’s selling point in another 5 years, guys like yourself and other higher ranks in this comment section went through the infantry during its best years but honestly I can’t see much of a selling point to be sleeping in trenches and lugging round weight on your back anymore.

Excellent advice. For clarification, I got my civilian job on the back of being a Sapper but it had to qualify and make the transition

What's disgusting about trade in army it seems, is amount of engineer's & trade we have have, yet still pay private companies to maintain & renovate barracks & bases they're a completely un-utilised resource. They could even pick up non military contracts for experiance & cover pay. Amount of military chef's yet private catering's paying silly money for a privatised system & personal. I've even seen firefighting & security go too private firms. Just waste after waste & robbing military of funds & personnel.

CSM here, Infantry! Love your work. Retention is now the new flavour. Looking forward we need the best. Your hook “start your retention early” is very powerful. A video for the serving Fox hounds, about education and skills that are available would make an awesome difference. #INFANTRY and other arms and Cores. With your swagger, this could could make a huge difference. Title the Video : THE ARMY IS S¥$T what do I do???? For Example. 🤣

Great video, I really needed to here this. I have applied for reserve soldier going down the infantry route. I am already in a trade in my daily job that being a mechanic. A few of my friends are saying I should do that in the army also. I don’t really enjoy that trade anymore so don’t think it will be worth me doing that. Thanks again for the info. I will be looking into the infantry role before making a decision.

Thanks for the advice, I really wanted to do stuff in IT in the airforce or the army just depending what one I was really sure on. But now I think a job in BT or virgin media would be quite good too. I might even consider the reserves on the sidelines

Did 4 year in infantry Best time of my life wish I'd never left,met friends for life come out with HGV licences Happy days

Id beg to differ. I think that civilians wanting to go be infantryman, should understand that it's a job which has no civilian analog save, pmc work. Understanding this, they should then decide wether the infantry is truly their calling or not. If it is, do not wait anylonger. Go do it. I don't no how military benefits are in the UK, but i do know this, you have a standard life expectancy of 81. In that time you have at most 32 years where you can be a bad ass. The rest of your life, you can be boring and typical. Dont let those few years you have go to waste because you wanted to play it safe. I never regretted joining the Infantry (US Army).

I am a trained military chef. My qualifications were near useless when I left: level 1 qual and it specialised in German cuisine. Best of luck to anyone who joins. The best qualification I got was my bookkeeping certificate - levels 1 & 2 City & Guilds on my resettlement course. The irony isn't lost on me lol.

I joined to Drive. I got every licence for driving. I did a stint at staff car. Then was attached to a guard unit. And took more from them. But there are many individuals that only want that infantry training.

Don't join the infantry, join the Marines

Great vid and so true. Thanks.

My advice (if I could do my time again) was as you said do what job you want to do but use the military for everything you can get while you do it. Get yourself down the education centre, apply for those SLC and ELCs and get yourself a degree or another qual in something you enjoy computers, car mechanics, art if that’s your thing. Then you’ll get out without regretting anything and you’d have set yourself up for success well before you start your resettlement. Edit: I wrote this before I finished the vid 😂😳

Best bit of advise here is join a branch you want to do.

My opinion is that plenty of lads are attracted to the idea of green skills, yes infantry life can be challenging but it still sets you up with life skills and if it’s what you want to do go ahead and do it.

Very informative video thanks 👍🏼 I’m thinking about joining the paras I’m 25 years old abit lost in life but always had the urge to join the army but never have.

Best advice I have heard to date to date. 👍

ive joined the navy as a gunner and i get the equivalent of 2 a levels in data technician, at killick it becomes an undergraduate degree, and at petty officer it becomes a masters degree

Join the tank regiment

I really wanted to join the Royal Signals as I'm a massive tech nerd and the Cyber Engineer role suits me down to the ground, I still want to do that role however apparently it turns out I'm slightly colour blind as I found out at assessment (I don't believe I am but I somehow failed the colour perception test) and now I'm restricted to some RLC jobs and the Royal Engineers, I'm not sure if there's any way to fight this or try again to get the signals role I truly want, I'm now going in as an armoured engineer in the RE in March, I'm looking forward to it and I think I'd still enjoy the job but a part of my brain still wishes I could do Sigs

Already joined the infantry.

I can relate, i was a royal engineer because i was pushed into it. Dont get me wrong, i had a blast. But i really wish i went with the role i wanted to originally. I only done 4 years because i wasnt getting anywhere. I know it seems like a contradiction, i loved being an engineer, but because i was pushed into it, it killed my motivation to follow my dream of advancing to be able to take drill, which i loved to do. If you join a regiment YOU want to join, you will go much further than a regiment other people push you to join. Yes i could of transferred but at that point i just wanted out and have nothing to do with it. I could still rejoin and go for either the royal regiment of scotland, or the rifles. Because looking back, thats the part of the army that i most enjoyed. But now my life is going along pretty well. I enjoyed my time, im glad i did it, but really do wish i joined the infantry. Id still be there guaranteed.

I have a biomed uni degree and at first applied as an officer but I quickly realised no. The reason I joined was to not be stuck in a lab all day long why would I want to do that in the army then. So now I'm a CMT. Go do what you want regardless what people say. If you think it's a decision you will regret you probably will so don't do it, do what you want.

Have been told infantry have one afternoon a week to do their own sports activities and do more adventure activities etc than artillery .. do you know if this is true?

Do soldiers still go out to the frontline or is everything done by drones now

I am Peruvian, the reality is that those who are cannon fodder go to the infantry, they are used while those of high rank are sitting in their office, if they do not want to be cannon fodder and you want to become a general officer or captain, you have to have contacts , political support, etc. here in Peru they send lower-ranking Peruvian soldiers to fight against narco-terrorists in the Vraem, which by the way, the Peruvian armed forces use the British English AWP sniper rifle, it is a good rifle, but with respect to the infantry, each one with his life and the path he chooses Greetings from Lima,Perú

People respect a well disciplined, fit, Army guy too !!! Get all your sons in the Army ! My sons old mates are sat in their mums on the dole ! I wouldn’t put up with it myself took my son to Army Careers at the beginning of his 5th year senior’s, he did do one off with his dad for 5 years messing but contacted me again when he was passing out for the paras in 2015! Good lad still needs a talking ti though every so often 😂 if he gets a bit lippy 😃

Hi great video I was wondering if I could became a optician in the army or if you all ready are a optician join the army and do that as a job in the army?

My brother did 12 years in Argyll and sutherland highlanders. Only ever had shit security jobs since.

I'm looking to join the infantry as an officer is this a good pathway to look at or is there more progression elsewhere?

U shouldn’t join a trade in the army just for a qualification u should join what you want to do

I don’t exactly know what I want to do I’d like to be an army musician but also infantry do I just go for the musician route or do 4 years infantry then rejoin as a musician

I'm wanting to join the infantry I'm still waiting for my appeal to hopefully be successful though I'm partially torn between Infantry and Royal Tank Regiment.

Any arm of the British army is good, if its what you want , i was Royal signals, loved it, i was infantry in the TA before i joined the regular army, 5 royal anglian TA and 10th parachute regiment TA.

I joined the infantry because I wanted too..when I left people were pushing me to join the police force..i went into the forestry trade... Never know where life takes you a....

Yeah totally agree

Hi Craig, I’m a commonwealth citizen currently in the UK. (I’m aware they aren’t accepting applicants atm). I came for postgraduate but remaining in the UK on the graduate visa and hoping to join the army. My studies are in intelligence and I’d rather do that but I noticed it requires you to be a citizen or been in the country for a period of time. So I’ve turned my interest to the RMP. I can’t seem to find any nationality requirements for this. Do you happen to know if Commonwealth citizens are allowed in these roles?

Nice one mr hero

What do you recommend as a regiment or trade within the army in the current movements/timings?

If you want to be a soldier then join the infantry if you want to do what a soldier is meant to do then join the infantry. Most of the army none infantry don’t need to wear camouflage uniform to do there job. I was in the infantry for 17 years left as a PLT SJT and that’s what I wanted to be a soldier a front line soldier. I could hold my head up when we came back from Iraq and Afghan not like most that the only reason they know there in Afghan is the weather is different spending there time sunbathing and eating Subway but then give it the big one when they get back.

I'm currently 18 and 3 months and I applied for the army and Royal marine commandos, but the thing is by the time I fully decide where I want to go whether that be army or Royal marine commandos I would have got my level 3 qualification for engineering as I finish college in June. Do I still go for trade roles or? I'm just looking for advice any is fine. Thanks

Can't understand y u join the army to do a trade. U join the army to do army stuff, if u want to do trade u go down that route. Don't agree with alot of what u say in this video mate, sorry. As soon as u join the army do all the courses that will help when u get out. Come on. Try a stick at something u joined up for and do it 100% and finish it

When you were a kid, did you play RLC storeman, or did you play infantry soldier? listen to your inner child! Besides, who wants to be a REMF anyway? 😂

Some people happen to like the things you listed about the infantry. Not everything in the army is about qualifications so you shouldn't be explicitly saying in the title don't join infantry, rather title this video something like disadvantages of infantry. Possible recruits may see your title and like many people in the comments not watch the whole video, taking it at face value. So maybe rethink the title.

I get it. Y’all are still embarrassed about general Cornwallis surrendering at Yorktown to the continental army.

5 minutes of a remf being insecure

i want to join armored infantry but not as a driver, besides driver and gunner what other roles can i do in the armored infantry?

The benefits and pay and conditions don't make sense now days to join the British Army. They take and take from you, the food is terrible the equipment/ weapons have been worn out. And you'll get snobby private school officers in for 4 years looking their nose down at you. Get trained in plumbing or electrician you'll earn far more and you won't kill your body and end up sleeping on the streets by the time your 40.

So you transferred to a different unit. How long do you have to be at your first unit before transferring?

I’m fine with you saying an opinion but it’s not fine telling someone not to do something

Can you make a video about talking about that

Hey mate what courses is there that you can use in civvy streets as a full time job

I dunno much about how trades work in the army but are you allowed to change your trade if you picked one that you did for 2 years (let's say) and didn't like how it's been?

I’m when I’m older support infantry

Load of bollocks this, People join for different reasons, saved my life and I left at 21 after doing Juniors then adult service, plenty of time after 21 to do whatever you choose, best skills in life I ever learnt.

What army role you pick in the British army?

Anyone with an idea of what mechanized infantry and armoured infantry is like? Do they do normal infantry stuffs or they mistly in armored vehicles

I was in the signals for 10 years and now doing nothing to do with Coms

I'm looking to join the Light Dragoons

Private military operators (Mercenaries) earn great money if they have infantry experience.

just wondering the Open University has part-time degrees that take 6 years - roughly 20 hours a week. Could you do that whilst serving?

What’s a good job to join in the army without qualifications?

Walked in to join the Arty back in 2000, ended up getting talked into joining the Signals. Did just shy of 6 years and managed to get a job with Sky straight away. Who knows if I would of stayed in if I was doing something I enjoyed more

If the British army start conscription at any time.. Leave.

Can you rejoin the army if you have been medically differed

Can you apply to the Uk army when you are already in the country with working visa ?

I am 32 years old and wanting to go into the army to be a dog handler but.. worried about my age and been a lefty using a right handed rifle..

Hi , has anyone left the British army and went into motor racing ? I want to do it after the army.

I'm 26 and I am an electrician, recently I have been having a feeling for something a bit more meaningful, however at my age I have a house ect and the pay would just not be good enough. Would you recommend the reservers army or royal marines ?

What would you suggest if I have my trade

seriously thinking about this however remembering exactly how to put the guns together and quickly worries me..

Would the army pay for one to do a degree with the Open University?

What the hell! Let’s first think about this please, the infantry is paramount to everything. This is not the approach and click bate. Shocking tbh

Infantry = “bullet magnets” no thanks seems very little opportunity for progression

Seems like something a REMF would say

If you want to spend your later years on the streets while immigrants get all the homes then sign yourself up lad. There is a couple of lucky ones that go on to do something with their life however statistics state 85% of infantrymen die on British streets without support. Don't do it!