Do you get to choose what field you would like to work in when joining the military? As in, Id like to be EOD, artillery crew member/mortarman, tank driver, etc. and they assign me to a unit and teach me? Or do they take me as property and assign where needed, maybe taking my previous education into account and putting me in a related field, even if I dont like it?
Depends on your country, in Aus you go to an aptitude interview and they tell you what you can do, you pick from that, so yes, you get some decision depending on country
>>30154183
It really depends on what country you live in.
If its the US you usually have a lot of options (depending on your qualifications) unless you get fucked by your recruiter and he signs you up for some dumb shit while telling you its great.
If its some place using whats in your pic then you are probably fucked.
If you are UK you pick when you go in, depending on the force you are going into you will either have 3 choices and they will try and get you in your first pick if not second etc. Or others you just pick a job and aslong as your psychometrics are good you'll get in.
I'd watch ot for hidden agendas in the afco though, I've heard of big bonuses if the recruiter gets you to join their area. So do your research and have a good idea of what you are after before you go in.
Also shop around a bit, I don't know if it is the same in other countries but in the UK if you like the sound of a job there are probably identical jobs in other services. For example forward air controller, specialist gunfire observer and the navy equivalent, I can't remember the name of it right now
>>30154183
Here in Canada, you pick a trade as part of the recruitment process. You pick three that you want, and they slot you wherever lines up best with their needs and your interests/skills.
Like, I'm naval reserve, and put my options as Bosn, followed by Engineer, followed by Comms. I got comms, probably because I'm a nerd and it shows in my CV and the letter I sent explaining my life experience and any skills/hobbies not on my CV.
Also, recruiters tend not to push you towards any specific trade. They'll recommend one, usually their own ("Recruiter" is not a trade, it's more like extra duty you can take on) but for the most part it's not like they'd get anything out of recommending anything specific. It's not in their hands to put you anywhere, that decision is usually made by whatever unit you're joining.
>>30154287
Oh, also, I forgot -- a lot of trades are things you have to switch into. It's like a fucking respec or prestige class in D&D -- generally, you have to be of a certain rank and trades qualified in something similar. For example, you can't join as a diver -- you have to be a sea-going trade, do your qualifications, and THEN you can take a diving course and get a special little badge that says you know how to not die underwater.
Or even more specifically, if you want to be a sysadmin, you have to go into comms or radar stuff, get two chevrons and a maple leaf, then you can get a crash course in Active Directory and can be given a position doing sysadmin stuff. But you could have 100 years experience doing it in the civilian world, and they'll never let you touch a computer account that's not your own until you take that fucking course.
To my understanding it depends on your country and availability.
In the US, most branches will help you get a slot somewhere. Usually recruiters will be a little suggestive based on availability and demand.
>>30154240
It's all very confusing now. They (Sergeants, and for the grammar and public school boys joining as Officers) did not get any sort of bonus for signing anyone up. It was extremely simple.
When I joined they looked at your school records and what you had trained to work as, if anything. I didn't really have any meaningful qualifications, so I had the choice between Infantry or if I waited a few months I could sit a test to get into one of the Corps. My brother had done his National Service in the Royal Engineers and I liked the sound of that, but he had done better than me at school. I joined the Grenadier Guards, my father had been with them through the war. The Sergeant, who was from the DLI, told me to go home and get my dad, so I walked back home and told him. We walked back and he signed above my name. I signed on the line, went back on the Monday and took the Queen's Shilling. It was a crown and 5p.
The whole process took about 4 weeks from me walking in the Army Office and getting a rail warrant. My grandson waited about a year. He joined my old mob, which made me very happy indeed.
>>30154183
>EOD
>Artillery crew
WHAT?? SKEWERY JEW??
>>30156566
I THINK HE SAID BREWERY SCHOOL
You do get to choose, but whether they give you what you chose is entirely at their discretion.
>>30156509
How fucking old are you
>>30158395
I'm 71.
In my country, you can only indicate whether you want to go into the Army, Navy or the Air Force when you're registering for conscription.
>>30158454
Thank you for your service...at Gettysburg.
1. The needs of the service.
2. Your suitability.
3. Your preference.
If the service needs dental techs, and you have shown the aptitude and suitability but want to go to infantry, guess what, you are going to be a dental tech.
