4-Eyed Bootnecks?

Greetings all.

I'm finishing uni in a couple of months and was hoping to join the Submarine service as a Warfare Officer. However my eyesight is Standard III (and only just at that) and they won't let me do it. I have been told that i may join the Submarine service as a logistics officer but this role does not sound particularly interesting to me, especially as someone who originally wanted to be aircrew! The whole thing is a nightmare really since it's my eyesight - there's absolutely f-all i can do about it!

Is it true that you can get away with SIII in the RM?

Being in an infantry role was something i'd never really considered since i obviously thought there were roles that i'd be better suited to personally. But on reflection now, if it is the case that SIII is acceptable, then i think i'd rather put in the extra work, come out of my little comfort zone and do something more worthwhile and challenging and become a RM. Afterall is anyone really born with the ability to be a RM? I suspect it is purely about your own personal determination, grit, character and hard work etc?

Problems are its nearly April and am i correct in thinking that September is the only intake? In which case the PRMC must be relatively soon and i don't think i'm ready for it having been training only for the relatively lax Navy standards (1.5 mile in 11mins 13 secs etc). I can do the 1.5miles on a machine in 9 - 10 mins generally, but my long range running at any kind of speed is ****. 1.5 miles is a long way from the 6 mile gig that they're talking about in the PRMC brochure!...and thats on top of the assault course etc!!! Obviously ALOT of running is a must over the next few weeks. Upper body strength is not too bad, compared to the standards they're talking about, i just don't do enough running. Having to wait another year would be a real ball-ache but it may be necessary in my case. Can you take the Potential officers course more than once like the AIB or is it a one shot deal?

Obviously i need to get in touch with the AFCO again and see a bootneck but the navy are pushing for a decision on the Logistics thing so more immediate responses would be appreciated.

I'd also like to say ultimate respect to the brave & dedicated folks in the Royal Marines and Army units who undoubtably have the hardest, most demanding jobs in the British armed forces

 

Yes mate bring your white stick and guide dog for the training though.

 

I know I'm a cnut! :mrgreen: :roll:

 

feck..was gonna answer but cant see the keyboard...here keybe, here keybe, here keybe...oh fcuk it... :lol:

 

PMSL good 1 Blobs :lol:

 

**** me mate, no wonder i was sleeping with such ugly women in the past, bring a stick, yep, and a saw to cut your arm off to get away from the fcuking gronks. Coyote ugly is the term of phrase i think!!! :grin: :lol:

 

Nutty, when it came to women you obviously set yourself a low standard and maintained it diligently... :lol:

 

No mate, i used to, then got contact lenses and saw the light mate!! Now its ding "*******" dong carry on oppo! :lol:

 

Hmm, I got me some of those Viagra contact lenses... they make me look 'ard!

 

LOL. CNUT!!! :grin: :lol:

 

A serious answer to your question would be no as you need to have perfect eyesight to serve in the corps. However, that said, times have changed so I would contact your local careers office and ask what restrictions of role would be placed on you with your level of eyesight.
i.e. There's all kinds of roles including IT these days. However, your basic training would be exactly the same.

As for the responses you got my friend. You should have seen that coming!!! :roll:


All the very best of Luck

Greendeath

 

We have two ASRM lads on board currently who both wear glasses. Doesn't seem to affect them.

 

Well fair enough if that is the case, but i'm just going by this which my guide dog was sniffing around earlier:

http://www.aop.org.uk/uploaded_files/pdf/04-navy.pdf

On poking around it with my white stick it seems to say that unless you want to be a specialist like a sniper or aircrew or a bridge watchkeeper its SIII? :???:

At least i'll know what to expect at RM training if i do get in! :grin:

 

You've got initiative my friend and a sense of humour.

I wish you all the very best of luck with joining the Corps.


Regards

Greendeath

 

Rang up the AFCO and had a quick chat with a RM this morning. The situation is there probably are restrictions on Royal Marine eyesight standards...but they just didn't know exactly what they are...or as the RM so aptly put it: "It's just whether or not you can see -its up to the opticians really" :mrgreen: ...that was just after the little gem "I don't know what SIII is"! :grin:

In fairness the guy seemed like a good lad and was talking to me about fitness standards etc. In fact he did say he himself wore glasses/contacts and couldn't see a thing without them - thats classic SIII pathology.

Though the conversation was more entertaining and less useful than i had bargained for, the jist i got is that the situation is: there are no real restrictions on general marines (snipers etc will obviously be required to find their targets without the aid of a white stick) except for the restriction that you should meet SIII as all naval personnel are required to do.

As the chap pointed out, with my current fitness standards i won't be doing the POMC tomorrow, but i'm realistic and knew that anyway. But fitness is just a matter of work. So it's just whether or not i want to put the hard work in, delay entry and be a marine or just cruise on down to the Logistics AIB.

 

Hello Sherminator, Iam pretty confident by the sound of things (then again Im not really that bright or an optician) that you can be an officer in the Royal Marines with your level of visual acuity, although I believe that you are not able to specialise as aircrew, sniper, landing craft crew and swimmer canoeist, and possibly reconnaissance. Currently I am in the selection process for joining the Royal Marines (not officer, but they are the same I believe, its just the expectations of fitness levels that are the differential) I have successfully completed the eyesight requirement tests (opticians and the one for the PULHHEEMS) and my eyesight is a VA 3 the minimum requirement, I use my corrective lenses all the time as I cannot see very well as it takes a day or so for my retina to focus properly, but then it still is very shoddy :lol:

I have also found some links that might be of interest, or maybe not. just trying to help someone out who has near enough the same problem I had, it also really worried me as I would not be able to do a single thing about it if i did fail

Wikipedia, Visual Acuity

RN/RM Visual Requirements