themightyg
Badgeman

Hi guys,
I've been sitting on some info recently that has had me questioning the best way to proceed with my military career.
I found out a couple of weeks ago that the missus is pregnant again and our due date is mid September.
After a lot of debating and emotional talks between each other we have decided to go ahead with the pregnancy despite it being completely out of the blue and unplanned.
I currently have an application for the marine reserves but recently had decided to apply for full time, hoping for a PRMC date of July to get myself upto scratch.
This creates a big headache for me, the wife wants me to stick around for the first 6 months to help her with the baby and assist our other kids in settling into their new routine - which is fair enough - and I think this is the right thing to do as it is a handful bringing up a baby, especially with a couple other little ones on the go - which takes us through to approximately this time next year (when I will be 31).
Now here is the quandry.
If I was to continue my application full tme I would hope to get a PRMC of July-ish and hopefully all going well an RT date of September/October - which obviously clashes with the due date.
The missus also wants to be sure that she can cope with me being away from home for periods of time and I thought continuing my application with the marine reserves would be best - however the selection weekend is October and with a new baby coming into the house im sure my training will dip for a couple of months around then.
So here is my options as far as I can see it...
1. CANCEL/POSTPONE MY APPLICATION UNTIL NEXT FEB
lots of cons with this - it is a long time to keep training away and we will be thrown in at the deepend if the missus cannot cope with me being away at RT (if all goes well with PRMC etc).
2. CONTINUE TRAINING TIL OCTOBER MARINE RESERVES SELECTION
Pros are it gets me an insight into marine life whilst still being around the house enough to help with the kid.
Cons are - for a couple of months, at the vital time, my training time is bound to take a dip with the new born.
No pay during training or any holding troop until October (money was never an issue but any extra is bound to help with new baby things).
I would be looking to join full time if all went well in Feb/March which means only around 5 months reserve service which might look like im taking the michael somewhat.
C. JOIN THE LOCAL TA (selection is soon) AND RE-ASSESS SITUATION IN FEB / MARCH NEXT YEAR
Pros are it gives me an insight into military life, i can get started in a week or two and get alternate weekends away and 2 weeks away to see how the family operate without me.
I would get paid so can put into a 'baby fund'.
Cons are - its not the marines and I dont really know overly much about the army as its all marines marines marines in my napper.
If everything went smoothly and I decided to start a fresh application for marines (or even reg army as you can never be sure what the year ahead holds) next feb / march i would have only been in the TA for one year.
The AFCO may frown upon this as well.
Im really genuinely confused, unlike young single lads, guys of my age with a family have to be sure that we are doing the right thing - giving up a job and moving your family and being away from them you have to be sure that everyone can cope with your absence.
To be fair we are pretty sure as I work away a lot anyway but we have to be 100%
On the plus side myself and my wife both equally want a military career for me so I have great family support, at the same time we have to be both sure we can function as a family whilst im away on exercise and on deployments.
The baby has chosen the worst possible time to decide to arrive!
My current thoughts is that the TA is probably the best option for me over the next year and a bit, gets my military career started, lets me help out with the new one, should help boost my fitness (but will continue working towards the same marine standards regardless) and then reassess my position in a years time.
What do you guys think I should do?
Im threaders over here!
(apologies for the monster mail - got a lot floating around in my noodle just now!).
PS - posted this on PRMC forum too as desperate for as much input as possible.
__________________
Psycho Tests: PASSED 26.11.09 : Eyesight: PASSED 04.12.09
Medical: PASSED 12.01.10 : Interview: Soonish / PJFT - TBA
Push Ups- (05 upto) 27 : Sit Ups - (33) 78 : Pull Ups (0) 2 - 1.5 Return (14min) 10:02
Looking to be upto scratch by August 2010.
I've been sitting on some info recently that has had me questioning the best way to proceed with my military career.
I found out a couple of weeks ago that the missus is pregnant again and our due date is mid September.
After a lot of debating and emotional talks between each other we have decided to go ahead with the pregnancy despite it being completely out of the blue and unplanned.
I currently have an application for the marine reserves but recently had decided to apply for full time, hoping for a PRMC date of July to get myself upto scratch.
This creates a big headache for me, the wife wants me to stick around for the first 6 months to help her with the baby and assist our other kids in settling into their new routine - which is fair enough - and I think this is the right thing to do as it is a handful bringing up a baby, especially with a couple other little ones on the go - which takes us through to approximately this time next year (when I will be 31).
Now here is the quandry.
If I was to continue my application full tme I would hope to get a PRMC of July-ish and hopefully all going well an RT date of September/October - which obviously clashes with the due date.
The missus also wants to be sure that she can cope with me being away from home for periods of time and I thought continuing my application with the marine reserves would be best - however the selection weekend is October and with a new baby coming into the house im sure my training will dip for a couple of months around then.
So here is my options as far as I can see it...
1. CANCEL/POSTPONE MY APPLICATION UNTIL NEXT FEB
lots of cons with this - it is a long time to keep training away and we will be thrown in at the deepend if the missus cannot cope with me being away at RT (if all goes well with PRMC etc).
2. CONTINUE TRAINING TIL OCTOBER MARINE RESERVES SELECTION
Pros are it gets me an insight into marine life whilst still being around the house enough to help with the kid.
Cons are - for a couple of months, at the vital time, my training time is bound to take a dip with the new born.
No pay during training or any holding troop until October (money was never an issue but any extra is bound to help with new baby things).
I would be looking to join full time if all went well in Feb/March which means only around 5 months reserve service which might look like im taking the michael somewhat.
C. JOIN THE LOCAL TA (selection is soon) AND RE-ASSESS SITUATION IN FEB / MARCH NEXT YEAR
Pros are it gives me an insight into military life, i can get started in a week or two and get alternate weekends away and 2 weeks away to see how the family operate without me.
I would get paid so can put into a 'baby fund'.
Cons are - its not the marines and I dont really know overly much about the army as its all marines marines marines in my napper.
If everything went smoothly and I decided to start a fresh application for marines (or even reg army as you can never be sure what the year ahead holds) next feb / march i would have only been in the TA for one year.
The AFCO may frown upon this as well.
Im really genuinely confused, unlike young single lads, guys of my age with a family have to be sure that we are doing the right thing - giving up a job and moving your family and being away from them you have to be sure that everyone can cope with your absence.
To be fair we are pretty sure as I work away a lot anyway but we have to be 100%
On the plus side myself and my wife both equally want a military career for me so I have great family support, at the same time we have to be both sure we can function as a family whilst im away on exercise and on deployments.
The baby has chosen the worst possible time to decide to arrive!
My current thoughts is that the TA is probably the best option for me over the next year and a bit, gets my military career started, lets me help out with the new one, should help boost my fitness (but will continue working towards the same marine standards regardless) and then reassess my position in a years time.
What do you guys think I should do?
Im threaders over here!
(apologies for the monster mail - got a lot floating around in my noodle just now!).
PS - posted this on PRMC forum too as desperate for as much input as possible.
__________________
Psycho Tests: PASSED 26.11.09 : Eyesight: PASSED 04.12.09
Medical: PASSED 12.01.10 : Interview: Soonish / PJFT - TBA
Push Ups- (05 upto) 27 : Sit Ups - (33) 78 : Pull Ups (0) 2 - 1.5 Return (14min) 10:02
Looking to be upto scratch by August 2010.