choices, choices!

I have recently graduated from university with a 2:1 degree in history and am at something of a crossroads in my life. All I know is that I want an active job and from extensively searching for the right career have decided that a career in the forces is the only way forward for me. I have been looking at becoming a Royal Marines officer or a mine clearance diver. The mine clearance diver job I find particularly interesting, but am I right in saying that I cannot join as an officer? Would I have to join as a warfare officer and then take the risk of specialising? If so what are the chances of getting on my chosen career path? It seems a risky move considering I have no interest in any of the other jobs of a warfare officer.

I am loathed to join as a rating simply because it feels that the last three years of university and all the money spent would seem a huge waste. I could have joined a while back and be earning and promoted over the last three years. If I did join as a rating would it be noted that I had a degree and was looking for a commission? How long would it be before I had a chance to do AIB?

Sorry for all the questions, I just find it a shame that the MCD career does not have its own officer route because it is so different to any other job specification covered as a warfare officer. If the risk really is this high I will get down to the AFCO and begin my Royal Marines application.

One more thing about MCD though. If/When someone qualifies as an MCD, how can he specialise? Thanks, I don't need all the questions answered thoroughly, it's just a bag of ideas really. I really want to make the right step in choosing a potentially life career!

 

How do you expect your 2:1 HISTORY degree will enhance the forces?

 

Hi Kyle
Welcome to RR. You are right in that you have to join as a Warfare Officer and specialise as a MCD later - you will have to do your junior officers bridge time. You're also right about joining as a rating with a degree. It would be a waste of the last 3 years. Joining as a rating, as long as you are qualified, there is no time limit on applying for AIB. BUT if you join as MCD and go for a commission, you'll still have to do the JO bridge time.
Bootneck may be the way if you don't want to take the chance as a warfairy.
Hope this helps.
Ninja, Supermario, can you add to this?

DE

 

Join as an occifer. Loads of money, loads of fun.

 

Thank you.

Lamri; I wasn't suggesting that my degree could enhance the forces, it was simply added so that people would know my background. Consider the degree generic if you like, I could have left it that I recently graduated from university without adding the mark or subject.

 

Consider the degree generic?
Are you joking? So, it is as useful to a Marine Engineer as an Engineering degree then? Or an Electronics based Degree to a Weapons Engineer?

Don't make me bloody laugh.

 

Kyle,
One of my mates is an MCDO, chatting to him recently he said that there are genuine concerns that the branch is to be killed off. Don't know what his source of info was, but if that happens they will all be reverted to warfare officers.

 

But I'm not asking about or interested in those jobs am I? I'm not coming on going, "I've just got a degree in history, whats the route to becoming a marine engineer?" Of course not, I'll leave that for the qualified engineers.

I'm looking at a job as an officer in MCD or the Marines. Where I suppose the analytical and communicative nature of a history degree would be quite valuable.

 

About as valuable as a Degree in Darts, or maybe David Beckham.

 

Lamri,
I see where you're coming from, but it's not this lad's fault that the forces want grown ups to have a degree, nor is it his fault that schools don't have mine clearance or amphibious tactics as options. At least he has come on here and asked for advice in a decent manner, not like some of the arrogant know it all p***** who come on as Newbies, but then act like a F****** vice admiral! You know we get them.

 

Incidentally,
I remember a lad in IST (can't remember which ship, but probably Brave) who had already been an officer in the household cavalry (terribly posh and all that) but he got bored and left to join the RN as a warfarey I think. His degree was in?...... Classics, WTF?!

 

We once had an OOW (think it may have been on the Brazen) that had one of these degrees.
You can just imagine how much use she was :roll:

 

Lammers
The degree indicates that the holder has the ability to study to a certain level. now believe it or believe in not, a History degree is extremely well respected, it certainly is not a Micky mouse degree.

 

It's a bit concerning to once again be hearing rumours about the diving branch being killed off . I had a similar discussion on RR a few months ago and the conclusion that was reached then was that it was simply scaremongering. tiddlyoggy, is your mate serious? Is this likely to come to anything?

Kyle, I'm in a similar position to yourself - graduated with a first last year and have been working in a graduate job abroad since then. I too was looking at the possibility of becoming a MCDO however as has already been mentioned, it's a long road and there's no guarantee of becoming an MCDO after your Warfare Officer training. I personally therefore decided that if I'm going to do it at all I'll join as a rating and do a job I want to do. If I should have the good fortune / display the right qualities, I will worry about becoming an officer later.
I guess it comes down to personal choice but I would have reservations about becoming an officer just for the sake of it - particularly if it means that you end up doing a job you weren't originally intending to do. I don't believe you should limit your options to officer just because you have a degree. Believe me, the days of graduates being few and far between are long gone - look at the number of graduates working in non-graduate positions. I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't be ambitious and if you've got your sights set on officer then by all means go for it. Just bare in mind that there are other paths you can tread that are equally (or possibly more) deserving of respect.

 

Kyle could train as an Instructor Lieutenant and teach ratings their naval history: from Coricle to Submarine... or did those go out with the premier public school for ratings?

Kyle, do you want to WORK for a living (Ratings) or simply attend numerous social functions in fancy dress (Ossifers)?

 

Paul,
Yes my mate was serious, he's a 2 ring MCDO so should have some "inside knowledge" of what is a pretty small branch. As I said though I'm not aware of what had prompted his concerns. Unfortunately I'm not in constant contact with him so I can't get him to elaborate. However, I do know another MCDO through boxing who I should bump into next week. I will ask him and if there's anything worth reporting back I'll post it on this thread.

 

Slim, I am aware of the belief that a degree holder has an ability to study.
However, with a Forces perspective, a History degree has pretty much the same use as those degrees that I have listed above. They are all degrees and thus indicate the same thing regarding the ability to cram.
A degree does not, however, indicate ones ability to lead.
How many Chiefs now either HAVE a degree, or will do so in the next few years by topping up their FDs? They are better at their jobs, know how to manage better and have the experience to help those further down the ladder.

 

Lammers,
She wasn't the one who ran it aground off Chile was she? (I've seen that rock! Looked more like a f****** island to me!)

 

Only to say, my sentiments exactly. £28K as a graduate officer entrant or £13K as a rating entrant kind of makes it a no-brainer.

Be aware that a MCD Officer doesn't spend much time as a "hands-on" Diver, however a MCD rating is the guy that does the diving on a day to day basis and starts on £300 per month over and above the standard ratings pay, once qualified.

The jobs of MCD and Commando are quite different. Whereas the base levels of fitness are indeed similar for selection & Divers & Marines sometimes operate in unison, the day to day jobs are very diverse.

If you start as a RM Officer providing you pass selection and training you will be a RM Officer. If you start as a Warfare Officer there is categorically no guarantee you will become a MCDO & it would be wrong to advise that you may assume it will happen.

 

Cheers tiddlyoggy, would appreciate it if you could share with us any news that you get. Was planning to hand in my notice soon. My escape from the dull commercial world may not be as imminent as I had hoped...