The best path?

Sgt Diz

Sgt Diz

Active member
Hey new to the forums and just got a quick question which has been on my mind for a while!

I'm only 16 at the moment and starting my A levels this year but they're mainly just for when I come out of the military. I'm in the ATC at the moment (Air training corps) at the rank of Sargeant and the military is all i've ever wanted to really do.

However, my goal is to enlist do, my training, 2-3 years service and try for specialisation in sniping. The question i'm asking is, which is the best corps for me to enter to achieve this or is there really no difference?

The choices i've looked at so far at
  • RAF Regiment Gunner
  • Army Infantry
  • Marines
  • Green Berets
Any advice or comments would be welcome!
 
What citizenships or permanent residencies do you have? Also, which Marines?
Also, Green Berets isn't so much of a choice and as for sniping, just make sure you become a half decent shot first and then when you can shoot high expert without even thinking about it, then think about trying out to be a sniper.

My advice so far:
Forget Green Berets
Forget Sniper
Forget Special Forces etc etc etc.

Pick a service and an MOS.
Looks like what you want to do is infantry. As for Army or Marines, that's your choice but if you like parachutes, the Marine Corps isn't the place for you. However, if you like the taste of sea water the Marine Corps is the place to go.

And remember that your cadet rank doesn't mean squat.
 
Don't worry, I know my cadet rank stands for squat all it gives me is experience.

And i've allready got the decent shot down!
Perhaps not on the standard L95 but on the L98 which is the single shot version.

mmm, i'm probably leaning towards RAF Regiment Gunner to be fair.

Either that or Green Beret, which as one of my dads friends (who's enlisted as a green beret) tells me opens up virtually any combat mechanic you want to do. Including sniping.

and thanks for the reply!
 
Are you in the UK? Are you going to join the military there? Just go in the your Royal Marines. I am sure they have a great Sniper program. Maybe even try out for the SAS or something too if your really gung ho and ambitious. If your talking here in this country, the Army and the Corps both have great Snipers.

While your still in school though, make sure you do what can and advance as far as you can with Math related subjects and your English and Grammar subjects as well.
Good Snipers use math related skills for windage and elevation and other things, why not get a heads up on that kind of stuff now? Snipers tend to be an intelligent group. Strong English and Grammar skills will impress commands and they like well rounded hard chargers as their troops. So, make sure you put out the effort in school while your there and it will help you in your military career.

Snipers are an elite breed in my opinion. The training is fun but challenging. It will and they will test your patience. Sitting in place for hours, not being able to move and that sort of stuff. Toilet? Ha, what's that? Do it on yourself. Enjoy.
 
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Yehh i'm in the UK

and as for schooling, i've taken all set examinations one year early and allways been top of the class. Most people, including recruiters i've spoken too are urging me away from the military because they say i'm too intelligent.

But meh, that's what I want to do.

And about the SAS, it is a goal. I know the training is hard and the sniper are elite. So yes i'll try for the SAS after some years in, I live for that type of life.



...and who needs toilets when you have cling film!
 
If your that smart and still want the military, do your college like the recruiters are probably telling you to do and then go in as an officer if thats a realistic option for you and the family financially.
 
yeh, that's also what i've been told. However not what I want to do!

From what i've looked at and found there is no possible avenue of going in as an officer and then going towards sniper, which is my ambition.

I am going to a 6th Form college anyway. I have recently just finished my compulsory education and am staying on for these extra 2 years to obtain my A levels, of which i'm doing 5. (Could be fun. Maybe not ey?) Main reason i'm doing them allthough I don't need them for what I want to do is to show my apptitude and for when I come out of the military when I plan to start up a private security buisness.
 
Private security business sounds good. A lot of folks in the field these days. Very competitive. Hard to get your name out there when your new. Folks who utilize such a business tend go on word of mouth as to who is good and who is lousy. Could be successful but will be difficult getting off the ground, make sure you have a lot of stand by funds to make up for the down months while your trying to get the business off the ground. Forget about that for now, after some time in service, growing up some, your ambition most likely will change with your age. By the time your to get out of service, you may want to reenlist by than or even perhaps go to OCS after all if you do well in the enlisted ranks and get some good recommendations.
 
Yeh, that good advice, thanks.

Is just nice to have a loose plan to try and stick to. Gives me something to work towards, but obviously like you said, that is the future and things may change before then!

Thanks for the imput.
 
You will have to spend a few years in the infantry before you can put in for sniper. They will want to see who you handle your self under fire first, then when THEY think you know what the job is about they put you forward. Also it would be wise not to mention you are looking at moving on into private security as this could restrict the number of courses you will be allowed on. they will not waste time, training and money on some one that is going to move on after a short time
 
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Yeh don'y worry, I know i'll have to do 3 years basic service first.

And it's not like i'm planning to go in, get training then go!

I plan to stay in for around 12-15 years, which for a sniper, or SAS, is a decent amount of time due to the physicality of it all!
 
You'll figure that one once you get in.
Life is full of unexpected surprises.
Also, if you can make officer, just make officer. Then again, you really have no idea what it's like to be under the command of a Staff Sergeant who doesn't know diddly squat or being a part of a landing team led by a Lieutenant who can't get the boat to go straight.
The money's better, you learn more... believe me it's better to be in a leadership position. Usually you don't have to get too political until you make Lieutenant Colonel but by then you can retire and have a second life and have pension benefits as well. You better double check for the UK's military though.
If you're so smart, become an officer. Give the enlisted men another smart leader to follow. Dumbasses stress everyone out.
 
Mmm, well the plan for a leadership position is to reach the rank of Sgt. When I get to that i'll be in charge of a squad/flight/company (obviously depening on what I go into) which will mean I will give another leader, just a front line one.
 
Oh great, another young know it all prick who thinks officers sit in air conditioned rooms.
As a Lieutenant or Captain, you will be very much where your men are. If you're not, there's something wrong with you. As an officer, up to Captain, you will be leading from the front lines.
On the flip side, there are also NCOs who never get to see sunlight hit their skin as well.
You're believing too much of that Hollywood Working Class Sergeant vs White Collar Officer stereotype nonsense. Our Company commander was fitter an any of us NCOs at least in terms of running. Immensely strong and very intelligent. Not someone you'd want to have a drink with though.
And as far as actual power goes, NCO authority and power is usually overplayed. If you're an officer and you know what you're doing, YOU will call the shots. The NCO helps. Yes, I've verbally abused a few new Lieutenants but that's a very rare case and they f*cked up pretty bad. And I got sent to anger management.
 
I helped train some officers in Quantico. Some of them are qualified to be called rocks in the beginning. Usually, even those eventually get the hang of these and become great officers. I never cussed at them or anything like that. Some guys did. I didn't like it when it was done to me so I refused to do it to anyone else. They liked me because I struggled my first two years in until something just clicked and than I was able to flourish but my first two years I was worse than Forrest Gump and Private Powell put together. They liked it how I had been where some of them were and was in a similar position as far as knowing what the heck I was doing independently.
 
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Redneck, I can see why you were sent to anger management. You're decorum and people skills are pretty apparent.

And as for being suckered in by hollywood. That is not the case. I admit I do not know every detail about the military, hence why I came here for advice. However when somebody not in the British military starts giving me advice on rank structure there something whrong.

For what I want to do, as in go in to sniping, the highest rank obtainable whilst being the active leader or a company is an NCO rank. Not officer.
I know officers are not all confided to their plush air conditioned offices and that quite a few NCO's are basically glorafied secretraries.

But I do know, that if I went in as an officer I could not specialise in sniping and therefore not do what I want within the military.

So before you make assumptions about my views, please have a thorough knowledge of the precise military you are talking about and try to grasp the consept of what I have stated in my previous posts.

I know this post will make me look even more like an arse as you appear to be one of the respected regulars but I feel it had to be said.
 
It's alright. Typical 16 year old. Going to be a sniper. Going to be a bad ass sergeant. Have fun. Enjoy.
"the highest rank obtainable whilst being the active leader or a company is an NCO rank. Not officer."
hahahahahahahhaha
 
ahh and the lovely stereotyping military man who obviously believes that it's impossible for somebody younger to know more about a subject that him, even if the younger person has close ties to the subject.

Spam all you like, I won't be checking back on these forums.

I'm just glad i'll be going into a proper military instead of whichever backwater country you come from.
 
Diz, you can be a sniper as an Officer. It's rare that that will be your main job but you can do it. Being a Sniper is fun, but your going to want to broaden your horizons too because the Sniper training will get boring after awhile, especially if your not doing the job for real and your just training all the time.

Diz the rednecks a good man, you just got him agitated somehow. Take his advice and try not to be combative wit him, he's a good guy really.
 
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