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Query into Sandhurst / Parachute Regiment / Degree Course

General discussions on joining & training in The Parachute Regiment.
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rsd86
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Query into Sandhurst / Parachute Regiment / Degree Course

Post by rsd86 »

Hi there.

I am planning on going to university next year to study Law. After my degree I would like to go to Sandhurst and do my officer training, after which I would like to join the Parachute Regiment. I have read in loads of places that the Army are always in need of people with qualifications such as law, medicine, denistry etc.. and I was wondering whether anybody on this forum who has a Law degree has joined the Army (via Sandhurst/Paras) and whether it is reccomended or not, and the type of stuff they do in terms of law.

Cheers[/i]
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Post by Chapps »

Nice to see a chap with his future mapped out!

The Army is a big firm, there are many different avenues open to you once you complete your degree. Make sure you understand what you want to do in life when you start your studies; a law degree is a tough course, as I'm sure you've been told, but quite rewarding in money terms once your post qualified experience comes of age. The army will have positions for you in the Adjutant General Corps - Legal arm, but I'm afraid you will only be paid in relation to your rank, but if its a trip to sandhurst you dream of, then money is irrelevant.

However, the Parchute Regiment and a legal degree is a complete mismatch for a Career Soldier, in my day there was one or two officer on special regular commissions that did 3 years and out, then back to civvy st with thier experiences. But a career in the Reg will NOT make use of your studies or your degree, so if you did 10 years and left as a Captain top band, you could expect to be on a 35K wage a half pension and a civvy job that looks down on your out dated degree!


If you want guts and glory - do a BSc in management, then join Para Reg, do an updated LLB in civvy street once you leave

If you want a lucrative career after your degree - stay in civvy st, maybe join the TA - you will still go to RMAS.

If you want the army life that will make use of your degree - join the AGC - Legal arm ( or what ever its called now).

( don't listern to any idiot here that suggests you do P-Coy in the Legal core, No OC worth his crown will give a Legal Captain the time off to run around trying to get fit for a pointless selection, there are no airborne solicitors or vets or accountants.)

Good luck with your choices, but remember - to get in the Parachute Regiment, you must really want it obsessivley , because you will never make it if its just a glorry hunt. Just like a legal degree really, where you must like to read very long winded and boring case studies, you won't last the 3 years if your not intersted in it.
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Post by Guest »

I would have said it was a waste of a quality degree if you just go and join the Paras. The Paras are a light infantry regiment and their officers are specialised in commanding and leading high calibre troops in the art of battle.

If like me, you have the dream and obsession of joining the maroon berets, go for it, but if you just want some army experience before you go and fullfill a career as a solicitor in civvy street i would suggest joining another regiment. There are plenty of high quality regiments out there and it just depends on what type of experience you wanted in the army.

If you wanted to parade in London - join a Guard regiment like the Horse Guards or similar.
If you wanted to command a tank or armoured unit - join the Houshold Cavalry, Tank Corps etc...

There are plenty out there including all of the corps and infantry regiments and i would suggest that you have a look on the army website link at the bottom of this page. If however you wanted to go for one of the most elite regiments, apply for the Royal Marines, but do not even approach them unless you are 100% fit physically, and mentally prepared for a rigorous training and selection process.

Hope this has helped you out mate.

James
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df2inaus
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Joining with a Law degree

Post by df2inaus »

I do know a junior officer in the Royal Signals who had a law degree from South Africa, so you're not alone. You sound like you want the short term army experience. A year at Sandhurst is a bloody long and difficult one, so I recommend you just go into the Army Legal Services, so you get the Sandhurst experience (4 week "Vicars and Tarts" course) and the Army experience without the hardships of the Commissioning Course-nothing to be ashamed of in the long term :wink: .

I made the mistake, in hindsight, of going to Sandhurst when I was too old. If you really, really want to be the lawyer on civvy street who was in the army, I say drop EVERYTHING to do with law now and focus on the Paras. Get straight to the Paras' potential officers' course, RCB and forget university. The older you are, the less likely you will go to the Paras. You can go to university anytime. Get in to the Army now. There is also the most honourable option of joining the Paras as a soldier. Soldier or officer, if you are not in the frame of mind they want (ie. 110% effort and unselfish) you will not make it.

Never forget, the Paras are a special breed of fighting men. In order to be allowed anywhere near these men, you need to have a certain "je ne sais quoi." Lots of Sandhurst cadets could pass P Coy and jump out of perfectly good airplanes, but would they fit in?
"Poor Ike, it won't be a bit like the Army. He'll find it very frustrating. He'll sit here and he'll say, 'Do this! Do that!' And nothing will happen."
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Post by ED »

I would beg to differ that lots of Sandhurst cadets could pass P Company and jump out of an aeroplane. Unless you've done it yourself, best not to comment.
ED.
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Passing P Coy

Post by df2inaus »

I would beg to differ that lots of Sandhurst cadets could pass P Company and jump out of an aeroplane. Unless you've done it yourself, best not to comment.
You're absolutely right, big mistake on my part to speculate, ED :oops:. I have no idea what the officer pass rates are for P Coy or Jump training.

I never meant to suggest it was easy-I saw the videos and will freely admit I wouldn't be able to do it. 10 years ago, who knows?

I was trying to emphasise to a potential officer that even if one is capable of passing P Coy and ultimately jumping in darkness with God knows how many extra pounds of kit, there is yet more to the selection of an officer for the Paras.

The important part is that RMAS cadets are accepted into their choices of arms based often more on personal qualities than anything. Some, like the AAC can demand that the applicant be in the top-third of their intake after all the pre-selection tests and flying grading. The RAC need to ask themselves questions like "could this person live at very close quarters with several scared, hungry, knackered teenagers who have been killing and then still maintain a professional distance?"

The Paras, being more likely to be deployed on war-fighting operations need to scruitinise their applicants that much harder, that is, before they are even permitted to attend P Coy. Passing the commissioning course alone will not get you into the combat arms, you must be the right person for the job.
"Poor Ike, it won't be a bit like the Army. He'll find it very frustrating. He'll sit here and he'll say, 'Do this! Do that!' And nothing will happen."
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Post by ED »

df2inaus, maybe I jumped the gun a little bit with my initial post. I guess that we all get a little protective of our former regiments, after all we should be proud of our acheivements and background. Anyway, your reply was appreciated and intelligently put forward.
Cheers,
ED.
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Post by Contractor »

df2inaus, maybe I jumped the gun a little bit with my initial post. I guess that we all get a little protective of our former regiments, after all we should be proud of our acheivements and background. Anyway, your reply was appreciated and intelligently put forward.
Cheers,
ED.
What is happening to the forum!!!!

Intelligent debate and acceptance of another's point of view - whatever next :D
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Post by gunner75 »

Leeds United for the premiership???...... I'll get me coat..
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Re: Query into Sandhurst / Parachute Regiment / Degree Course

Post by Ahlin15 »

The LSAT Test Dates are out now and I am going to get registered for the exam that will be held in the month of June. Along with the registration I will need to join preparation classes too as I am very bad at self-paced study. It will be great if anyone here could recommend any good online courses.
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