With all of the unrest across the globe, people thought I was crazy to consider the armed forces as a career move. “Aren’t you scared you’ll be sent to a war zone?” they asked me. Yep, I sure am scared of getting shot at, but I’ll get to shoot back, and that’s a big plus in my book. My job in lawn care services is OK, but if you don’t own the business you don’t make as much money.
Beginning Pay
The starter pay for the army is only £14,637. But, you know what, that’s about what I make working for the lawn care company. That rate increases by £3,500 just by the time you reach level 1 – which is a pretty good pay raise. Even better, by the time you make it to Level 9 of Lance Corporal, you’re making £25,000 a year, maybe even £29,947. That’s after 3 to 5 years. I’ve been trimming hedges and mowing lawns for 6 years, since I was 15, and I’m not making anywhere near that amount.
Career Pay
From what I understand, if I keep my nose clean I’ll have a chance at a good career in the military. Advancement to Sergeant can happen in the first 10 years, with opportunities for longer enlistments. A level 7 Sergeant can make as much as £38,215 year. That’s pretty good for someone starting off with no more skills than a public school education and the ability to operate an edger.
Benefits
Even if I don’t decide to stay indefinitely in the army, I will still reap the benefits of being a veteran. Ex-military have a lot of help in finding jobs throughout the UK, due to the resettlement programs available. The amount of help you get depends on how long you were in the military, but in general, if you have had military training, you have a good chance of a successful career as a policeman or in the security industry. You are also a good candidate for management training, if you have achieved any rank at all. That is because you’ve already had training in self discipline as well as courses in ethics, which are important for all managers.
While I’m not sure I would want to be an armed body guard after military service, I know I would be interested in IT security.
Job Training
You can also get job training in the military. Ex-military often go into engineering once they leave the service. Governments, medical facilities, and many large businesses employ IT technicians and safety engineers with a military background. Basically, if you have the strength of character to succeed in the military, you will be seen as an asset to any business.
Other job training you can get in the military is in the building trades. Veterans have a good work ethic, so we are prized as apprentices in plumbing, construction, and other trade industries. Who knows, I may even come out of this with the know how to have my own lawn service company!