Its worth noting that a friend of mine is currently going through selection for the RN in the Comms trade and is have a hell of a time getting a start date just to get into basic training. he was due to go, after passing all the selection criteria and pre-service fitness tests, early 2010. Then, due to the SDR, was put back to October/November 2010, then pushed back to May 2011 and had to do a requal for his fitness tests as the original had expired (they are only valid for 12months) Now he has been told it could be December 2012 before he gets in.

In these times of uncertainty especially with HM Armed Forces, I would say go for it if thats what you want to do. but be prepared for a long wait and have a backup plan if you are unsuccessful. You never know the trade you want may suddenly open up.

Thats what happened to me back in about 1990. I applied for the Royal Air Force as a ‘sooty’, passed the selection phase, just and waited for a callup date as the trade was closed. I went to college to finish a course I started as a YTS apprentice to gain a HNC, then halfway through my final year I got the call to go with about 2 months notice.

Keep your options open

Martin