basic information Flashcards
interview general questions
why do you want to join the Army?
Have always had an interest in the military, from when I was in cadets to when I applied to the navy when I was 15. I am interested in the benefits from the army and all the opportunities for qualifications, experiences and travel. I am also interested in sports and adventure training.
I want to do what’s not expected for me, I don’t soley focus on peoples opinion about me but I don’t want to be forced by peer pressure to do whats expected
I don’t want a 9/5 job
Always been interested in the military, did apply when I was 15 but to the navy, however it was the writer role which is the same role as army hr specialist which is one of the main roles that I am interested. I was young and was really interested in the idea of being a submariner and never gave the army a research and believed that no roles would be suited to me. But as I looked more into different aspects of the army I realised that there were so many options that I would be happy to work as.
why the army and not other forces?
I did consider the other forces and I actually did apply to the navy when I was 15, this was for the writer role which is the equivalent to the hr specialist in the army but as a submariner. when I was 15 I was excited about the idea of me working in a submarine but I never researched into the army because I was naive to believe that no jobs would suit me in the army, all I thought about was the infantry side of the army. but now that I am older and have done research I can now see I was wrong and that the army has over 200 jobs.
there is so much opportunity to learn and be part of something that is world renowned. I really want a long career in the Army, I want to be stimulated to learn and improve myself, to make lifetime friends , to have the opportunity to travel and meet people and be the best I can be mentally and physically.
what preparations have you done for the army
waking up early around about 5;30 sometimes 4 am if Im going on a run. will work out and then continue the work that I have to fulfil during the day.
been researching a lot
cognitive test practices I am becoming mentally and physically prepared, I always get up early anyway but I have been focusing on my fitness. i have most recently been focusing on going on my cross trainer and varying the lengths and resistance of my training as well as starting with lifting weights. I have downloaded an app so that I can prepare for the bleep testing.i have even bought a medicine ball. I used to run every morning but since I started using the cross trainer I realised it was actually improving how I felt while running longer distances so that where my focus has been on most recently, but I am planning to run every day again in preparation.
what are your hobbies
I tailor clothes for friends and family,
I have recently gotten into my fitness
I have been focusing on learning Spanish
what does your family think about you joining the army
my family have always been massively supportive which I am very fortunate for, of course they are worried but they appreciate that this is what I want to do, my dad has been a huge help for motivation and preparation for this. my family all recognise that I’m mature enough to make smart and thought out decisions. even distant family are supportive.
what are your strengths and weaknesses
I want to be the best I can, I have high expectations and tend to be too hard on myself if my efforts fall short. but as I get older this has become much easier to deal with.
I have a lot of experience working as a team, through uni, home life, babysitting. it won’t come as a shock to me. I’m an organised person especially with personal belongings, I always keep my bedroom. neat and clean, not out of preparation but because that is how I like It and it is how I was raised.
what will be the hardest part about basic training for you?
probably the running, I know that the army has a large focus on fitness and I have definitely been preparing myself mentally and physically for that like getting up early and going for a run and going to the gym. but running is a workout that sometimes feels like a chore, whereas the other workouts can be really rewarding to me.
How will you cope with being away from home? Do you get homesick?
I have travelled with friends abroad, and have just spent a year away from home at University, so I am used to being away.
Can you tell us about any personal achievements?
- basic first aid knowledge
- a few race for life when I was younger to raise money for charity
- the career switch, knowing that it wouldn’t make me happy in the long run and taking the initiative to change paths.
- all of my education, I always tried hard, not naturally smart, I worked hard for the grades I got.
- I have completed 3 skydives one of those being the first level of the free fall course. I would love to be able to complete this course when the season is in again
-In cadet camp when I one best shot and achieved my 1st class shooting badge.
What work experience do you have?
- events team at my college
- backstage at a theatre company
- marshal at a Halloween event
how do you keep yourself fit
I used to go on runs almost everyday usually skipping the weekend as a rest, but then I moved onto the cross trainer as I was seeing improvements on my form. i use a elliptical machine now for intensive interval training and then every other day I try the bleep test. I am planning on property getting back into my running
What’s your Personality type?
Perfectionist, competitive, achievement-oriented, even-tempered, flexible, creative, adaptable to change, patient, Highly conscientious, perfectionist,
Where would you like to be in 5 years?
I would like to have reached the point that I am adding value to my Unit and my team, made friends and gained a couple of promotions. Travelling would be great, and to have some adventure training under my belt that would be good.
The British Army
The army has approximately 75,000 soldiers serving,
The army protects the nation and dependent territories, and soldiers are trained to deploy all around the world. The army is also there to prevent conflicts and provide support when needed.
Cyprus, Baltics Estonia, Germany
Over 200 jobs with 38 days of annual leave including bank holidays.
Free medical
Housing support, pension scheme
Approx 73,000 strong
Protects the nation and its dependent territories. Highly trained soldiers are ready to deploy anywhere at any time to meet a variety of challenges.
Supports the Police, the NHS, trains other forces, and helps prevent conflicts around the world. Deal with disasters and fight the nations enemies when required.
Deployed around the world in many countries for example.
Cyprus- UN Peace keeping , patrolling the buffer between Greek & Turkey Cypriots
Baltics – Estonia as part of forward presence with the UN
Somalia – To help restore security & stability.
Supporting international efforts, with the UN for example.
It has over 200 jobs, 38 days a year leave,
Recruits/Privates £25k per year
Lance Corporal £32k per year (Inteligence)
Access to adventure training
Get to travel
Skills useful in and outside of the Army
Free Medical
Housing support
Pension
Apprentiships , qualifications, skills, specialist qualifications and even gain a degree.
The British Army is actively engaged in operational duties across the globe. The work we do ranges from peacekeeping to providing humanitarian aid, from enforcing anti-terrorism measures to helping combat the international drugs trade.
Learn Army values & Standards-
Cdrills
Courage
Discipline
Respect for others
Integrity
Loyalty
Selfless commitment
Professional
Lawful
Acceptable behaviour
What contact have you had with the Army during your preparation?
Firstly I had a call with a warrant officer in the army air corp, he showed me a presentation on what the army air corp does and different pathways and jobs within it. I was then invited to visit An Army air corp base in middle wallop for a day, to really see what a day to day life would be like, I had the opportunity to talk to soldiers who were currently in the army air corp as well as 4 other soldiers from other parts of the army who were also being escorted around the base that were looking to transfer there. I was then lucky enough to view an apache helicopter that was being worked on and was shown the different parts and what each of them do.
After this I also went to the army officer open day to see whether I would want to try out for officer or soldier, after this day I realised that I was more suited for soldier. However I still am open about officer but I definitely want several years of experience of being a soldier first. I was able to speak to officers of each of the corps that I am interested in.
What did you think of your exam results?
For the cognitive test im sure I could do better, I need a grade 55 for the role that I am interested in in the intelligence corp and similar for the other roles that I am interested in.
For gcse, I am proud of my results as I had to revise a lot for them. There are a couple grades that I would’ve liked to be higher but I am not unhappy with any of them.
What did you think of your teachers?
I have always had a good relationship with my teachers, through school and higher education with my tutors and professors. I always have had a lot of respect for people working in education because I know how hard of a job it is.
Where in the world are the Army operating right now?
British army personnel are currently deployed in Somalia to support 4 organisations; the UN, the AU Mission in Somalia, the EU and direct support to the Somali National Army as part of international efforts to restore security and stability in the region.
What does NATO stand for?
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
what personal qualities do you have that would benefit the army?
I am respectful, I am very aware and understand why there is a high need for discipline. I am team oriented, I appreciate everyone has different skills and weakness’ and that its vital to find them and play to your strengths.
I know that there is always room for improvement in everything that I would do but I know that I would always work hard to be the best that I personally can be.
Skills ?
Basic first aid knowledge
Working well with others, I believe I am level headed and that this will help me in the army
what can you tell me about the army and its history ?
At face value the army is about defending the nation and dependent territories as well as fighting if necessary, but the army is also about the aid work, helping in emergencies, humanitarian operations. Peace keeping missions, support disaster relief operations and fight in combat zones around the world.
where would you like to be in 5 years ?
Depending on what job I would have in the army I would’ve hoped to have gained some adventure training under my belt as well as some qualification that I didn’t have before. I would like to have seen myself with a higher rank or working towards achieving it. As well as this I have heard that you move around every two years or so, so by 5 years again depending on the role I might expect myself to have moved around.
how do you work in a team ?
I have plenty of experience working in a team and it is not something new to me, I have been thoroughly prepared for this as my first year of university was very focused on grading you on how well you work in a team. My last uni project is my most recent example of working in a team, there were six of us and we had group discussions on the first day of the week and last, ensuring we all knew what we had to do by the end of the week, we would then come together to review what we have done and whether we were able to keep up with all the tasks, if one person started falling behind we all worked together to support and catch them up. At the end of this project we had to provide evidence of all meetings we had as a group and would be individually graded on how well we contributed to the team, I got graded an A as did most of my team apart from two who got an A-.
what do you do in your spare time?
I have been focusing on my fitness, my most recent hobby has been learning Spanish, my mums first language is Spanish and I have always wanted to learn so I spend a lot of my time focusing on that.
I have always made clothing or mended it for friends and family.
I have a family of 6 as well as pets so there’s always a lot to do to help around the house, I feel the opposite of relaxed when I sit around not doing much as my family work hard and I like showing respect by doing the same.
I go on the cross trainer every day,
I like to walk a lot, especially when I was living in London, I would do no less than 17,000 steps a day on average just for uni and back. And on weekends I would run along the canals path.
Get paid to mend and create clothing items, not a lot.
Terms of service
TACOS
Contract length and the minimum service you are required to provide to the army once signed the contract.
Contract length; 12 years, do not have to serve this long if don’t want to.
Minimum service required; 4 years from contract start date, but you have to give 12 month notice I believe you sign contract at the start of your basic training.
If you get to phase 1 there is a discharge as of right option. 14 weeks to DAOR
How do you feel about loosing your personal freedom
Doing my university course I didn’t actually have much spare time anyway. If I wanted a normal 9-5 job I could easily find one but that’s not what I want, I want to be part of something bigger then a job I want a career and a lifestyle.
I am mentally prepared for this, I know that it will be a big change from my current day to day life but I encourage the change. I always want to better myself and I am aware that change is a constant in life, I have spoken to people in the army aswell as having family friends who have served in the forces so I believe I know what I am signing up for.
what benefits do the army have
housing subsidies, healthcare benefits, adventure training, qualification opportunity
what happened to your navy application
My application was over before it started due to my uncorrected eyesight, so I decided to stay in college and onto University.
where do the British Army operate
CYPRUS, KENYA, CANADA, SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS, BELIZE, GERMANY, GIBRALTAR, IRAQ, BRUNEI, NIGERIA, SOUTH SUDAN, SOMALIA, MALI
where deployed
falklans, africa, cyprus, belieze, baltics, canada Brunei, germany Gibraltar, mali, iraq
africa for deployed many short-term military training teams to help build the capacity of national military forces, ensuring a number of states across Africa can respond appropriately and proportionally to the security threats they face, including terrorism, the illegal wildlife trade, violations of human rights and emerging humanitarian crises.
Baltic’s for The 2016 NATO Summit in Warsaw set the conditions for the establishment of an enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security.
seen online about their training
Belize for The British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence. Currently the British Army Training Support Unit in Belize enables close country and tropical environment training to troops from the UK and international partners.
