the rdf. is it community service?

RoyalMarine

i was in the rdf for 3 years. im re-applying next week when recruit training begins.

what i need to know, does being a member of the rdf count as community service? im going to college in america next year when im 24, and one of the guidelines for the college is to have completed 100 hours of community service.

any ideas anyone?

Steyr

AFAIK i dont think it is, its a Military Organisation after all. Some here will b better qualified to answer this question.

testicle

RoyalMarineComm wrote:

i was in the rdf for 3 years. im re-applying next week when recruit training begins.

what i need to know, does being a member of the rdf count as community service? im going to college in america next year when im 24, and one of the guidelines for the college is to have completed 100 hours of community service.

any ideas anyone?

Ask the college. Only they can tell you what defines community service.

RoyalMarine

testicle ( lol nice name ) i tried that. but the college help i spoke to said they dont have much information as what they class community service for international students.
i asked them what they concider community service in america, and she said, the scouts, working in homeless shelter's, working with elderly groups, working with charity groups collecting money and handing out leaflets etc...

Two Stripes

RoyalMarineComm wrote:

working with charity groups

Ah well the RDF is practically a charity organisation . Personally I wouldn't really class it as community service because when you are on camp, you get paid for it, also you are getting more out of it than the community gets from your being in it.

Steyr

Two Stripes wrote:

Ah well the RDF is practically a charity organisation . Personally I wouldn't really class it as community service because when you are on camp, you get paid for it, also you are getting more out of it than the community gets from your being in it.

Do you still use the word Camp? We were told the correct term is "a paid training course"

RoyalMarine

Two Stripes wrote:

Ah well the RDF is practically a charity organisation . Personally I wouldn't really class it as community service because when you are on camp, you get paid for it, also you are getting more out of it than the community gets from your being in it.

true, you do get paid for the 2 weeks service in the summer, and you get a gratutity for the week night training paid in a lump sum every summer, but its not paid by hour or classed as a source of income.

but would it not be classed as a community service, as your doing it for the community / country? and not so much for your self?

the reason i joined the rdf was to serve in the armed forces should my service ever be required because i wanted to do something for my country.
also, we do march in the paddy's day parade, and weve done service thats not paid for the barracks...

Manic Moran

Given how little money I got from my FCA service vs the hours I put in, I think it would qualify as community service. However, you will have a tough time convincing a US college of this, as the concept of a (literally) volunteer military organisation is totally alien to them. The Reserves of the Army are taken seriously here, they take up a lot of time, and you're well paid for it.

NTM

Terrontress

Steyr wrote:

Do you still use the word Camp? We were told the correct term is "a paid training course"

More pedantry!

shadow_2070

I have to agree that while the RDF is mainly voluntary, it is still military service

An organisation that would be classed as community service would be the Order Of Malta.
It is a voluntary organisation and registered charity.

http://www.orderofmalta.ie/ wrote:

Order of Malta Ireland coordinates and manages a range of community services including: Day care centres, lunch and supper clubs in Dublin and Galway, and organises pilgrimages to Lourdes and Knock annually. It also provides services to people with disabilities at Malta Services Drogheda and at Malta Share, Lisnaskea.

Order of Malta Ambulance Corps is a major provider of first aid training, ambulance transport and community care services in most of the major cities and towns throughout the island of Ireland. Through its youth section, Order of Malta Cadets (a National Youth Organisation), provides a full programme of youth development and sporting activities for young people.

Best of luck with your application

RoyalMarine

thanks everyone :-)
i decided to go back to the rdf anyway it looks good on a cv :-) and im also signing up to help with meals on wheels in the local area and to volunteer in a few local scchools that would let me.

Bam Bam

You could ask the colege if they would class the US army reserve as community service?

If they do then its a fair bet that they would see the RDF as the same.