PDF Apprenticeships

christophicus

I realise that there is a recruitment freeze, and that procedures could, and quite possibly will change once recruitment starts again, but I am hoping that will finish in a few years time, and have a few questions about apprenticeships in the PDF, that hopefully you guys can answer.

Just a bit about myself. I am currently doing an IT course in college , and hope to come out of it with a degree in 2 or 3 years. I am also studying to get Cisco CCNA, which is a computer networking course. Now I would imagine that this would put me in a prime position to get a CIS apprenticeship. However I really have no interest in doing that at all, I hate the course that I am doing atm. The only reason I am continuing with it is to get a degree under my belt. I signed up to the RDF a few months ago. What I would really be interested in would be to get a Heavy Vehicle mechanic apprenticeship.

First off, how often do they look for new HVM apprentices ? Is it annually or once every few years ?

Secondly, would they even consider me for the HVM apprenticeship? Seeing as I have no mechanicle qualifications, and I hopefully will have some IT. Would it be possible that they would make me do CIS, or else nothing at all ?

How many postions are there usually up for grabs, and how many people usually apply?

Here they say that you must already be a Private 3* to apply. Yet in the booklet they say you must get security clearence from the Guards. Surely you will have already achieved that a long time ago if you are a 3*. So do you have to be in the PDF and have 3* to apply, or can you apply for an apprenticeship straight off the street ? I do realise you would have to do all the core stuff if it were possible.

Any and all help and additional info and side notes would be VERY much appreciated.

Cheers
Chris

NoQuarter

Chris this is gonna burst your bubble a little bit but the chances of getting that course even if you are a 3* is tiny to say the least!

In my 4 years as a private i never seen it come up and if it does come up there will be F all places with hundreds of applicants no doubts. Some of those will probably have some experience in that field too.

The actual chances of you even being available when the course rolls around is even quite slim, so to sum up.....If you happen to be in the right place at the right time you might get to throw in an application and get an interview for it but for years and years youll either be outranked by seniority or just beaten by experience in that specific field.

If anyone here tells you different well good luck to you i say....you'll most certainly need it!

m.j.w

Have to agree with the post above, I joined the army 3 and a half years ago with the intentions of doing an apprenticeship. I had a careers meeting and was told that after training it was just a matter of applying for one and you get it. This was bull****, the apprenticeships come up every second year and unless you know someone or are pratically qualified in the field you are starting the apprenticeship in you wont be taken on. I left last month as I hated it and got an apprenticeship else where, so if you are only joining to get an apprenticeship dont!

christophicus

Hmmm ok lads, thanks for the info, really do appreciate it. I would not be joining solely with the goal of getting an apprenticeship, but it would have been an element.

Company Sgt

christophicus wrote: »

Hmmm ok lads, thanks for the info, really do appreciate it. I would not be joining solely with the goal of getting an apprenticeship, but it would have been an element.

there is two ways of doing apprenticeships in the military
1.you can join as a civie and do a hvm of fitter armourer apprenticeships but ya have ta do your military training first.
2.there is an internal apprenticeship for 3*
that includes plumbing plasterer mechanic all computers and signals
hard to get so many goin

hope this helps ya

christophicus

O, so it is possible to apply as a civie ? That is very interesting news indeed !! I wonder do you have to have training in that area before you apply though, to qualify.

As for the 3* apprenticeship. Are they individual courses? Cause I would imagine that that is alot for just one course !

NoQuarter

Yes all individual courses.

Poccington

christophicus wrote: »

O, so it is possible to apply as a civie ? That is very interesting news indeed !! I wonder do you have to have training in that area before you apply though, to qualify.

No you don't have to have any prior training before applying, I've a mate in the middle of an Armourer's Apprenticeship who most certainly wasn't an Armourer before he went in.

christophicus

Poccington wrote: »

No you don't have to have any prior training before applying, I've a mate in the middle of an Armourer's Apprenticeship who most certainly wasn't an Armourer before he went in.

Lol yeah, I would imagine so . I was kinda referring more to HVM, but I suppose you could apply the same to that, at least to a certain extent.

So what would be the best way of looking finding out when positions become available ( obviously once recruitment starts again ) ? Would it be posted up on the noticeboard in my local barricks do you reckon ? Do they actually update the site often, would that be the best place to check ?

Company Sgt

christophicus wrote: »

Lol yeah, I would imagine so . I was kinda referring more to HVM, but I suppose you could apply the same to that, at least to a certain extent.

So what would be the best way of looking finding out when positions become available ( obviously once recruitment starts again ) ? Would it be posted up on the noticeboard in my local barricks do you reckon ? Do they actually update the site often, would that be the best place to check ?

the apprenticeships for civis usually come into circulation around march and start in september by the time they do all admin ie security fitness medicals all that stuff,but dont forget ya still have to do your military training like ever other entrant to the army (except direct entry doctors etc) hvm best option cause when it comes to overseas only 1 r 2 fitter/armourer will go per platoon

christophicus

Company Sgt wrote: »

the apprenticeships for civis usually come into circulation around march and start in september by the time they do all admin ie security fitness medicals all that stuff,but dont forget ya still have to do your military training like ever other entrant to the army (except direct entry doctors etc) hvm best option cause when it comes to overseas only 1 r 2 fitter/armourer will go per platoon

O yeah, don't get me wrong, I would want to do the military training too, I am considering joining for standard Infantry, but I would much prefer to get in on the HMV course as I have always loved breaking things down, finding out how they work, and building them back up again. ( classic laddish thing, but does not make it any less truthfull). I just think the apprenticeship would be insanely interesting, and really enjoy it.

Company Sgt

christophicus wrote: »

O yeah, don't get me wrong, I would want to do the military training too, I am considering joining for standard Infantry, but I would much prefer to get in on the HMV course as I have always loved breaking things down, finding out how they work, and building them back up again. ( classic laddish thing, but does not make it any less truthfull). I just think the apprenticeship would be insanely interesting, and really enjoy it.

wanted to do air corps apprenticeships myself couple yrs ago but never got it so then jus signed up as a recruit best job country dont mind wat anybody else says job 4 life guaranteed wage every week:D:D:D

Gunny Hartman

Company Sgt wrote: »

the apprenticeships for civis usually come into circulation around march and start in september by the time they do all admin ie security fitness medicals all that stuff,but dont forget ya still have to do your military training like ever other entrant to the army (except direct entry doctors etc) hvm best option cause when it comes to overseas only 1 r 2 fitter/armourer will go per platoon

Now now CS lets not talk about stuff we don't know about. One HVM class started in March of one year and another class started in June of another year so you are wrong about that altogether.

OP it is an incredibly hard course to get and as time goes on it's getting harder as The Defence Forces is filling up all it's vacancies for Fitter Privates. It's not open to Civvies any more as it was easier to get men from the ranks for the course. If you want any more info PM me.

GH

Company Sgt

Gunny Hartman wrote: »

Now now CS lets not talk about stuff we don't know about. One HVM class started in March of one year and another class started in June of another year so you are wrong about that altogether.

OP it is an incredibly hard course to get and as time goes on it's getting harder as The Defence Forces is filling up all it's vacancies for Fitter Privates. It's not open to Civvies any more as it was easier to get men from the ranks for the course. If you want any more info PM me.

GH

im talking bout the civi ones what are you talking bout kid are those ones you said bout internal or external pal talk to me come on !!!

Gunny Hartman

Trainee Technians and Apprentice's (TT's already serving and apprentices being civvies before they enlist) are in the same classes if you know anything about the scheme you will know this.

newby.204

OP i am in the middle of an apprenticeship through the DF. I wont tell you which one. First off as far as i am aware the rec freeze applies only to line soldiers, cadets and apprentices will still be taken in.

I would give you this one piece of advice before accepting an apprenticeship, think long and hard about it, there are many aspects of our life that will be turned upside down by a DF apprenticeship.

I will not go into detail about it in the forum if you want an honest talk PM me if you dont then good luck whatever you choose.