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[Akigagak]

As many of you who've maybe glanced at the bloated mas of the Happy Thread may know, I'm very likely going to be joining the British Army in the near future, and most likely as a member of the RMP (Royal Military Police) forces.

Training will be between 30 weeks (for a regular solider) and possibly over a year (for an Officer going for all some additional programs.), during which time I'll learn a lot of stuff about both policing and general soldiery.

In prep for this rather large step in life, I've been researching exercise and diet programs, but there's more to soldiery than hard slog and eating right (Though not much more, if you go by anecdotes), so I'm also looking for things to put my brain through to get better at problem solving and all that other fun stuff. Do any of you have any experience with this sort of brain training, and/or any recommendations for such things?

An no, I don't know if playing strategy games counts.


Also, I know of at least one person around the forums who's the US Army, so if you're out there, Strife, any advice you can give? Or anyone else with military experience, that'd be really nice.

((Huzzah, correct forum this time!)

[lordcooper]

Don't.

Failing that, try not to help kill anyone cool.

[Akigagak]

Don't.

Failing that, try not to help kill anyone cool.

Your helpful message is appreciated.

[Neonivek]

Do any of you have any experience with this sort of brain training

I've seen a few types of brain training and I really dislimke most of them.

For the most part from what I understand they are frustrating games of patience.

[lordcooper]

Don't.

Failing that, try not to help kill anyone cool.

Your helpful message is appreciated.

Okay then.

Get a box of matches.  Take them out one by one, counting as you go.  Then put them back in one by one, also counting.  Repeat for several hours, every day.

It'll acclimatise you to the tedious nature of working in the military, and also help with the whole following orders thing as you'll already be used to doing something without seeing any sense in it/having to think about it.  That last part might also help with the guilt.

[hemmingjay]

I did more than 7 years in the US Army and that last advice is probably the best I have ever seen. The hardest part is psychological. They tear you down and build you back up. This part is the hardest for many young men as their ego and pride get in the way of understanding the process. When they yell at you the best way to deal is to remain professional and state that you understand why they are yelling at you and that you won't make that mistake again. Simple.

The physical fitness part was something that I took seriously before my training started and it definitely helped but it wasn't necessary. The training programs are designed to steadily turn almost anyone into a decently fit individual in 5-7 weeks. The only reason to train hard before hand is to try to achieve a perfect fitness score or avoid going in overweight. If you want a recommendation as to a program to use I would say P90X is the best I have ever tried. It is much more intense than any you will receive during your initial training. I was in a unit that incorporated a modified version of it and it was punishing and fruitful.

There are many differences between the British and American military training programs so please take this with a grain of salt. You should be proud and have fun with the training, I did.

[Aramco]

Play a few war-strategy games.


Actually, I doubt that would help.

try not to help kill anyone cool.

[hemmingjay]

Thought of something else to help. learn these acronyms and slang words commonly used. This will save you a bunch of time and grief. It will also make you stand out with your instructors. One final piece of advice is to ask your recruiter to help you practice a little "dress and ceremony" which is just fancy talk for marching. You will have to do quite a bit of this I am afraid. It helps to have a little experience beforehand.

Congrats and be proud. The British Army is an excellent fighting force.

[Neonivek]

The hardest part is psychological. They tear you down and build you back up

Yep it is a very common mind control technique.

Cults, Schools for Deliquants, and even rehab centers often use the exact same techniques.

I don't have too much respect for it even if it does work.

[Akigagak]

I did more than 7 years in the US Army and that last advice is probably the best I have ever seen. The hardest part is psychological. They tear you down and build you back up. This part is the hardest for many young men as their ego and pride get in the way of understanding the process. When they yell at you the best way to deal is to remain professional and state that you understand why they are yelling at you and that you won't make that mistake again. Simple.

The physical fitness part was something that I took seriously before my training started and it definitely helped but it wasn't necessary. The training programs are designed to steadily turn almost anyone into a decently fit individual in 5-7 weeks. The only reason to train hard before hand is to try to achieve a perfect fitness score or avoid going in overweight. If you want a recommendation as to a program to use I would say P90X is the best I have ever tried. It is much more intense than any you will receive during your initial training. I was in a unit that incorporated a modified version of it and it was punishing and fruitful.

There are many differences between the British and American military training programs so please take this with a grain of salt. You should be proud and have fun with the training, I did.

Yes, that's what I'm getting ready for, from talks I've had with the recruitment office and a couple of TA members. On the plus side, I haven't really got an ego to bruise, and low pride in myself, so that part should be a piece of cake. 

In fact, my current exercise plan is one I've drawn up with the help of both the local Military Liaison Officer and my incredibly load-mouthed and embarrassing former soldier uncle, and it's been great so far. The dog is certainly enjoying it, though my legs aren't.

Thought of something else to help. learn these acronyms and slang words commonly used. This will save you a bunch of time and grief. It will also make you stand out with your instructors. One final piece of advice is to ask your recruiter to help you practice a little "dress and ceremony" which is just fancy talk for marching. You will have to do quite a bit of this I am afraid. It helps to have a little experience beforehand.

Congrats and be proud. The British Army is an excellent fighting force.

Thanks, and god yes. So many acronyms. I still need to get a firmer handle on some of them, but I think there'll be all the time in the world to learn in practice once I'm at Basic.

try not to help kill anyone cool.

If I kill anyone, it's going to be people who are trying to kill me back. This makes them decidedly uncool, in my view.

Not trying to sound flippant, but I know what being a soldier entails, and I know that at some point, it is very likely I will have to shoot someone. There is no real way to say how I'll cope with that fact once it's happened, maybe it won't effect me at all, or maybe I'll break down in tears once the adrenaline dies down. But I've come to terms with the fact that it will very probably happen.

Do any of you have any experience with this sort of brain training

I've seen a few types of brain training and I really dislimke most of them.

For the most part from what I understand they are frustrating games of patience.

Frustrating games of patience is the army's bread and butter. But yes, those DS things are horrible. I was really talking about more complicated and testing problems/programmes, to make my fat useless gray matter work to improve itself.

[hemmingjay]

you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and will do just fine.

On the issue of shooting someone, you would be surprised just how few people have actually shot someone. Despite just about everyone you talk to having supposedly killed 20 men himself, the truth is most don't ever fire at an actual person. To further confuse the issue, nobody really knows who fired the shot that hit the enemy in most situations. Shootouts are chaotic and even SAS and Navy Seals fire a lot wild fire. The rare exception is from snipers who can be relatively certain of hits. You are statistically much much more likely to be involved in a shooting on a base in your own country with a drunken abusive soldier than to engage the enemy in mortal combat. Still, please be prepared and stay safe.

[Max White]

The most important thing for anybody in the military, and even any position of power, is to be able to do this.