–British Army salary
Unemployment is a reality in Kenya and Africa by extension. The desperation is so real that it is a life and death affair. Boatloads of illegal immigrants continue to die in droves in the high seas as they attempt to make it to European shores. Even with the deaths making headline every so often, Africans are still in pursuit of a better life in abroad. News allowing recruitment of foreign nationals in the British army who have never lived in the country was godsend. This was not the case in the past as those wishing to join the army from commonwealth countries had to have lived in the country for atleast five years.
What are the requirements of joining the British army?
There are currently limited places being offered to candidates from Commonwealth countries. The Army is focusing initially on processing the Commonwealth candidates who have already applied.
• It is the responsibility of individual applicants to ensure that they have permission to be in the UK. This must be valid for the entirety of the recruitment and selection process up until the point they are enlisted.
• All applicants must have a passport that is valid for at least 2 years from your start date in the Army.
BEFORE YOU JOIN
Until the day you join, you’re responsible for making sure that your visa is valid and you’re in the country legally.
If your visa runs out, you will need to pay for yourself to go back home to apply for a new visa, before carrying on with your application.
WHEN YOU JOIN
You’ll be given ‘exempt immigration control’ status while you’re serving. You’ll need to pay to regularise your immigration status yourself, if you want to stay in the UK after your service ends. It is easier to apply whilst you are serving, as long as you have served for at least four years.
BECOMING A BRITISH CITIZEN
If you want to naturalise while you’re serving, you’ll need to pay all the costs and make sure you meet the Home Office’s requirements. Your service can count towards the residency part of the requirements.
Age
To join as a soldier you must be at least 15 years and 7 months before you apply. If you’re under 18, you’ll also need parental consent to join.
To join as an officer you must be between 18 and 29
Fitness
To join the British Army, you must be super fit. You will undergo a fitness test which must be passed in order to be admitted. If you’re looking to join as a soldier, you’ll go through a range of strength and stamina tests, as well as a run. These include carrying a Jerry can, a static lift and a 1.5 mile run. The weight, distance and speed you need to meet changes from role to role.
Tests you must pass if you are applying to join the British Army as an Officer.
There are four tests you’ll need to take during officer selection and the pre-entry tests.
Beep test:
Here, you will run between two lines, 20m apart in time with a beep. The beeps get steadily faster. Your score is based on the point where you can no longer keep up.
Sit-ups
You must be able to perform 50 in two minutes.
Press-ups
Males 44 in two minutes
Females: 21 in two minutes
1.5 mile run
Males 10 min 30 sec
Females 12 min 45 sec
It’s good to note that after assessment you need to keep fit, so that you will be in a great shape when training starts. Being in the Army is physically demanding, and you need to get your body ready for this by staying fit while you wait for your start date.
Medical Test
Being in the army can be tough both physically and mentally, in regards to this, you will do a medical test during the assessment to make sure that you’ve not got any underlying health problems. Below is a quick guide to the main conditions that can stop you from joining the British Army.
Abdominal problems:
Chronic abdominal diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Kidney disorders such as polycystic kidney disease or kidney stones.
Donation of a kidney within the last two years.
Kidney disease within the last two years.
Back problems:
Spinal surgery (including internal fixation or fusion).
Recurrent lower back pain.
Spina bifida.
Blood diseases:
Sickle Cell disease.
Congenital spherocytosis.
Thalassaemia.
HIV seropositivity / AIDS.
Being a carrier of hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Past history of leukaemia or malignant lymphoma. Must be disease, treatment and review free for five years.
Bone or joint problems:
Meniscectomy (knee cartilage operation) within the last year.
Lower limb fractures with internal fixation (metalwork) within the last year.
Loss of a limb.
Complete loss of a thumb or big toe.
Clubfoot (including past surgery).
Chronic joint diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
Reiter’s disease within the last five years.
Osteochondritis dissecans.
Chest disorders:
Asthma, strong asthma-like symptoms or treatment for related illnesses within the last four years.
Chronic lung diseases such as emphysema, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis.
Active tuberculosis.
Ear disorders:
Current perforation of ear drum.
Chronic ear diseases like cholesteatoma.
Presence of eardrum ‘grommets’.
Eye disorders:
Chronic eye diseases like glaucoma, keratoconus and retinitis pigmentosa.
Surgery for a squint within the last six months
Corneal problems like a corneal graft or recurrent corneal ulcers.
Loss or dislocation of an eye lens.
Cataract or cataract surgery.
Detached retina.
Neurological disorders:
Epilepsy or more than one seizure or fit after the age of five. Any seizure or fit within the last ten years.
Multiple sclerosis.
Pregnancy:
Currently pregnant or had a child in the last 3 months
Psychiatric problems:
Schizophrenia.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Alcohol or drug dependence.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Skin problems:
An active skin disease like eczema or widespread psoriasis.
Other conditions:
Loss of spleen (splenectomy).
Having received transplanted organs.
Severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis requiring adrenaline injection.
Severe nut allergy
Circulation problems such as Raynaud’s phenomenon
Diabetes.
Diseases requiring long-term medication or replacement therapy.
Drugs
If used drugs in the past, it won’t stop you from joining the British Army, but after you join, you must not misuse drugs. The British Army usually carries out random, compulsory drugs testing, and you can expect to be tested while you’re in training. If you fail any of the tests, you’ll probably be discharged from the army.
Education
To join as a soldier in the British Army, you do not need any qualifications. However, there are some roles, which may be more technical, where some qualifications are needed.
Criminal Records
Everyone makes mistakes and your criminal records doesn’t have to stop you from joining the British Army. Just be honest about your past history during the recruitment and you are good to go. During the application, make sure you tell them about any changes to your circumstances when it comes to offences. This includes waiting for a court appearance for a criminal offence.
Tattoos
If your tattoo is offensive, obscene or racist it will definitely stop you from joining the British Army. However, small tattoos that aren’t offensive in any way are not normally a problem, depending where they are on your body and how visible they are.
Body Piercings
Some body piercings will stop you from joining the British Army i.e Piercings that change the way you look, like a 4mm flesh tunnel or larger ones.
Also it good to note that for health and safety reasons, you will need to take off all jewelry before any physical activity in the application process. Once you have joined the Army, you will be told the rules for wearing body jewelry when on and off duty.
British Army Salary
• Recruits (in Basic training); £15,230 a year (Kes-2,004,268)
• Private: £18,859 a year (kes2,481,844.4)
• Lance Corporal: £26,036 a year (Kes3,426,337)
• Corporal: £30,364 a year (3,995,902)
• Sergeant: £34,160 a year (4,474,960)
Benefits of British Army Soldiers
• 38 days paid leave
• Subsidised food and accommodation
• Free gym and sports facilities
• Free dental and medical care
• Free pension
• Qualifications, Apprenticeships and world class training. whownskenya.com
