How does your child really feel about their job? Do they dream about doing something that's not the usual 9 to 5 grind everyday? Young men in particular often fall into this category and they don't usually do anything about it. If this sounds like your child, you need to watch this webchat!

If you have a child or someone you know someone which is at a cross roads help and advice are available. Major Charlie Mayo and a Soldier from the British Army are here to discuss army jobs and how your child or the young people you know can get involved and take their career to new heights.

Log on to find out about Army careers, which can offer them adventure, travel, a job with plenty of physical exercise and good mates at work.

For more information visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk

H: Host, Mark Rise
M: Major Charlie Mayo
T: Lance Corporal Tommy James

H: Hello there and welcome to the Lifestyle Show, I'm Mark Rise. Now are you currently at school or college and wondering about your next career move?  Uncertain if an office-based job is for you? Well maybe you fancy a job with some excitement which lets you travel the world, a job which is varied and never dull. Well if you do keep watching because I'm joined by two guys today who have some great advice, Major Charlie Mayo and Lance Corporal Tommy James from the British Army. Guys welcome along to the show. Well I've got an interesting statistic. Over half of the 16-24 year old men in the UK are either unhappy in their jobs or they're unemployed.  That's an incredible statistic Major isn't it?

M: Yes it is. We wanted the research just to find out what is making – what makes young men tick, and it was a bit of a surprise to find out that they're bored in their jobs. Many of them don't feel they got enough career advice, or don't know where to go to get the advice, and we feel in the army, you know we can offer you a career, we can offer you the excitement and we just want to raise people's awareness that it is there, and if they want to find out about the army, you know they can go on the website, it's armyjobs.mod.uk, there's a lot of information there for them to go and have a look at, and you never know you just might flick that switch, it might be something they're interested in

H: And over the next 20 minutes or so we'll talk about all the various different options, because there are a lot of options. Well Tommy, thank you for joining us. Can you tell us what inspired – you're 22 – can you tell us what inspired you to join the army?

T: The main reason myself for joining the army was – when I left school, looking for a job, was quite hard to find a job and my first job that I did find was packing beans in a factory, and –

H: So not the most interesting job in the world

T: Oh definitely not interesting, not at all. And I done that for a couple of weeks and I got laid off, and I thought that I wanted a bit more from life than just packing beans and bouncing from factory to factory, so I spoke to one of my friends who was in the army and urged me towards the army, and I went to my local careers office and they talked to me for quite a while about the army, and I spoke to my family about it, and I made the decision to join

H: So you joined at what, 16?

T: 16 years old

H: And now you're 22?

T: 22

H: You've risen to the rank of Lance Corporal. I mean you're doing very, very well

T: Yes

H: When you go back home now and you talk to the guys you left school with, do you have anything in common any more or is it – you know are you head and shoulders above them? What's the dynamic like?

T: I believe that I'll always still have something in common with them because they're my friends and I've been bought up with them and I'm from the same – I'm from the same background and the same area and we'll always have that, but I do feel that I have got a little bit more about myself than they have and my head is firmly on my shoulders now.  More so than when I first join the army, and the more longer I stay in the army the more confident a person I get

H: And Charlie it is about seeing life isn't it?  

C: Yes

H: Let's take a look at one of the videos that has been produced for army recruitment. This is fascinating because it really does give you a taste of life in the British army
Video footage
"For the rush. For the challenge. For the action. To help.  To protect. To serve. For the places, for the people, for the laughs. With compassion, with courage. With confidence. As a unit. As a team. Through it all, together."

Hear from soldiers about life in the army at armyjobs.mod.uk

H: Impressive stuff. Tommy you were actually in that weren't you?

T: I was, 3 years ago yes

H: Look very quickly. I think – I guess it gives a whole range of things that can be done, and that film does continue on the website as you know.  It's not just frontline action though, we saw a little bit of frontline action in that video, but there's so much more to the army than that

C: Yes there is. There's a wide range of careers that you can choose from really in the army, and I've – in my career – I've seen just a little bit of those sort of careers, whether it's getting all your licenses, so you can be – you know – a highly qualified driver, to being a chef, to going into administration, to just being an instrument, or in my case you know in the Royal Armicore. There's a massive amount of careers, and it's a lottery of what do you want to do? And for me, I've had a fantastic time, I've loved it

H: And you've been in the army...?

C: Ooh, crikey, now you're asking....about 20 / 22 years now

H: That's a – it's a good career path and a good career span. Let's ask you some of the questions that have been coming in, and thank you so much for sending them in. Got a question from Alex Simons here who says "what are the plus sides to an army life that we wouldn't normally see in this industry?

T: I believe that some of the plus sides to the army myself are meeting new people, making friends, being put in situations that you wouldn't usually be put in. And I myself personally thrive from those kinds of things and there's – the army can open a lot of doors for young people like myself when I first joined the army, it just depends what path you want to choose within the army

H: But it wouldn't be open to just an ordinary person in the street then?

T: Yes they'd be open to any normal person within the street, anyone

H: Once they've joined the army, yes I get what you're saying

T: It's just about getting across that first step, looking on the army website and just basically have a good look at it and see what you think

H: Excellent stuff. We've got a question in from Sian and we've been talking about guys whose joining the army, you two are guys, but she says "what are the opportunities for women in a career in the army?"

C: The opportunities are just the same as they are really for men

H: So we're talking equal opportunities all the way?

C: Oh yes. My wife's in the army, and so I've got to say some nice things otherwise I get beaten up

H: And I know Tommy your girlfriend's in the army?

T: Yes

H: So they're good people to talk about.

C: Yes the opportunities are there.  And it's – it's a great job, and I've seen a lot of young women and we were both in Afghanistan last year, out there doing fantastic jobs, just the same as the men, and they have just the same opportunities, whether it's sport, going off and doing any type of adventurous activity within the army in different countries. Career progression, trades qualifications – it's the same

H: And I guess there's the whole side of it about being away from home, but there's a real plus side about being away from home when you're 18, 19, 20 to get away from the family, to be able to lead your own life, to be able to find out who you are

C: I would agree, and you know Tommy is – he's a testament to that having left home and made that decision to go off and you know, join the army, and I would say to anybody at home you know it's great being at home because your mum probably does all your washing and you know she helps to cook the food and so on, but join the army and take a step out of that into doing your own thing, you know and I mean the accommodation – I mean what do you think it's like?

T: The accommodation varies for myself because we always move, we move – my regiment specifically moves quite a lot more than other regiments, but the accommodation that we do move into is good. I've got my own room, big telly in my room. In my last barracks I had a double bed, en suite shower – you can have options to put internet in your room and Sky in your room, everything. So it's just your own space and then you're in accommodation with all your friends like your mate will live next door, so it's like a close-knit community with all your friends

H: I think people will be surprised to hear that, but pleasantly surprised to hear that.  We'll talk about the travel aspect of the army in just a moment's time because I know that both of you have seen a lot of the world. We have got a question from Bianca Lewis though which kind of relates to what we've just been talking about. She says "I'm worried about my son going into the army. Is there a minimum term for instance that he'd have to go on for?"

C: Yes, 4 years. Yes once he's been through the training and he then joins his unit, we're asking people to do 4 years and really at the end of that 4 years you've got a chance to look at it again and decide whether you want to stay and continue or whether you want to try something different. 

H: And a question within that 4 years of course, the careers that we're talking about, you're talking solid training that whether you choose to stay or you choose to go, will set you up for life                                     

C: Of course. And the trades that you'll pick up and the qualifications you'll pick up will be of tremendous benefit for you or to you, you know at ht4e end of that 4 year period.  And the experiences, the countries you'll go to and the different things – the challenges I suppose is what it's really about. You're challenged every day as an individual to do something which you don't think you can do, butthen also with your mates

H: Well we've got a question here from James saying "What is career progression like. Charlie you're a Major, how long did it take to get you where you are?" We already know that Tommy has become a Lance Corporal within 4 years, quite impressive stuff

C: Yes I got – I became a Major at 33 so I'd been in the army just over 12 years. And just had a fantastic time

H: I promised we'd talk about travel and it is a very important thing. Well they used to say join the army, see the world didn't they? It used to be one of the main straplines of recruitment, but it's still so true. Tommy take us through the places that you visit in the world, both for work and for pleasure that you probably wouldn't have been able to do if you hadn't been in the army?

T: It's quite a few to be honest. With the army I've been on operational tours, I've been to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, and I'm returning to Afghanistan next year. You move in between places like Croatia, I've been to Thailand, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Kavos, Tenerife, Ayi Napa we've all – a couple have been with the army. I'm going to Kenya as well at the end of this year, so there's a wide variety for myself within the 5 years that I've been in the army, I've travelled quite a lot

H: You're considerably better travelled than most 22 year olds

T: Definitely yes

H: Put it that way

T: Few stamps on the passport

H: I would have thought so, absolutely you've got one of those thick passports I would imagine. Charlie, because you've been pretty much all over the world haven't you?

C: Yes I've been very lucky, I've been to a lot places in Africa, I've been up to Morocco in the North, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, I spent 6 months in a training team in Zimbabwe. Same as Tommy here, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan. All over Europe, been to Greenland. Went to Florida with the army and learnt to sky dive out there. So you know I haven't been to South America, like to go there. And I'd like to go you know over to the Far East and then I've pretty much cracked it.  I've been to Russia. So you know I've been lucky.

H: With the army is this partially training and partially peace keeping? What kind of roles are you doing when you're there on official business?

C: I think all of my times have been either with the army on training teams or on exercises or on operations. But also adventure training you know I've been climbing in Kenya, Greenland.....

H: Let me interrupt - adventure training is very important to the British Army isn't it? Not only as a way of continued training but as a way of real diversification of things that guys and girls can do in the army.

C: It is. You know we have talked about challenges and that is the thing about adventure training it is a challenge. It's for me there is nothing more stupid than jumping out of an aeroplane at 10,000 ft with a parachute on your back. You know you are mad when you do it, you ask why am I doing this? You get to the door and you think well I have got to do it because I haven't got the guts to not do it and wow at the end of it.....Pack my parachute and get me back up there. It was amazing. Now you say "I wouldn't do that" Well there are other things to do.

H: Yeah because you talking really, both of you, about the things that the British Army gives you opportunity to try things you probably wouldn't have access to in civilian life and that is a very important point. We will come back to that in a moments time. Let me just remind you that we are a live show and if you want to send your question in it comes through on my screen all you have got to do is fill in your question in the little box with your name hit send and it comes through to our system here. So please do do that. I have had a question from John in in the last couple of minutes saying "What kind of requirements are there to get in to the Army? How much time do you spend on the front line?" So let's talk about requirements first of all. If you are maybe 18, 19, 20, you have left school where do you go from there?

T: For myself it just depends what job role you join in the army because there is a vast array of jobs you can do in the army. Myself, Personally I am in the infantry. So to be in the Infantry myself I reckon the requirements you need are to be physical, robust, have a little bit about yourself and just very determined to do the job that you are going to be doing. But like I say I joined the army quite young and the army provide you with all those. The more you are in the army the better person you become.

H: You actually joined at 16.

T: yeah I joined the army at 16.

H: Is that still possible? People leaving school at 16 can?

C: Yes as long as your parents are happy for you to do it you can join for 16. Otherwise 18 clearly without your parents consent. You don't necessarily go straight on operations. It is very much in the news but only a small amount of Army is operations.

H: I think people have that impression because they read it in the newspapers but that is not the case actually.

C: No it is not the case. You can join the army. You could join the army next month, and it could be 2, 3, 4 years before you go on operations because of the particular part of the army that you're in, so it does vary and the army is quite big and there's only a small amount of it that is actually on operations at any one time, so it's not about joining the army and going on operations straight away

H: And the careers that you're talking about, you're talking about this small section that are on operations, but there's this huge army machine that is needed to run the whole of the British army, and that's why there is career opportunity in the army

C: Yes, that's quite true. It's a great opportunity. I would just think that for anybody that's interested, get it off the website, you know – it's all there, and just have a look and see if there's anything there that you might be interested in

H: What about minimum qualifications.  If someone's left school without any qualifications, is that a barrier to joining the army?

C: No

H: So it's not about whether you're good at school?

C: No it's not. It's about you the person, in my view, it's about who you are, what you are. Do you want the challenge? Do you want to go and do something different with your life and have a look at it and see what happens, because I've seen, you know, a lot of soldiers that I've worked with have come into the army and ok sometimes find life a bit difficult, but – and they've left to go onto better and greater things, and I'm still in touch with them. And that surprised me as well, and my chief sergeant's my son's godfather. Why? Because he's a great bloke. So yes you make friends for life as well

H: You mentioned something, and we've had a couple of questions come in on that, the minimum term would be 4 years.  If some people think – oh hang on, I'm not sure I could commit to 4 years, you know what are the options there?

C: Well you know I think, in training, you were in training – what was it like when you were in training?

T: When I was in training- what – a specific incident stands out was that a young lad, 17 – I think he was 16, 17, he joined the army, he'd been there a couple of months, finding it a bit tough because when you haven't finished your training obviously it's going to be tough, you've got to expect it to be tough, and his parents wrote a letter and his parents wrote a letter to the commanding officer of the training establishment, and it got him out of the training. But there's other ways of getting out the army, if you didn't – if you weren't too happy within your job, there's no – the way I see, if you don't want to be – the army's for certain people only. You'll know when you get there whether you want to be in the army and whether you can stick it out

H: And the bottom line is that we were just talking before the show started, once your career is within the army, there are things like secondments – you can take a year out to go and pursue other projects and come back at the same level. One thing, very interestingly, if people are watching this, specifically for you Tommy, you're 22 years old- just take us through pay. Take us through, you know the things that people are interested in are pay and holidays – are they any good?

T: Really good. At the beginning of this year I had 7 weeks off, leave – paid leave, completely off

H: I don't know any other jobs that would give you 7 weeks off in a row, paid, to be fair

T: No me neither. And that was off, straight off. And we do, we have other holidays within the year, all paid leave.  I earn about £1700 a month, that's purely just for myself. I've got a roof over my head, 3 square meals a day, I've got a brand new car now I drive my own car, like I said a lot of travel, I go out with my friends, I've got a lot of friends who are a really, really good bunch of mates and it's really good

H: Sounds to me like you've got a lot more than your average 22 year old would –

T: Yes

H: Have. One more question just to kind of wrap up the show – Sandra asks – "I'd like to find out more about a career in the army for my son whose been asking about what's involved", because he thinks it sounds exciting and as we've said, yes lots of exciting stuff. She doesn't know how to begin to find out more. Charlie you're probably the man to talk to about this one

C: Ok, yes. Website. Go on the armyjobs.uk – sorry armyjobs.mod.uk website, and if you go on there and look for where it says "online chat" and we've got at the other end of the line there's a bunch of senior soldiers, who are different parts of the army and you can have a chat with them, and just find out – send your questions to them, your concerns, all those kinds of things – what's at the back of your mind, and it's anonymous and they're going to tell you the truth, and you know see what it says

H: Thank you Charlie Mayo and Lance Corporal Tommy James, thank you so much for joining us today. Lots of fascinating information, and if you would like to find out more about army recruitment and joining the army, do go to armyjobs.mod.uk and thank you very much indeed for joining us. We'll see you again soon