Where to Start?

My name is Ria and I am 27 years old. Not that I think that that is old at all however I think it bears reference on what I am about to do. Firstly let me tell you a little about me and the slightly insane life I have lead so far, then you can reach your own discussion on what I am about to do. Over the past 5 years I built and developed an Outdoor education centre that was sold to the Australian state government. I have two children of which I am there legal guardian that live there with there Father in Melbourne. A year ago I moved back to the UK after achieving my goals there to see if I can do the same here. The system was a tried and tested on a will open in May all going well. I am also going to climb mount Everest next year which will be an amazing challenge in its self. So in brief I own two businesses’s and have been very successful to date, I know I have a big head over this but at the end of the day I am only 27.
In my professional every day job, I am a marketing communication executive working in Windsor, which I enjoy however my need for the next challenge is always around the corner.
When I started to think about Joining the TA, I thought it was all about running around fields with guns on weekend, Dressing in green and having very bad green makeup on. And of course for some one that only wears 2 inch heals and has her hair and nails done once a week this didn’t appeal to me at all, and then on later digging and looking in to it further I discovered ways that I could transfer my skills so they would benefit the British Army.

I had to sit down and look at my skills set, what could I do, what could I offer…
Marketing and Business…Dull
Dam good on the telephone e.g., can talk for hours….
Can type, read, write….Do I really want to do that!
I can do Adventure….Maybe that’s something

And then it came to me like a bolt of lightening though the roof of the cottage !
I’m an artist, Photography and Visual art, with a degree in it that was never used, could this possibly be something I could offer!

So more digging and yes I can there are 3 different Units that I could join in the UK, Starting point, at last!

Having a Supportive Partner in the forces helps, although I have to say I don’t listen to him about it, is I feel that this is something that I have to achieve my self. Although I did realise that I was jealous of what he did, I was jealous of the adventure and excitement he still got out of his job 10 years on. I spoke to some friends whom I had met on line and even posted on ARRSE as I couldn’t make head or tale of how it all worked. And there support has been incredible; I can recommend The Rear Party to Anyone.

So this Thursday the 23 I have my interview. And I hopefully will be able to find the best way forward. All I can say at this point that if you are considering joining the TA, use all source of information that you can. When you are considering what you want to do in the TA, think about what you want to get out of it, something different to what you do now or do you want to transfer your skills? It your spare time what do you want to do with it?
I worry that I will be a little old for the TA, and the people I will be training with will be a lot younger then me, but I guess that is something I will have to deal with, it certainly will not put me off.

I am hoping to right this blog as if it were a Diary that should give people a realistic view on what is involved in the process, and will hopefully encourage more people to do the same. So enjoy….