People, Person, Military, Military Uniform, Soldier, Head, Army, Adult, Male, Man

What's the work/life balance honestly like in the army?

I've already applied to join and it doesn't really bother me if the work/life balance isn't great I'd just like to know

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  • 1 replies
  • 160 views
  • Author: Lewis Z.
  • Category: Work life with us, Work life balance
  • Date asked:
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  • JC
    Jen C. So2 Hr In Gibraltar

    Hi, that's a great question. Initially, whilst in training, whether to be a soldier or officer it is far more work balanced than life! Once you finish your training and are posted to a unit your work / life balance is much the same as civi street - 0800hrs - 1700hrs working hours with breaks and sport / gym time etc included in that. Many units have a later start on a Monday (to allow people to travel on a Monday morning rather than a Sunday night if they live away from camp), have sports afternoon on a Weds afternoon and then usually finish around 1330 on a Friday to allow people to travel wherever they want to spend the weekend. During the evenings you could join a civi club or meet up with civi friends. Obviously there will be times you have more of a work balance; when you are on exercise, or deployed. Then the needs of the Army comes first but you will have lots of notice before these deployments. Good luck with it all - definitely should be working to live, not living to work!