Don't worry hun, I'm happy to answer any question at all!

It's impossible for us to go out at the same time, the military would never ever put us in that situation with a young baby. As I said above I can also choose when I go out too.

Dying is of course always a possibility, but my OH is a pilot and the chance of something happening to him is incredibly slim. He is just too high in the sky to ever be a target.

For me, it's more dangerous but again I'm doing something relatively safe. I'm not in a unit that will regularly come under direct fire, and we Engineers so are more involved with things like building runways, water systems, demolition, etc. However being on the ground does mean it's more dangerous than my OHs job, but in the grand scheme of things we're both in very 'safe' jobs.

Welcome to the family!

My OH hasn't been deployed to war yet (his first stint is October-January next year) however he has been away a lot. Usually on the front line, he'll be gone about 6 months a year.

You do get used to it! OH missed 8 months of my pregnancy, and most of my scans though he could come back some weekends. People who aren't military are always amazed at how we cope, but to me it's business as usual. I just know that's his job, and it's what I expect.

Luckily, when they are on deployment things are a lot different now to how they were. It used to be a 20min phonecall every 2 weeks when we first went to Iraq.

Now, they are allowed laptops, skype, msn, internet and 30mins of phone time a day. Of course they have to pay for it, but the lines of communication are much more open now. Parcels and letters are always great too and it often gives the guys a boost to get things like sweets, magazines and DVDs from home.

When moving around, you do have to through yourself into live on the base otherwise you'll end up a bit lonely. Go to the events, knock on your neighbours doors (they won't bite!) and put yourself out there. Sonme days you won't feel like it at all, and it's always nervewracking introducing yourself to new people but you need to get out and do it. Everyone has been in your position when moving to a new base, and everyone will be welcoming

Not a question but I wanted to say I dont think all people realise that the TA can end up going to places like Iraq and Afghanistan. I know I didnt think that they did (I'm from a former dual military family ) until I met my hubby's best mate. He is a Major in the TA and he's done two 6 month tours - one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I think people have a misconception of the TA just playing soldiers on the weekends when it's not like that from what I have learned.

Good on ya Nic for getting stuck in there!

I'm embarrassed to say this is what I had always thought, I didn't realise the TA went to Afghanistan etc. No questions here either but it must be difficult generally and it's great that you're doing this

Thanks girls

It's easy to forget that it's not really publicised what we do.

This time next year, I'll be fully trained up. I'll have done a full year of Officer training, I'll have attended Sandhurst and I will be expected at some point to lead a troop of full time serving Army soldiers in Afghanistan. I will be a junior officer in my Regiment, and responsible to a full time Major for helping run the Regiment and make sure everyone is trained appropriately. I can also volunteer to do a full time 3 year tour if I choose to, and you can have pretty much a career as a reservist.

However, I work officially part time. The minimum commitment is 1 weekend per month, however I'll be doing every other weekend, and 2 evenings a week. I'll also be going away for training courses through the year for a week or so at a time.

Employers by law have to hold your job for you, and be sympathetic to your training needs, so they cannot stop you from going on training, or stop you from deploying. When you're away, they get given money from the government to do things like employ a temp to cover your absence.

There are some new adverts coming out that say 'One Army, Regular and TA' and it's true. We are trained as they are trained, except our training is done over a longer period and we work part time. We can go and be as effective in a wartime situation.

What regiment are you in (if you can say) and what job/trade (sorry if that's not the right terminology ) will you have?

What is TA?

I'm not familiar with it over there...

Here we have Army/Navy/Airforce as well, with the Canadian Military, but we also have the "reserves" which get called in for reinforcements, if needed? I don't even know if I have that right either!

Care to give a history of the TA, or explain what it is you guys do?

I'd prefer not to say what specific Regiment I'm in, but I'm with the Royal Engineers which is also known as the Combat Engineers. I'm an officer in training, but there are trades that the soldiers themselves do. My job is basically to ensure the smooth running of the Regiment, and help look after the soldiers that do the trades.

Combat Engineers do everything from laying and clearing mine fields, to building bridges, blowing things up, laying runways, building water systems etc. We go in, and get out as fast as possible and are usually the first on the ground, making places more habitable for troops. We have full time, Regular Army Regiments, and TA ones.

TA stands for Territorial Army, and it's the reserves. I'm not sure how it measures up to Canadian and American reserves though. We aren't seen as reinforcements really. For instance the first time I go out to Afghanistan, I'll be a junior officer looking after full time soldiers and I will have a full time senior officer looking after me. I won't deploy with my own Regiment, but I will deploy with the Royal Engineers.

Do you have any idea when your first tour would be, assuming you finish your training to schedule?