The Armed Forces Degree
 

As the title suggests,there is a new Degree available this year for students resulting in a BSc (Hons)
The armed forces degree - Defence Management
Good idea or bad? Discuss!

Oh Em Gee. You really are annoyed.

No!! Pleased to see the RAF didn't turn up to the launch event. Now, where does Wolverhampton sit in the academic league table - discuss!

Am I missing something but isn't it better for a youngster to arrive with a degree in Defence Management than one in "underwater basket weaving"? At least the content may make those with the degree more versed in Air Power.

The fact the RAF missed the launch is ominous. Close engagement will be needed if the output is to be relevant. The Service has organisations that cover that task.

@ Really Annoyed http://forums.airshows.co.uk/images/.../smilielol.gif

Thanks for starting off the discussion

Whilst it may work for some, I can't help but feel that current cutbacks and the general way things are going make the Armed Forces look more like a first career than a lifetime one. With that in mind, I would feel concerned that this degree would leave ex-service personnel looking a bit one-dimensional when applying for new jobs.

The cynic in me is also concerned that the University of Wolverhampton is unlikely to attract otherwise Oxbridge candidates and I struggle to see it in the role of Academy of Excellence for future military bright stars, or something akin to Westpoint. If the military is not happy with the output quality of its trainees, it would seem more logical to tackle this directly through improved military initial training & through-life training than to hope for individuals to address the issue pre-employment.

How chav!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this course sounds more like a vocational course masquerading as a bachelor's degree. It is a telling indication of just how second rate many bachelor's degrees have become.

Masters Programme
 

Apparently they are also considering a Masters programme that follows on from this degree and is aimed at those interested in higher management of defence. It includes such topics as:

- Political engagement: how to mumble 'burble burble yes Tony burble' when what you really need to do is look the Prime Minister long and hard in the eyes, explain some basic Clausewitz and ask him if he really thinks that Saddam has a boat load of VX.
- The illusory arts part one: how to turn £4Bn of taxpayers' maritime patrol equipment into Coke cans.
- Basic planning round maths: 1 + 1 = f**k off it's all the Army's fault.
- The illusory arts part two: how to hide £38Bn of unaffordability inside the defence budget and not be held accountable.
- Propaganda: how to say publically that this campaigning season should finish off the Taliban without actually experiencing deja vu.
- Advanced planning round maths: 1 + 1 = f**k off it's all the Navy's fault but inflated in line with the approved corporate planning assumptions and inclusive of IRDEL.
- Optional modules include Morale and Reducing Senior Posts. The proposed module on Allowances has been cut and nobody has signed up for Morale. ;)

A friend of mine once was offered an interview at Wolverhampton after listing his hobbies as spitting, vomiting and breaking furniture - hardly the most elite of educational establishments!

You sure that was Wolverhampton? Sounds more like the entry criteria for the Bullingdon Club?

Am I missing something but isn't it better for a youngster to arrive with a degree in Defence Management than one in "underwater basket weaving"?

Reminds me of the young officer who joined my ship (which had just gone into dry dock) wth a degree in marine biology, and was promptly sent off to supervise the major operation of cleaning-off of the marine growth on the ship's hull!:uhoh:

In another ship, a graduate entry officer who who had a degree in moral philosophy was told that a degree in "immoral philosophy" would probably prove more helpful in his duties as a divisional officer .....:eek:

Jack

No prospect of a job at the end.. :D
What good is a degree in armed forces to anyone else, oo wait, if it's got a budgeting module maybe the Govn't.

(Sorry- Had to be said :O)

er - if I hand in my work years late and make it bear no resemblance to the original task, plus get an increased 'student grant' directly related to a drop in number of essays delivered - will I get paid extra to cut up my work at the end? Or is that only in the real Defence World?

Sloqw Roll,

I agree with you that the UoW is unlikely to attract the 'bright young things' lines up for Oxbridge; however there is a strong aspiration amongst many Oxbridge graduands of a career in HM Forces (I was quoted 'about 10%' a couple of years ago). That's fortunate because when I saw the RAF's recuiting attempts a couple of years ago I cringed and was jolly cross. I was in the Graduate Centre at Cambridge having lunch with a friend and noticed that there was a Recruitment Fair on. I wandered around the FTSE 100 company stands - lots of lovelies handingn out smart gizzits. GCHQ were handing out some clever computer game and even the 'Foreign Office' had a desk there. In the corner, near the loos, was the sad RAF stand. A tattoed NCO (short sleeve shirt) and an overwieght and clearly passed over Flt Lt with lunch on his shirt front amnned the stall. A Maths Tripos was showing some interest in the RAF (Maths Tripos - brain the size of a planet, the sort of chap who in earlier years would have been invited to work with 'PLUs on hush-hush work at Bletchly Park' and cracked the enigma code on the back of a fag packet).

The Flt Lt said: 'So your are good at maths, then? Have you considered being a Med Tech - you can even work towards an HNC....'

Nothing against Med Techs but here was someone who had an IQ probably above 160...and that's all the recruiter could suggest If you are reading this, Maths Tripos, are you on 6 or 7 figures pa as an analyst or actuary? Can you give me a job?