So,

I recently got told that I could leave the army IF i could secure a firm offer of employment. This was at the end of january. So off I toddled, to monster.co.uk and fish4.co.uk and managed to secure two job offers, one with debtfreedirect as an admin clerk (a fair drive from my house and not very well paid) and another with a company in Preston as an allowances clerk (near my home and similar wages to what I'm on now).

Excellent news, I was over the moon. I had secured my dream job, it was well paid and it looked like the transition to civilian life was going to be smooth and hassle-free, until...

The RAO (Regimental Admin Officer, a Major and ex-wife of alleged war crimes colonel Mendonca) returned from iraq.

The RAO had been searching for a civilian job last year but had not had the bottle to leave the army and pursue it, her problem not mine, I doubt any credible civilian employer would employ her for any sizeable length of time due to her distinct eccentricities (almost delinquencies) and lack of ability. It has become clear to me that she work-flows all technical tasks to SNCOs and spends all her time hanging out the window of her office, filling the corridor with cigarette smoke and talking to her friends on the military phone.

It seemed that as she failed so miserably to pursue a civilian career she was going to begrudge me of mine as she called me into her office to tell me that i wasnt going to be allowed my discharge.

This seemed strange as the rear party SNCO in charge of the admin office, the rear party OC (A Captain) and the Regimental Career Management Officer all were in agreement that early release was the best course of action for me.

It also seemed strange as she was fully aware of the plans, and had been allowing me to go on job interviews and had even been asking me with apparent great interest what kind of jobs I was applying for and how the interviews were going.

Shortly after the interview (in which I had voiced my concerns about her proposed course of action) there was a slight altercation in the office. I lost control, and due to the fact that my newly planned civilian life was now ruined, and ruined by one person alone, I actually lost control of my actions and wrecked the office, knocking pay statements, computers, files and even poppies all over the place.

Needless to say this did not go unnoticed. On my return to work (Wednesday 28th Feb) I was informed that I would no longer be working in my job in the admin office and that I would be cleaning vehicles for the remainder of my time in the army, that is, March-July.

Which begs the question, if my retention in the army was so important for the admin office, is it not a contradiction to employ me outside my job, in a non-essential role, cleaning vehicles?

Oh yes, and I'm getting charged, apparently, for my outburst, and surprise surprise, the CO has taken a personal interest in the fact that I get charged, obviously the RAO has been on the phone to him (probably whilst hanging out of the window with a fag in her mouth) so any chance of a fair hearing on my part is small.