[Dan1607]

I want to join the TA and take part in the summer challenge which equips you with all the basic training. However, my graduation day will conflict with the basic training dates. Is it possible to ask to leave for the graduation day or is it something i will have to choose between?

[jacet]

Couldn't comment on being able to get leave but it's probably worth remembering that most graduation ceremonies are very very boring.
Just saying

[Miza]

For my graduation my university actually wanted me to pay if I wanted to attend, I told them to shove it and send me my certificate by the post, I was very happy burning my accounting and management policies textbook on the summer bbq.

[armyboy]

If you really want to attend the grad ceremony then it is worth asking- they will probably be ok about it - it depends what training you will be missing.

I agree that most grad ceremonies are really boring- I got my degree certificate sent by post

[Dan1607]

Yea I guess I’ll just ask. Just thought maybe someone else had been in the same position. I don't really want to go but my parents want to. My university allows military dress at the graduation ceremony. It would be pretty entertaining since almost everyone on my course is liberal and anti-military etc.

[Miza]

Can I just say that wearing military uniform for graduation is a VERY bad idea, why? Work it out yourself.

[Dan1607]

Yea i know it would be a bad idea, i was just entertaining the idea and that the option is there.

[Harpoon]

I'd say graduation, based on what people say it's boring but you only get one Graduation however I'm sure the Summer Challenge is an annual event so you could always go to the next one.

[jacet]

(Original post by Harpoon)
I'd say graduation, based on what people say it's boring but you only get one Graduation however I'm sure the Summer Challenge is an annual event so you could always go to the next one.

Hmm, I fear you aren't quite grasping just what a graduation ceremony entails! If there was only a small group of people and you knew everyone it'd be great or if there was a truly inspirational guest speaker then it would be fantastic! But there are hundreds of people you've never met who have read subjects you've never even heard of and the guest speaker is the managing director of the local cardboard box factory! If you want closure on a chapter of your life and fancy seeing your mates for one last huzzah by all means do the graduation but if you're looking to move on to the next phase of your life and don't care that much then I'd give it a miss!

[Harpoon]

(Original post by jacet)
Hmm, I fear you aren't quite grasping just what a graduation ceremony entails! If there was only a small group of people and you knew everyone it'd be great or if there was a truly inspirational guest speaker then it would be fantastic! But there are hundreds of people you've never met who have read subjects you've never even heard of and the guest speaker is the managing director of the local cardboard box factory! If you want closure on a chapter of your life and fancy seeing your mates for one last huzzah by all means do the graduation but if you're looking to move on to the next phase of your life and don't care that much then I'd give it a miss!

Maybe not, I am only in my first year. But even so, it still seems something that isn't worth missing. If the TA Summer Challenge was a one off thing then maybe but as I said, if its an annual event which I'm guessing it is, is it really worth missing your graduation for?

[jacet]

(Original post by Harpoon)
Maybe not, I am only in my first year. But even so, it still seems something that isn't worth missing.

Why not? You're collecting a piece of paper. That is all it is. Thousands of people attend their graduation every year and thousands elect not to attend and the world keeps on spinning regardless.

If the TA Summer Challenge was a one off thing then maybe but as I said, if its an annual event which I'm guessing it is, is it really worth missing your graduation for?

Yes.
The thing that you seem to be missing is that in 12 months time what will the op be doing? Having just completed university I'm assuming (as they are looking into spending the summer doing this) that they don't have a full time job lined up. But what about this time next year? If they start a career (which many do after uni) it's highly unlikely that they'll be able to take off 5 weeks all at once having been in employment for only one year! This means they'll either have to quit their job or will spend the time until next summer doing gap year / "character building" type activities (you know the type I mean).
Quitting a job in this current climate takes a lot of balls given the number of unemployed graduates there are living off the bank of mum and dad. Equally waiting a year purely so you can spend 5 weeks playing with the TA is a big gamble!
At the end of the day it's the ops choice and depends on what they have planned. I'm just saying that if I was in that situation I'd want to crack on, do the summer challenge and move on to the next part of my life rather than putting things on hold for 12 months purely so I can attend a 2 hour ceremony.

Just my tuppence worth.

[ProStacker]

(Original post by jacet)
Why not? You're collecting a piece of paper. That is all it is. Thousands of people attend their graduation every year and thousands elect not to attend and the world keeps on spinning regardless.

Which is one view. Another is perhaps mum and dad have scrimped and saved to put their child through university. Perhaps it is the first generation of that family to get a degree. Graduations are often more about mum and dad than the graduating student and I'd be loathed to not give them their day and do a month summer camp with the TA. If you want to join the TA, join the TA.