More Professional Units in the RDF

ldooley · 14-11-2007 6:34pm #1

I've been a member of the Army Reserve for nearly 2 years now, I am in one of the smaller companies and I am just wondering if there are any more professional units out there?

Basically I want to switch because some nights when I turn up we're simply told clean the toilets or clean the equipment because noone has turned up, I am still waiting to do my recruit camp even though I've been sworn in since february, the ones in easter and summer just passed us by-we were never told about it, lots more dissappointing things about the company aside from NCOs fighting among eachother over some personal issues on camp, I've been talking to other members of the same company in different brigade areas and they have a better set up, go on weekends away once a month etc., our unit doesn't bar for the annual mass which isn't exactly a weekend away

I was wondering if all of the RDF is like this or are there some more professional units out there??

cp251 · 17-11-2007 11:49am

Where are you based, if I may ask? It all sounds like the bad old days of the FCA at it's worst.

It sounds like one of those units which seem to be run for the benefit of a few long termers. 50 year old privates and the like. More a social club than a military unit. Get out of it. After two years you should be a three star by now.

This is the kind of thing that gave the FCA a bad name and dogs the RDF to this day.

source · 17-11-2007 1:57pm

ldooley, where are you in the country? If you are in Dublin Cork or Limerick ( or around the general areas) might i suggest the ADR, 2AD are in Dublin (cathal brugha barracks, rathmines) 3AD are in Limerick( Sarsfield Barracks) and 4AD are in the Naval Base in Haulbowline.

One of the best thing about these units is the regimental camp each year, the 3 reserve battery's and the permanent battery camp together in the curragh for a week and then move to gormanston for a week where they fire the Bofor EL 70/40 mm anti aircraft gun.

The ADR do deployments once a year as a regiment, where the set up defences at a ground location, and the air corps come down to do dry attack runs, there's adventure weekends, range practices, tactical weekends, etc etc, once you get your recruit camp out of the way, the regiment runs all sorts of courses, which you have full access to.

I know i may be a little biased, as i spent over 3 years in the 3rd, but i have to say i don't regret a minute of the time i was with them, and wish i could still be there. I can't stay in due to my current job.

http://www.bebo.com/3AD

have a look and see if it floats your boat

Manic Moran · 17-11-2007 8:29pm

Sounds a bit like myself. When I joined, all those many moons ago, I actually signed into the (then) 20th Infantry. Before swearing in, though, I had mentioned to a couple of friends what unit I was in and universally told "Get out. Find a different unit." (That unit might have improved since, I have no idea). It worked out for the better. Personally, I went Cav in the end.

I'm not sure how transfers would work, though, if you've already raised your right hand, you might be SOL for a few years.

NTM

cp251 · 17-11-2007 11:40pm

The 20th? I was in the 20th in the eighties. It all depended on the company you were in. D and E companies were the best. C was rubbish and A and B average. I was in D, easily the best at the time. Not just my opinion, I might add. I suspect the now 62nd follow similar lines, good and bad companies. It all depends on the officers and NCOs, whether they are donkeys or lions.:)

V Bull · 19-11-2007 1:01pm

Hi Idooley, sorry to here your having a bad experience in and with your RDF unit.

As an ex-member, of over 30years experience, I deploured any kind of inhouse fighting between any rank, from recruit to officers, yes, they fight too.........or groups / clicks.

I joined a Dublin based Battalion in the early '70's, saw some nasty favouritism goin' on and decided this aint for me. So a couple of us transferred to one of the smaller corps units and never looked back, even to this day.

A corps unit being smaller in numbers was more personal, on a one to one basis if you like, check them out, go down to one on their parade night, ask them about their unit, look around and decide. You can transferr to any other RDF unit if they have a vacancy, and as many times as you like.

Don't give up on the Reserve.................

ldooley · 19-11-2007 6:54pm

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'm up in dublin for college but plan to return to cork eventually, I joined the Eastern Brigade

I didn't really get it but I know one 2 Star got a lot of stick from a Corporal on camp because he went to college, Corporal just kept picking on him for that reason-funny thing is he's one of those "I only turn up twice a year and for camp" Corporals in his late 40s, is this commonplace in the Army Reserve?
I have got the odd smart comment from a few privates and that NCO but it really didn't bother me

Thanks V Bull I'll try some other corps, I'm in a very small one at the moment but a lot of the NCOs really don't want to get anything done, took one private 2 years to get sworn in-he was given the reason that they had difficulty getting his clearane, then a Sergeant told him they kept losing his forms, really don't know what to think of the RDF after my experience

source · 19-11-2007 7:17pm

ldooley wrote: »

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'm up in dublin for college but plan to return to cork eventually, I joined the Eastern Brigade

I didn't really get it but I know one 2 Star got a lot of stick from a Corporal on camp because he went to college, Corporal just kept picking on him for that reason-funny thing is he's one of those "I only turn up twice a year and for camp" Corporals in his late 40s, is this commonplace in the Army Reserve?
I have got the odd smart comment from a few privates and that NCO but it really didn't bother me

Thanks V Bull I'll try some other corps, I'm in a very small one at the moment but a lot of the NCOs really don't want to get anything done, took one private 2 years to get sworn in-he was given the reason that they had difficulty getting his clearane, then a Sergeant told him they kept losing his forms, really don't know what to think of the RDF after my experience

ldooley believe me when i say that this is a thing of the past in the majority of the reserve, what it sounds like to me is a few of the "good old boys" who don't want to let go of the way things were in the FCA, Don't let them hold you back, go and get a transfer, of and if you do go ADR then you're well set up for both college and when you move back to cork, as you won't have to leave the regiment, just move from one battery to another.....

I know i keep pushing it but i really did love it, and because the establishment of an ADR battery is only 85 pers, you really do get that small unit feel, and almost everybody in the regiment know's each other.

ldooley · 19-11-2007 8:30pm

foinse wrote: »

ldooley believe me when i say that this is a thing of the past in the majority of the reserve, what it sounds like to me is a few of the "good old boys" who don't want to let go of the way things were in the FCA, Don't let them hold you back, go and get a transfer, of and if you do go ADR then you're well set up for both college and when you move back to cork, as you won't have to leave the regiment, just move from one battery to another..... I know i keep pushing it but i really did love it, and because the establishment of an ADR battery is only 85 pers, you really do get that small unit feel, and almost everybody in the regiment know's each other.

Thanks foinse, i'll have a look at them, do the whole regiment train together for camp and do ye do much in Cobh? Are ye trained in the Steyr and GPMGs like infantry?

Hagar · 19-11-2007 9:02pm

cp251 wrote: »

The 20th? I was in the 20th in the eighties. It all depended on the company you were in. D and E companies were the best. C was rubbish and A and B average. I was in D, easily the best at the time. Not just my opinion, I might add. I suspect the now 62nd follow similar lines, good and bad companies. It all depends on the officers and NCOs, whether they are donkeys or lions.:)

I''ll see your eighties and raise you 1973.:D

At that time D Coy was F troop (no offence different decade), C Coy were dog rough, A Coy and B Coy were decent enough. E Coy - Complacht na bFiann or Complacht na Vaseline as we called them, were top notch. They did a marvellous 15 minute marching and rifle handling display set off with a single command and after that no more commands until it was finished.

I was in "B" Coy, which was formed from the old 44th Dublin LDF Batt. My father served in the 44th during the Emergency.

source · 20-11-2007 1:10am

ldooley wrote: »

Thanks foinse, i'll have a look at them, do the whole regiment train together for camp and do ye do much in Cobh? Are ye trained in the Steyr and GPMGs like infantry?

Recruit training is same as infantry so plenty on steyr and gpmg,also at 3 star there's classes done on the .5 as part of gunnery training. after you get your stars, you progress onto gunnery, yeah the whole regiment train together on camps and deployments. Some years there are mixed crews on the guns on summer camp, ie people from the 3 rdf bty's, the only ones who keep to themselves are the 1st (PDF) but even they're joining in the craic lately, i just finished a month long course during the summer to become a gun commander, there were members from the whole regiment on the course with pdf and rdf instructors, great month......as for cobh, i was based in limerick but the training syllabus is the same for all battery's, they would do recruit training, 2 star training, basic gunnery courses in preparation for camp, and of course there is some element of cleaning and maintanance of equipment.along with parades and the like.

ldooley · 20-11-2007 1:23pm

Thanks very much foinse i'll check them out in Cathal Brugha and see what the story is, appreciate everyones help here

cp251 · 21-11-2007 2:36pm

Hagar wrote: »

I''ll see your eighties and raise you 1973.:D

At that time D Coy was F troop (no offence different decade), C Coy were dog rough, A Coy and B Coy were decent enough. E Coy - Complacht na bFiann or Complacht na Vaseline as we called them, were top notch. They did a marvellous 15 minute marching and rifle handling display set off with a single command and after that no more commands until it was finished.

I was in "B" Coy, which was formed from the old 44th Dublin LDF Batt. My father served in the 44th during the Emergency.

Gawd you're really OLD;) D company 'An Piarsach'. We were the elite forces of the 20th in the eighties:D We even wore maroon scarves with our combats to show how elite we were:rolleyes: Also we didn't have to parade on Thursdays nights due to the fact that we were the student company, not that most of us were. C was desperate. E were nearly as good as us:rolleyes: They wore black scarves to show their elite status. In camp competitions it invariably came to a head to head between us and E. But we usually beat them with the military skills. They usually won the sports stuff, although we always beat them at soccer. They would beat us at GAA.

We also did a fifteen minute or so marching display sometimes to the accompaniment of the the theme of Monthy Pythons flying circus. I never really understood the reason for doing it but it left us with a great feeling of accomplishment. I remember doing a display in Monaghan barracks during camp much to the surprise of the PDF.

I think at the time we were probably among the best units in the FCA, infantry anyway, if only for reasons that we had better access to equipment and training because we were based in a Dublin city barracks. Essentially we used the FN almost exclusively and actually had to be retrained in drill movements for a parade using the .303. I don't think I fired the .303 again after the first year.

bunny shooter · 21-11-2007 8:59pm

And you had the "Paras" in Cork City, 23 Bn, but we WERE the best, 13 Bn

V Bull · 22-11-2007 12:54pm

I hope that Idooley isnt put off by all the "old timers" and their "I remember" crack.....

Anyway, to add to it, Hagar, I'll raise you a little bit to 1972. Yes, I was with the fada's, E Coy, Complacht na bhFiann, in Griffith Barracks. We were then moved to the Brugha. Hey less about the Vaseline bit.........

The BBC Panorama came over in the mid '70's and did a program about the PDF and in particular, the FCA.... And guess what cp251..???.... The powers that be in Army HQ got the best FCA unit to take part in it.

Yes guys, you're dead right, it was E Coy, Complacht na BhFiann, and yours truley was in it............

And cp251, that marching drill you guys did was to the tune of Monty's alright but it was from the episode the Ministry of Silly Walks, remember.......Ha ha..

Hagar · 22-11-2007 1:04pm

I wonder is there a clip available somwhere?

V Bull · 22-11-2007 1:58pm

I tried the BBC Panorama archives but no luck.

cp251 · 22-11-2007 3:11pm

Ah but that was the seventies Vbull. 'The Pearse' had caught up by the eighties. You were still good, it's just that we were better:D hah!

We always had a great rivalry though. I wonder what it's like in the current 62nd. They have a good website.http://www.62infantry.com/

There's a bit on the history of the 20th and I note that D company's motto is the same as the ARW. I rest my case.:cool::p

I actually appear in one of the photos. I think it's me anyway.

V Bull · 22-11-2007 3:39pm

Yeh nice site, the 62nd, but try this website out.

http://ministryofsillywalks.ytmnd.com/

I think its your old unit doin' their COFD to music, is that you!!!!. I hear them say.........

E Coy were, are and will always be best............

Best of luck

cp251 · 22-11-2007 5:05pm

Recently discovered photos of E company in combat action:

V Bull · 22-11-2007 5:10pm

Brilliant............nice one...........no answer to that........

I think that's me in the bottom photo, 2nd from right eating my Jumbo Breakfast Roll....................

ldooley · 22-11-2007 5:42pm

Glad to see me threads serving some nostalgic use-if only I knew a little more about the FCÁ!!

V Bull · 22-11-2007 6:30pm

Well, Idooley, I think that everyone on this thread have given more than sound advise to your queiry over the last few days or so........

Unfortunately, this is what happens when a thread has run it's course and yep, I too am to blame....................but you cann't help but love it........

Hagar · 22-11-2007 6:47pm

I know we're old but black & white pictures is a bit much...:D

ldooley · 22-11-2007 6:48pm

V Bull wrote: »

Well, Idooley, I think that everyone on this thread have given more than sound advise to your queiry over the last few days or so........

Unfortunately, this is what happens when a thread has run it's course and yep, I too am to blame....................but you cann't help but love it........

Sounds like a lot of happy memories its good to hear of them, appreciate all the help i got def goin to transfer at some stage-thanks esp for your advice v-bull, one thing, if I stay with lets say the Cavs and tansfer to infantry after a few yrs will I lose my rank?

V Bull · 22-11-2007 6:56pm

No, you will never loose a 3 star private rank, or cpl if you have completed a line cpl course. They will always stay with you or their equivilant if you go to the likes of the Slugish Marines (Slua). But of course you will have to be retrained in there field of expertise.

ldooley · 22-11-2007 6:58pm

V Bull wrote: »

No, you will never loose a 3 star private rank, or cpl if you have completed a line cpl course. They will always stay with you or their equivilant if you go to the likes of the Slugish Marines (Slua). But of course you will have to be retrained in there field of expertise.

Ok very good, my company told me that I would lose my rank but it is a spcialist company...will prob give it away if i say anymore!

V Bull · 22-11-2007 7:20pm

In the Military Police, the lowest rank is cpl, and you gain that rank by taking part in and completing specilist training pertaining to the MP's, hard work while training but gets a bit boring after.

However, if you transfer from a Police unit to another non-Police unit, yes, you will loose that so called "privilaged" rank (back lash expected) back to a 3 star private unless you have under gone a line cpl course, alot of the P.A. cpl's do this as a safe guard in case they transfer. A cpl in the P.A's on camp will get their cpl pay plus tech pay allowance.............Open to correction.........

However yet again, I did know a guy that transfered from the P.A's to the Cav and kept his cpl rank..............

Nuttzz · 22-11-2007 7:51pm

after the re-org there were a surplus of pa's. none of them dropped in rank when they moved to the inf

ldooley · 22-11-2007 8:13pm

V Bull wrote: »

In the Military Police, the lowest rank is cpl, and you gain that rank by taking part in and completing specilist training pertaining to the MP's, hard work while training but gets a bit boring after.

However, if you transfer from a Police unit to another non-Police unit, yes, you will loose that so called "privilaged" rank (back lash expected) back to a 3 star private unless you have under gone a line cpl course, alot of the P.A. cpl's do this as a safe guard in case they transfer. A cpl in the P.A's on camp will get their cpl pay plus tech pay allowance.............Open to correction.........

However yet again, I did know a guy that transfered from the P.A's to the Cav and kept his cpl rank..............

Thanks v bull, I was thinking of moving to Artillery/Cav/Air Def while in Dub and moving to Infantry if i'm still in th RDF when i finish college and go back home, just was wondering what the situation with my rank would be.

Rew · 22-11-2007 8:58pm

Everyone bar the PA's do the inf PNCO course so you can maintain your rank. Easts PNCO course is the best in the RDF so if you can get on it there do. SOme sub-units are better then others so other coys in the same Bn may suit you better. I cann't say I have much love for the Arty, I love my Inf tactics and training too much.

More Professional Units in the RDF

Comments