Joining the regular British Army?

CZ 453

Did you apply to be an officer?Do you have a cert or something from college?When do you have to decide your field by?

Dub13

I hope you lads don't forget us once you are in,regular updates would be great if you could.

Poccington

Well done backonceagain.

Get stuck in and ****ing enjoy it lad.

backonceagain

shezer wrote: »

Did you apply to be an officer?Do you have a cert or something from college?When do you have to decide your field by?

No mate, to be honest I looked into that route and it all seemed a bit long winded and when I just want to get out there and start training without too many classrooms, it seemed like a good idea to just go straight in for the army with the rest of 'um.

Dub13 wrote: »

I hope you lads don't forget us once you are in,regular updates would be great if you could.

Damn right mate, cheers for all your help too, arrse has been a big part in my transition to joining

Poccington wrote: »

Well done backonceagain.

Get stuck in and ****ing enjoy it lad.

thanks poccington, ill keep updates coming when I get the chance to let ye know how it's all going. 'Fear Naught'

CZ 453

oh right.best of luck bud

Leadership

I joined the British army and had a great craic, spent 17 years there in total and reached the rank of Captain in the Royal Engineers.

I started as private in 1987 and worked my way up the ranks. At the time the IRA were quite busy so there was always a weariness about me from other soldiers but that faded as the years went on. I ended up in a unit that was 40% Irish nationals and we were treated like crap. We did the most guard duties, the most DRO's (pan bashing & spud peeling) and spent most weekends working. That lasted about a year and the unit was disbanded but I can say that I never witnessed treatment like that again.

After the first gulf war we were generally accepted, a few comments after a few beers from time but nothing you cannot laugh off. You will get the nick name "Paddy" or "bog hopper" or similar but again in the British army if you are different in any way you are branded for your career, like if you have red hair you will be "ginge" or "Gwar" at the amusement to the rest of the unit.

The training is second to none, the opportunities for trades is great. I started life as a Fitter repairing heavy plant machinery but soon specialised in bomb disposal and loved it. The extra few quid from the dangerous role helped as well as pay is not the best.

See the world, I have been on every continent on the planet including the Arctic and Antarctic. Ok much of it was crap when on operations but the odd trip to Belize, Kenya, Cyprus in between was worth every bad trip.

Have fun and keep an open mind, only advice for training is to work on stamina as you will be getting "beasted" carrying water jerry cans up and down hills all through your career but believe me its all worth it in the end.

Oh and being Irish you are now entitled to an extra few days leave per year for travelling! Bonus!

Good luck and have fun!

CZ 453

Hi there.What did you have to do to change from nco to captain and how long did it take for this to happen?thanks

Leadership

My Career went something like this

3 years - LCPL
6 Years - CPL
8 Years - Sgt
12 Years - SSGT
13 Years - Late entry Officer training Sandhurst
14 Years - Captain

If you join as a Tom (private) then there are many options open to become an officer. Basically these start once to completed a JNCO Cardre and if you score high on leadership and come in the top 5 or so you will almost be fast tracked through the promotion courses. If after you have completed the cardre then you can apply at any point to become an officer. Below Corporal you will attend the same selection as a standard officer candidate but with real military experience you will stand head and shoulders above most of the other candidates. Most of the respected officers I came across went this route. If selected you will start day 1 of the officer training as if you just joined the army so its back to basic training. If you go for it after reaching Corporal then you do not have to do the basic training at Sandhurst but you will still be commissioned as a 2nd LT.

My route was to become a SNCO and I was selected for late entry which means I was on a much smaller less intense course and I was commissioned as a Captain. This is a tough route as by then you have to have attended Section commanders cardre, SNCO Cardre etc and these are not easy and take years to achieve.

Its strange pledging your elegance to Queen being an Irish Citizen and by then I had a British Passport.

Keep your Irish passport up to date!!!!!!!! There was a situation I got into by being taken hostage in Rowanda (& Bosnia once) and if I didnt show them an Irish passport I guess I would not be around to tell the story.

CZ 453

Thanks buddy.Thats some real helpful info.

Poccington

backonceagain wrote: »

thanks poccington, ill keep updates coming when I get the chance to let ye know how it's all going. 'Fear Naught'

Just remember, no matter they do to you they can't kill ya.... And everything ends eventually

Leadership

NOTE FOR OFFICER ROUTE!!!!

Lads the scenario I gave for becoming an officer only work in certain Corp's.

For instance it will work in the Royal Signals, Royal Engineers or basically any support arm. It can become more difficult in certain infantry regiments like the Guards regiments or any historic regiment (private school & daddies old regiment for instance), Cavalry is nearly impossible with out connections as well due to the history but units like the marines or para's are ok.

If you have a degree its fairly easy if its a trade related for instance mechanical engineering would get you straight into the REME as an officer, IT related for Signals and Civil for Royal engineers and any old degree wil help you walk into the infantry.

Last point, do not get rail roaded by the recruiters, have an idea what you want to do and stick to it. They get bonuses for recruiting into certain less glamourous units.

kermit_ie

Isn't the Adj of a Regiment usually a former WO, commissioned as a Capt?

Leadership

kermit_ie wrote: »

Isn't the Adj of a Regiment usually a former WO, commissioned as a Capt?

They are quite often ex WO's, they are also QM's or regimental 2ic's.

foxhoundone

good luck lads, i served 12 yrs in the artillary great mates an good crack, got a lot of usful certificates. HGV 1. track lic.{handy if u join a preservation club}alsorts of medals an regtimental colours for shooting {even got to BISLEY}as for being a{paddy} in the BA
i found that i trained harder, learned more an generally was above average so i made my name an earned respect, the irish man in BA has a lot to live upto an albeit there are some badons u just rise above it and shame them on every aspect .
also under THE SOILDIERS COVENANT, depending on your discharge grade, if you decide to join any govt branch{ie fire brgd, police nhs post office ect} ypu automaticly get higher points for service renderd . an great backup system if you fall on hard times.

redsurfer

hi all

i thinks of joining the british army as a officer and was wondering if anyone out there can give me some info.

i have 4 hounor not 5 as there web page is looking for, is there any way around this or can you join the ranks and get a fast track way to become a officer

CZ 453

I checked this out only recently.Same as yourself i have no 5 honours subject!It is very hard to be fast tracked to be an officer when you join as a soldier!You must be selected by another officer and still pass a selection board

Leadership

redsurfer wrote: »

i have 4 hounor not 5 as there web page is looking for, is there any way around this or can you join the ranks and get a fast track way to become a officer

Through the ranks is tougher, you have to prove yourself and be in the top 10% of your intake, JNCO Cadre etc.

Another more realistic option is to try for AGC, RLC etc. What is your degree in? If its IT then the Signals, Construction the Engineers and so on.

redsurfer

thanks for the info

the_syco

DILLIGAF wrote: »

All I say to someone that asks why I would fight for the queen,is to remind them that working in a supermarket and spending fri-sun getting sloshed isn't exactly serving their country either. So my patriotism(or lack there of) is not an issue and I would hope it wouldn't be an issue within my unit either.

LOL. Nice come back.

You going to join the Irish in the British army? There was a thread a few months back about it.

/me notices the date that this was posted

/me relieases said post is probably forward a few pages

Leadership

shezer wrote: »

I checked this out only recently.Same as yourself i have no 5 honours subject!It is very hard to be fast tracked to be an officer when you join as a soldier!You must be selected by another officer and still pass a selection board

If you have had at least 1 or 2 years experience then the selection board is actually quite easy. You will be up against "green" civi's and the about 10% OTC candidates who will have some experience.

You still have to be switched on and show leadership qualities, leadership skills can be gained with practice if you are not a natural leader so read up on this subject if you are serious.

getz

a lot of irish join the irish regiments in the british army--best of luck

Covenline

DILLIGAF wrote: »

Anyway, I wouldn't bother asking too many questions here, unless you want an irish opinion. I find <snip> All refferal links snipped - Hagar <snip> to the best website around for information about recruiting to trades to regiments and their activities. A great community and generally comprising of soldiers and recruiters alike. I put up a thread asking for some basic info a few months ago and I got 3 PM's with numbers and names of people to get onto. Best of luck with it

Also try <snip> All refferal links snipped - Hagar <snip>
military fitness and training

profitandseer

2 Para are back this week, 15 dead after a 6 month tour,(also 1 RIR KIA on tour)

At that ratio, the chances of joining 2 Para (600strong) as a career soldier, going to A-Stan to do a tour every 24 months, over lets say over 16 yrs of service and getting killed are.


8 tours x 15 =120 ....1 in 5, getting seriously wounded is odds on.

profitandseer

On top of that 80 wounded,many lost limbs, 2 Para paraded in Colchester this morning, very moving, great speech by Sgt Major, especially remembering the fallen.


<snip> All refferal links snipped - Hagar <snip>

Leadership

profitandseer wrote: »

8 tours x 15 =120 ....1 in 5, getting seriously wounded is odds on.

I dont agree, the ratio will be much lower as not every tour will be as tough as that one. The tour coincided with a big push in the area plus there will be more routine tours thrown in.

iceage

Also, not everyone wants to join the Paras. Theres much more to joining the British Army than the Paras, now ask any Para and you'll get a completely differant answer nornally punctuated with a good smattering of French...and some other languages thrown in too! Question is P Company.....are you up for it?

profitandseer

iceage wrote: »

Also, not everyone wants to join the Paras. Theres much more to joining the British Army than the Paras, now ask any Para and you'll get a completely differant answer nornally punctuated with a good smattering of French...and some other languages thrown in too! Question is P Company.....are you up for it?

<snip> All refferal links snipped - Hagar <snip>


Footage of a couple of drops,Jumping at 250 ft is the lowest, on most jumps its 600ft or at night with full equipment, carrying anything up to 90 pounds bergen, thats not including chutes that weigh 35 pounds reserve 25 pound and weapon, all that acts like an anchor so feels much heavier,at 250 ft its a live combat jump/exercise with no need for reserve, and light weapon order.


<snip> All refferal links snipped - Hagar <snip>

profitandseer

Leadership wrote: »

I dont agree, the ratio will be much lower as not every tour will be as tough as that one. The tour coincided with a big push in the area plus there will be more routine tours thrown in.

Which is why I wrote at that ratio.

cherrypicker555

iceage wrote: »

Also, not everyone wants to join the Paras. Theres much more to joining the British Army than the Paras, now ask any Para and you'll get a completely differant answer nornally punctuated with a good smattering of French...and some other languages thrown in too! Question is P Company.....are you up for it?

Ex world champion boxer attempts TA version of P company (no 20 miler).
<snip> All refferal links snipped - Hagar <snip>

profitandseer

<snip> All refferal links snipped - Hagar <snip>