why are arw so secretive?

zig

Ok i dont claim to be very knowledgeable in this area, so please dont slate me cause of this question, but why exactly are the arw so secretive? Just I hear things from people in the army and read things on this board about the fact that they dont tell you much about the wing and it seems theyre not allowed talk about it etc...
Why? Just comparing to other elite forces, like the sas or the foreign legion, theres tonnes and tonnes of books about all their exploits. Theres programs on television, theres loads of info on the internet.
I know theres not that many army rangers in comparison but still it seems strange.
Is it that they are on operations secretly that government doesnt want people knowing about? (Like foreign mission that take away our neutrality for example?)
Is it because of something to do with dealing with members of the IRA?
Or is it the simple reason that maybe they are not doing too much (with the exception of missions like chad , liberia or lebanon etc) thats worth hearing about because we are a neutral country and they have nothing to actually do or talk about any more than any other infantry soldier.
anyway its just something ive been wondering

DublinWriter

In all honesty, I think it might be to do with them wanting to cultivate a aura of mystique about themselves.

I'm totally open to correction on this, but I don't think there's anything in the standing orders of the ARW that calls for such level of secrecy.

It's a bit like what happened with the SAS. Up to around 1968 they were more than willing to be photographed for the press on active duty in Northern Ireland without any camouflage and in full fatigues. It was only when the situation got decidedly hairy in the early 1970's that they became more covert in their operations and dealings with the outside world.

arybvtcw0eolkf

zig wrote: »

Ok i dont claim to be very knowledgeable in this area, so please dont slate me cause of this question, but why exactly are the arw so secretive? Just I hear things from people in the army and read things on this board about the fact that they dont tell you much about the wing and it seems theyre not allowed talk about it etc...
Why? Just comparing to other elite forces, like the sas or the foreign legion, theres tonnes and tonnes of books about all their exploits. Theres programs on television, theres loads of info on the internet.
I know theres not that many army rangers in comparison but still it seems strange.
Is it that they are on operations secretly that government doesnt want people knowing about? (Like foreign mission that take away our neutrality for example?)
Is it because of something to do with dealing with members of the IRA?
Or is it the simple reason that maybe they are not doing too much (with the exception of missions like chad , liberia or lebanon etc) thats worth hearing about because we are a neutral country and they have nothing to actually do or talk about any more than any other infantry soldier.
anyway its just something ive been wondering

Most of those books, documentries etc you come across on the SAS (the Iranian siege etc) are wrote and narrated by ex-members who make a few quid out of telling their stories - Andy McNab etc.

The ARW doesn't "do much", then you list missions like Lebanon, Chad and Liberia (I'll throw in East Timor for a recent mission too), sounds like your contradicting yourself, sounds pretty busy to me.

Before 1991 when Yugoslavia tore itself apart no other country in Europe faced the same internal security threat as we did. And I feel a lot more comfortable that our enemies (internal and external - if we had any) weren't up to speed not the tactics, strenghts & locations of our special forces.

'Neutral', well the IRA were committed to the over throw of our diplomatically elected governments here in Ireland. We didn't need to hide behind this 'neutrality bullsh*t' with them.

zig

The ARW doesn't "do much", then you list missions like Lebanon, Chad and Liberia (I'll throw in East Timor for a recent mission too), sounds like your contradicting yourself, sounds pretty busy to me.

I genuinely wrote that about 3 times trying to rephrase it because I knew it would look like Im contradicting myself and look like im taking away from what they do, fair enough they do have missions, it still doesnt answer the question of why they are so secretive

Before 1991 when Yugoslavia tore itself apart no other country in Europe faced the same internal security threat as we did. And I feel a lot more comfortable that our enemies (internal and external - if we had any) weren't up to speed not the tactics, strenghts & locations of our special forces.

well thats a fair answer to my question of why, but if that is their reason why does it seem the likes of the sas or foreign legion dont try and hide their strenghts, tactics and locations, or is it they are being secretive too and just feeding us bull****.

arybvtcw0eolkf

zig wrote: »

I genuinely wrote that about 3 times trying to rephrase it because I knew it would look like Im contradicting myself and look like im taking away from what they do, but it still doesnt answer the question.


well thats a fair answer to my question of why, but if that is their reason why does it seem the likes of the sas or foreign legion dont try and hide their strenghts, tactics and locations, or is it they are being secretive too and just feeding us bull****.

Sorry, I wasn't implying you were trying to downplay what the ARW do, I'm just finishing up in work and rushing through some things so I probably came across as bit harsh.

I think we're fed a lot of BS on what other special forces do.

return guide

I would imagine that our friends,enemies, internal and external would only too delighted if the elite troops that might face them in the near, or far future make themselves public.

The odd couple of seconds on the news would remind the public that we have an elite section in the DF without saying to much.

My thoughts.

Rt

minidazzler

In Fairness most SF Units that are really worth their Salt. (i.e. Delta, Force Recon, ARW etc.) You wont find much current Info on them that can be 100% Verified.

Riddle101

It's best if we don't know what they're doing, i mean i've heard stories about the ARW being in Afganistan, if people were to know about stuff it would be suicide, it's better that they don't tell us because that's the way the Special Forces should stay, i mean would you want the whole of Ireland knowing what the ARW get up to, like the old saying goes, there's a reason for everything in the Army so i'm sure there's a reason for the ARW being secretive.

eroo

Although I have no proof,you can be sure ARW were involved in op's during the Troubles.The PIRA were the most feared/dangerous terrorist organisation in the world,not to mention the single greatest threat to the stability of the Republic,and you think ARW didn't conduct op's against them?That is why they are so secretive.Because you can bet dissidents would've loved to have gotten there hands on a 'Free Stater'.Also,it's just like there are restricted files etc in the rest of the Defence Forces,because tactics,SOP's etc cannot and should not be disclosed!It is all part of the bigger picture i.e.State Security

the GALL

from what i remember from the news (except liberia) etc etc there hasn't been a mention of the arw carrying out 'hairy' missions. so if it aint official then it's like a chinesse whisper 'i heard it from a friend who's in the battalion who know's a friend who's mate is in the wing' and when when you ask who the friend is nobody know's, any one remember the story of kaiser sosay?.:)

eroo

Just becuase you don't read about something in the paper,doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

the GALL

so its a chinese whisper

cp251

I was in a closed barracks some time ago. In the old Officers mess, It was obvious that it at one stage had been used for an hostage rescue or house clearing exercise. There were red and blue marks everywhere from the hits caused by practice ammo and a couple of handles from either practice grenades or a stun grenade. In one room was a piece of paper which described how 'the subject' was followed and his activities on a certain day. Clearly part of the exercise which was probably some form of anti terrorist operation. Quite obviously it was an ARW exercise. They were a bit sloppy with the paperwork. (It no longer exists BTW. It said 'ARW restrcted' on it and I decided it would be better if it was shredded).

That is a part of the ARW's job. Possibly to rescue hostages or storm a hijacked airliner or take out some terrorists. Now if I was a terrorist in Ireland and the faces of ARW were shown on TV or in the papers. I would collect copies and paste them in my terrorist scrap book. Just in case I'm being shadowed. That's the reason their faces are covered. So then won't be recognised when they're on covert operations.

Simple as that.

ex_infantry man

well the arw are regarded as the top of the elite forces in the world and i,m sure there used a lot more than we think? there constantly on training not sitting around in a locker room of some barracks playing cards with the boys for the day! and i,d also reckon they,ve been used in foreign countries like afghanistan and iraq for assasinations and what have ya and god knows what else they don,t go through all that hell when being trained for nothing

rednik

If any of you are ever in the Curragh on a course or with the RDF and use the dining hall in Ceantt keep an eye out for some strange DPMs and insignia. The ARW are constantly training here with foreign forces as well as going abroad to train.
I have been instructed by members of the wing and found them to be nothing but professional,courteous and dedicated to the job. As to them being secretive it is part and parcel of the job.

Riddle101

rednik wrote: »

If any of you are ever in the Curragh on a course or with the RDF and use the dining hall in Ceantt keep an eye out for some strange DPMs and insignia. The ARW are constantly training here with foreign forces as well as going abroad to train.
I have been instructed by members of the wing and found them to be nothing but professional,courteous and dedicated to the job. As to them being secretive it is part and parcel of the job.

Yeah i've seem them they have their own section in the canteen and they get extra rations because they're the S**t

eroo

Grizzly 45

Pick up a copy of Soilder of Fortune [SOF] Feb 1989.Pretty good article by Jim Shortt of IBA fame on th Ranger Wing.Still have it somwhere ,if anyone wants to read it.I'll post it if I can find it.

concussion

Riddle101 wrote: »

Yeah i've seem them they have their own section in the canteen and they get extra rations because they're the S**t

They don't have their own section in the canteen...most people just avoid whatever table they're sitting at. Anytime I've seen them they get the same meal as anyone else.

twinytwo

why would you think ??... the sas has been ruined. Even since they were thrown into the lime light by the embassy seige you have books and tv shows etc made telling everyone bout their selection, missions, combat methods etc. so what is the point in having this elite force if everyone knows how they operate. Why do you think the sbs has unoffically become the uks premier special forces unit.

Morpheus

Its simple,

The less you know the less any undesireables know.

Their identity is kept secret as much as possible for their own operational safety and obviously for anyone else close to them.

I have been instructed by ARW members and they have as the previous poster said always been professionals.

It suits the dept of defence to keep personnel numbers, equipment, training methods and identities as black as possible especially since these members are the de facto LAST line in any major national crisis. In a lot of cases they are reunited with their parent units after theyve completed their ARW service and are responsible for enhancing standard units training with their ranger experiences.

Simply put it doesnt make sense to splash their faces all over national papers if they are still serving and put their lives in danger should they be recognised by terrorists. Im sure former members dont want too much recognition should a former enemy manage to locate them. A bit mittyish some may think but its standard practice in a lot of other countries.

OS119

twinytwo wrote: »

why would you think ??... the sas has been ruined. Even since they were thrown into the lime light by the embassy seige you have books and tv shows etc made telling everyone bout their selection, missions, combat methods etc. so what is the point in having this elite force if everyone knows how they operate. Why do you think the sbs has unoffically become the uks premier special forces unit.

anyone with a brain knows how they operate, or do you think SF have a different leopard crawl, unload drill, CTR or 'try and plan something before you do it and think of some potential contingencies' method from the great washed?

the SBS gained favour over 22SAS (during the 1980's, long before the writers came on the scene) because 22SAS were involved in a number of ops that got a little 'hotter' than was deemed appropriate by those authorising/ordering such ops - effectively that they became a bit less discrete than required on politically sensitive operations. it was believed at the time that this culture change within the regiment came about because it was recruiting less from the 'other' arms and regiments and more from PARA Reg, a regiment whose doctrine from Day 1 is "go in hard". in the early seventies PARA Reg soldiers made up some 30 - 35% of 22SAS yet in the mid-eighties that had increaced to 50%+. it was believed that this change had occured because a number of former PARA Reg soldiers had been posted to influential positions within training wing and that they had 'molded' selection to be more 'PARA-friendly' and less 'other-arms' friendly.

the 'fashion' within UKSF has got pig all to do with the secrecy thing - and indeed the various books had no operational impact at all - as none of them made any startling revelations about equipment, ROE, training or capabilities.

dresden8

I vaguely remember reading in Max Hastings Falklands war book about the SAS arsing up operations on South Georgia.

After the embassy siege they thought they were Gods fighting their own little war, having friends in high places in London. SBS had to pull their arses out of the fire (if I remember right). Must read that book again.

Fratton Fred

dresden8 wrote: »

I vaguely remember reading in Max Hastings Falklands war book about the SAS arsing up operations on South Georgia.

After the embassy siege they thought they were Gods fighting their own little war, having friends in high places in London. SBS had to pull their arses out of the fire (if I remember right). Must read that book again.

They insisted on going to Fortuna Glacier when they shouldn't, the weather was closing in and they were not well enough prepared. Two helicoptors crashed nd it all went pear shaped.

It was actualy a Wessex helicoptor pilot that pulled them out of the ****, he basically landed blind so they could be picked up.

As you can imagine, the Navy loved it

King Ludvig

Same goes for the ERU i suppose, never see their faces in pictures...

mr.miagi

OS119 wrote: »

anyone with a brain knows how they operate, or do you think SF have a different leopard crawl, unload drill, CTR or...

i was once on the range with them fireing their weapons as a break from training
more abit of fun than anything
but some things are done diffrently

reload drill on the range for example is more like a computer game (shout reload and continue)
and
the finger never comes off the trigger

and yeah they are secretive for a reason
like if numbers or training opps were disclosed a potental threat would be ready for them and know what to expect

twinytwo

OS119 wrote: »

anyone with a brain knows how they operate, or do you think SF have a different leopard crawl, unload drill, CTR or 'try and plan something before you do it and think of some potential contingencies' method from the great washed?

So if you hadnt read the books and seen the films you would know exactly how the operate so would you?

kreuzberger

eroo wrote: »

Although I have no proof,you can be sure ARW were involved in op's during the Troubles.The PIRA were the most feared/dangerous terrorist organisation in the world,not to mention the single greatest threat to the stability of the Republic,and you think ARW didn't conduct op's against them?That is why they are so secretive.Because you can bet dissidents would've loved to have gotten there hands on a 'Free Stater'.Also,it's just like there are restricted files etc in the rest of the Defence Forces,because tactics,SOP's etc cannot and should not be disclosed!It is all part of the bigger picture i.e.State Security

If they were involved in ops as you call them then its safe to assume they were operating hand in glove with British special forces and military intelligence services . This section of the British military even according to Irish army intelligence are also the prime suspects of the multiple no warning car bombings of Dublin city centre ,Dublin airport , Monaghan , Dundalk , Castleblaney , as well as a number of assassinations of Irish civilans south of the border . There have been major concerns voiced that these same intelligence services have played a role in subverting the institutions of the state by illegal recruitment of spies and agents within sensitive positions within the state , and then used these agents to cover up the evidence of their atrocities . As far as Im aware no republican group has ever conducted activities like that against the state , therefore I profoundly disagree with your assessment of the biggest threat to the security of the state . I would argue that those with a track record of bombing the hel out of the capital and other towns pose a much greater threat than those with no such record .

Furthermore if they were working north of the border with the British intelligence services they were working hand in glove with British special forces who imported hundreds of czech pattern SA Vz.58assault rifles in 1986 from apartheid south africa , along with RPG rocket rocket launchers and hundreds of grenades g and then distributed them to pro British paramilitary groups and directed them in a campaign of terror directed almost exclusivelly at innocent Irish civilians . Following the importation of those arms under the supervison of Colonel Gordon Kerr of the FRU the civilian death toll at the hands of loyalist killer gangs skyrocketed from one or 2 per year to regular massacres until mid 1994 . Therefore In light of all of the above Im not surprised details of any of their assistance to a foreign military with a long track record of serious cross border terrorist crime directed almost exclusively at innocent Irish citizens should be kept secret from those same Irish citizens .

DublinDes

Mairt wrote: »

Most of those books, documentries etc you come across on the SAS (the Iranian siege etc) are wrote and narrated by ex-members who make a few quid out of telling their stories - Andy McNab etc.

The ARW doesn't "do much", then you list missions like Lebanon, Chad and Liberia (I'll throw in East Timor for a recent mission too), sounds like your contradicting yourself, sounds pretty busy to me.

Before 1991 when Yugoslavia tore itself apart no other country in Europe faced the same internal security threat as we did. And I feel a lot more comfortable that our enemies (internal and external - if we had any) weren't up to speed not the tactics, strenghts & locations of our special forces.

'Neutral', well the IRA were committed to the over throw of our diplomatically elected governments here in Ireland. We didn't need to hide behind this 'neutrality bullsh*t' with them.

Completely agree with you regarding - Most of those books, documentries etc you come across on the SAS (the Iranian siege etc) are wrote and narrated by ex-members who make a few quid out of telling their stories - . Absoulute fantasy stuff, since Britain is only an average guy on the block these days militarily, they have to invent all this daring do stuff to try and project an image of British military ability.

As for the Foreign Legion, well I have'nt seen or heard them doing as much blowing about their exploits. just go into a book shop, see how many bookss their are about the Legion and the SAS. Maybe Simon Murray's book and Padraig O'Keefe's Hidden Soldier compared to the mass of 007 type adventures of the SAS. But the Legion is the real deal, no doubt about it.

As for the IRA been committed to the " over throw of our diplomatically elected governments here in Ireland " - since when did any Irish person get the chance to vote for British occupation of any part of our country. Diplomatically elected governments my a$$.

And anyway, I can only speak of my own background and experience, but most of the serving soldiers and ex soldiers I've known, particularily those who served along the border in the 70's with events like Bloody Sunday etc, are far from been big fans of the Brits. They may not be big supporters of Sinn Fien either, but they certainly did'nt have much time for the Brits, or indeed the Irish govts pandering to the Brits and Unionists.

Fratton Fred

this thread started off so interesting as well. :rolleyes:

kreuzberger

DublinDes wrote: »

Completely agree with you regarding - Most of those books, documentries etc you come across on the SAS (the Iranian siege etc) are wrote and narrated by ex-members who make a few quid out of telling their stories - . Absoulute fantasy stuff, since Britain is only an average guy on the block these days militarily, they have to invent all this daring do stuff to try and project an image of British military ability.

they were run ragged for a long time along the rural lanes of Ireland by farm-hands and bricklayers with no professional military training . On many occasions they just couldnt hack it at all .

the look on this generals face says it all during his interview with an american journalist .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh2o5Q5ahKQ

Had our own journalists not been so limpwristed and subject to section 31 it would have been over long ago

As for the Foreign Legion, well I have'nt seen or heard them doing as much blowing about their exploits. just go into a book shop, see how many bookss their are about the Legion and the SAS. Maybe Simon Murray's book and Padraig O'Keefe's Hidden Soldier compared to the mass of 007 type adventures of the SAS. But the Legion is the real deal, no doubt about it.

definitely

As for the IRA been committed to the " over throw of our diplomatically elected governments here in Ireland " - since when did any Irish person get the chance to vote for British occupation of any part of our country. Diplomatically elected governments my a$$.

of course , its a denial of national democracy .

And anyway, I can only speak of my own background and experience, but most of the serving soldiers and ex soldiers I've known, particularily those who served along the border in the 70's with events like Bloody Sunday etc, are far from been big fans of the Brits. They may not be big supporters of Sinn Fien either, but they certainly did'nt have much time for the Brits, or indeed the Irish govts pandering to the Brits and Unionists.

Indeed many didnt . A few even ended up in jail for fighting them when off duty . One former soldier Anton MacGiolla Bhride , who had been decorated by the Irish army , met his end on the fermanagh border in 1984 during a shoot out with the SAS . An SAS operative was also killed in that engagement . According to Andy McNab in his book Immediate Action the dead SAS operative killed was lance corporal Alistair Slater from Leicestershire . The British army officially listed him as a member of the Parachute Regiment However an obituary appeared in the SAS magazine, Mars & Minerva, stating that Slater was a member of 7 Troop (Free Fall) 'B' Squadron of the SAS. The casualties British special forces took in Ireland had as much to do with their secrecy as fear of recognition or reprisal .

kowloon

I'd say the most secretive SF groups are the ones not under military control.

Riddle101

kowloon wrote: »

I'd say the most secretive SF groups are the ones not under military control.

You mean like the Spetznaz? i've never heard anything about them

Fratton Fred

I would hazard a guess and say thee is more written about the French Foreign legion, the Delta Wing etc than the SAS, but it doesn't have the visibility in Ireland that the SAS does.

One minute the British army has been oppressing the Irish for 800 years, the next they are a bunch of imcompetant fools, I wish people would make their minds up

I have to admire the way this thread has gone from discussing the ARW to having (Yet another) dig at the SAS.:rolleyes:

kowloon

Riddle101 wrote: »

You mean like the Spetznaz? i've never heard anything about them

I was actually refering to the lizard people, I've said too much...........

cp251

they were run ragged for a long time along the rural lanes of Ireland by farm-hands and bricklayers with no professional military training . On many occasions they just couldnt hack it at all .

Oh dear, so many fantasists still believe in the old 'armed struggle'. This thread was about the ARW. Not intended to be another dig at the Brits. But old habits die hard don't they?

If any of you bothered to study anything about the recent troubles. You would find that in fact the opposite was the case. The BA and SAS became quite efficient at dealing with IRA attacks. So much so that the Provos were forced to concentrate their efforts on nice soft targets like farmers in the UDR and crowded streets in England. Loughgall was a nasty shock to the Provos. It also reinforced the view among the likes of Adam etc that murdering Protestants for Irish freedom was not the way to go. Hence the current rather more pleasant state of affairs.

the look on this generals face says it all during his interview with an american journalist .

That was 1979, nearly thirty years ago. Talk about dragging up old history.

Victor

zig wrote: »

why are arw so secretive?

Because information is an important tool.

The Black Oil

'Cos they're deadly, obviously.

DublinDes

cp251 wrote: »

Oh dear, so many fantasists still believe in the old 'armed struggle'. This thread was about the ARW. Not intended to be another dig at the Brits. But old habits die hard don't they?

If any of you bothered to study anything about the recent troubles. You would find that in fact the opposite was the case. The BA and SAS became quite efficient at dealing with IRA attacks. So much so that the Provos were forced to concentrate their efforts on nice soft targets like farmers in the UDR and crowded streets in England. Loughgall was a nasty shock to the Provos. It also reinforced the view among the likes of Adam etc that murdering Protestants for Irish freedom was not the way to go. Hence the current rather more pleasant state of affairs.



That was 1979, nearly thirty years ago. Talk about dragging up old history.

Well zig the op brought the sas into the conversation, I think those of us who do not have the unquestioning acceptance of their endless bullsh!t should address it. I personally thank God that we in Ireland don't have to be fooled by such fantasist nonsense. As the OP says - " like the sas ...... theres tonnes and tonnes of books about all their exploits. Theres programs on television, " . But then the brits have to make a big story out of nothing to pretend there something.

Indeed the sas were invovled in many of the worst atrocities in the troubles, from the bombing of Dublin and Monaghan, the murder of the Miami Showband, and God knows how many other murders under the cover name of the UVF or UDA.

" The BA and SAS became quite efficient at dealing with IRA attacks. So much so that the Provos were forced to concentrate their efforts on nice soft targets like farmers in the UDR and crowded streets in England. " No they didn't, they never came close to it. Yes they shot some UDR farmers ( and UDR farmers did plenty of shooting in and out of uniform ) - just like their predessors did back in the 'good old days' (1916 -1921) with the RIC and Irish men serving in the British army. Maybe we can get the stats from some legit website, most of the those serving British occupation were killed in uniform, whether by bullet or bomb. As for bombing the " streets in England". If the brits had been so on top of the Provos, how come the Provos could bomb billions of damge in London, Manchester etc ?? Indeed tehse massive bombings were among the most difficult carried out bt the IRA in the whole 25 years ,the logistics of a bunch of 'Paddys' on the 'mainland' gathering, preparing the materials, lorries, false ID's etc to carry out these operations was nothing short of incredible.

Loughgall was a nasty shock to the Provos as you put it. It occured in May 1987, the IRA announced their ceasefire in July 1997 - a decade later with plenty of " nasty shocks " for the brits in between

" It also reinforced the view among the likes of Adam etc that murdering Protestants for Irish freedom was not the way to go. Hence the current rather more pleasant state of affairs. " Well I have my issues with Gerry Adams but he also makes truthful points as well. But I remember him commenting on the upsurge in attacks alleged carried out by the loyalists , - something like " 20 years ago Catholics were being randomly murdered by the british army, 20 years later Catholics are still been randomly murdered - but the British army aren't getting the blame for it ". Very true, and very chilling, but doubtless it wouldn't change your mind on the 'heros' of the sas/RUC Special Branch etc. But then again I seen in a thread that you once tried to join the RAF - says it all doesn't it. Following your other great hero from Galway who admired British murder and thuggery in Ireland - William Joyce/Lord Haw Haw, a relation perhaps, surely their must be a connection ??

Talk about " Talk about dragging up old history. " - do the Sas do anything else, or should I say, drag up complete fantastist history. As the OP puts it " the sas ...... theres tonnes and tonnes of books about all their exploits. Theres programs on television, ".

DublinDes

Anyway, as for the ARW secrecy. I live in Cabra, Dublin. In a working class area like ours naturally there have been quite a few in the army down the years ( one of my mates brother drives a truck in it ). I would say that nearly anyone living on the same street would know the rank, battalion, whether they served overseas etc. It's just the nature of Irish society, we're a small country, everyone knows everyone almost. What I'm saying is that the ARW is not as secretive as some would believe. Have to say they don't brag about it though, unlike individuals in the royal marines, paras etc who think they have to show everyone with their regimental badge tattoed on their arm - especially in the 'Irish' pubs on the Costa Del Sol . As for the secrecy of the Sas, well it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry in it has published a book or appeared on TV gobbing about their " fantastic" training and adventures :rolleyes:

Correct me if I'm wrong, don't the Legion openly take part in parades on Bastille day etc ??

cp251

Well, well you have done some research on me Des. Should I be scared?:eek: Ironic you should mention William Joyce considering he was hung by the British for betraying them. For your info, I'm a Dub, exiled though I am at the moment.

You seem particularly proud of the atrocities committed by the Provos. Perhaps you would like to go back to the good old days? I'm sure there's a vacancy or two in the RIRA or the CIRA. Off you go and kill for Ireland.

For your information I do believe there was collusion with the Loyalists by certain elements in British intelligence but not to the extent you imagine.

As for the army and ARW

indeed many of them I have no doubt would have Republican beliefs, a factor well known I'm sure to the 'boys'....... the Provos
Yesterday 22:32

You clearly know nothing about the army or the ARW. Any serving member who even hints at Republican sympathies would be under grave suspicion.

You haven't a clue, what you are talking about.

eroo

Btw,you can be a Republican(myself included) who has nothing against the British people/BA.I would rather Ireland stay divided for good rather than go back to the dark times.I also believe in peace and wealth for the people of N.I. .. Unionist/Republican/other.Can we please stop talking politics now?This thread has become the military equivalent of ''my balls are bigger than yours''.What is funny is that most of the people doing it aren't even military themselves.As for the ''Armed Struggler's'' present,please take your pathetic rhetoric elsewhere!Btw,seeing as you know all about collusion in N.I.,how about providing some evidence rather than hearsay?OR maybe we can get back on topic,if not mods should close this!

cp251

Yes indeed Eroo. We would all like a United Ireland and we'll get it eventually the peaceful way.

rednik

With regards the legion taking part in parades,the legion is almost the size of the irish army. So not every regiment will take part in parades,
Most special forces tend to give parades a miss,as they are not expected to take part.They are treated as a cut above the rest and rightly so.

minidazzler

It would be a balls to be in a Parade with the Legion Leading.


They march at 88bpm. Which is considerably slower than any other Army in the world.

LegacyUser

The Legion are not actually special forces, although they'd be similar to the paras or marines. They have a small special forces element formally known as CRAP now called GCP which are part of 2REP.

The main reason that they are sent into hot spots first is not that they are super elite but that they are made up of foreign nationals - if things go horribly wrong the French public wont be too bothered with a few foreigners die - rather them than their own.

So hence there is no need for them to hide their identity - plenty of them have been interviewed face to face for tv shows.

elvis jaffacake

asterix wrote: »

The Legion are not actually special forces, although they'd be similar to the paras or marines. They have a small special forces element formally known as CRAP now called GCP which are part of 2REP.

The main reason that they are sent into hot spots first is not that they are super elite but that they are made up of foreign nationals - if things go horribly wrong the French public wont be too bothered with a few foreigners die - rather them than their own.

So hence there is no need for them to hide their identity - plenty of them have been interviewed face to face for tv shows.

Hi lad's been a while, anyhow every French airborne unit has a GCP team x 2 plus there are a lot of French nationals in the legion but to get around the rules they declare themselves Canadian,Belgian Swiss ect;);)

elvis jaffacake

Back to the main topic, why are they secretive, because thye have to be, like every other unit of their type, discretion is important, but it's not just SF/SOF guy's who are likek that in the UK, Pathfinder are similar, even non high speed guy's involved in certain EW/ELINT/COMINT/SIGINT ect also keep low profiles



and about all the books the ex-blades have written, pinch of salt with the lot of them, remember, they were written to sell, Joe Public won't buy a book that details sitting in a muddy hole for 3 weeks ****ting into plastic bags (the more usual SF experience) instead they want mass brass up's and Ramboesque contacts, there are 18 year old Guardsmen (ect) in Ghanners who have had more contacts then alot of SAS/SBS/SRR/SFSG ect guy's....just the way it is.

Irish_Army01

WElcome Back!!;)

elvis jaffacake

Irish_Army01 wrote: »

WElcome Back!!;)

Thanks, just for a few day's, then away again:(

MacBuster

ex_infantry man wrote: »

well the arw are regarded as the top of the elite forces in the world and i,m sure there used a lot more than we think? there constantly on training not sitting around in a locker room of some barracks playing cards with the boys for the day! and i,d also reckon they,ve been used in foreign countries like afghanistan and iraq for assasinations and what have ya and god knows what else they don,t go through all that hell when being trained for nothing

Cough Bul*s*it