Joining the Royal Engineers

Waestrel

I know this has been done to death here abouts, but I am another irishman thinking of joining the BA, however in my case as a combat engineer. I am 26 and from dublin, and since i have a degree ( a useful one - not arts or some nonsense) i am thinking Officer training. In any case this is not for financial reasons, I have spent the last 2 years in oz working in the mining industry make a good packet of money, I eventually hated what i was doing, and since i know i could never work a normal job, the army is about as adventerous as i can think of.

I am thinking of engineers, as it is probably closest to what i studied, it is still very hands on and outdoors orientated and there is good scope for hamanitarian work during or after the Army (mine clearance, bridge building etc) Has any one any advice of thought on my prospects? As i likely wont be joining the RIR i would be one a only a few irish in the RE, would i have a hard time of it?

OS119

you'd absolutely not have a hard time of it - an officer with good, hard engineering experience in a difficult environment would be very welcome in any RE mess - and your soldiers would respect your ability and experience. nobody give a shite where you're from or what accent you have, everyone is much too busy.

the RE is a superb choice, it has a vast range of skill sets and taskings - and you'd not be confined to the CE Field sqn's, you could go to EOD, Geographic, Air Support and Diving units.

get yourself in quick though, as a guy who wants to get his hands dirty you'd want the maximum possible time with the sqn's before the office comes calling, and sqn commanders (Majors) are usually about 30 - 33 these days...

good luck.

Winty

Go for It, best of luck

Is 26 a bit old, sorry if thats a silly question

Waestrel

Also, how closly do they look at leaving cert results? Even though i have an honours BSc, my LC wern't too crash hot, would this be a problem? i did my LC eight years ago in june!

RMD

Waestrel wrote: »

Also, how closly do they look at leaving cert results? Even though i have an honours BSc, my LC wern't too crash hot, would this be a problem? i did my LC eight years ago in june!

AFAIK they wont take leaving cert results into any large consideration considering you already have a degree and some form of practical experience.

Waestrel

Does anyone know what i would be doing as a platoon commander in the RE? anyone ever been in the RE?

OS119

Waestrel wrote: »

Does anyone know what i would be doing as a platoon commander in the RE? anyone ever been in the RE?

not been an RE officer, but i have worked very closely with them.

an RE Troop Commander leads his troops - sometimes that means using his technical knowledge, often it means being the 'facilitator' that uses his managerial skills to allow the technical skills of his troops to be brought to bare in the most advantageous way. you'd be their advocate for promotion and courses, the guy they go for advice for if their marriage breaks down or they get into debt, and the guy who grips them if they don't perform.

you're responsible for pushing all of them to be the best they can possibly be, bollocking them when they fcuk up - and then defending them to the hilt to the chain of command in the Squadron and Regiment.

certainly an RE TC would be expected by his men to get stuck in - but not at the expense of the 'big picture' - he'd also be expected to learn from his men and defer to his NCO's on technical issues. TC is a 'learning appointment' where an officer is surrounded by experienced NCO's and can grow into the role of Leader, the pressure is slightly off him and he can make small mistakes without it being a catastrophe.

its a training/selection role for the big job - squadron commander - for which you'd be required to have a thorough understanding of the capabilities and limits of pretty much every RE trade, at site/project management, at leadership in battle, and man management.

Waestrel

wow, well certainly sounds like an adventure. I have done a bit of people managment in difficult condition on drill rigs in the outback parts western australia, but this sounds like a whole different experince. Does officer get to learn all the cool things the enlisted men do? Mine clearing, demolitions, diving etc?

OS119

it depends on the sqn - you'd not be expected to know the intracacies of refrigeration plant, but you'd be expected to understand the big things like civil engineering principles, surveying and the principles of IED.

in effect, while you'd not be expected to know everything about everything, you'd be expected to have a practical grounding when you get to your first Troop, and then to hoover up every bit of knowledge and experience you can lay your hands on, and to reasonably quickly have a working understanding of what everyone in the Troop is doing.