Many Irish in the British Army...

full_irish

I'm just wondering if there are (past or present) many of ye in the British forces (army, navy, air force) that are Irish?

Or someone in your family etc...

If so, what made you choose the British army and what have your experiences been??

What rank are ye out of interest?

p.s when I say Irish I am not referring to people who are Northern Irish. so please keep any of the "you're british" "no i'm not, i'm irish" ****e talk out of this thread.

NiallFH

full_irish wrote: »

p.s when I say Irish I am not referring to people who are Northern Irish. so please keep any of the "you're british" "no i'm not, i'm irish" ****e talk out of this thread.

You essentially brought it into this thread with your first post.

I would give a more useful comment but apparently a line on a map says im not entitled to.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

IrishGuard

Hi full Irish,

As a former member of the british army and a current member of the Defence Forces, i know quite abit about this subject, my time in the BA was great i traveled the world and made friend for life even more-so than in the DF's. promotion is very easy in the uk if you want it, unlike ireland, and the largest battalion in the british army is now the Irish Guards (catholic regiment)with which would say a great deal of it made up of southern Irish maybe 30 - 40%

full_irish

NiallFH wrote: »

You essentially brought it into this thread with your first post.

I would give a more useful comment but apparently a line on a map says im not entitled to.

I was actually just trying to nip it in the bud. I've seen too many threads go off on a tangent because of the said topic. FYI, the reason I differentiated is down to if you're from the North, it wouldn't be perceived as unorthodox to join the British Army. And i'm not trying to rile you, just that I have quite a few acquittances from north the border in both the British and Irish army.

full_irish

IrishGuard wrote: »

Hi full Irish,

As a former member of the british army and a current member of the Defence Forces, i know quite abit about this subject, my time in the BA was great i traveled the world and made friend for life even more-so than in the DF's.

What made you join the BA in the first place as opposed to DF? And why did you switch back?

promotion is very easy in the uk if you want it, unlike ireland,

Is this to do with it being a larger army and actually be on active duty more often?
What were your respective ranks?

and the largest battalion in the british army is now the Irish Guards (catholic regiment)with which would say a great deal of it made up of southern Irish maybe 30 - 40%

Christ, I didn't think it would be as much as that.

bwatson

IrishGuard wrote: »

Hi full Irish,

As a former member of the british army and a current member of the Defence Forces, i know quite abit about this subject, my time in the BA was great i traveled the world and made friend for life even more-so than in the DF's. promotion is very easy in the uk if you want it, unlike ireland, and the largest battalion in the british army is now the Irish Guards (catholic regiment)with which would say a great deal of it made up of southern Irish maybe 30 - 40%

What do you mean, catholic regiment?

For someone who was a member of the modern British Army, you don't appear to know much about the modern British Army.

In the past there was more of an emphasis on recruiting its officers from catholic schools and institutions but this is not something that plays a role now. To blanket the Irish Guards as a catholic regiment is wrong.

OS119

bwatson wrote: »

...To blanket the Irish Guards as a catholic regiment is wrong.

it depends on your view - and whether you've worked with 1RI recently!

i would say that despite 1RI being, undoubtedly, a more 'mixed' regiment than it looks, it has a pronounced flavour - that flavour being working class east and west Belfast. 1IG however doesn't have that, it - to me - had a more old world 'anglo-Irish' character that felt more 'Irish' than 1RI, despite it having more outsiders in it than 1RI.

all very subjective of course - but yes, i'd say that 1IG felt a bit like a 1900's Irish Regiment, whereas IRI is very definately a modern Northern Irish Regiment - more rural, more 'Catholic' (even if the stats say they're exactly the same) and i'd suggest that its officers are more 'guards' (and therefore perhaps a bit 'anglo-Irish'?) than the officers at 1RI who, one the whole struck me as people who didn't get into the Parachute Regiment.

as i say, all very subjective - but i know which i prefer!

NiallFH

full_irish wrote: »

FYI, the reason I differentiated is down to if you're from the North, it wouldn't be perceived as unorthodox to join the British Army.

I would have to disagree with that, I have known people who's families have disowned them for that very reason or recieved knocks on the door and told to get out of the estate 'or else'.

full_irish

NiallFH wrote: »

I would have to disagree with that, I have known people who's families have disowned them for that very reason or recieved knocks on the door and told to get out of the estate 'or else'.

Well then they are bigots living in the past.

IrishGuard

bwatson wrote: »

IrishGuard wrote: »

Hi full Irish,

As a former member of the british army and a current member of the Defence Forces, i know quite abit about this subject, my time in the BA was great i traveled the world and made friend for life even more-so than in the DF's. promotion is very easy in the uk if you want it, unlike ireland, and the largest battalion in the british army is now the Irish Guards (catholic regiment)with which would say a great deal of it made up of southern Irish maybe 30 - 40%

What do you mean, catholic regiment?

For someone who was a member of the modern British Army, you don't appear to know much about the modern British Army.

In the past there was more of an emphasis on recruiting its officers from catholic schools and institutions but this is not something that plays a role now. To blanket the Irish Guards as a catholic regiment is wrong.

Meaning of catholic regiment,

The regiment is a mix of religions, and no mater what religion was more popular the irish guards alway have a catholic priest as padre and catholic mass is still attended by all soldiers and all religions evert Tuesday morning. Now back to promotions, because the army is bigger and there are many more post to be filled and also the more senior positions be it officer or senior nco have a two year limit (ish) another difference is in the defence forces you could hold a position let's say as BSM for 30 years maybe and that creates a back log. In the Uk if you reach RSM after 2 years you more likely to be commissioned to captain.

IrishGuard

full_irish wrote: »

IrishGuard wrote: »

Hi full Irish,

As a former member of the british army and a current member of the Defence Forces, i know quite abit about this subject, my time in the BA was great i traveled the world and made friend for life even more-so than in the DF's.

What made you join the BA in the first place as opposed to DF? And why did you switch back?

promotion is very easy in the uk if you want it, unlike ireland,

Is this to do with it being a larger army and actually be on active duty more often?
What were your respective ranks?

and the largest battalion in the british army is now the Irish Guards (catholic regiment)with which would say a great deal of it made up of southern Irish maybe 30 - 40%

Christ, I didn't think it would be as much as that.

I joined the BA because at that time the Irish army wasn't taking on any more troops, so a bunch of us left the Then called F.C.A and joined up

tac foley

In MY time in the BA, I went from Private to WO2 in under twelve years, was a WO1 for a month, got commissioned, and left as an acting Lt Col.

Mind you, I paid for it with hard work. THIS plastic paddy gave 110%.

tac

cruasder777

IrishGuard wrote: »

Hi full Irish,

As a former member of the british army and a current member of the Defence Forces, i know quite abit about this subject, my time in the BA was great i traveled the world and made friend for life even more-so than in the DF's. promotion is very easy in the uk if you want it, unlike ireland, and the largest battalion in the british army is now the Irish Guards (catholic regiment)with which would say a great deal of it made up of southern Irish maybe 30 - 40%

How can they be the Largest regiment with One battalion ?

The Rifles have 5 battalions.

30-40% would mean around 150-200 soldiers are from southern Ireland, its more like around 60-80 tops.

cruasder777

OS119 wrote: »

it depends on your view - and whether you've worked with 1RI recently!

i would say that despite 1RI being, undoubtedly, a more 'mixed' regiment than it looks, it has a pronounced flavour - that flavour being working class east and west Belfast. 1IG however doesn't have that, it - to me - had a more old world 'anglo-Irish' character that felt more 'Irish' than 1RI, despite it having more outsiders in it than 1RI.

all very subjective of course - but yes, i'd say that 1IG felt a bit like a 1900's Irish Regiment, whereas IRI is very definately a modern Northern Irish Regiment - more rural, more 'Catholic' (even if the stats say they're exactly the same) and i'd suggest that its officers are more 'guards' (and therefore perhaps a bit 'anglo-Irish'?) than the officers at 1RI who, one the whole struck me as people who didn't get into the Parachute Regiment.

as i say, all very subjective - but i know which i prefer!

The Irish Guards are historically a second and third generation Irish in Britain regiment with some southern Irish and a few northeners with thrown in as well as commonwealth immigrants and Anglo-Irish officers, it has more in common culturally with the London Irish rifles then the RIR, nor is it a NI regiment, its always been based in London or nr London when at home.

Its far more culturally southern Irish friendly then the RIR.

IrishGuard

cruasder777 wrote: »

IrishGuard wrote: »

Hi full Irish,

As a former member of the british army and a current member of the Defence Forces, i know quite abit about this subject, my time in the BA was great i traveled the world and made friend for life even more-so than in the DF's. promotion is very easy in the uk if you want it, unlike ireland, and the largest battalion in the british army is now the Irish Guards (catholic regiment)with which would say a great deal of it made up of southern Irish maybe 30 - 40%

How can they be the Largest regiment with One battalion ?

The Rifles have 5 battalions.

30-40% would mean around 150-200 soldiers are from southern Ireland, its more like around 60-80 tops.

I didn't say largest regiment, I said battalion as the have more people than required in one unit and I'm aware that other regiments have more battalions!

IrishGuard

cruasder777 wrote: »

OS119 wrote: »

it depends on your view - and whether you've worked with 1RI recently!

i would say that despite 1RI being, undoubtedly, a more 'mixed' regiment than it looks, it has a pronounced flavour - that flavour being working class east and west Belfast. 1IG however doesn't have that, it - to me - had a more old world 'anglo-Irish' character that felt more 'Irish' than 1RI, despite it having more outsiders in it than 1RI.

all very subjective of course - but yes, i'd say that 1IG felt a bit like a 1900's Irish Regiment, whereas IRI is very definately a modern Northern Irish Regiment - more rural, more 'Catholic' (even if the stats say they're exactly the same) and i'd suggest that its officers are more 'guards' (and therefore perhaps a bit 'anglo-Irish'?) than the officers at 1RI who, one the whole struck me as people who didn't get into the Parachute Regiment.

as i say, all very subjective - but i know which i prefer!

The Irish Guards are historically a second and third generation Irish in Britain regiment with some southern Irish and a few northeners with thrown in as well as commonwealth immigrants and Anglo-Irish officers, it has more in common culturally with the London Irish rifles then the RIR, nor is it a NI regiment, its always been based in London or nr London when at home.

Its far more culturally southern Irish friendly then the RIR.

Also 30 40% is about right as there was about 10% when I was in 10 years ago and I still know a lot of troops in there and have been informed that it's go e true the roof with that amount of southerns there,

cruasder777

IrishGuard wrote: »

I didn't say largest regiment, I said battalion as the have more people than required in one unit and I'm aware that other regiments have more battalions!

Ok, the Irish Guards which has 1 battalion has around 550 men.

Do you have a link to prove otherwise ?

28 Field Regiment RE, which is 1 battalion had around 800 men.

cruasder777

IrishGuard wrote: »

Also 30 40% is about right as there was about 10% when I was in 10 years ago and I still know a lot of troops in there and have been informed that it's go e true the roof with that amount of southerns there,

30-40% would mean around 180-220 out of a battalion of 550, thats not true.

There are only around 400 southern Irish in the whole of the UKs armed forces.

IrishGuard

cruasder777 wrote: »

IrishGuard wrote: »

I didn't say largest regiment, I said battalion as the have more people than required in one unit and I'm aware that other regiments have more battalions!

Ok, the Irish Guards which has 1 battalion has around 550 men.

Do you have a link to prove otherwise ?

28 Field Regiment RE, which is 1 battalion had around 800 men.

Dude I don't meet a link to prove it, I live in the real world, i have friend in the recruiting team, I also know the bn commander, and I'm a member of the Irish guard association. So trust me when I saying my info is good. Also the regiment you talk about is not infantry. And just because a battalion a establishment of 800 men, it does not mean they don't have more in the barrack and holding other posting in the army, ie infantry training centre or attached to 2 para etc. Also not following this conversation anymore arguing over swings and roundabouts

cruasder777

IrishGuard wrote: »

Dude I don't meet a link to prove it, I live in the real world, i have friend in the recruiting team, I also know the bn commander, and I'm a member of the Irish guard association. So trust me when I saying my info is good. Also the regiment you talk about is not infantry. And just because a battalion a establishment of 800 men, it does not mean they don't have more in the barrack and holding other posting in the army, ie infantry training centre or attached to 2 para etc. Also not following this conversation anymore arguing over swings and roundabouts

The claim 30-40% in the Irish guards are born in the republic is not true.

They are a battalion of around 550 men, ie a standard Guards battalion.

Why would they be bigger then other Guard regiments battalions ? Like the Welsh, Scots etc ?

full_irish

tac foley wrote: »

THIS plastic paddy gave 110%.

tac

Statistically not possible :P

Also IrishGuard and Crusader, may I suggest pistols at dawn to settle this?

tac foley

cruasder777 wrote: »

30-40% would mean around 180-220 out of a battalion of 550, thats not true.

There are only around 400 southern Irish in the whole of the UKs armed forces.

That's interesting - the latest figures I've read suggest at least ten times that number.

tac

cruasder777

tac foley wrote: »

That's interesting - the latest figures I've read suggest at least ten times that number.

tac

4,000 born in the republic in the UK armed forces ?

Where did you read that ?

3 years ago it was around 400, up by 20% on 2006.

http://www.david-morrison.org.uk/ireland/irish-in-british-military.htm


On 1 April 2006, there were only 325 people in total from the Republic in the British military, 215 in the Army, 50 in the Navy and 60 in the Air Force, that is, roughly 1 in 500 of the Army, 1 in 1000 of the Navy and 1 in 1000 of the Air Force, were from the Republic. This was revealed in a written answer in the House of Commons on 5 June 2006 [5], which sets out in detail the extraordinary numbers of non-British people in the British forces, particularly in the Army.

full_irish

cheers for actually providing some form of proof as to where you're getting your numbers from. Too many figures appearing from nowhere...

tac foley

full_irish wrote: »

cheers for actually providing some form of proof as to where you're getting your numbers from. Too many figures appearing from nowhere...

+1 on that.

I was relying on figures from my local ACIO staff, rather than those of a biased analyst with an axe to grind.

'There are lies, damned lies, and statistics', somebody once said.

I'll do a bit more digging around, all the Irish men and women who keep disappearing from the Ould Sod to join the British Armed Forces MUST be going somewhwere....they can't ALL be joining the FFL.

tac

beco2010

i thought this to be the right thrad to ask the question as it is about irish in the BA. my question is there truth behind the the old statment of THE IRISH ARE SENT OUT FIRST i only ask this cos i myself have went about joining the BA in the end i didnt join for my own reasons but while i was going trough the process all i could hear from others is my question the irish are sent out first i am not trying to start an argument i still hear even now any time i bring up the fact i went for the BA

OS119

beco2010 wrote: »

i thought this to be the right thrad to ask the question as it is about irish in the BA. my question is there truth behind the the old statment of THE IRISH ARE SENT OUT FIRST i only ask this cos i myself have went about joining the BA in the end i didnt join for my own reasons but while i was going trough the process all i could hear from others is my question the irish are sent out first i am not trying to start an argument i still hear even now any time i bring up the fact i went for the BA

whoever says that is a liar, and whoever believes it is a moron.

the UK has two 'spearhead' formations - 16AA Bde and 3Cdo Bde - which, on the whole, are the first units to be deployed to any particular conflict. 1RI is a constituant part of 16X, but its the 'roundout' unit, not one of the parachute Bn's - its job is to fight, but its not intended to be the first unit of the Bde into action. its soldiers don't do P Coy, don't do the BPC, and aren't recruited or trained in the same way as the Parachute Regiment Bn's.

i'm fairly sure that the BA hasn't used an Irish unit as the spearhead force since WW2 - of course all of the units involved in combat operations do so publicly, all of this stuff - which units did what - is publicly available, so i'm amazed that there's anyone stupid enough to actually believe the kind of crap that some - no doubt poltically motivated - come out with.

unless of course this is the same kind of idiocy which says that the BA has formed units of orphans and the friendless who's deaths/maimings can be denied because no one asks about them...?

beco2010

thanks didnt say i beleaved it. i didnt but it is said
if your irish you will be canon fada un true i know, this is the only reason i asked, as i keep leaning more and more to joining every day

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

beco2010

feeney92 wrote: »

Oh please God make it stop!!
I found that post ridiculously hard to read.
Please use fulls stops and commas!!

Ok teacher!!!!!!!!!!!

cruasder777

OS119 wrote: »

whoever says that is a liar, and whoever believes it is a moron.

the UK has two 'spearhead' formations - 16AA Bde and 3Cdo Bde - which, on the whole, are the first units to be deployed to any particular conflict. 1RI is a constituant part of 16X, but its the 'roundout' unit, not one of the parachute Bn's - its job is to fight, but its not intended to be the first unit of the Bde into action. its soldiers don't do P Coy, don't do the BPC, and aren't recruited or trained in the same way as the Parachute Regiment Bn's.

i'm fairly sure that the BA hasn't used an Irish unit as the spearhead force since WW2 - of course all of the units involved in combat operations do so publicly, all of this stuff - which units did what - is publicly available, so i'm amazed that there's anyone stupid enough to actually believe the kind of crap that some - no doubt poltically motivated - come out with.

unless of course this is the same kind of idiocy which says that the BA has formed units of orphans and the friendless who's deaths/maimings can be denied because no one asks about them...?

The Irish Guards battlegroup were the Spearhead force in Iraq, first into Basra also first into Kosovos capital Pristina.

In mechanised infantry campaigns with no infantry air assault component, mechanised infantry are often first in to towns and cities, as with Basra.

If needed the Paras role in such operations is to seize the airports and high ground, which was their role in Kosovo.

full_irish

feeney92 wrote: »

Oh please God make it stop!!
I found that post ridiculously hard to read.
Please use fulls stops and commas!!

and not to be a grammar Nazi but 'untrue' is one fecking word, not 'un true'. Is it a requirement to be literate in the BA??

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

People, I'm sorry to be pedantic and OT, but please stop referring to the Republic of Ireland as Southern Ireland!

beco2010

full_irish wrote: »

and not to be a grammar Nazi but 'untrue' is one fecking word, not 'un true'. Is it a requirement to be literate in the BA??

Is it a bit much to be claiming im illiterate.
Grammar police thank you

full_irish

beco2010 wrote: »

Is it a bit much to be claiming im illiterate.
Grammar police thank you

Yes, you are correct Sir. But I say it only with love and affection, so it's graaand.

xflyer

deccurley wrote: »

People, I'm sorry to be pedantic and OT, but please stop referring to the Republic of Ireland as Southern Ireland!

Sorry to be pedantic but stop referring to the Republic of Ireland. It's just Ireland. And for Gawd's sake don't say Eire or even Éire.:P

full_irish

xflyer wrote: »

Sorry to be pedantic but stop referring to the Republic of Ireland. It's just Ireland. And for Gawd's sake don't say Eire or even Éire.:P

For the purpose of this discussion there is a need to distinguish between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

'Ireland' per se is not a country. It is a geographical term to describe the island on which both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are situated.

krissovo

I am ex BA Royal Engineers, left the forces as a Captain after 15 years. Went through the ranks from Pte (sapper) to SGT in 10 years then did a late entry into Sandhurst where I made Captain.

Joined at 16 because I could and always wanted to be soldier for as long as I can remember, I wanted the adventure the Irish DF could not provide by wanting to go into battle and also naively wanted to drive tanks:D

The Falklands War was a serious influence as I must have watched every footage and collected the magazine series that ran soon after. I knew every battle in detail and I must have been around 12 at the time.

full_irish

krissovo wrote: »

I am ex BA Royal Engineers, left the forces as a Captain after 15 years. Went through the ranks from Pte (sapper) to SGT in 10 years then did a late entry into Sandhurst where I made Captain.

That's some good going. Definitely wouldn't be getting through the promotions at that rate in the DF.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

full_irish

feeney92 wrote: »

Im pretty sure its refered to as southern Ireland because, the person who asks the question wants to find out how many people from the Republic are in the BA rather than those from north who consider themselves Irish

Christ this happens in every damn thread. I thought I had avoided this by clarifying in OP.

full_irish

And for the record everyone from the island of Ireland are Irish.

Ireland, the island in northwestern Europe, and the countries located on it:
Republic of Ireland (also Éire, when writing in Irish), a sovereign state that comprises most of the island, legally described as the Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom that comprises the north-eastern sixth of the island

when you have to quote wiki to show things to people.

BlastedGlute

The Irish make the best soldiers in the world, when fighting for someone else.

I was QRL for a while going back in as QRH soon, getting paid to stay fit should have been a no brainer the first time. Making a concerted effort to grizz it out for the required time until I can be considered for the photographers course but that'll be many years down the line.

Turbine

full_irish wrote: »

'Ireland' per se is not a country. It is a geographical term to describe the island on which both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are situated.

Read the constitution, it says very clearly that the name of this state is Ireland in English or Éire in Irish.

full_irish

Turbine wrote: »

Read the constitution, it says very clearly that the name of this state is Ireland in English or Éire in Irish.

Didn't your mother always tell you not to believe everything you read?

But point accepted.

Tomfrancey

Well guys, I am thinking of joining the BA and just wondering if some of you following this thread mite be able to help me. I am from the south and have just turned 28, I am a non smoker and fairly fit so don't think fitness would be a problem. The problem i do have though, after I filled up the forms my girlfriend done some research and is afraid that as soon as I am trained up that I will be sent on over seas duty long term and we will never get to see each other.

I have been working as a carpenter for the last ten years so hoping to train as a carpenter if I get in, or maybe a truck driver as I have some experience in that as well, but dose anyone know what will happen after I am trained, will I be sent abroad straight away or what usually happens new recruitments? Also as I am from the south and will be over two hours from home will it be possible for me to get home much when I am training?

Any info would great cheers.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

BlastedGlute

Tomfrancey wrote: »

Well guys, I am thinking of joining the BA and just wondering if some of you following this thread mite be able to help me. I am from the south and have just turned 28, I am a non smoker and fairly fit so don't think fitness would be a problem. The problem i do have though, after I filled up the forms my girlfriend done some research and is afraid that as soon as I am trained up that I will be sent on over seas duty long term and we will never get to see each other.

I have been working as a carpenter for the last ten years so hoping to train as a carpenter if I get in, or maybe a truck driver as I have some experience in that as well, but dose anyone know what will happen after I am trained, will I be sent abroad straight away or what usually happens new recruitments? Also as I am from the south and will be over two hours from home will it be possible for me to get home much when I am training?

Any info would great cheers.

Carpenter your looking at royal engineers, that's well over a year training before your settled at regiment and trained in your role. You wont get posted until that's done and dusted and without getting posted you wont go to afghan.

Going as a driver is a bit different. You could join RLC as a driver (yawn) or the cavalry as a tank driver as you'll be placed on better courses suited to the role. Main battle tank regiments are being re-roled as light armoured so you'll be training as armoured infantry and not as old school fat tankies! Good for some bad for others.

My best advice is to kiss the lass goodbye for a while unless your married to her/planning on getting married. You can get hitched accommodation if you get your wedding band on, otherwise you'll be in shared accommodation with the rest of your troop. Which is class, bit like sharing a house with your mates again I suppose.

Other than that a few of the lads know some fine brothels in Paderborn if you go hussars :P

OS119

Tom,

i would suggest that RE is definately your best option career wise, but look at the website, check out the RE section on Arrse and decide for yourself.

if you applied now you'd be lucky to join within 6 months - a year is far more likely - your training will takeat least a year, and you then get posted to a unit and are in the deployment cycle of that unit. currently the plan is that UK forces will be in a 'supporting' role in Afghanistan by late 2013, with all UK combat forces out of Afghanistan by 31st December 2014.

your girlfriend is a bright girl, get her to do the maths.

while there are units currently in germany - as in thats where they are based, thats where their wives live, thats where their children go to school - the UK govt has said that BFG will close with all units returning to the UK by 2020.

so, you will almost certainly be based in Britain, unless you go to 33 Regt in which case you will be based in NI. you generally go on tour with your unit for up to 6 months, with approx 20 - 30 months between each tour. however, you and your girlfriend need to understand that you would be joining a fighting, expeditionary Army that is the servant of a state that has no qualms about using force worldwide to protect its interests and will do so in the future knowing that it will have people killed and seriously injured while doing so - you would not be joining the engineering department of a county council with a funny uniform. one of the many roles of the RE is as search teams in Afghanistan - you would be looking for IED's with a stick. its dangerous.

you could be deployed to Cyprus for two years (accompanied if you are married), the Falklands for 4 to 6 months, Ascension Island, Kenya, Canada, Tristan de Chuna, St Helena, Benbecula or even Surrey.

you should consider writing off your relationship during the first 3 to 4 months of your training - you will get some weekends off, but you'll be either asleep or sorting your kit out. after that it settles down, but it will be much easier if your GF comes to you instead of you going to her. you will also be the oldest in your recruit troop, you will be expected to show maturity and leadership by the DS, but you'll also have to fit in with a load of 19 and 20 yo's.

its a good career, and RE's have an excellent reputation within the Army for building a bar and BBQ wherever they go as well as having a relaxed, competant atmosphere within the units - but don't join looking fo a job and then get upset when that job happens to be building a runway in a place you've never heard of for 6 months. be realistic when deciding if its for you.

.

tac foley

+1 to OS119 great post.

I'd like to add that the Royal Engineers have probably earned more medals in combat than any other branch of the British Army for the simple reason that the role of the combat engineer is not only to destroy, but to clear and build.

The RE have to go first to clear the way for tanks and any other vehicles - mines, y'know, IED's - that kind of thing....often, as OS119 notes, with a pointy stick that often goes 'beep'...or not.

Before the tanks can do their impressive 'storning across the battlefield' thing, not only does the way have to be clear, but they'll be needing the odd bridge or ten to cross gaps.

Guess who does that.

Under fire.

Demolition?

Royal Engineers.

Construction?

Yup, them again.

There is no doubt that without them, the rest of the Army goes nowhere.

tac