Anyone for Sandhurst?

eyescreamcone

On another thread I was getting barracked for mentioning British Army Officer Cadetships so here goes.

Are many Irish republic citizens applying to Sandhurst for a cadetship as backup to their Irish Defence Forces application???

Are many applying as their No.1 application???

Do people think that the BA Officer has better career prospects than those of a similar age in the IDF??

In other words, which is better and why??

How easy is it to get in?

I'd particularly like to hear from someone who went through the mill and could talk from experience.

If you know anything about Royal Navy or RAF officer entry/training feel free to share also


Please leave all nationalism/colonialism gripes, 800 years etc, at the gate please!

KickstartHeart

The BA offers some benefits like sweet trips abroad skiing and nice opportunities to go and train in places like Kenya etc.

I know a few guys in both Armies. You'd be surprised at how similar the job is on either side of the water. The BA offers some cool perks like what I've said above, but for a better career, I think the Irish Army is a better choice. You can argue which is a better army blah blah blah til the cows come home, but when it boils down to it, in either army if you join as an officer cadet, your'e going to train to a very high standard to be a young army officer. Both armies maintain a standard that internationally is quite high.


Edit: I don't have experience in this stuff btw. I'm not in either military.

cruasder777

KickstartHeart wrote: »

The BA offers some benefits like sweet trips abroad skiing and nice opportunities to go and train in places like Kenya etc.

I know a few guys in both Armies. You'd be surprised at how similar the job is on either side of the water. The BA offers some cool perks like what I've said above, but for a better career, I think the Irish Army is a better choice. You can argue which is a better army blah blah blah til the cows come home, but when it boils down to it, in either army if you join as an officer cadet, your'e going to train to a very high standard to be a young army officer. Both armies maintain a standard that internationally is quite high.


Edit: I don't have experience in this stuff btw. I'm not in either military.

That depends where you serving, I don't see how serving on a tour in Helmand is like serving in the republic ?

The British army has around 220 career choices.

I don't understand why on nearly every thread you feel the need to compare.


http://www.army.mod.uk/rolefinder/




"Do people think that the BA Officer has better career prospects than those of a similar age in the IDF??"


.........Obviously the larger an organisation the more promotion opportunity.

Example if you join as a student nurse, you get paid to train, have no fees and can apply for a commission in yr 3 of your degree.

Or if you want to do a law degree you can get the army to sponsor you if you join the army legal corps after, you join with the rank of captain and they train you to be a barrister or solicitor specialising in military law/Queens regulations.

Same with many other degrees.

There are immense opportunities.

KickstartHeart

"I don't understand why on nearly every thread you feel the need to compare"

Perhaps you should read that he asking about careers in the Irish Army and the British Army. The need to compare is obvious.

eyescreamcone

All info is welcome lads

How hard is it to get into Sandhurst?

The IDF competition is very difficult to win.
I would imagine that there are plenty of losers who would make as good officers as the winners of the IDF competition.
Would these guys and gals be better off concentrating on the BA competition ??

OS119

eyescreamcone wrote: »

...How hard is it to get into Sandhurst?...

hard.

the 'baseline' standards required are high, and the number of applications from high-quality candidates mean that someone who only met the 'baseline' standards wouldn't stand a chance.

anyone using RMAS as their 'fallback' is not only likely to be disappointed, but is likely to be rumbled during the application process - and RMAS isn't interested in anyone who'se eyes are elsewhere...

Maoltuile

eyescreamcone wrote: »

On another thread I was getting barracked for mentioning British Army Officer Cadetships so here goes.

Hang on here, one second. You were stirring it up in another thread with this stuff, so you thought you'd go one better and give this topic its own thread? Does this sound productive?

You are also aware of the rules about advocating that Irish citizens join foreign armies, I presume.

bwatson

Maoltuile wrote: »

Hang on here, one second. You were stirring it up in another thread with this stuff, so you thought you'd go one better and give this topic its own thread? Does this sound productive?

You are also aware of the rules about advocating that Irish citizens join foreign armies, I presume.

Umm, the reason he created a new thread is because he was advised to in the other one so that the conversation there was focused on Irish cadetships, so doing so is not in any way "stirring". It is not because he was angering posters with talk of de Britz.

Also, the word "advocating" is totally misplaced. Read the charter. He is well within his rights to ask questions if he wishes.

Morpheus

I thought that the rule was ONLY that you cannot "advertise" positions in other armies for irish citizens as its against the law here... however there is nothing wrong with discussions surrounding the joining of foreign forces.

eyescreamcone

Morphéus wrote: »

I thought the rule was that you cannot advertise positions in other armies for irish citizens as its against the law here!

Maybe, but there is no advert here - check again your eyesight must be going.

There are plenty of chats about the FFL - no one ever pipes up with the legals in those threads.

Morpheus

no mate, i was saying that in your favor!!!

I MEANT to point out that you are not advertising, you are asking a question... and that I thought that the ONLY thing against the rules was advertising a position in a foreign force.

My mate, former RDF Cpl from dublin is now in sandhurst a couple of months and loving every minute. Best of luck to you with the application. I applied myself and travelled north of the border for initial interview but sadly (looking back now) i never progressed to joining. wish I had.

eyescreamcone

Morphéus wrote: »

no mate, i was saying that in your favor!!!

I MEANT to point out that you are not advertising, you are asking a question... and that I thought that the ONLY thing against the rules was advertising a position in a foreign force.

My mate, former RDF Cpl from dublin is now in sandhurst a couple of months and loving every minute.

Apologies - maybe my eyesight needs checking
Good to see the RDF doing well too.

davetherave

Morphéus wrote: »

My mate, former RDF Cpl from dublin is now in sandhurst a couple of months and loving every minute.

He's heading into his 2nd term next week. :pac:

Assuming we are both on about the same person, can't imagine there being 2 or more RDF Corporals in the same intake :pac::pac:

KickstartHeart

Sandhurst used to be easier to get into than the cadetschool. I remember reading (I can't find it so I can't link it) the numbers of applicants and the numbers that get a place in Sandhurst. The ratio suggests that getting into Sandhurst is very very easy compared to getting into the cadetschool.

But things are different now. Sandhurst is to be taking less officer cadets and the competition is much harder at the moment. Their intakes are getting smaller. So whoever said you can't use Sandhurst as a fall back if you don't get into the cadetschool is right. Its probably still easier to get into but a lot of people seem to think that the BA is something to fall back on. The BA may be easier to get into than the Irish Army but that doesn't mean any run of the mill person who got turned down from the Defence Force's cadet school can get into Sandhurst.

Getting into Sandhurst is also a competition just as much as the DF's cadetships is.

goldie fish

Don't forget, getting a place in sandhurst is still very reliant on what school you went to. Look at the recent commissionings there, and of the irish, you won't find any who went to ballinasloe community college, or the christian brothers in mullingar....
It is still very much upper class, private school chaps. Clongowes, belvedere etc.

Poccington

goldie fish wrote: »

Don't forget, getting a place in sandhurst is still very reliant on what school you went to. Look at the recent commissionings there, and of the irish, you won't find any who went to ballinasloe community college, or the christian brothers in mullingar....
It is still very much upper class, private school chaps. Clongowes, belvedere etc.

Not really.

Morpheus should know a lad that I know, ex RDF, who was commissioned from Sandhurst not all that long ago and he's a dirty Northsider. No private education for that lad.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

Poccington

feeney92 wrote: »

I went for Sandhurst but the Irish education standard is a lot higher than the UK applicants. I have to wiat to finish my Degree before I can apply again. I think its the fact that your more likely to get a combat tour with the BA which attracts young irish men

"The Irish move to the sound of guns like salmon to the sea" Ruyard Kipling

Nothing to do with the very limited recruitment in the DF then...

The Master of Disaster

For those of you who really are interested the exact figures for 2011 (well up to early December) were 499 out of 1,527 applicants passed the AOSB Main Board and were offered places at Sandhurst. So that's a pass rate of about 30% compared to 0.3% for the DF Cadetship (7000 applicants; 21 places AFAIK). You must, however, take into account that a lot of applicants for Sandhurst are turned down by their ACA or fail the AOSB Briefing before getting near the Main Board so there are many more than the official 1,527 listed.

In many ways all these stats are academic. You are measured to a standard, not a quota, so if you're good enough, you're good enough. Ultimately I think the higher pass rate for the BA in some ways reflects the fact that it's much bigger taking circa 650 cadets a year across 3 intakes versus 21 in 1 intake for the DF.

bwatson

KickstartHeart wrote: »

Sandhurst used to be easier to get into than the cadetschool. I remember reading (I can't find it so I can't link it) the numbers of applicants and the numbers that get a place in Sandhurst. The ratio suggests that getting into Sandhurst is very very easy compared to getting into the cadetschool.

But things are different now. Sandhurst is to be taking less officer cadets and the competition is much harder at the moment. Their intakes are getting smaller. So whoever said you can't use Sandhurst as a fall back if you don't get into the cadetschool is right. Its probably still easier to get into but a lot of people seem to think that the BA is something to fall back on. The BA may be easier to get into than the Irish Army but that doesn't mean any run of the mill person who got turned down from the Defence Force's cadet school can get into Sandhurst.

Getting into Sandhurst is also a competition just as much as the DF's cadetships is.

This isn't really true. It isn't a competition in the same way as the Irish cadetships are. Although there will certainly be cuts, 500 or so officer cadets will go to Sandhurst every year. Competent, enthusiastic and knowledgable candidates will still have every chance of going, although they may have to wait a year or two for their "ticket" to be valid. Thats the way it is for many I know and in fact it probably suits the majority. That isn't to say though, that it remains easy or used to be easy.

Saying that however, I don't think that it is all that worthwhile comparing the Cadetship competition to RMAS selection. Although they ultimately aim to find the best possible potential officers, the way that the systems work are incredibly different.

KickstartHeart

bwatson wrote: »

This isn't really true. It isn't a competition in the same way as the Irish cadetships are. Although there will certainly be cuts, 500 or so officer cadets will go to Sandhurst every year. Competent, enthusiastic and knowledgable candidates will still have every chance of going, although they may have to wait a year or two for their "ticket" to be valid. Thats the way it is for many I know and in fact it probably suits the majority. That isn't to say though, that it remains easy or used to be easy.

Saying that however, I don't think that it is all that worthwhile comparing the Cadetship competition to RMAS selection. Although they ultimately aim to find the best possible potential officers, the way that the systems work are incredibly different.

Ah I see. Thanks for correcting me/the info

KickstartHeart

Would it be fair to say over all, that the Defence Forces singles out those competent enough to officers, and towards the last stages of the 'competition' basically makes them compete to be in the top 21 or so, via interview to get a place in the class, and the BA basically singles out those that are competent enough to be officers, and if you are one of them, you'll probably get a place, because the BA doesn't need to make people compete as much?

eyescreamcone

I recently saw the BBC programme re the Sandhurst candidates training.
Interesting show.
The quality of some of the candidates was poor. Maybe the producer focused on the toff who looked like he got in because of his family ties. He made for good TV. Even if he didn't look like he'd make a good officer.
I wouldn't imagine he'd have done well in the IDF competition.

I suppose when you recruit hundreds yearly you will have a much greater mix of different characters than you would for the IDF comp.



Sorry no link to the series.

KickstartHeart

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I recently saw the BBC programme re the Sandhurst candidates training.
Interesting show.
The quality of some of the candidates was poor. Maybe the producer focused on the toff who looked like he got in because of his family ties. He made for good TV. Even if he didn't look like he'd make a good officer.
I wouldn't imagine he'd have done well in the IDF competition.

I suppose when you recruit hundreds yearly you will have a much greater mix of different characters than you would for the IDF comp.



Sorry no link to the series.

Its on youtube actually. If you just type in Sandhurst into the search bar it will come up. It was a good show, and you are right, some of the people in it were absolutely pathetic.

Delancey

Have to say I thought that Sandhurst show was very poor - very little insight into the training itself - overly focused on the few chosen individuals I thought.
Not sure someone thinking of applying to Sandhurst would be any the wiser for watching it .

eyescreamcone

Delancey wrote: »

Have to say I thought that Sandhurst show was very poor - very little insight into the training itself - overly focused on the few chosen individuals I thought.
Not sure someone thinking of applying to Sandhurst would be any the wiser for watching it .

It wasn't an ad for Sandhurst.
It was basically reality TV - made for entertainment - not information.
I'd like to have seen more about the selection phase but somebody deemed that to not be as exciting.

The Master of Disaster

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I'd like to have seen more about the selection phase but somebody deemed that to not be as exciting.

Why? It would just be lots of young people in suits sitting around for long periods of time interspersed with interviews, command tasks, planning excercises, essays etc. It would hardly make for exciting television. The general public might be interested in what goes on in Sandhurst but only PO's themselves would have any interest in the selection process. There are two videos, about 10 minutes each, on the BA website that show you what goes on at AOSB Briefing and AOSB Main Board.

Fishtits

Don't forget, getting a place in sandhurst is still very reliant on what school you went to. Look at the recent commissionings there, and of the irish, you won't find any who went to ballinasloe community college, or the christian brothers in mullingar....
It is still very much upper class, private school chaps. Clongowes, belvedere etc.

Utter Bullsh*t of the highest degree.

I spent more than ten years working with ex Sandhurst officers in various roles and I can state as a fact, most of them have nil airs & graces, and many of them came from terraced housing working class backgrounds - and they display excellence in a Corporals pragmatism.

As an ex PDF enlisted bloke it took a bit of getting used to...

I can't offer a comparison vs the Cadet College now, I left the PDF many years ago, but certainly back in the 80's and early 90's it was a closed shop - if you weren't connected or in the right circles you were stuffed.

Then they decided that promotion for offlcers would be on merit...

Cue dramatic music...

Still, back on topic, seriously if you want to experience "army" life, the Brits is probably your best bet. Paddy trains as best he can, his troops (regardless of rank) are rightly held in the highest regard. But, how many PDF Plt Sgts can call in Helo CAS?

Paddy should be proud of what we have achieved, but lets also realise that when it comes to other forces we're in the halpenny place in terms of our ability to project forces or defend.

Cheers

Delancey

There indeed was a time that Sandhurst very much favoured former pupils of schools like Harrow or Eton but that is long past - majority of cadets there have not gone to private schools ( which for some strange reaon Brits call ' Public Schools ' ) just listen to the accents and you'll hear relatively few ' upper class ' ones.

I have a nephew still in school who is seriously thinking of a Military career , I've advised him to look anywhere but Ireland , largely for the reason that since the foundation of the state it has been government policy to keep the Defence Forces chronically underfunded , under-equipped and saddled with outdated structures - quite why is probably a debate for another thread.

KickstartHeart

The Irish Defence Forces is of a very high standard internationally though.

Its easy to bash the Irish Defence Forces but as far as the standards go, they're quite good. Comparing the Defence Force of a small sovereign nation like Ireland to militaries designed to enforce the foreign policy of ex-colonial powers like the UK is rediculous.

A lot of Irish people seam to idolise the British military, when they don't realise that their own military is the kind of one that many other people around the world would idolise. We can talk all day about outdated structures and funding etc. etc. but take the Irish Defence Forces, and take every other military in the world, and compare funding, structures, training and efficiency, man for man, and the Irish military is not going to be ranked very low. It may be small, and may not be able to take on another country, but the quality is there. I even know a guy in the French Foreign Legion cavalry unit who asked me via facebook if I could advise him on how to get into the Irish Army, because he wanted better training.

When you go and compare the Irish military to the likes of the British military, its obviously going to look bad. Pretty much every military looks bad when you compare it to the brits. I'm not even in the military and annoys me to see the bashing the Irish military gets from Irish people.

If you join the Irish military, you will train hard and train at a high standard. You will be deployed to somewhere in the world on peace support operations. Many Irish soldiers who have been sent on these peace support operations have seen more action than the soldiers of a LOT of other countries. Ireland's military is not a war making machine. To advice someone not to join because of the fact that Ireland's DEFENCE force can't project itself to places in the world like the likes of the BA is completely wrong.

If someone wants a military career, then do not advise them away from the Irish military, because in the Irish military, they will get a real military career, and opertunities that far surpass those available in most other country's militaries. Maybe not in Europe and the western world, but definitely in the world. Just because they won't get to fight the taliban or be part of a body that can be sent to anywhere in the world in a few hours, does not mean he/she will be any less of a soldier than someone in some of the worlds best militaries.

The Irish military has changed a lot in the past couple of decades, and without doubt, regardless of funding, structures, combat experience, air support, or any of that stuff, the standard is there, and it is strong.

People shouldn't think, or influence other people to think that you won't be a soldier unless you see the kind of combat that the BA is facing in Afghanistan at the moment, or unless your'e part of a military with the projecting/defending capabilities that are better than Irelands. I'm not specifically addressing you Delancey. I'm trying to get my opinion on this issue accross in general.

The Irish Army may not be able to wage war on other nations, but the men and women that fill its ranks, are real soldiers, with significant operational experience, whether with or without combat, and they are of a well trained, and comparatively well equipped standard. Nothing wrong with the Irish Army. I know many people who have fought in Afghanistan with foreign flags on their shoulders who are dying to get into the PDF. And I know many people that serve/have served in foreign armies with great respect for the Irish military. Its a petty Irish people couldn't show that respect instead of always saying its not a 'real' army and all that crap and having a go at the capabilites of the Defence Forces.

BTW, Delancey I have referenced what you said in this post a bit but in general its not a go at you or a reply to your post. Its just a general rant about some of the attitudes towards the Irish military that I have come accross.

If you want to be a soldier, dont ever assume that if you join the Irish Defence Forces that you won't be one. Because you will be one, and you will be one that is much better trained and equipped than most soldiers in the world. There may be soldiers better equipped and better trained than you, in better funded more streamlined militaries, with better experiences than you, but that doesn't take from the fact that as a soldier in the Irish Defence Forces you will be a soldier. And a very good one at that.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

tac foley

KickstartHeart wrote: »

The Irish Defence Forces is of a very high standard internationally though....

An excellent post, Sir.

Thank you for it.

tac

KickstartHeart

tac foley wrote: »

An excellent post, Sir.

Thank you for it.

tac

Thanks Tac.

neilled

Poccington wrote: »

Not really.

Morpheus should know a lad that I know, ex RDF, who was commissioned from Sandhurst not all that long ago and he's a dirty Northsider. No private education for that lad.

I think its not a bar to enterance or a commission, but where your commissioned to? Well quite possibly as social background still does have some impact as to who gets into a regiment.

When I went with my chat with ACA (army careers advisor) NI about 3 years ago (not that distant) I had an idea about units I might like to serve with, most of them with Irish connections. One cavalry and two infantry.

The ACA advised me not to go for two them due to my background not fitting - the cav in his experience still hung around the mess chatting about 3 day eventing etc (bar the Royal Tank Regiment, about the only place for a non horsey type to go driving tanks apparently, so lots of competition to get in), whilst the guards (he thought) were still very much about family connections - his advise was to go for a large infantry unit like the Rifles or Royal Regiment of Scotland where you could be posted back and forth between different battalions and get experience in multiple roles, or go for the arty (though he was a gunner himself). The Royal Irish he noted were a single BN and only have a limited number of commissions to offer each year.

For the record my background at the time would have been N.Ireland Grammar Schooling with a good set of A-Levels and a Degree holder - in the end I didn't head down the route of joining the BA. Perhaps if someone has a more recent experiences they would share them with the board?

KickstartHeart

neilled wrote: »

social background still does have some impact as to who gets into a regiment.

Do you mean that different regiments look for different kinds of officers? I remember reading on the rifles website that they look for officers from 'varied walks of life'. So would it be true to say that other regiments look for people from specific backgrounds?

neilled

KickstartHeart wrote: »

Do you mean that different regiments look for different kinds of officers? I remember reading on the rifles website that they look for officers from 'varied walks of life'. So would it be true to say that other regiments look for people from specific backgrounds?

I would think so, I can only speak on my own experience of the first part of the recruitment process.

Firstly, you need to remember that the "regimental system" of the BA is very different than what exists in the DF. As a young officer, you'll be commissioned into a regiment and will probably stay there your entire career bar courses and heading away to staff appointments. Officers and Men are probably more loyal to the regiment than to the crown or even army in general! Each has its own unique traditions, different drill, marching speeds, a capbade on the rear of the shako because they fought back to back at some battle of the 18th century some don't toast the monarch because they stayed loyal to the crown during the civil war - the list goes on. The best analogy is that a regiment is a tribe convinced that they are better than all the other tribes, and their uniform, beret or capbadge sets them apart and unites them

In the DF an officer is posted to a unit post commissioning, might do an overseas tour as an lt, one as a capt and then come back and find themselves transferred to another unit within their brigade or corps as it were. Whilst they'll always be thought of as being "originally from" a certain BN or corps formation, they'll shuffle around the place as the service needs.

So regiments do look for a certain type of chap that will fit in with their ethos and will offer "the right man" a guaranteed place in the regiment after he is commissioned from RMAS, theres an element of "do you want us and do we want you?" from what I gather. As said before I didn't go through the whole system, but thats what i took from it.

KickstartHeart

neilled wrote: »

I would think so, I can only speak on my own experience of the first part of the recruitment process.

Firstly, you need to remember that the "regimental system" of the BA is very different than what exists in the DF. As a young officer, you'll be commissioned into a regiment and will probably stay there your entire career bar courses and heading away to staff appointments. Officers and Men are probably more loyal to the regiment than to the crown or even army in general! Each has its own unique traditions, different drill, marching speeds, a capbade on the rear of the shako because they fought back to back at some battle of the 18th century some don't toast the monarch because they stayed loyal to the crown during the civil war - the list goes on. The best analogy is that a regiment is a tribe convinced that they are better than all the other tribes, and their uniform, beret or capbadge sets them apart and unites them

In the DF an officer is posted to a unit post commissioning, might do an overseas tour as an lt, one as a capt and then come back and find themselves transferred to another unit within their brigade or corps as it were. Whilst they'll always be thought of as being "originally from" a certain BN or corps formation, they'll shuffle around the place as the service needs.

So regiments do look for a certain type of chap that will fit in with their ethos and will offer "the right man" a guaranteed place in the regiment after he is commissioned from RMAS, theres an element of "do you want us and do we want you?" from what I gather. As said before I didn't go through the whole system, but thats what i took from it.

You don't know in any detail which regiments look for which kinds of people by any chance?

neilled

KickstartHeart wrote: »

You don't know in any detail which regiments look for which kinds of people by any chance?

Sweeping generalisations based on my own experience, however others may know better

Cav bar the Royal Tank Regiment - Horse Owners, Well heeled, groomed public school educated.

Royal Tank Regiment derisively known as the "Chavalry" - amongst the rest of the Royal Armoured Corps, despite the fact they were the first to be mechanised!

Inf - not sure really, get the impression that most of the "super regiments" like the rifles and royal regiment of scots are open to pretty much anyone. Ghurkas - a gift for languages not really sure about the rest

REME - an appropriate technical background

RLC - anyone

Arty - Anyone

AGC - Anyone

Bde of Guards - public schooled, well healed, family connections as it was explained to me. The chap in that sandhurst documentary seemed to back that up. Not always the case though, know of one fella who wouldn't really be of that background who was offered a gds regiment.

Best thing to do would be arrange an appointment if the Army Careers Advisor in N.Ireland who'll give you the lowdown as he see's it. If its still the same chap, he's a retired Col. who's been around a bit and deals with many candidates from the ROI, i think he said over half of his applicants were coming from south of the border back when I saw him.

Perhaps TAC Might Comment on my post and shed some light?

The Master of Disaster

KickstartHeart wrote: »

You don't know in any detail which regiments look for which kinds of people by any chance?

I should stress that most of what I'm about to say is premature. I'm not starting Sandhurst until January so much of what I'm about to say is based on limited experience gained during the selection process. Somebody like Tac who has extensive experience of the field army may be better placed to comment but I'll give my own twopence worth!

Cavalry - Met a lot of guys intending to go cavalry over the last months. Generally all really nice chaps but being honest not the sort of guys I could see myself spending a lot of my working and social life with. This isn't an indictment of them as such more, forgive the pun, horses for courses. They do tend to be privately educated, well-polished and somewhat upper-middle or upper class and although it's no longer universally true many do have private incomes and I've heard stories of Mess night bills running into five figure sums. I do know an Irish guy going Cavalry but he's very much the stereotype ie. owns horses, plays polo and wears red trousers! Then again I know another Irish chap who recently commissioned into a MBT regiment and he's the antithesis of said stereotype.

As already noted the RTR which tends to be quite different to the above.

The Infantry regiments, with the exception of the Foot Guards and the Parachute Regiment, have historically tended to recruit from their own geographical areas. Though yet again there are probably more exceptions to that rule than examples of the rule itself. It's all about where you feel you fit. For example I'm Irish but if I do go infantry I'm thinking about the Rifles (rather than the RIR). I've met a lot of really top guys going Rifles and I could definitely see myself becoming best mates with most of them. Don't think I'd like life in the Paras, don't seem to click as well with guys going for them but again that's just me. The Foot Guards are some way between the Cavalry and other parts of the army. Historically quite posh they still retain that aura about them though a lot of their officers come from 'regular' backgrounds.

Once you get outside the infantry and cavalry the distinctions become much less pronounced though you'll find a certain Corps attracts a certain type of person ie. the Gunners love their rugby. It's all about finding a regiment where you can see yourself living with those officers and one where the regiment feels you'd fit in. The only way you'll know where you belong is to go visit the various arms and regiments. You might have your heart set on the Paras but find you like the PWRR more, or you might think you'd like to join the Gunners but find you actually want to go RLC or Royal Signals.

Again I repeat the caveat that the above is very very generalised and should be taken with a serious pinch of salt!

KickstartHeart

Thanks for the detailed replies lads!

I don't particularly want to join the British Army, so I'll give heading up to NI a miss. I'm just generally interested in this stuff thats why I asked.

DipStick McSwindler

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tac foley

Gentlemen - I'd like to make a point of my appreciation of the way that you have all dealt with this thread - in a very gentlemanly and adult manner.

We know that there ARE posters on this forum with a strongly anti-British agenda, who, for reasons best known to themselves, seem to be morbidly fascinated with an organisation [the British Armed Forces] and a national population [the British] that they plainly loathe, a POV that is instantly apparent to anybody reading the vast majority of their posts. However, in spite of one of the main posters here not having an interest in joining any part of the British military, there is a general air here of an adult discussion that does you all proud.

As for making any input here, well, to tell the truth I'm not able to add anything to the reasoned arguments and advice that has been posted here already.

However, for the record - I joined as an 'other-ranker' in a technical branch of the Army, and two years later was made redundant [surplus to requirements]. I transferred into another part of the Army, and fourteen years later, almost to the day, I was commissioned - having progressed from Private soldier to Warrant Officer 1st Class in that fourteen years.

I retired back in 2000, having been a Major and acting Lt col for the previous seven years.

My part of the Army required you to show what you were good for, then excel in it, proving that you were worth promoting, and almost 50% of ALL its officers came from the ranks. Again, I'd point out that although none of us had had the benefits of an Irish education, many of us had degrees, even as NCOs, well before we were commissioned.

I never went to Sandhurst, except as a lecturer, and my entire commissioning ceremony took a little under two minutes - I walked in the door as a WO1, effectively left the Army [while the RSM had his heels firmly against the door], and then accepted the Queen's Commission that now hangs in its traditional position - in the downstairs bog. A minute passed as signatures were scrawled, us four brand-new Captains then ceremoniously marched past the RSM who gave US our very first salute, and then, as our guest, we took him over to the mess to get blatted.

Happy Days, eh? At least, that's what I was told afterwards.

tac

Delancey

Good post tac and indeed pleasant that the '' how could an Irishman join the Brits '' stuff did not derail the thread.

eyescreamcone

Some very informative posts
Good stuff lads, keep it up!

cruasder777

Heres one of the making of a Royal Marine commando officer.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4POpHJmwSYI&feature=related

tac foley

@KickStartHeart - read your PM.

tac

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

RMD

cruasder777 wrote: »

Heres one of the making of a Royal Marine commando officer.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4POpHJmwSYI&feature=related

Just a point of note for many you need British / British dual nationality to apply for RMO. It's not open to Republic of Ireland citizens, only OR is in the Royal Marines.

tomato1988

Has anyone been through the application process lately?

tac foley

Don't get me wrong, but I don't imagine that many people will be responding to your post on this 99.99% Irish forum.

Just sayin'.

tac

tac foley

Also, to become a RM officer, you'll need to read this first. Any 'no's' here, and it's a big NO.

The minimum entry requirements are five GCSEs (A-C)/five S grades (1-3) including English language and mathematics and two A levels/ three H grades. Applicants with alternative qualifications are considered on their individual merits.

Height/Weight
The minimum height requirement is 1.51 metres. Weight must be in proportion to height.

Nationality
You must be of British or dual British nationality, and have lived in the UK for five years.

Age
Direct entrants should be between 17 and 26 on the first day of the month of entry. Maximum age limits vary depending on the specialism but late entry is rare.

Graduates
Direct graduate entrants must have a UK degree and English and maths at GCSE (A-C)/S grades (1-3), or equivalent qualifications. They should be under 26 on 1st September of the year of entry (refers to all officer entrants not just graduates).

You will be required to pass a three-day Potential Officers Course, which tests your physical ability and endurance, mental aptitude and leadership skills. The course is followed by an interview. You will also have to pass a medical assessment.

A-level/H grade scholarships or reserved places and university cadetships or bursaries are available to some students. Exact details are available from armed forces careers officers, as are full nationality and residency requirements.

How long will I serve for?
You would join the Service as an officer on a 12-year Initial Commission. You would be required to serve at least three to five years.

Source(s):
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/royalmarines…;

Please note that de-selection rate [a fail] for the pre-selection course is roughly 65% of ALL applicants.

However, IF you tick all the initial boxes, and actually get to Lympstone, then the next 15 months will be unmitigated hell. The failure rate for the officers' course, per se, is between 30-40%, often more.

Worth more than gold and rubies at the end, though.

tac

PS - now I look back on it all, I don't recall ever having encountered a person from the Republic of Ireland in the RM as an officer, and only one OR from the North. But my experience is now many years out of date, and they might take Inuits in now, providing they meet the height requirement.