Recruitment for British army soars in Republic of Ireland

Jawgap wrote: »

.......plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

I remember somebody saying that about the Empire.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

I remember somebody saying that about the Empire.

Got a source?

(Not the Daily Express

)

Jawgap wrote: »

Got a source?

(Not the Daily Express )

Must have been my great granny, the empire is so long gone now.

Parachutes

I don't see anyone ever complaining about Commonwealth citizens joining and while we're not in the Commonwealth, we are certainly closer to the UK culturally, economically and geographically than the majority of those nations so why shouldn't Irishmen and woman who want a career in soldiering join up if they can't get into the PDF?

Certainly better than the alternative, joining the FFL, being stripped of your identity and dying in a swamp in French Guiana.

wotzgoingon

Well after watching the Irish army recruits on a programme on the telly last year. I found out I am too old to join the Irish army by a few years as well, didn't realise I was getting so old. I am also more than likely too old for the scumbags across the pond also.

wotzgoingon wrote: »

Well after watching the Irish army recruits on a programme on the telly last year. I found out I am too old to join the Irish army by a few years as well, didn't realise I was getting so old.

AFAIK for the Irish army you must be under 25, but for the B.A. the auld computer says the basic entry age requirements depend on whether or not you are entering the regular army, or Territorial Army, as an officer or soldier. If regular army, officers can join aged 18 to 26 years and soldiers can join between 16 and 32 years and 11 months. So there might be hope for ye yet.

Parachutes wrote: »

I don't see anyone ever complaining about Commonwealth citizens joining and while we're not in the Commonwealth, we are certainly closer to the UK culturally, economically and geographically than the majority of those nations so why shouldn't Irishmen and woman who want a career in soldiering join up if they can't get into the PDF?

Certainly better than the alternative, joining the FFL, being stripped of your identity and dying in a swamp in French Guiana.

I'd imagine dying for a foreign army feels fairly universal - tragically pointless.

The whole point of serving in an army in a war situation is to make the other sides soldiers die, not you.

While no British army servicemen died on active service in 2016, I'd imagine some people who died in previous years saw it as a sacrifice so their mates and friends could live, and to preserve our western way of life. The soldiers do not make political decisions, the elected politicians do.

As regards "foreign army", Irishmen serving in the Royal Irish Regiment or Irish Guards or other B.A. regiments probably feel relatively quite at home......as someone else said above, "while we're not in the Commonwealth, we are certainly closer to the UK culturally, economically and geographically than the majority of those (Commonwealth) nations".

wotzgoingon wrote: »

Well after watching the Irish army recruits on a programme on the telly last year. I found out I am too old to join the Irish army by a few years as well, didn't realise I was getting so old. I am also more than likely too old for the scumbags across the pond also.

They sell their dream careers to the young and impressionable. Kinda sad in it's own way.

Fratton Fred

FrancieBrady wrote: »

They sell their dream careers to the young and impressionable. Kinda sad in it's own way.

isn't that what armies in general do

Fratton Fred wrote: »

isn't that what armies in general do

Yep, 'they' referring to armies.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

They sell their dream careers to the young and impressionable. Kinda sad in it's own way.

young? the age band of recruits is older than the age band the Irish army accepts. I take your point though, I suppose the range of technology, equipment etc in the UK forces (army, air force, navy) is a lot broader and more advanced than in the Irish army / navy / air force, and the opportunity for travel to more widespread locations, more sports like snow-skiing etc.

wotzgoingon

maryishere wrote: »

young? the age band of recruits is older than the age band the Irish army accepts. I take your point though, I suppose the technology, equipment etc in the UK forces is a lot more advanced than in the Irish army, and the opportunity for travel to more widespread locations, more sports like snow-skiing etc.

Where are you really from. You seem to know a lot about the Brittish army and then over in the IRA thread you kept posting pro UK posts. You seem to me to be a west brit if you are Irish.

wotzgoingon wrote: »

You seem to know a lot about the Brittish army .

lol. Admission ages can be got in 5 seconds on google. And it is possible to be Irish and not a hardline Republican.

harry Bailey esq

JimmyTClarke wrote: »

I was in a very similar situation recently in Liverpool. A girl (who was quite inebriated) asked me why the Irish hated the English so much. I could only reply with a bemused 'Do we?' She then proceeded to remind me of the Troubles (or some semblance thereof) and the atrocities committed by the Provos. Having informed her that they didn't commit those acts in my name she said 'So you don't support your army?'. I then backed away quickly without any further conversation or eye contact, concerned that factual information might cause her brain to explode

My inclination would have been to take her back to my hotel room for a more in depth debate on the topic.

Timberrrrrrrr

FrancieBrady wrote: »

They sell their dream careers to the young and impressionable. Kinda sad in it's own way.

As do all armies

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

As do all armies

Covered in my answer to the same clarification from Fred

Timberrrrrrrr

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Covered in my answer to the same clarification from Fred

Even your precious IRA did it

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Even your precious IRA did it

Not my 'precious' anything but yes they did. Why are you having a problem with this?

There is an honor to die for your own country but to die for a foreign army is, to my mind, tragically pointless. I think foreign army's that poach the young in other country's can be almost predatory, when it is sold as something glamorous and adventurous.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

I'd imagine dying for a foreign army feels fairly universal - tragically pointless.

Ah well now, the point is not to get dead

My relative whose currently serving recently re-signed for another term......all told less than 10% of his time has been spent in what might be regarded as combat theatres......

.....he's also been to North and Central America several times (where he trained along side Irish DF personnel) and has even done some (actually quite a bit) of humanitarian work in Africa, India and the Middle East (on water and housing).

FrancieBrady wrote: »

They sell their dream careers to the young and impressionable. Kinda sad in it's own way.

It's not all about getting shot at - you get to play with the really cool toys, pick up a trade or profession (if that's your wont) and as per above you get to help people in a very direct way.......

......leaving aside the occasional combat tour, what's not to be attracted to?

Timberrrrrrrr

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Not my 'precious' anything but yes they did. Why are you having a problem with this?

There is an honor to die for your own country but to die for a foreign army is, to my mind, tragically pointless. I think foreign army's that poach the young in other country's can be almost predatory, when it is sold as something glamorous and adventurous.

How do the BA "poach" Irish people? How is it predatory? The fact is that young men and women choose to join because the BA offers them opportunities that they cannot get in Ireland.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Not my 'precious' anything but yes they did. Why are you having a problem with this?

There is an honor to die for your own country but to die for a foreign army is, to my mind, tragically pointless. I think foreign army's that poach the young in other country's can be almost predatory, when it is sold as something glamorous and adventurous.

Erich Maria Remarque Eould disagree with you

There may be some moral value in dying to save/protect your mates, but dying for your country is not honourable.......it's stupid.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

There is an honor to die for your own country

You think there was an honour in IRA terrorists dying "for their country"

FrancieBrady wrote: »

but to die for a foreign army is, to my mind, tragically pointless.

So allied soldiers who risked their lives,( and some who paid the ultimate price so their mates - and you - could live) to liberate Europe from the Nazis was tragically pointless, according to you.

Jawgap wrote: »

Ah well now, the point is not to get dead

My relative whose currently serving recently re-signed for another term......all told less than 10% of his time has been spent in what might be regarded as combat theatres......

.....he's also been to North and Central America several times (where he trained along side Irish DF personnel) and has even done some (actually quite a bit) of humanitarian work in Africa, India and the Middle East (on water and housing).

It's not all about getting shot at - you get to play with the really cool toys, pick up a trade or profession (if that's your wont) and as per above you get to help people in a very direct way.......

......leaving aside the occasional combat tour, what's not to be attracted to?

If my child taught playing at war was a career I would consider my parenting a failure. Maybe because I have seen what armies can do. Or a bewildered 18 yr old frightened out of his wits in a country he doesn't understand.

The BA is at peace now, but we know it won't be long until they are picking a fight somewhere.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Maybe because I have seen what armies can do.

but you still have justified and condoned what your PIRA did. hat says it all.

Fratton Fred

FrancieBrady wrote: »

The BA is at peace now, but we know it won't be long until they are picking a fight somewhere.

I don't think any one would argue for the invasion of Iraq, but where else in the last fifty years have they "picked a fight"?

[Deleted User]

maryishere wrote: »

You think there was an honour in IRA terrorists dying "for their country"

So allied soldiers who risked their lives,( and some who paid the ultimate price so their mates - and you - could live) to liberate Europe from the Nazis was tragically pointless, according to you.

Including the Russians as well mary?

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

How do the BA "poach" Irish people? How is it predatory? The fact is that young men and women choose to join because the BA offers them opportunities that they cannot get in Ireland.

Like a Coke ad preys on aspirations? They sell a dream life.

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I don't think any one would argue for the invasion of Iraq, but where else in the last fifty years have they "picked a fight"?

Here Fred, did you miss it? There was no IRA of any merit when they arrived.