Recruitment Drive For the British Army

Just to add if anyone needs some info on the recruitment process and how it's done then drop me a PM. I'm near the end of the recruitment phase for officer. Have my final selection tests in August.

cheerio!

KINGPIN wrote: »

how long was the application process for you ?

Had my first interview last November, then first part of selection in April. Final test in August. Reason it took so long was because of work and fitness commitments.

<Snip> All links/referrals/encouragements to join removed - Hagar <snip>

Ever hear "Stop talking bollox"?

<Snip> All links/referrals/encouragements to join removed - Hagar <snip>

Dub13 wrote: »

Thats a tough choice,the Royal Irish is a great Regiment but I can also see the appeal of the Signals Corps.Whats your pros and cons for both of them...?Thats of course if you don't mind talking about it on an open forum.

Not atall, happy to answer any questions.

Well I've been over to UK to visit both infantry and signals corps and have chatted to Officers and Soldiers, played with their equipment and subsequently got drunk in their mess'. Pro's and Cons are difficult to say so I'll just tell you what I know, make your own conclusion
I can't speak for the Royal Irish as I haven't visited them yet but I have had a general Infantry visit. Got to see they're equipment (SA80, LAW, GPMG, BOWMAN, Bergans, Javelin etc), got a ride in a Warrior and got beasted through an assault course. From what the Officers I've been talking to, out of the 3, one has had a tour of Iraq as a Mechanized Infantry Platoon commander, one had a tour of Afghanistan as a Rifle Platoon Commander and the other a tour of Iraq as a Rifle Platoon Commander and susequently attached to a Colonal.
Each Officer has had different experiences, the first two were only out of Sandhurst, done their Platoon Commanders course and then sent abroad. These were young lads, 20 - 23 years old. The third fella was 25 when he joined and now at 30 is a Captain. If you join Infantry older they will give you shorter stints abroad as Platoon Commander and try to push you up the ranks. He was attached to some Colonal for 3 months over there and then to intelligence. Far quicker than you normally would be.

For Sigs the two Officers (Captains) I chatted to lived very different experiences. The first once he finished Sandhurst was attached to the Gurkhas and sent to Nepal for three months. Then came back and sent to Florida for a year attached to USCENTCOM. When that tour finished he was sent to Afghan with his Gurkha Squadron.

The second chap came straight out of Sandhurst and headed to Iraq, spent 6 months there setting up comms between battalion HQ's. When he came back he was given 10months to get his squadron ready for Afghan. They went out with Landrovers with the objective of driving into far mountainous areas to draw out the Taleban. Very interesting!

It's difficult to draw pro's and cons between different Reg or Corps, the Sigs guys were doing very "SAS" style stuff with the landrovers in Afghan while the older Infantry Officer was more of an assistant to a particular Colonal - although he did say that he got to sit in very interesting meetings...

Being an Infantry Officer will more likely see you action on frontline in Afghan, while Sigs you may not be on frontline but the chances of you going to USA, Nepal, Germany, Cyprus etc is very high. All in all from what I have learned, joining as an Officer, even for only 5 years, you will experience much more than you would ever in a lifetime in Civvy life.

Hope that makes some sort of sense....

Dub13 wrote: »

Difficult choice,I can see the merits of both.iirc The Royal Irish are part of 16 Air Assault Brigade..?and out in Afghanistan at the moment.When do you have to decide...?I went through the process (although for a grunt) back in the 90s.

Yeah Royal Irish are in 16AA and out in Afghan, Should be back in September or October. I get to decide on 5 reg or corps on entering Sandhurst and by the end of the first 5weeks (if I recall)I have to pair it down to 2. Then midway through Sandhurst I go on visits and interviews to those two reg or corps and try and persuade them to take me after I pass out. Not sure what it's like for a grunt tho.

What reg or corps were you in if you don't mind me asking?

MacBuster wrote: »

And I suppose this mate of yours is getting recruitment bounty for every person he recruits I know this scam as I have a mate in the RIR.....

No different from companies in the private sector. A friend of mine works for Sun Microsystems and gets a bonus for every person he hires.

Riddle101 wrote: »

Meh you can't buy my loyality, if i have to choose i'd choose the PDF

The Brits are hardly buying loyalty on the wages they pay. I would doubt that financial gain is the main concern for those joining the BA.