Recruits TV show

Reggie. · 02-09-2015 10:24PM

liam7831 wrote: »

Shur there is only a few hundred deployed on missions, what do the other 6 or 7 thousand do every week? Its not exactly Baghdad around here so not too many explosive Ordnance Disposal personnell required I would suggest ?

Real original argument there.

Señor Fancy Pants · 02-09-2015 10:38PM

Elsie Miniature Spleen wrote: »

I play with the crayon's before lunch, Senor Fancy Pants licks the windows. Then after lunch we swap around.. I don't know who Reggie is, but I suspect he's the one who makes and flies the paper 'planes (this carries a technical allowance to pay for the paper cut plasters).

You?.

Whoa whoa whoa! Tuesday's and Thursday's we get to play with mala after lunch. Then go home early incase it starts to rain.

Reggie is in charge of the fluffy pillows. He does a great job. Needs more softener though.

Crann na Beatha · 02-09-2015 10:50PM

This post has been deleted.

mikeym · 02-09-2015 11:24PM

Great show.

A lot of young people are interested in joining the Army and it gives a good insight into Military life.

kieranfitz · 02-09-2015 11:27PM

syklops wrote: »

Im really enjoyed it. Shame they didn't match the 17 weeks of training with say 8 or 12 episodes. Following the group up to the passing out parade.

8-12 episodes? Are you mad? they need that air time for a show about Guards who ****ed off to oz.

ArmaniJeanss · 02-09-2015 11:42PM

Elsie Miniature Spleen wrote: »

Oh, and lets put some more Explosive Ordnance Disposal cops on the streets too ~ except they can't defuse sh*t either.

Out of interest would the bomb disposal people have necessarily gone through the 17 week training that we saw on the programme?
Whilst I enjoyed it it did occur to me that if you make such training a requirement then you potentially might miss out some really useful recruits (I was thinking of people who might excel at military tactics and academic war theory, military resource management, I.T. staff etc).

Reggie. · 03-09-2015 12:18AM

Señor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Whoa whoa whoa! Tuesday's and Thursday's we get to play with mala after lunch. Then go home early incase it starts to rain.

Reggie is in charge of the fluffy pillows. He does a great job. Needs more softener though.

Your always bitching about the softener

Reggie. · 03-09-2015 12:20AM

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Out of interest would the bomb disposal people have necessarily gone through the 17 week training that we saw on the programme?
Whilst I enjoyed it it did occur to me that if you make such training a requirement then you potentially might miss out some really useful recruits (I was thinking of people who might excel at military tactics and academic war theory, military resource management, I.T. staff etc).

And what hood would they be to you in a battle situation if they didn't go through that training

zzfh · 03-09-2015 12:36AM

Should of done it over 6 eps or so imo.
BBC done one about 6 months ago and done it as a 4 week run.It was better getting to know the group and such.

Manic Moran · 03-09-2015 07:38AM

So I got about to watching the show, and my immediate reaction was "That was what people were up in arms over!?"

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Out of interest would the bomb disposal people have necessarily gone through the 17 week training that we saw on the programme?
Whilst I enjoyed it it did occur to me that if you make such training a requirement then you potentially might miss out some really useful recruits (I was thinking of people who might excel at military tactics and academic war theory, military resource management, I.T. staff etc).

I would hope so. There's a reason it's called "Basic" training in some countries. Plenty of bombs to dispose when overseas in places like the Lebanon. Would be handy if the EOD team knew how to react if they found themselves under fire mid-call-out.

discus · 03-09-2015 07:48AM

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Out of interest would the bomb disposal people have necessarily gone through the 17 week training that we saw on the programme?
Whilst I enjoyed it it did occur to me that if you make such training a requirement then you potentially might miss out some really useful recruits (I was thinking of people who might excel at military tactics and academic war theory, military resource management, I.T. staff etc).

Can't believe I actually just read this.

Morpheus · 03-09-2015 10:17AM

[MOD]I'm going back through the entire thread, Ive already applied infractions for trolling on someone, anyone else wants to disrespect the defence forces can find a new forum for good.[/MOD]

ArmaniJeanss · 03-09-2015 12:57PM

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Out of interest would the bomb disposal people have necessarily gone through the 17 week training that we saw on the programme?
Whilst I enjoyed it it did occur to me that if you make such training a requirement then you potentially might miss out some really useful recruits (I was thinking of people who might excel at military tactics and academic war theory, military resource management, I.T. staff etc).

Reggie. wrote: »

And what hood would they be to you in a battle situation if they didn't go through that training

I think on balance that I'd like my bomb guy to have a nerdishly encyclopedic knowledge of devices and the technical ability to deal with them, and if they also have long hair, scruffy boots and are poor at pressups then I don't think I'd be too bothered.

Manic Moran wrote: »

I would hope so. There's a reason it's called "Basic" training in some countries. Plenty of bombs to dispose when overseas in places like the Lebanon. Would be handy if the EOD team knew how to react if they found themselves under fire mid-call-out.

Fair enough, I thought there might be a concept that you could be a 'fail' in some areas of this training but if you were going to excel in a useful specialist field then you could get a fastrack pass to that field. I can see how it would be problematic.

discus wrote: »

Can't believe I actually just read this.

You know what, I think it was a valid question. But if I've asked something that is so utterly unbelievable then I can only apologise for offending anyones sensibilities. I'll back away from the forum now.

Morpheus · 03-09-2015 01:36PM

Its a simple answer,
In the defence forces, everyone is a soldier first and a corps, specialist, etc second, everyone is tested on and must pass the same fitness test, medical analysis, annual range practice, is subject to random drug tests etc each year besides their main tasking, that includes the reserve defence forces as and from this year.

The Black Oil · 03-09-2015 02:53PM

Enjoyed the show. The recruits in their 20s (generally) had more cop on.

Some of the comments here are absurd.

darragh o meara · 03-09-2015 02:58PM

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Out of interest would the bomb disposal people have necessarily gone through the 17 week training that we saw on the programme?

From what I remember, the only people exempt from basic training is the Chaplain and maybe some of the Army doctors. In saying that though, there would have to be some form of training given to them as they do also end up overseas, so would need some form of cop on should the proverbial hit the fan.

Alt J · 03-09-2015 03:24PM

Baffles me how they were our top forty recruits. It would leave me with no faith in the recruitment process. I have to say I enjoyed the second episode do. I think its far past the time to update the fitness test, atleast this would maybe stop the high attrition rate. I Wondered how some of the recruits got past the interview stage with their attitudes. With massive high demand I think its time to update the whole recruitment process maybe, from the series it looked like well deserved recruits got a place but it looked like alot didn't deserve to be there

Morpheus · 03-09-2015 04:45PM

Ok, from what I understand....If you pass the interviews, psychometric test (done externally), basic recruit applicants fitness test, army medical test and garda background check, you go onto a "panel".

That panel is a list of applicants names who satisfied all of the above, potentially numbering in the hundreds.

Out of that panel the first 40 recruits are chosen, not the highest scoring/best/Mensa candidates etc, just the FIRST forty names on the panel.

You just need to be one of the first ones to get through the process and make it onto a panel.

This panel remains active for a number of months and as current recruit platoons pass out and rotate onto their 3 star training, next 40 names will now be pulled from the existing panel. Any drop outs are replaced with panellists - up to a point - if someone drops out on week ten for example, it wouldnt make sense to replace them as this recruit would be so far behind.

Im open to correction, but thats what I was told about the process.

Manic Moran · 03-09-2015 04:57PM

Alt J wrote: »

Baffles me how they were our top forty recruits. It would leave me with no faith in the recruitment process. I have to say I enjoyed the second episode do. I think its far past the time to update the fitness test, atleast this would maybe stop the high attrition rate. I Wondered how some of the recruits got past the interview stage with their attitudes. With massive high demand I think its time to update the whole recruitment process maybe, from the series it looked like well deserved recruits got a place but it looked like alot didn't deserve to be there

The problem is that there is, to my knowledge, no interview/selection process which can properly determine if an individual has the intestinal fortitude to get through recruit training. The back-talk, mistakes, etc, that you saw on the show are catalysed by the repeated stress over time. Ultimately, you can't just look at someone, give them a test and an interview, and say "He/she has got what it takes, and will have the right resilience" You have to put them through the meat grinder and see what they're made of that way.

I don't think the show indicated how many people were discharged because of an inability to meet fitness standards.

Manic Moran · 03-09-2015 04:59PM

The Black Oil wrote: »

Enjoyed the show. The recruits in their 20s (generally) had more cop on.

Some of the comments here are absurd.

This is an observation I had. I went through US Army basic at 25. The difference is night and day, for only seven years' difference in maturity. (Nearly 40% more time on this Earth). Others I have spoken to who have gone through older than most have had similar observations.

callaway92 · 03-09-2015 05:07PM

This show was complete cannon fodder for Joe Duffy.

compo1 · 03-09-2015 06:46PM

As a civvie, I thought it was interesting, but it could have been six or eight episodes. We really only got glimpses of each stage of the training. The recruits looked a right sorry bunch at the start alright, but the survivors looked to be of an entirely different calibre by the end.
One thing I noticed in the first episode when they were being told what to expect, the guy said they were being toughened up "so that when you go to Syria..." "When"? Does he know something we don't know?

davetherave · 03-09-2015 07:11PM

compo1 wrote: »

One thing I noticed in the first episode when they were being told what to expect, the guy said they were being toughened up "so that when you go to Syria..." "When"? Does he know something we don't know?

http://www.military.ie/overseas/current-missions/undof/

Reggie. · 03-09-2015 07:12PM

compo1 wrote: »

As a civvie, I thought it was interesting, but it could have been six or eight episodes. We really only got glimpses of each stage of the training. The recruits looked a right sorry bunch at the start alright, but the survivors looked to be of an entirely different calibre by the end.
One thing I noticed in the first episode when they were being told what to expect, the guy said they were being toughened up "so that when you go to Syria..." "When"? Does he know something we don't know?

Eh we've been in Syria for a while now

compo1 · 03-09-2015 08:12PM

davetherave wrote: »

http://www.military.ie/overseas/current-missions/undof/

Reggie. wrote: »

Eh we've been in Syria for a while now

Other than the Golan? The way he was talking, it seemed to me he was talking about the general Syria situation. I suppose if there's ever a ceasefire there our troops will be sent out.

Reggie. · 03-09-2015 08:28PM

compo1 wrote: »

Other than the Golan? The way he was talking, it seemed to me he was talking about the general Syria situation. I suppose if there's ever a ceasefire there our troops will be sent out.

Does it make a difference where

arybvtcw0eolkf · 03-09-2015 11:30PM

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Out of interest would the bomb disposal people have necessarily gone through the 17 week training that we saw on the programme?
Whilst I enjoyed it it did occur to me that if you make such training a requirement then you potentially might miss out some really useful recruits (I was thinking of people who might excel at military tactics and academic war theory, military resource management, I.T. staff etc).

Good question actually.

Yes all other ranks (enlisted) go through the same recruit/basic infantry training (yes the unit on TV was a Cav unit, but essentially the recruits were trained as infantry if that makes any sense).

So specialists like EOD, CIS (signals), Transport drivers, fitters, Medics, Engineers etc all receive the same basic training.

Then when you go to your various units you receive further training specific to your job.

Why?.. Well take oversea's for example.. Every member of that unit can do the job of an infantry man should the need arise.. Cooks, drivers, radio ops etc are all trained to the very same basic standard.

Like I said, good question. I hope that answer it.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 03-09-2015 11:41PM

compo1 wrote: »

Other than the Golan? The way he was talking, it seemed to me he was talking about the general Syria situation. I suppose if there's ever a ceasefire there our troops will be sent out.

We were in Syria proper for awhile, we'd a lot of contact (fire fights) with the various warring factions, we'd one MOWAG severely damaged in an IED ambush.

The group are on the Israeli side now, but have an operational OP inside Syria.

Morpheus · 04-09-2015 08:56AM

compo1 wrote: »

Other than the Golan? The way he was talking, it seemed to me he was talking about the general Syria situation. I suppose if there's ever a ceasefire there our troops will be sent out.

read this:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/irish-troops-prove-their-mettle-on-hostile-syrian-front-line-1.1919554

Irish troops prove their mettle on hostile Syrian front line
One group of surrounded Filipinos fled under cover of darkness, but the second platoon was not so lucky and it was the Irish who were called in to save them.

The Irish military’s status as being among the best peacekeepers and peace-enforcers in the world might seem like a tired cliché. There was nothing tired though about the actions of the Irish men and women of the Defence Forces last weekend while serving with the United Nations mission in Syria.
With 44 of their Fijian colleagues having been kidnapped by armed rebels, tensions in the Golan Heights were ratcheted up further when Filipino troops were targeted.

Last Saturday the UN positions at Breiqa and Rwihana operated by the Filipinos were surrounded by hundreds of armed Islamist insurgents. The danger posed by the rebels is put into context by the fact they had seized a Syrian border crossing at Quneitra, killing about 20 Syrian troops in a firefight, with the UN troops from Fiji disarmed and abducted in the same attack. The Fijians are still unaccounted for.

While one group of surrounded Filipinos managed to get free under cover of darkness, the second platoon at Breiqa were not so lucky, and it was the Irish who were called in to save them. They secured the area around their post and evacuated their colleagues despite the presence of an armed and hostile, battle-hardened reception party. The Irish exchanged fire a number of times with the rebels, but appeared too well drilled and well armed to be taken on.

Last week’s events have brought into focus the fact the UN mission, which includes about 130 Irish among a multinational force of more than 1,200, is being dragged away from its mandate to observe a separation zone between Israel and Syria dating back to a conflict between them in the 1970s.
On the basis of the decisive actions of the Irish last weekend, if the UN withdraws, it will not be because the Irish cannot stand the heat but because the mandate they are there to execute is being displaced by the unrelated bloody civil war.

Morpheus · 04-09-2015 09:04AM

I got an update on my information, i missed out on one or two components though:

If you pass

the interview (SCORED),
psychometric test (done externally) (PASS / FAIL),
basic recruit applicants fitness test (PASS / FAIL),
army medical test (PASS / FAIL)
garda background check (PASS / FAIL)

you go onto a "panel"
All stages are pass or fail EXCEPT the interview stage.
An applicant is scored on his/her interview.
Taking that an applicant passes all other stages, it is the interview score that determines an applicant's place on the panel.

That panel is a list of applicants names who satisfied all of the above, potentially numbering in the hundreds and the first platoon that is taken in from a panel will be the top 40 scorers from the interview stage who have successfully completed all stages.

This panel remains active for a number of months and as current recruit platoons pass out and rotate onto their 3 star training, next 40 names will now be pulled from the existing panel. Any drop outs are replaced with panellists - up to a point - if someone drops out on week ten for example, it wouldnt make sense to replace them as this recruit would be so far behind.

The panel is not DF wide, each Brigade (north and south) and the Naval Service run its own competition and has its own panel to select platoons of recruits from.

Hope that helps.

Recruits TV show

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