The Army

[Dukat]

Hi all

I was wondering if I could get a bit of advice from those of you who have been in the army(I've heard a few say they have).

I've just been passed medically and am coming up to my interview in a couple of weeks, where I'm expected to know a bit about what it is I want to do.

I've been reading the "army rumour service" forum quite a while, and seem to find hundreds of conflicting versions of what actually happens when it comes to job selection.

I'm certain about my first choice - the Parachute Regiment - I've read up on this and believe that I know enough about it, however my second/third choices - Special Observer/OP assistant - don't seem as straight forward.

I understand competition will be quite high for these jobs, and I've heard several different versions of what happens - some say you can go straight in as an observer, others say that you need to put some time in with a standard artillery battery first before you can go onto be an observer. Some people have said that it depends how lucky you are as to whether you get assigned to where you want to go, but if they decide you're going somewhere else then that's what happens.

As some may guess from my choices I'm aiming for light/specialised infantry. What I'm concerned about is that I'll go in wanting to do the Observer/Recon bit, but end up on one of the big guns doing something quite different.

I'm not really sure who to believe, but seeing as its a fairly major choice, I thought it might be best to ask a direct question - if it turns out that I'm more likely to end up on an artillery piece than where I actually want to go then I might end up revising my choices. I've talked to my recruiter but to be honest I've learnt to take what they say with a rather large pinch of salt.

Also, while I'm at it, does anyone know what day to day(non-operational) life is like in a standard infantry regiment? I've heard what its like in the support regiments, where its basically like a 9 to 5 in green, but I've not heard what squaddies get up to on a standard day, alot of PT/drill i would imagine, but what else?

Any help much appreciated!

 

[ScoobyDoo{KEA}]

ah another p company lamb to the slaughter oh and 9-5 forget it no such thing as a standard day,whatever you want to know just ask me.all regiments are different,as in length of basic training to operational duties.the paras basic is 23 weeks i believe.on or near abouts consisting of p company then infantry training followed by parachute training.

 

[Dukat]

ah another p company lamb to the slaughter

I know I'm going to feel like I'm dying when I do it, but god, I cant wait!

 

[ScoobyDoo{KEA}]

at least now your missing the good bit of being posted to fucking ireland.

 

[Aada]

Hi all

I was wondering if I could get a bit of advice from those of you who have been in the army(I've heard a few say they have).

I've just been passed medically and am coming up to my interview in a couple of weeks, where I'm expected to know a bit about what it is I want to do.

I've been reading the "army rumour service" forum quite a while, and seem to find hundreds of conflicting versions of what actually happens when it comes to job selection.

I'm certain about my first choice - the Parachute Regiment - I've read up on this and believe that I know enough about it, however my second/third choices - Special Observer/OP assistant - don't seem as straight forward.

I understand competition will be quite high for these jobs, and I've heard several different versions of what happens - some say you can go straight in as an observer, others say that you need to put some time in with a standard artillery battery first before you can go onto be an observer. Some people have said that it depends how lucky you are as to whether you get assigned to where you want to go, but if they decide you're going somewhere else then that's what happens.

As some may guess from my choices I'm aiming for light/specialised infantry. What I'm concerned about is that I'll go in wanting to do the Observer/Recon bit, but end up on one of the big guns doing something quite different.

I'm not really sure who to believe, but seeing as its a fairly major choice, I thought it might be best to ask a direct question - if it turns out that I'm more likely to end up on an artillery piece than where I actually want to go then I might end up revising my choices. I've talked to my recruiter but to be honest I've learnt to take what they say with a rather large pinch of salt.

Also, while I'm at it, does anyone know what day to day(non-operational) life is like in a standard infantry regiment? I've heard what its like in the support regiments, where its basically like a 9 to 5 in green, but I've not heard what squaddies get up to on a standard day, alot of PT/drill i would imagine, but what else?

Any help much appreciated!

Ok to be an observer/recon you need to be in a Regiment such as the Parachute Regiment or any other infantry Regiment for that matter.

I was in the Royal Green Jackets and there were plenty of Observers/recon guys alot of Snipers too

You will then go on a course and learn the role the Army will always encourage you to gain new skills because it benefits them at the end of the day.

Day to day life? you will get up for breakfast etc make sure your Platoon rooms aren't a shit hole and be on parade for 9amish and you will be told what todays schedule is which could be:

PT

Weapons cleaning

On the firing ranges (good days these if its not raining in the summer you piss about and generally have a laugh)

You might go on excerise for a few days (camping out in other words and playing fun war games which generally invole in firing blanks or live rounds)

or it could be anything to be fair Guard Duty in the front gate which aint too bad sometimes depending on what bit of fit arse comes up and gives you their number to go shag it later.

Or if you are really lucky which is more often then not you'll be told your platoon is going on leave for a week which means going home!

The Army is one big laugh mate everyday you'll have fun with your mates or you'll have a shit day with your mates but take the bad the with the good

Hope you consider yourself extremely fit to join the paras as its one tough course and totally different from any other Infantry Regiment i suggest you start running 7 mile a day with light pack on your back.

Let me know if u want to know more.

Oh and general finish time each day is around 2-3ish depending on what has to be done for the day after that its get ready for scoff and out on the fucking piss!

 

[Aada]

at least now your missing the good bit of being posted to fucking ireland.

Aye horrible place to be posted i went there for 6 months back in 2002 think we did one patrol all fucking tour lol rest of the time was sat around doing fuck all.

 

[ScoobyDoo{KEA}]

ireland persay is a lovely place(well southern is),however when i was posted there gonna miss being spat at and told to fuck off by the lovely local belfast children...

 

[Aada]

ireland persay is a lovely place(well southern is),however when i was posted there gonna miss being spat at and told to fuck off by the lovely local belfast children...

Pretty much our greeting on our one and only Tour lol

Women are fit though so made it worth while

You go Iraq? i did 2 stints there fucking horrible shit hole

 

[Dukat]

Cheers Aada! exactly the answer I've been looking for.

Sounds like I might be better off putting my second/third choices as standard infantry then.

My fitness, while not spectacular atm, is improving all the time, by the time I get to the selection center I should be running a competitive 1.5 miler, I will probably suffer, but I've really just got to give it a go - been obsessed with the Paras for a few years now If I dont make it, and get posted to a normal infantry regiment, I hope that I should beable to improve my fitness while I'm there and try for a transfer.

Which reminds me - the recruitment bods seem to think that being transfered is easy, atleast thats what they say every 5 minutes, obviously they've got to put a gloss over everything (its they're job i guess), but I was wondering how difficult being transfered is in practice? I've read up about the procedure - getting a recommendation from your CO, writing to the regiment you want to transfer to, etc etc, but realistically what do you think my chances are of getting a transfer to the Parachute Reg a year or so after getting to my unit?

Cheers again though, thats exactly what I was looking for

 

[Kryten]

I can't give you any advice, the only experience I have is a fair few of my cousins are in the Army (Brother has just been turned away as he has degrading eyesight, he wanted to be in the infantry really badly and is stupidly fit)

However I thought I'd just like to pass on my respect. Not enough people are taking Army life as a serious career path and I've always thought enlisting should be obligatory before University (or after, whatever) to teach some real world skills such as timekeeping, discipline, common sense.

My brother had a good plan - considering he is autistic (as I am, but far worse effected by the symptoms) - join the army, plod away doing what he loves doing, keeping his pay saved up, buying a house, renting it out - so when he leaves the Army in 10-15 years down the line, he'd have a nice pile of cash and some investment(s) to keep him rolling. He's very gutted he didn't get in.

Either way, you've got my respect for this choice and best of luck.

 

[dysfunction]

I assume if you are requesting a transfer to the Parachute Reg after doing a year or so somewhere else they would base it on your performance during your time there, fitness level, personality fit etc.

I doubt it would be as simple as filling in a form saying please can I go to Parachute Reg and if there is a space they give you the all clear...or maybe thats what does happen...

Good luck anyway Pikey!! Remember to nade, flash and ghan!!

 

[Insane]

at least now your missing the good bit of being posted to fucking ireland.

fuck off you fucker

 

[Trem]

Just tell them you are quite good in the water on Azzy and so-so at double doors but you think you can improve. Don't tell them how much you hate KI because that may make them think you are a bit mental. Ooooh tell them we almost won with 3 players against 5 once and it was the best you had ever played.

Sorted.

 

[Aada]

Cheers Aada! exactly the answer I've been looking for.

Sounds like I might be better off putting my second/third choices as standard infantry then.

My fitness, while not spectacular atm, is improving all the time, by the time I get to the selection center I should be running a competitive 1.5 miler, I will probably suffer, but I've really just got to give it a go - been obsessed with the Paras for a few years now If I dont make it, and get posted to a normal infantry regiment, I hope that I should beable to improve my fitness while I'm there and try for a transfer.

Which reminds me - the recruitment bods seem to think that being transfered is easy, atleast thats what they say every 5 minutes, obviously they've got to put a gloss over everything (its they're job i guess), but I was wondering how difficult being transfered is in practice? I've read up about the procedure - getting a recommendation from your CO, writing to the regiment you want to transfer to, etc etc, but realistically what do you think my chances are of getting a transfer to the Parachute Reg a year or so after getting to my unit?

Cheers again though, thats exactly what I was looking for

The only problem with transferring is that it takes a couple of months atleast providing you have past phase 1 training and are up at Catterick you will be put in a company for people who are transferring/leaving etc etc and its pretty shit to be honest.

I strongly advise you to ask yourself if you have the mental and pyshical strength to go through para training its tough and brutal and most people don't make it.

You will want to complete your training as quickly as possible and get into normal Army life which is not training, training is designed to weed out the people who will not hack Army life once you pass training it really is like any other job except you have a licence to kill as one of my COs said to me lol

I could tell some real good storys on here of fire fights and watching jets fly overhead dropping bombs on those twats in iraq and Afghan ^^

I strongly suggest to start running every day 5 mile atleast mate the sooner you start the easier training will be 1.5 is nothing as in Phase 2 you will be running 2 miles with full kit/weapon etc and thats running not walking.

 

[MYstIC G]

I could tell some real good storys on here of fire fights and watching jets fly overhead dropping bombs on those twats in iraq and Afghan ^^

That would be preferable to you pimping the x-brick

 

[Dukat]

The only problem with transferring is that it takes a couple of months atleast providing you have past phase 1 training and are up at Catterick you will be put in a company for people who are transferring/leaving etc etc and its pretty shit to be honest.

I strongly advise you to ask yourself if you have the mental and pyshical strength to go through para training its tough and brutal and most people don't make it.

You will want to complete your training as quickly as possible and get into normal Army life which is not training, training is designed to weed out the people who will not hack Army life once you pass training it really is like any other job except you have a licence to kill as one of my COs said to me lol

I could tell some real good storys on here of fire fights and watching jets fly overhead dropping bombs on those twats in iraq and Afghan ^^

I strongly suggest to start running every day 5 mile atleast mate the sooner you start the easier training will be 1.5 is nothing as in Phase 2 you will be running 2 miles with full kit/weapon etc and thats running not walking.

Ok cheers - I'm not going to say I have or havent got the strength to do it - I think thats something that can only be proved on the day, I know I'll struggle fitness wise(even though I'm not unfit as such), but as I've said, I really have to give it a go. Mentally, again, thats something that can only be proved on the day, but I'm really looking foward to it.

If I dont get in, I'll do whatever my 2nd choice is, but concentrate on fitness and try to transfer at the first possible chance I get.

How does it work with choices and the selection center? I mean if my first choice was the Parachute Reg, and second was standard infantry, I assume I'll be expected to run para times, but if I dont, do I then get considered for the 2nd choice? not really sure how this side of things works at all.

Anyways, I'm going out for a run!

Cheers again for the information btw - its a big help.

 

[Aada]

Ok cheers - I'm not going to say I have or havent got the strength to do it - I think thats something that can only be proved on the day, I know I'll struggle fitness wise(even though I'm not unfit as such), but as I've said, I really have to give it a go. Mentally, again, thats something that can only be proved on the day, but I'm really looking foward to it.

If I dont get in, I'll do whatever my 2nd choice is, but concentrate on fitness and try to transfer at the first possible chance I get.

How does it work with choices and the selection center? I mean if my first choice was the Parachute Reg, and second was standard infantry, I assume I'll be expected to run para times, but if I dont, do I then get considered for the 2nd choice? not really sure how this side of things works at all.

Anyways, I'm going out for a run!

Cheers again for the information btw - its a big help.

There is no special time for the para atleast what i know anyway you have to complete the run in under 9.30 id expect if you want to be considered for paras.

After your run you will see an officer and they will tell you if you have or haven't passed and it will go from there.

When is your date to go? are you going to Lichfield?

 

[Aada]

That would be preferable to you pimping the x-brick

We were on patrol once in Basra and we stopped to drink etc and we saw this M1 american tank drive by anyway it go about half a mile up the road and BOOOOOOOOOM it was blown 5 feet into the air.

Everyone was screaming and running and we were running over to secure the tank and see if there were any survivors anyway we made a defence circle around the tank and one of the lads spotted someone in a house type thing popping out a gun so anyway we started spraying the freakin house and the guys who were in the tank raidoed in support (the tank was badly damaged but still operational) then we were being fired at from the house not aimed shots just the tit in the house leaning his gun over the wall and firing.

We were suppressing him and the yanks told us to cover our ears and watch out before we could ask why he turned the turret around and blasted the building twice destroying it completely.

A minute later and the area was crawling with 2 Apache helicopters and 2 Cobras.

We got a radio call to say the yanks were bringing in a Blackhawk to extract us, 2mins later we were on the chopper and 3 more Blackhawks came in with US soldiers to secure the yank until a engineering unit could arrive to retrieve the tank.

Anyway thats one of mine

 

[Dukat]

We were on patrol once in Basra and we stopped to drink etc and we saw this M1 american tank drive by anyway it go about half a mile up the road and BOOOOOOOOOM it was blown 5 feet into the air.

Everyone was screaming and running and we were running over to secure the tank and see if there were any survivors anyway we made a defence circle around the tank and one of the lads spotted someone in a house type thing popping out a gun so anyway we started spraying the freakin house and the guys who were in the tank raidoed in support (the tank was badly damaged but still operational) then we were being fired at from the house not aimed shots just the tit in the house leaning his gun over the wall and firing.

We were suppressing him and the yanks told us to cover our ears and watch out before we could ask why he turned the turret around and blasted the building twice destroying it completely.

A minute later and the area was crawling with 2 Apache helicopters and 2 Cobras.

We got a radio call to say the yanks were bringing in a Blackhawk to extract us, 2mins later we were on the chopper and 3 more Blackhawks came in with US soldiers to secure the yank until a engineering unit could arrive to retrieve the tank.

Anyway thats one of mine

I want some of that!!

 

[Wonk]

We were on patrol once in Basra and we stopped to drink etc and we saw this M1 american tank drive by anyway it go about half a mile up the road and BOOOOOOOOOM it was blown 5 feet into the air.

Everyone was screaming and running and we were running over to secure the tank and see if there were any survivors anyway we made a defence circle around the tank and one of the lads spotted someone in a house type thing popping out a gun so anyway we started spraying the freakin house and the guys who were in the tank raidoed in support (the tank was badly damaged but still operational) then we were being fired at from the house not aimed shots just the tit in the house leaning his gun over the wall and firing.

We were suppressing him and the yanks told us to cover our ears and watch out before we could ask why he turned the turret around and blasted the building twice destroying it completely.

A minute later and the area was crawling with 2 Apache helicopters and 2 Cobras.

We got a radio call to say the yanks were bringing in a Blackhawk to extract us, 2mins later we were on the chopper and 3 more Blackhawks came in with US soldiers to secure the yank until a engineering unit could arrive to retrieve the tank.

Anyway thats one of mine

Good read. You dont sound like a guy who could scare a chipmunk when we're playing PES though

PS. did they use smartlink?

 

[Dukat]

There is no special time for the para atleast what i know anyway you have to complete the run in under 9.30 id expect if you want to be considered for paras.

After your run you will see an officer and they will tell you if you have or haven't passed and it will go from there.

When is your date to go? are you going to Lichfield?

No date yet - I have an interview with the AFCO sergeant on the 21st of august. Not sure if I get my selection date then or if I have to attend another interview.

btw Do you mind if I ask what your three choices were when you joined up?

 

[Raven]

My dad was in the Para's for 22 years and it turned him into a ****, My cousin tried to get his wings twice and failed then got booted out, he now runs his own company in Australia.










*he may have been a **** before

 

[Aada]

No date yet - I have an interview with the AFCO sergeant on the 21st of august. Not sure if I get my selection date then or if I have to attend another interview.

btw Do you mind if I ask what your three choices were when you joined up?

I just chose Infantry i didn't want the Paras so it was easy for me.

How old are you?

 

[tris-]

good luck man. i was gonna join the RAF and was told i would be trained as a weapon specialist. i watched a 30 minute video of people doing physical training and never went back to the centre :/

 

[Dukat]

I just chose Infantry i didn't want the Paras so it was easy for me.

How old are you?

Ah ok cheers - like I said I may not be up to Para standards, but I'll give it a go, and if I dont make it, I'll try and transfer as soon as I can.

I was 22 in july.

 

[Trem]

For those that don't know Pikey(Dukat) he is a great lad and I for one wish him all the best if he gets in the forces.

I'm drunk Pikey so make the most of it

/me calls Pikey a dwarf.

 

[Aada]

Ah ok cheers - like I said I may not be up to Para standards, but I'll give it a go, and if I dont make it, I'll try and transfer as soon as I can.

I was 22 in july.

Ah ok i was 16 when i joined i went to the Army Foundation College up in Harrogate its a year long course but you pick up 3-4 A levels in the process aswell as having alot of time to decide what Regiment is for you.

You'll be fine just start cracking with the fitness it will make a world of difference when you join i was quite fit when i joined and it was quite interesting to see most of the Platoon really struggling in the first couple of months on fitness.

Let us all know how you get on with the interviews and stuff.

 

[cHodAX]

I can't give advice from personal experience but I have just got off the phone with my best mate who spent 2 years in the Para's back in the late 90's. He stressed to me the most important thing you must have is stamina, if you don't you will wash out at the first hurdle. He recommended doing a couple of 5 mile runs every day till you get to selection, after the first week of these runs you need to get a rucksack on with at least 5kg loaded into it. Your lungs will be on fire after 5 miles but you will be in great condition for selection if you do that twice a day for a month. If you can get access to an exercise bike as well then you should be hammering out the miles on that whenever you get an spare time, it improves your heart and lung effiency and helps build stamina quickly.

In short, you need to work your arse of if this is what you really want, no excuses and no delays, get out tomorrow and run your bollocks off.

Oh and the very best of luck, I will keep my pinkies crossed for you

 

[cHodAX]

Oh and just to give you an idea of how fit my friend was after a year in the Para's.....


Comrades Marathon Association


....he went home to South Africa and ran in that road race, posted a respectable time as well for a first timer. 90km is a fecking long way to run in one morning/afternoon!

 

[Dreamor]

best of luck Dukat, not many have what it takes even to find out about joining up. However fit you are, they will rarely (if ever) say your upto the task.

Just keep strong and ignore whats said by a lot of the old crusty bunch.

Keep at it, if you want it bad enough, you'll get it - just keep calm and it may take a few years at worst.

I was in the process of joining the Marines many years ago but had a bad spell illness and ended up working in other areas of the MOD/RAF.

Anyway, best of luck with the application, keep in touch here and let us know how things go.