The British MoD to disband several famous Infantry Battalion

[fantassin]

The Ministry of Defence has announced its intention to disband several prestigious batallions because of the draw down of British forces in Northern Ireland from now to 2005. The difficulties of recruiting in some areas (especially Scotland) has also been quoted as an important factor.

Up to 10 Bn should be disbanded among which:

The Royal Scots, The Black Watch, a Gurkha Bn, The Prince of Wales Own regiment of Yorkshire, one Bn from the Royal Irish, The King's Own Scottish Borderers and some unnamed others.

A total of 9000 soldiers could face redundancy.

(Source: Sunday Telegraph, 23/11/2003)

[Eviscerator]

Actually, there doesn't seem to have been an announcement from the MOD, infact they have been denying the reports. Either way, they should be increasing the size of our armed forces to deal with the raised threat from terrorism and not making thousands of trained (at great cost) soldiers redundant.

[Royal]

Eviscerator is right.

MoD has denied the rumours. That's not to say they aren't being considered (Thank you Gordon :cantbeli: ).

Remember guys vote labour - do more for less :roll:

[DeltaWhisky58]

I spoke yesterday with a very recently retired Brigadier (British Army) who informed me that the possible down-size of 9,000 infantry-men has been under discussion for some time, mainly as the result of the planned pull-out from Northern Ireland but also as part of a plan to re-structure the entire army with more specialist troops.

As far as I can ascertain, no decisions about mergers, disbandments or any other changes have been decided upon - at least three months ago the Scottisgh press was discussing the possibility of The Highlanders being chopped owing to their position as the newest Regiment in Scotland despite their long traditions - The Highlanders are not even mentioned in the latest press speculations - The Black Watch for example has around 50 years seniority over the oldest component Regiment in The Highlanders for example.

IMO, it would be tragedy to loose any of these famous Regiments with such long traditions........e.g. The Royal Scots, 1st Regiment of Foot or Pontius Pilot's Bodyguard - please Mod, don't do it!

[martinexsquaddie]

I got handed my marching orders when the queens regiment was amalgamated back in 92.
next year when I was in the TA I was asked if a fanced a 6 month tour in Bosina the words go forth and mulitiply were used rofl
These days they don't ask you. with 40% of the hot sandy place being TA cutting infantry soldiers not a bright Idea lets lose trident or a couple of frigates instead or better sack some admirals and get rid of MOD whitehall move them all to liverpool it cheap up there :lol:

[Roger Rabbit]

More money could be saved by getting rid of the useless parts of the MOD...which is the MOD itself by all accounts.

[aeternum]

Too bad they dont disband the UK forces still in Germany.

[Steve Andrews]

Martin,
I went through that ammalgamation as a Royal Hampshire. Sad times.

[Royal]

Too bad they dont disband the UK forces still in Germany.

And that would make things better how exactly?

[96B]

One of the greatest things about the military is the tradition and history behind everything and taking that away affects the pride of its men.

[NcDeuce]

:|

[marktigger]

intersting 3 home service Bns of the Royal Irish Regiment are down to be disbanded as part of the drawdown from Northern Ireland anyway. The Daily Telegraph article states one Bn of the Royal Irish is to be disbanded so does that mean the Royal Irish are to be completley disbanded (thanks for the job in Iraq lads)
On the BBC it said that 1 bn of the Irish guards is to be disbanded the Irish Guards only has 1 BN so is it to cease to exist as well(oh thanks for the hard work in Iraq)

If Both thease rumours are true it will mean that there will be no Irish Infantry regiments in the British army!!!!!!!!

I seem to recall hearing a rumour that that is what sein fein have wanted no Irish regiments in the british army so are we looking at more appeasment of sein fein/IRA

[California Joe]

That sucks ass.

[DeltaWhisky58]

On the BBC it said that 1 bn of the Irish guards is to be disbanded the Irish Guards only has 1 BN so is it to cease to exist as well(oh thanks for the hard work in Iraq)

If it were to happen it would be a great shame, but the Irish Guards are not one of the older Regiments of the British Army having been raised as recently as 1915 or thereabouts.

It would be sad to see the traditions of all of these Regiments go, amalgamated or not - but Tony is in charge, and what Tony wants, Tony gets..........................

[Roger Rabbit]

what tony wants is a :fork:

[marktigger]

he 'Micks' were raised in 1900 by order of Queen Victoria to comemerate the bravery of the Irish regiments in the Boer war.

The Welsh guards were raised in 1915

if thease rumours are true it is a hell of a slap in the face for the Irish soldiers who have fought for the British army fo well over 300 years.

one of the other Bns on the list is one of the Gurkha Bns

[California Joe]

I think the British Army's great strength is their traditions and history of regimental pride. It's the thing they do better than everyone else. It, in itself is a valuable recruiting tool. I'd be a goddamned Bengal Lancer right now dammit. Heh.

[Royal]

I'd be a goddamned Bengal Lancer right now dammit. Heh.

They're part of the Indian Army now (if they havn't been disbanded too), we gave them independance in '47 - strange habit of ours :lol:

[Roger Rabbit]

I don't know if they still go around in funny uniforms with pointy sticks though. If you wanna do that then go for the Household Cav.

[marktigger]

or litterpicking in one of the london parks :lol:

[Roger Rabbit]

Or the Beefeaters, i mean the people not the restuarant.

[Jack Mehoff]

Gurkha Bn is a version of French foreign legion, right?

[California Joe]

No, it's Gurkha's. Little badass Nepalese with the kukris and all. Duh.

[Roger Rabbit]

In a way no. Gurkas come from Nepal. The similarities with the Foreign Legion is that they are foreign. However it is part of the British Army and has British Officers. I don;t know if there are any British people serving in the ranks. In the past Gurkas have been called to make up the numbers in other regiments such as the Para's. Can tell you more about them when i get home as i have a book on them there. In the mean time theres probably some other Brits here who know a lot more. In short we should not even be thinking of disbanding the Gurka's because they do the hell of a lot more for us than we do for them and they continue to willingly join.

[Jack Mehoff]

So, the Nepalese Gurkas soldiers are British citizens?

[Roger Rabbit]

Nope. I'm not 100% sure but i think they may become citizens after serving a certain amount of years. I'll google it.

[Roger Rabbit]

http://www.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gurkhas/ there ya go

[CX20]

I find it incredible that we are talking of downsizing and costcutting whilst expecting our forces to just grin and bear it. I agree with Royal - that's Socialism for you. :(

I agree with Martin - the cuts should hit the top head sheds instead of the lads and lasses at the coalface. We need the infantry now more than ever, whether they are mechanized, parachute, or plain just on shanks'.

Your stealth aircraft, fancy aircraft carriers and cruise missiles are well and good, but it's all gravy unless you start kicking doors in and seizing ground.

Those unfortunate lads and lasses who do get chopped should be offered a fast track application process into the Home Office police force of their choice, as part of their "redundancy" package. My force (and most others) has been influxed by a plague of know-it-all, arrogant "flash kid" probationer recruits straight out of university, who strut around with their noses in the air and then make monumental **** ups which we have to sort out. These kids only stay for 2-4 years to get something respectable on their CVs, then they leave.

What better use is there for several thousand disciplined, well trained, fit, experienced mature young adults with common sense and life experience? The majority of old school coppers (especially on my unit) are ex-forces, and it does indeed provide vital experience. We are crying out for decent recruits, plus they could continue their pensions, etc.

[martinexsquaddie]

mature adults ex infantry soldiers rofl
But there follow orders and better off in the police than orgainising armed robberys :lol:

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

If some of you Brits cast your mind back there was going to be a trimming of Scottish regiments in the 80's I think the KOSB's were going to get axed but then there was a change of heart. I can remember they were going to shift a portion of the MOD to Glasgow and there was an terrible wailing and knashing of teeth over it, the fact it was going to be done with no loss of civil service jobs still did not help, mind you that was Maggies and John Knox's idea.

[Hydro]

This is nothing more than a bloody insult. What with the increased probability of overseas ops at the moment, we need every soldier we have!

I don't think anything's been confirmed yet, but the fact they're even considering doing this is pretty damn depressing. As has been said, that's socialism.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Is Tony Blair a socialist?

[Hydro]

Traditionally, yes, it's a Labour Govt. He's a bit weird though...

Home policy seems to be pretty socialist orientated, but the whole foreign thing seems to be erring Right of Centre now. I don't really take a huge interest in politics, nor do I really understand some of it, but that's what I seem to see.

I don't actually like Tony Blair that much, he's so easily swung by popular (read: idiots) opinion, with the possible exception of the war in Iraq, which I support wholeheartedly for more than reasons of WMD and oil, but he screwed the British public over with his reasoning. (He lied.)

[Gringo]

This is a real peice of ****! Our Armed Forces are so spread out as it is, we can't fight another major war for another 2 years or so.
And whatever happened to that idea that we should be creating a unit similar to that of US Rangers to support SAS operations.
Also the MoD might close down my local RAF base (RAF Stafford), both my mum and her partner work there and could lose their jobs.

[Steve Andrews]

PWRR,
Were you in the PWRR?

[martinexsquaddie]

well they won't have TA infantry to back them up as the guys come back from telic most of them won't be going back :(. 6months of being ****ed around ok once. But without an outbreak of hostilities they won't be keen to go again. One thing to be called up for an emergancy another thing to be called up just to make numbers up for normal tours if they wanted to do that they'd have joined the regs. Does anyone apart from the MOD think 40% of deployed troops made up from TA/reserves is sustainable

[Hydro]

I'm currently a STAB in the 3rd Battalion :)

[Roger Rabbit]

Is it the 3rd down at Canterbury?

[Gringo]

what's a STAB?

[Hydro]

It's C Coy and HQ at C'bury, the other Coys and some specialist Plns (ICE and MG) are spread over Kent and Sussex.

STAB = Stupid TA Bastard :)

[martinexsquaddie]

used to be in 5th queens cinque ports coy based hastings and after the regs 6/7Queens that became 6/7 pwrr before they got binned again :(
Arab arrogant regular army Bastard
PSG potential security Guard reg NCO
PIS potential Insurance slaesman reg officer
dd dole dodger reg private
:o

[Roger Rabbit]

didnt the TA personnel used to be called something else, then the regs got told off so they changed it to STABS?

Seeing as the Americans have been using British forces quite a bit recently perhaps they could get Bush to have a word in Tony's ear. Seeing as Tony normally does what Bush wants this could work. Anyway looks like we're stuck with Tony until another politician who looks vaguely like someone who might make a half decent prime minister turns up.

[Eviscerator]

http://www.political.co.uk/howard/mhphoto2.jpg
Oh dear. Looks like Tony can settle in for the next five years.

[Roger Rabbit]

I think i wiped my arse with that this morning.

[Steve Andrews]

I was in 1 PWRR for a while after the Royal Hampshires got ammalgamated with the Queens Regiment.

[Royal]

****, the place is crawling with Squidgies all of a sudden :lol:

[Hydro]

Hehe, I was thinking of following in my fathers footsteps and going RM, but decided I'd rather earn some decent money in civvy street and go reserve :)

Nearest RMR was Chatham, too far, so landed myself in the TA...

[Sabre]

Well, apart from the obvious stupididty in disbanding batalions with hundreds of years of experience and prestige between them, this WILL NOT WORK!

The long and short of it is that one day the Prime Minister (might change) will ask the army to go to some ****hole and 'liberate' some locals and the army will turn around and say no. Either that, or they'll be sent anyway to save face and there will be an almighty disaster.

-Numbers are down, and have been for a long time (previous cuts to blame)

-Retention is down, regulars can't cope with constant deployment (mainly juniors) and TA have too much to lose to be deployed again.

-Equipment is down, we can't afford new kit or won't buy the kit we need (L119A1, as opposed to SA80)

-Recruitment is down, there as a marked reduction in interest in the army. Hell, even the SAS(R) had to openly recruit from my Uni, and they have posters all around town.

All this latest news goes to show is that politicians can say what they want, but at the end of it all they don't give a toss about the squaddie, only about their image.

Anybody up for enlisting in the New Iraqi Army? I hear they need more troops.

[Roger Rabbit]

yeah, at least you get paid eventually in the Iraqi Army

[martinexsquaddie]

Bush has got a few quid he could probably do with some decent troops :lol:
mass queue at grovenor square woot

[fantassin]

I have spent some time with the Tigers a few years ago when they were in the TALO role part of 5 ABN BGDE, up the hill in Canterbury.

Really good bunch, had a Gurkha reinforcement Coy then...then met them again in Kosovo in 2001. Good old "Di's Guys"...anybody from 1PWRR around?

[Jack Mehoff]

This is a real peice of ****! Our Armed Forces are so spread out as it is, we can't fight another major war for another 2 years or so.
And whatever happened to that idea that we should be creating a unit similar to that of US Rangers to support SAS operations.
Also the MoD might close down my local RAF base (RAF Stafford), both my mum and her partner work there and could lose their jobs.

U.S. armed forces also face the same problem even with 2 million people serving in our military. One solution for both U.S. and UK is to conscript people like the rest of Europe p-)

[fantassin]

Most of Europe has now turned to regular armies.

[martinexsquaddie]

last thing army wants is conscripts
they cost a lot for little operational value by the time they been trained up its time to let them go.

[marktigger]

few things from recent posts
British army has STABS and ARABS (Arrogant regular army bastards)

Yep the MOD moved the army personell centre to glasgow now as troops how well their careers are managed how often their pay is correct. Ask the clerks how easy it is to contact Glasgow to sort out the mess?

Its not APC Glasgow has been an unmitagated disaster troops are leaving because of Glasgow's incompetence.

In Northern Ireland we used to have a TA brigade with
2 inf bns
1 armd recce sqn
1 light air defence regiment
1 engineer regiment
1x 1000 bed general hospital
1 field ambuance
1 rct ambulance regiment
1 MP coy
1 signals regiment
1 Int Platoon

Now
2 inf coys
1 armd recce sqn
1 AD arty btry
1x 250 bed Fld hospital
1 Fld amb
1 rlc amb support regt
1 sigs regt

[Sabre]

It's insane. As it happens, my mate is out in Iraq in command of a platoon of fusiliers (TA). He's coming back to go to Reg Sanhurst in January and will be going there with a NI medal and an Iraq medal!

The only reason he was able to go was because he'd just finished Uni and had nothing to do over the summer/autumn before Sandbags. If he hadn't have gone, then some other officer would have had to have been pulled over to take his platoon.

Add to that the fact that when they got out there they didn't get any weapons for a while and what do you get...cluster-f*** about to explode.

:(

[Hydro]

Mmm, I heard that some units didn't get weapons for a while when out in Iraq. Also, loggies only got issued about 10 rounds of ammo for their '80's! It's bloody insane, like you said!

I certainly hope that's changed, what with the increase of vehicle ambush in rear line areas, and the proliferation of guerrillas out there.

On a similar note, we had a unit of guys in Afghanistan who returned not that long ago, and it transpires they were issued Minimis, but no 5.56 link!

[Roger Rabbit]

Don;t want conscription, too many negatives to outweigh the positives. I think that more should be made of the TA, UOTC and Cadets though. Few people know the actual roles they play, pay etc etc.

[Steve Andrews]

We used to get 10 rounds for escort duties. A joke. One day on the ranges we found that the rounds were the same batch as our patrol ammo. From then on I had PLENTY of rounds for escort duties!

mmmmm buckshees...

[Roger Rabbit]

We don't even get enough blanks for our exercises. Fair enough we're UOTC but it doesn't exactly encourage people to join the Army.

[marktigger]

I haven't seen 5.56 Blank for the last 5 years.

Sorry Rupert but I think in the current round of cost cutting OTC's ammo budget's need serious examination. I'm in a unit that is likley to deploy large numbers of people as formed sub units or individuals and we do not get enough training ammo to fire an APWT. I know from people in the local OTC that they get a hell of alot more then we do which I think is criminal. I have to send troops out into the field who aren't properly trained and OTC cadets the vast majority of whom will never do anything operational get to waste valuable resources.

[Roger Rabbit]

Yeah i would agree with that. But when your asked to do a section attack with 8 rounds then its not the best way to encourage future officers to join up. Still i wasn't aware that the regs werent getting enough blanks. I dunno how much is spent on the UOTC blanks but we got 8 rounds each to do a couple of section attacks :| . I don;t think much money can be saved there.

Are you in a TA or reg unit?

I'm hoping to get on a ROTC exchange, apparently the Americans have an abundance of equipment so that should be fun.

[martinexsquaddie]

well my brothers out there four 6 months got 100 rounds in an isolated sangar no binos no cwis going to try and take the ones out of the TAC on 1038 :roll: should be able as they won't be used for 6 months.
No offense but OTC have no operational role with the hot sandy place being around for a few years yet. they can fight the cadets for whatever crumbs the TA don't use

[Roger Rabbit]

as far as i know then there is only one UOTC which actually receives MOD funding. I don't know how the others recieve funds. I was doing some work today(makes a change) and i found out that even in the 16th century the militia had to really pound the government to get the money to buy up to date equipment. Looks like lack of funds has been around for a long time. I say we get some sponsor ship from Nike or someone.

[marktigger]

Rupert I'm Territorial.

As martinsixsquaddie agrees there is no operational role for the OTC. Glad you got 8 rounds for your last section attack I got none and had to shout bang!

The OTC is a nice overview of the army for UNI students but the TA and regular units could well do with the resources allocated to another university club. There were units on telic 1 who deployed with OTC personel and it was a major headache identifing them and removing them from theatre as they shouldn't have been there no fault of theirs i may add but stupidity of the units they were attached to. The OTC yes does produce some TA officers and encourages others to Join up bt is it value for money?

When i did my nurse training through my local university I attended freshers and when I spoke to the OTC found I was better off as a Gunner In the TA than I would have been as a cadet. And if I had done the bde comissioning course then TA Sandbag I would still have been financially better of than if i'd been an otc cadet.
Morale don't join OTC join local TA unit.

[Royal]

Rupert - All OTC's are funded from the MoD Army budget.

They claim it is an effective recruiting tool for regular army officers. I'm afraid I have my doubts - if you want to soldier, join an RMR/TA infantry or even SAS unit.

[marktigger]

under options for change Queens University Air Sqn was disbanded because of its poor record at providing recruits to the RAF.

It would be interesting to see the figures for the UOTC's. I agree with Royal I would direct students interested in military things to local TA/RMR/RNR/RAFaux unit where they will get a better impression of what the army is about than with the OTC. They also get a better reward for the work they put in there.

[fantassin]

Some UOTCs have a good track record in some exercises like Cambrian Patrol; last year, Leeds UOTC got one of the three Gold Medals (on over 75 teams, the other two going to 4 Para TA and Italian Alpinis) while the two US teams, including the SETAF Special Recon team got lost in the foggy Welsh hills and jacked in within the first 12 hours.

This year, Leeds UOTC got a silver medal, ahead of many regular teams.

[martinexsquaddie]

the role of the OTC is to get some sort of profile of the army in the mind of
future management leaders of society.
Its not like theres a large number of ex officers running around and certainly not in goverment. Ok there's david davis on the oppostion but he was TA sas and frankly all the TA sas I've met have been a bit ODD
TO SAY THE LEAST rofl

[marktigger]

Agreed. So it like the ACF which is to get the military into the mnd of young people. I've heard the arguments about this so many times when some of them do eventually come over to the TA it takes us a long time to get them to get rid of the 'But this is how we did it in OTC' when they were playing infantry and now they are playing artillery. The Brigade comissioning course guys who have come from units and have been Juniors before sometimes adapt much quicker.
I would agree that KAPE is important and introducing the movers and shakers to the army/reserves is important. But it could be done by the TA without OTC's eating up valuable training resources.
If you look at the return for the work put in the TA gives you a beter income My TA salary helped me get through college.

[Roger Rabbit]

It could be done by the TA yes. But you would need to set up new units to deal with it. In that sense then all you are doing is moving the money and people from under one command to another. The OTC isn't suppose to pay for you to go through college, that would be a waste of resources. If your 100% about the army then you get a bursary(i'm looking at applying over this spring and summer).

As for actual funding then for my OTC unit then i know that most of what we do is with little or no equipment. We all recieve some bits of the basic uniform. We use the weapons of the local TA unit(yes they are nice and sparkly clean when they get handed in, even though most of the time we don't fire them,i get the impression the TA unit doesn't bother cleaning them because they know we will but nevermind). Most of what we do is learning theory and orders etc etc and putting into practice. There could be some funding saved by disbanding the OTC and setting up a TA version but it would be difficult to make the money saved actually make a difference. (i remember on our first weekend we got shown a pair of old binos, and a few radios that didn't work, not much money to be saved there i think.) THe different arms of the OTC(its not just inf) share equipment with the local TA units and so we have to make do with what they have if they will let us use it.

I was under the asumption before joining the OTC that it was run by the TA and so consequently once you gained your commission then you were liable for call up. As such then it isn't. No idea how those OTC people ended up out on Op Telic seeing as OTC is group B and so has no call up.

I could have joined a TA unit instead of the OTC, but the OTC is built around uni time tables so it means i can attend all the evening, weekend, and other exercises they hold. If i joined the TA then during holidays i would be travelling back an forth to try and make weekends, training nights would be out of the question.

[RobT]

if you want to soldier, join an RMR/TA infantry or even SAS unit.

Yes.

I would of gone for OTC at uni but comming from a northern Uni (Teeside) the closest is Northumbria which my mate is on. The only Uni that gets a **** load of money for its OTC students is obviously Oxford.

To be honest i wouldent fit in with the OTC lot

I decided to go squaddie in B company Green Howards (Tyne-Tees regiment) and i havent regretted it. Most of the regiment are out in iraq in basra guarding and patrolling etc...the usual Infantry jobs.

Its a major **** over if the Government make the cut downs. But its all about to kick off soon. A new Northern ireland where infantry ground forces will be needed.

Someone Mentioned the STAB's side of things...the Regs mentality of "STAB's" is slowly disapeering due to people working 40 hour weeks whilst being a professional soldier. And reserves working alongside regs e.g in Iraq.

Rob

[Roger Rabbit]

Each OTC is different, as are the TA units. Some are better than others, some recieve more funding than others. As a squaddie in an inf TA unit then what was the equipment issued like? You get all of it? most of it?

What was the traning like? in regards to pyrotechnics and blanks did you get enough or never seem em? How does the TA conduct its training, because isn;t it going to be a bit difficult when you have people with years of experience and people with none at all?

[RobT]

Each OTC is different, as are the TA units. Some are better than others, some recieve more funding than others. As a squaddie in an inf TA unit then what was the equipment issued like? You get all of it? most of it?



Issued one set of kit after mod1. Before Mod2 you get all your ****. Began, webbing sets of 95's etc. It didnt take long to get my stuff. Measured up one week came the next. It was all too big though...they issue you with bigger clothing than you are due to only having a certain amount of each. They dont want you training bulking out and needing new kit... ;)

There are 8 mods btw

Each mod is done with the people all at same mods etc...so all mod 1s from about 5 companies worth of peope would attend to make a fair number. So all the reqruits are together (A & B Coy Green Howards, C DLI, X & Z Fusiliers) So its a big amount

As far as i know My mate in the OTC got issued PT kit (i didnt)..and pretty much everything way before we get it including the little bits like gloves

The OTC get less ammo in blanks and live...far less. As TA infantry your phase2 is Combat infantrymans course...which the OTC dont do..which is crap.

He refers to what i do as being more hands on.

What are the OTC fitness requirements? anyone?

[Hydro]

My TA unit's kit is quite good. We're scheduled for SA80A2's as standard sometime early next year (so, 2006 anyone? :)), we've got a few PRR's already, loada CWS's, 51mm etc.

I got all my kit issued all at once, with everything I need, but my shirts were about 2 sizes too small!

[RobT]

I got all my kit issued all at once, with everything I need, but my shirts were about 2 sizes too small!

I know you lads enjoy those figure hugging shirts ;)

Shirt Lifters ....

Just kiddin' :lol:

[Roger Rabbit]

We don't get PT kit. Don;t get NBC kit either which is fair enough, only do a little NBC on anual camp if we're lucky. Absolutely no chance we will ever see an A2. Most people have the wrong size kit but there is nothing to exchange it with so its a matter of swopping around with other people and hoping you get lucky. We have 2 pairs of shirts, trousers, 2 t-shirts and socks,1 jacket, 1 gortex jacket, no trousers, beret, helmet, 1 pair boots, 1 belt. Also have 1 set of webbing with 2 ammo pouches, 1 utility, 1 waterbottle with waterbottle, 1 sleeping bag with bivvy bag, 1 poncho. Thats the lot. Any extras we want we have to buy, like paracord, string, tent pegs for the poncho, any water proof stuff, any other kit to keep you warm. We get issued 1 knackered cleaning kit between 10 of us which makes cleaning your rifle fun.

I don't know much about the Inf training because i won't do that until after Christmas.

As for fitness, well heres one bit which does piss me off a lot. There is practically none. The usual health bits apply and someone who is clearly unfit won't get in. All we did was a bleep test and they were letting girls who got 7's in. I think we should be made to do the APFT(2 mile run, press ups and sit ups i think) and the CFT. Saying that then i have been to a TA unit where people were struggling to do the CFT. There is no point in being in the TA if your not fit enough or trained enough to be deployed. There is no point in having an OTC if people are not being shown the fitness standards required for the army or TA. Although whenever you apply to go on an RCB or TCB then they will make you do all the fitness test otherwise theres no point applying.

How long are your mods? How are they carried out? What i mean is do you do a 2 week piece of training and thats it or 2 weeks and so many weekends plus evenings or what?

[Royal]

Some UOTCs have a good track record in some exercises like Cambrian Patrol; last year, Leeds UOTC got one of the three Gold Medals (on over 75 teams, the other two going to 4 Para TA and Italian Alpinis) while the two US teams, including the SETAF Special Recon team got lost in the foggy Welsh hills and jacked in within the first 12 hours.

This year, Leeds UOTC got a silver medal, ahead of many regular teams.

As someone who's done regular Cambrian twice (both silvers), once as 2i/c and once as OC, the fact that OTC's continue to get medals doesn't surprise me at all.

Orders are a vital part (15% of total marks), something aspiring officers should be **** hot at. They have a large pool of good material top draw on, many who will go on to be commissioned in units such as the Parachute Regiment or the Royal Marines. Also, they have a hugh ammount of time to spend on training, whereas regular units (and to a lesser extent TA ones) have operational comittments, ITD's, career courses and unit and sub-unit training to contend with.

The days of units having a 'professional' competions section for things like Cambrain Patrol or the Swiss Commando Raid are long gone.

Just because a few do very well, does not mean that the majority are of that (high) standard.

[RobT]

(Rupert) Yep. I agree..Some people (Especialy i bet in the OTC) aren't fit enough..I'm no Fitness freak myself and i have to work hard..

On my First BPFA i managed

1.5 mile run in 11:12 (Need to get it down to 10:30)

I need to increase press-ups by 10 more as well as sit ups...Being in the gym each day should help!

I'm a big bastard so running isn't my strong point but i can train.

[Roger Rabbit]

APFT is the american version, whoops me. BPFA then i need to get my press ups up but its being several months since i did it and i've been practicing so i should be ok now. I've done the run in 9:52 but i should be able to bring that down now as well. I'm not exactly an olympic running but when i did the bleep test there were only 2 people i spoke to who had got higher than myself. I consider myself to be average and that came as a bit of a shock. I did my BPFT with a TA unit and i was near the top though. Years of no exercise have caught up with me now :cantbeli:

[Hydro]

I got all my kit issued all at once, with everything I need, but my shirts were about 2 sizes too small!

I know you lads enjoy those figure hugging shirts ;)

Shirt Lifters ....

Just kiddin' :lol:


How did you guess!? *Cough* I mean, rar! I'll drink 50 pints and still be able to kick your arse ;)

My BPFA run is around 10 minutes at the moment, it's taken some work though, I've never been a great runner! Sit ups and press ups, I can demolish their targets easily :)

[RobT]

Yeah. There were the odd few on Mod1 who were fine fitness wise...the rest of us were crap and told to improve!

They can't and dont expect superhumans to begin with though. With reserves its harder for them to get you fit because you might not be able to find the time etc..while the regs are alway there and spend a few hours a day working out.

The first weekend made me join the gym and many others give up fags!

[RobT]

I got all my kit issued all at once, with everything I need, but my shirts were about 2 sizes too small!

I know you lads enjoy those figure hugging shirts ;)

Shirt Lifters ....

Just kiddin' :lol:


How did you guess!? *Cough* I mean, rar! I'll drink 50 pints and still be able to kick your arse ;)

My BPFA run is around 10 minutes at the moment, it's taken some work though, I've never been a great runner! Sit ups and press ups, I can demolish their targets easily :)

Nice one... ;)

[Roger Rabbit]

You can't expect people who join the OTC to be fitness freaks. You can and should expect them to improve. Theres a great gym near the uni, theres more than enough time in the week to go there at least twice, and if not then its not exactly difficult to do a half hour run in the morning and 80 press ups and sit ups dispersed through out the day. Its not we are in full time work.

[Steve Andrews]

Maybe you should start your own "Stabs talking ****" thread.....

[RobT]

Maybe you should start your own "Stabs talking ****" thread.....


Its all hunky dorry sat behind your monitor masturbating over pictures of young men whilst slagging off the TA. But go down you local center and call them that rather than embarrassing yourself here.