Northern Ireland. The "Det"

[Steve Andrews]

Would I be right in thinking that if someone was in "the det", they would be from 14 INT?

edit: Found it.. They are

[martinexsquaddie]

the "famous" undercover operators who can blend in rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl

[Roger Rabbit]

Care to share the amusement?

Are they still in existance or have they being moved into a different unit now?

[Argyll]

Very much still in existance!!

[martinexsquaddie]

when very much younger spotted this very dodgy looking car on patrol and got told not to notice it as its the secret squirrels:)

[Roger Rabbit]

I met a rather attractive female officer recently. Just thought i'd share that piece of infomation.


Just a quick question. How do they cover up for their lack of an Irish accent?

[Argyll]

Ireland isn't just full of Irish you know!!

[Roger Rabbit]

Yeah but i would presume that if any of the bad guys(for lack of a better description) heard an English accent being spoken then they would immediately become suspicious. Or would i be wrong in thinking that?

[Argyll]

you would be wrong in thinking that!
The Det is not all about being undercover either!Most extreme cases are usually done by Special Brach or whatever they're called now,no point in putting in a guy with no "roots" make his cover more credible,you can still gather intel by not opening your mouth!
In my company we have an ex Det guy working for us,great guy....and he's not English he's a jock!

[Roger Rabbit]

So do they specialise in N. Ireland only?

Any good books i could read on them?

[Argyll]

14 Int Coy are only based in NI as far as I'm aware.
There was a book written by an ex WREN who served with 14 coy,can't remeber it's name ,something like serving with the SAS,a females point of view.
Also the Det draws it's members from all branches,or at least it used to

This bird was in around the same time as a few of my mates

[Roger Rabbit]

Cheers, i'll amazon it as a xmas pressie pour moi.

[Argyll]

here you go it was called She who dared

http://uk.srd.yahoo.com/S=11111254:WS1/R=3/K=14+Intelligence+Company/*-http://www.barbarossabooks.co.uk/list_books.asp?cat=Northern%20Ireland

[Roger Rabbit]

Cheers just ordered it. Amazon has it for £11.87 if anybody else is interested.

[Royal]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

If you're a serving NCO look at through the bottom of your payslips for the recruitment advert, speak to the briefing officer and try it.

If not...

[marktigger]

or part 1 orders.

there is a few books out on 14 int/fru/ther det

one up
she who dared
the operators
fishers of men

[CX20]

One of my former section mates at my previous station was ex-Det. He must have been their ideal material - total Mr. Average, very unassuming and boring as hell! They undergo voice training to perfect their fake Irish accents at the late stages of their training, which in his day was conducted by an Irish actor. Even now my mate can do a perfect accent when asked.

The best book I have read on the Det was "The Operators" by James Rennie. He goes into great detail about the training and equipment used by the Det, and his book is very well written. I read "One Up" which was also a good book, but I got the feeling that the author had a severe inferiority complex and an axe to grind!

I heard that the Det did a lot of work in the Balkans as part of expanding their role, Royal may be able to help on this.

[Javehn]

Another one book is "immediate action " , by Andy Mc'Nab . The book itself have nothing to do with det ( he is telling about how he get into regiment , and how he spent his time there ) but he is telling stories in the book about he's service in the det ( he was loaned to det by the regiment with some soldiers , that they will learn the art of infiltration ) . If i am not mistaken , he spent something like 2 years in a DET . He is telling some nice stories about the det acts in NI .

[PAK]

Hey, Brits, correct me if I'm wrong.
DET abbreviation came from "DETACHMENT", and was conceived by who? Regular Army? SAS?
DET or 14th Intelligence (Company?) was trained by SAS? I read that DET member were undergoing modified SAS selection - not so hard, as normal selection for Regiment members. There were also camouflage, CQB, and interrogation courses?
By the way, there aren't many books about SAS and/or DET in Poland. I personally read two: "Silent Heroes: The story of the SAS" by Graeme Stewart, and "The SAS: Savage Wars of Peace - 1947 to the Present". Can you evaluate them? Are there better titles?

[Royal]

Hey, Brits, correct me if I'm wrong.
DET abbreviation came from "DETACHMENT" yes, and was conceived by who? Regular Army? SAS?themselves
DET or 14th Intelligence (Company?) was trained by SAS? NoI read that DET member were undergoing modified SAS selection No - not so hard, as normal selection for Regiment members. There were also camouflage, CQB, and interrogation courses? No

[phony doctors. hello!]

Theres an excellent book out called:

First into Action: A Dramatic Personal Account of Life in the SBS

Written by Duncan Falconer, who became the youngest ever serving member of the British Special forces. Included in the book is number of chapters on his subsequent recruitment into 14 Int and operations with.
Unlike McNab, he does not seem to increase the importance of his own role
in events, and offers self criticism. Its also an interesting insight into 'that other lot,' Britain's other, less well known Special Forces Unit.