Territorial Army

[chapman12]

Hello, don't post here much but i would like to ask if anyone has any advice or such on being in the TA. Only 15 at the moment and quite unfit but planning on changing that in the next year or two before joining. Hoping to go in as a combat engineer.
Thanks in advance for any advice/recommedations given.

[[R-DEV]Gaz]

What sort of advice are you looking for? There's a few members of this forum who are TA soldiers.

Ask some questions and receive thy answers

[eddie]

Midlands Soldier 2008
Midlands Soldier 2008

Obviously you can't enter it this year but next year you may be able to. I'm going to give it a go. Basically it's a four week course (as explained on the page). Although the regs does do their own version of this which is six weeks because it includes the CIC.

And someone I talk to in the TA says the recruiters do try their very best to get you in to whatever branch they need you in. He ended up in Signals. Just stick to your guns when you apply.

[chapman12]

Forgot to mention that i live in scotland and i'm planning on doing an engineering course at college and want to join the TA to try something different and challenging. Plus combat engineering would look good on my CV for when i leave (if i even get in that is).

*Edit*
also forgot to mention i have a slight problem with both feet that results in me wearing insoles in my shoes, and would like to ask that that will affect my chances

[[R-DEV]Gaz]

It shouldn't, unless it's classed as a disability. Combat engineering is quite a physical job, so as long as your insoles are easily added to a set of combat highs, you're fine. A letter from your doc to confirm that you would be physically capable of Phase 1b and 1c of the training (known as Phase 1 - Basic, and 1c - Corps/Infantryman trade basic) wouldn't hurt though.

Being a F/T student means you will not be called up to serve in the likes of Iraq/Afghanistan etc, due to your education being of vital importance, unless you want to go. You also get to claim tax back which is more than I can do

TA site

Army Jobs site

Combat Engineer Job Spec

Type in your postcode and this will tell you your local units

Hope that helps.

[chapman12]

thanks those sites will help alot. just 1 more question, my mum says there is alot of bullying in the army would just like to ask this this is just the media or if i should watch my back? thanks again

[RoGuETrOoPeR]

Bullying happens is all walks of life, it's just a case of it's highlighted more by the media if it's in such institutes as the armed forces, I was 6 years in the TA, bagded L.I in the mortar Plt, which inc. a 7 month tour on Op Telic. I only ever hear of one case of bullying in my regiment & that was partially down to the person being bullied being homosexual. You will however always get sever cases of ribbing if you muck up in an extremely stupid manner. All in all if your wanting a military experience without going 'full time' then the TA is the way to go. Those 6 years were some of the best of my life....

[chapman12]

thought it was mostly the media, thanks for clearing that up now for the near impossible task of telling my mum that (wish me luck )

[[R-DEV]Gaz]

I have to be honest, recruits these days are more likely to start throwing legal threats when bollocked by an NCO. That's the quickest way to my shitlist. I have seen Para regiment recruits running about armed with a camcorder to record every bollocking they receive, to try and get compensation....sad but true. Don't kid yourself, this is the Army, not a youth club. You will do things that other people never will, and your decisions could save or cost lives. A lot of guys now don't have the right attitude for the Army. Don't make the mistake of joining and marking your card from day one.

It's all well and good laughing at an NCO 'explaining' where you went wrong during a training exercise...but on Ops the mistake you made may have just created a section with half a fireteam missing. Something recruits do tend to forget, and something they will not look so hard in front of their friends for, I'm sure you'll agree. Never be selfish. If you're told to do something, just do it, then complain afterwards, as long as it's a lawful order.

The above change in the 'chav' attitude in recruits is what has given rise to all the calls of bullying. There's bullying that goes on no doubt, but if you work your ass off you will find that your NCOs and the lads in your unit will stick by you and back you up no matter what. Something a lot of civvis would turn tail and run over.

Tell your mum to stop reading the Sun

[chapman12]

*sneaks out and burns down sun factory* anyway would u recommend joing army cadets now or should i work on getting me fitness up from below average? (sorry for all the questions)