Irishmen/women in the British Armed Forces

LD 50 · 16-02-2010 7:30pm

barney 20v wrote: »

Please do expand on that comment......

Local-womanizer wrote: »

In fairness to Poc a quick search will throw up numourus threads on this topic, all ending in insults and petty arguments.

And no,not disloyal,its only a job.

That should answer your question.

twinytwo · 17-02-2010 9:54am

barney 20v wrote: »

Has this topic been discussed before? if so why don't you as a mod post a link to it? or are we to await enlightenment?

They are not disloyal to the Republic in my opinion, but they are immoral to join an armed forces involved in illegal wars which lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocents.

Kindly fup off. The op asked about joinging the army not the legality of war

James Fitz · 17-02-2010 7:29pm

KILL Women.
KILL Children.
KILL Oldfolks.
Destroy cultures, languages, heritage, ways of life and the social fabric of innumerable civiliziations.
Subgegate, divide, conquer and exterminate.
Intern, interrogate and terrorise.
All for the Kings/Queens Shilling.
Be a REAL Man.
Be the BEST.
Be a British soilder!!!!!

BullyBeef · 17-02-2010 8:43pm

James Fitz wrote: »

KILL Women.
KILL Children.
KILL Oldfolks.
Destroy cultures, languages, heritage, ways of life and the social fabric of innumerable civiliziations.
Subgegate, divide, conquer and exterminate.
Intern, interrogate and terrorise.
All for the Kings/Queens Shilling.
Be a REAL Man.
Be the BEST.
Be a British soilder!!!!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SHOW NO FEAR to USE YOUR OWN MIND !!!
Become a professional if that’s what life you are searching for.

Manic Moran · 18-02-2010 6:31am

Mr Fitz now has a month's mandatory absence to consider the content of his second ever post on military in light of the response to his first ever post on military.

NTM

ronaldoshaky · 01-03-2010 9:15pm

I think they should do more to encourage people to join our army, and instill pride in the Irish military

piby · 02-03-2010 12:17am

ronaldoshaky wrote: »

I think they should do more to encourage people to join our army, and instill pride in the Irish military

I don't really think that they need to encourage people to join up. As was pointed out to you in another thread they have more than enough applicants for all their positions. Somebody might correct me on this but afaik 1000-1500 people apply for only 30 cadetships offered each year so we're hardly struggling to attract people!!

OS119 · 02-03-2010 9:12am

that doesn't mean that the selected cadets are the top 30 of the top 1500 though does it - it means that the selected cadets are the top 30 of an utterly random 1500...

the blindingly obvious point is that in a country of 4.5 million, one with a relatively 'young heavy' population and a culture of being prepared to go a long way for a decent job, a damn sight more than 1500 people should be applying for a well paid, secure job that has travel and challenges that few other jobs could offer.

the equally obvious reasons for that are that either they don't really 'notice' the DF and therefore don't even think about applying, or that they do notice the DF, and are put off applying - or even seriously considering applying - by the perception that the public and the media has of the DF and the work it does.

airvan · 02-03-2010 1:56pm

the selected cadets are the top 30 of an utterly random 1500...

To be fair OS119, I doubt if all of the 1500 are utterly random. Certainly a fair proportion would be speculative applications. But several hundred probably would be very interested and good candidates. It would be interesting to know the numbers who get through to the second interview and are then eliminated. They may very well have been quite suitable. In other countries they would have been selected.

In other bigger countries with larger militaries, if you meet the criteria you're in. In Ireland it's like winning a talent competition. I applied for a cadetship in the Air Corps. I was very keen on the Air Corps as a career. But the odds were against me. I firmly believe that if I was British or American or from another European country. I would have completed a very successful career in the military. But I was born here and it was not to be.

It's very difficult to become a military officer in this country. Not surprising then that many with an interest in becoming an officer apply to the British forces. It's not just tradition. It's a practical neccessity if you want a military career and are shut out of the Irish army. The same is true of recruits as well.

I would also doubt that those who join the British military do so out of disrespect for the Irish army. Many would probably prefer the Irish army but cannot get in for whatever reason. Others probably recognise the limitations of the Irish army as a career. Quite simply there aren't the opportunities, the equipment, the career prospects, the travel and frankly the chance to see action that you will get elsewhere.

However I do think the public at large has little respect for the Irish defence forces. Haven't we all heard the jokes about the Navy or the Air Corps? That won't change much.

jeawan · 02-03-2010 2:42pm

airvan wrote: »

To be fair OS119, I doubt if all of the 1500 are utterly random. Certainly a fair proportion would be speculative applications. But several hundred probably would be very interested and good candidates. It would be interesting to know the numbers who get through to the second interview and are then eliminated. They may very well have been quite suitable. In other countries they would have been selected.

In other bigger countries with larger militaries, if you meet the criteria you're in. In Ireland it's like winning a talent competition. I applied for a cadetship in the Air Corps. I was very keen on the Air Corps as a career. But the odds were against me. I firmly believe that if I was British or American or from another European country. I would have completed a very successful career in the military. But I was born here and it was not to be.

It's very difficult to become a military officer in this country. Not surprising then that many with an interest in becoming an officer apply to the British forces. It's not just tradition. It's a practical neccessity if you want a military career and are shut out of the Irish army. The same is true of recruits as well.

I would also doubt that those who join the British military do so out of disrespect for the Irish army. Many would probably prefer the Irish army but cannot get in for whatever reason. Others probably recognise the limitations of the Irish army as a career. Quite simply there aren't the opportunities, the equipment, the career prospects, the travel and frankly the chance to see action that you will get elsewhere.

However I do think the public at large has little respect for the Irish defence forces. Haven't we all heard the jokes about the Navy or the Air Corps? That won't change much.

Completely agree the Irish defence forces is hard to get into any other Military you join up and you are in .

Too the OP on this thread if you interested in joining the British army join em or talk to one of there recruiters about it . 15% or more of the UK forces is Irish now anyway i wouldn't worry about all the disloyal crap if you don't do something you want to do you probably regret it i did when i listened to my parents a few years back when i was joining the British Army i ended up working in Ireland and always regret not doing it.

Tarzan007 · 04-03-2010 7:23pm

jeawan wrote: »

Completely agree the Irish defence forces is hard to get into any other Military you join up and you are in .

Too the OP on this thread if you interested in joining the British army join em or talk to one of there recruiters about it . 15% or more of the UK forces is Irish now anyway i wouldn't worry about all the disloyal crap if you don't do something you want to do you probably regret it i did when i listened to my parents a few years back when i was joining the British Army i ended up working in Ireland and always regret not doing it.

" 15% or more of the UK forces is Irish now " I'm surprised you did not say it's a 150%

I'd say at most it's 1.5% and the vast majority of them are Protestants from the north.

And fellows born and bred in the UK with one Irish parent/a Granny/ Great Granny / Great Great Granny do not count as Irish - unless they want to play soccer for the Republic or something

Bigdeadlydave · 04-03-2010 9:15pm

Well personally I wouldn't join, Id rather, if I was so inclined, join the US army instead. Is it disloyal to Ireland? To a certain degree it is, it certainly was back in the day, being part of a group responsible for Bloody Sunday...

p1akuw47h5r3it · 08-03-2010 12:14am

Bigdeadlydave wrote: »

Well personally I wouldn't join, Id rather, if I was so inclined, join the US army instead. Is it disloyal to Ireland? To a certain degree it is, it certainly was back in the day, being part of a group responsible for Bloody Sunday...

To do that u need a green card or some form of citizenship. So it is a lot easier to join the BA.

Royal26 · 09-03-2010 4:28pm

Off topic here,

Has anyone gone on a Familirisation visit for PO's with the Royal Signals in Dorset?
Im going myself in the summer and would like to hear what other people thought who went?

Dr.Sanchez · 20-03-2010 11:19pm

I'm actually in the process of joining the Royal Irish Regiment, have to travel up to fermanagh next week for the BARB test. I dont see it as disloyal at all, then again I'm not patriotic in any way. I see it as an adventure and it beats sitting on my hole all day long, which is my current situation.

Zambia · 21-03-2010 1:35pm

Oh my mate will just love you with that attitude... "Beats sitting on my hole all day" what you have just conveyed to me is you dont care.

Dr.Sanchez · 21-03-2010 1:43pm

Zambia232 wrote: »

Oh my mate will just love you with that attitude... "Beats sitting on my hole all day" what you have just conveyed to me is you dont care.

Care to elaborate on that one?

Hobby Horse · 21-03-2010 9:33pm

00Blaine00 wrote: »

I'm actually in the process of joining the Royal Irish Regiment, have to travel up to fermanagh next week for the BARB test. I dont see it as disloyal at all, then again I'm not patriotic in any way. I see it as an adventure and it beats sitting on my hole all day long, which is my current situation.

You shouldn't feel you have to join the Infantry, a lot of Irish people go to the careers office with the Irish Regiments on their mind. As some of the staff in the careers office will be from the Local Regiment they don't try and discourage that.

You should at the very least go through every trade in the army before making your decision, and you can change at anytime in the process up untill taking the oath...

Also take everything the Careers office say with a grain of salt.

p1akuw47h5r3it · 21-03-2010 9:37pm

Zambia232 wrote: »

Oh my mate will just love you with that attitude... "Beats sitting on my hole all day" what you have just conveyed to me is you dont care.

If he "didn't care" why wud he join the BA??!!

Dr.Sanchez · 21-03-2010 10:17pm

Hobby Horse wrote: »

You shouldn't feel you have to join the Infantry, a lot of Irish people go to the careers office with the Irish Regiments on their mind. As some of the staff in the careers office will be from the Local Regiment they don't try and discourage that.

You should at the very least go through every trade in the army before making your decision, and you can change at anytime in the process up untill taking the oath...

Also take everything the Careers office say with a grain of salt.

Oh yeah, agree with you there! On the application form they ask you to list three different areas/trades you have an interest in, so I'll definitely question them some more on that.

I know a guy who is just finishing up training at the moment. When he was in the careers office they were keen to promote a career in Artillery but he already had his mind set on Infantry.

Hobby Horse · 22-03-2010 12:14am

00Blaine00 wrote: »

Oh yeah, agree with you there! On the application form they ask you to list three different areas/trades you have an interest in, so I'll definitely question them some more on that.

I know a guy who is just finishing up training at the moment. When he was in the careers office they were keen to promote a career in Artillery but he already had his mind set on Infantry.

That's a requirement that they have to make sure the recruiter is giving you different options...

There are loads of different trades in the army Mechanic, Electronics technician, Tels Tech.... For a lot of them you get a lot of Civvie qualifications and options when you leave the army... You also get the opportunity to be shot at if that's your scene but not as much as in the infantry...

You should go on the army website and search through the different jobs on offer you might regret it later....

If you join the infantry you do 6 months training and thats it you could be on your way to Afghan in weeks... You really need to be aware of that.

Zambia · 22-03-2010 3:44am

00Blaine00 wrote: »

Care to elaborate on that one?

By saying you are not patriotic you are conveying to me you don't care. Dont get me wrong I see no problem in being patriotic and joining the BA. However the tone I got was you are looking at the BA as a way of solving your current "sat on your arse" scenario.

The feed back I got from recruiters in the North was the southern Irish lads were commited, wanted to be soldiers and impressed him no end.

Just dont rock up in the interview thinking you just have to turn up.

My apologies if I read you wrong but if I did they might.

Best of luck.

Dr.Sanchez · 30-03-2010 1:09am

Did the test and scored pretty decent, the recruitment sergeant (from dublin by the way) gave me a list of 72 jobs I could do based on my score and told me to pick three...

1: Paratrooper
2: Air Corps Ground-Crew Specialist
3: Royal Irish, Infantry

I can change these at any time. He handed me some medical forms to get filled in by the doctor and post them back up. After an hour and a half I was on my way...

fuelinjection · 30-03-2010 2:14am

Anyone from the Irish Republic joining a foreign army is a just a mercenary - hired guns and soldiers of fortune.
If and when they are killed in action serving another Country for pay, they should not recieve a military funeral in Ireland or be remembered as a hero.

Join the French or German army ... at least they don't have troops on Irish soil.

Local-womanizer · 30-03-2010 2:27am

fuelinjection wrote: »

Join the French or German army ... at least they don't have troops on Irish soil.

Yet they are still a mercanary are they in your eyes?

Think about it,why join an Army were you would need to learn a new language when you could join one which you wouldent be at a disadvantage?

barney 20v · 30-03-2010 2:40am

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Yet they are still a mercanary are they in your eyes?

Think about it,why join an Army were you would need to learn a new language when you could join one which you wouldent be at a disadvantage?

An IED will not distinguish between a French speaking soldier or an English speaking one.
I agree 100 % with fuelinjection.
They choose to fight in questionable wars for immoral reasons so they will get what they deserve .

ballsymchugh · 30-03-2010 2:42am

as bully beef said, what about all the irish that work in the UK and pay their taxes to the crown, who fund the british military and whoever they employ.
if you walked into the alex in clapham on a friday night when it's packed with lots of young intelligent irish and mentioned anything about loyalty, you'd be laughed out of the place. before being asked if you're any good at hurling..
it is a job. some people want to do it, thank Christ we don't live in north korea where they just enlist everyone so they can say they have zero unemployment.

Local-womanizer · 30-03-2010 2:54am

barney 20v wrote: »

An IED will not distinguish between a French speaking soldier or an English speaking one.
I agree 100 % with fuelinjection.
They choose to fight in questionable wars for immoral reasons so they will get what they deserve .

I never said what capability an IED has regards nationallity. I was merely pointing out the advantages one has of joining an English speaking force ahead of a non English speaking one.

You agree 100% with fuelinjection,on what point? Is it that the Brits and Yanks are fighting an "immoral war"? The same war were you will find French,German and Irish Troops fighting in?

Or is it the fact that the British occupied this country?

I dont see where you are coming from tbh.

barney 20v · 30-03-2010 2:57am

Local-womanizer wrote: »

I never said what capability an IED has regards nationallity. I was merely pointing out the advantages one has of joining an English speaking force ahead of a non English speaking one.

You agree 100% with fuelinjection,on what point? Is it that the Brits and Yanks are fighting an "immoral war"? The same war were you will find French,German and Irish Troops fighting in?

Or is it the fact that the British occupied this country?

I dont see where you are coming from tbh.

So Irish troops served in active combat in Iraq? ? is that what your saying?
if you read the above posts you will see what i agreed with.

Local-womanizer · 30-03-2010 3:10am

barney 20v wrote: »

So Irish troops served in active combat in Iraq? ? is that what your saying?
if you read the above posts you will see what i agreed with.

They are posted in A'stan at the moment along with British,Americans,French and German troops is what I was getting at.

You agree 100% with FI,grand. He is against the idea of joining the Brits,grand. He claims anybody who fights for a foriegn military for pay is a mercanary,but would rather people joined the French or German army instead of the British,mainly because they are not stationed on Irish soil right?

So basically what I get from that is he is just against the idea of joining the British army because some are stationed here,and the idea of possibly being called a mercanary doesent really bother him.

Then you agree with him,again grand. But where exactly? You critisied those who are involved in an "immoral war" yet you are ok with Irishmen joining other countries forces who are involved in this war as long as its not the UK?

If you dont agree with joining the British forces on ground of their past history with us,then just say that.... Dont drag the whole war issue into it. You either are against joining any military involved in this war,or none.

Irishmen/women in the British Armed Forces

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