royal irish regiment

Poccington

ShaneW1986 wrote: »

I feel I was let down my our countrys millitary, it was a job that i wanted more than anything but because of attending collage and then the frezze on recruiting i got one oppertunity before i was to old to join and that was last october! The way I feel I was let down was that there were 40 postions and over 1250 people applied, people who have no intrest in makeing a carrer out of it! (I didnt get in just in case that wasnt apparent)

How exactly did the PDF let you down?

The freeze on recruiting wasn't a decision made by the DF, they were told by the DoF that they weren't to recruit, simple enough really.

What makes you think you deserved to be in the top 40 out of over 1,000 people?

ShaneW1986

groundshaker wrote: »

Well ShaneW1986, great to see you're interested in joining up, but have you considered joining the Irish Guards? Another great Irish regiment

Yes buddy I did look into the Irish Gaurds but to be hoenst they just dont have as much information available as the Royal Irish on the Army website. Plus also I want to be part of the 16th Air Assault Brigade as they just seem to have more oppertunites for tours of duty, also might consider going to the Paras if I dont like it in the Royal Irish and it would be a much easier process from the Royal Irish than the Irish Gaurds.

Added: Sorry only after realiseing that the irish gaurds are part of 16 Air assualt as well, there is just very little info available about this Reg. on the Army website.

Poccington wrote: »

How exactly did the PDF let you down?

The freeze on recruiting wasn't a decision made by the DF, they were told by the DoF that they weren't to recruit, simple enough really.

What makes you think you deserved to be in the top 40 out of over 1,000 people?

Firstly I never claimed to be better than anyone else that applied!

Everyone who wanted to join in the last 4 years has had one chance and to be honest it wasnt much of a chance. I was told by a Sgt. on the interview board and others within the PDF that i have know for years that the jobs were gone before they were addvertised. (I think you know what im getting at, unfortunatly i didnt get my friend for the interview)

Of course there is no proof of this before someone undoubtably gets all defensive about the PDF and im sure as hell not going to name names. I have no quarrel with them anymore just very dissapointed.

After all im not joing them. "Faugh A Ballagh" The Royal Irish Reg. Motto

groundshaker

ShaneW1986 wrote: »

Yes buddy I did look into the Irish Gaurds but to be hoenst they just dont have as much information available as the Royal Irish on the Army website. Plus also I want to be part of the 16th Air Assault Brigade as they just seem to have more oppertunites for tours of duty, also might consider going to the Paras if I dont like it in the Royal Irish and it would be a much easier process from the Royal Irish than the Irish Gaurds.

Ya if you're really interested in doing P company than the royal irish is probably a safer bet. I've heard that they may in the near future hope to have have a whole company that that has completed P company and would be attached to one of the PARA battlions, but with the current cuts in british defence spending it's becoming increasingly hard for people who have completed P company, that are not in the Parachute battlions, to actually be allocated jumps, so as of yet it's only rumour I believe.

In the Irish Guards you can also serve with the Guards PARA platoon who are attached to 3 PARA but seeing as it is only one platoon for all the foot guards regiments, competition is extremely tight.

In training it is extremely unlikely that you would be able to switch from the Royal Irish to Paras, wheras it would alot easier to switch from the Paras to Royal Irish, ie, a certain number always switch out of Para training as it is always that bit physically harder that the other Infantry training.
At the end of the day you will be by no means a better soldier simply by being a Para as opposed to other Infantrymen, you're all taught the same syllabus anyway but if you really want to be para qualified, you might as well just go for the para as opposed to trying later in your career.

By the way, whats your 1.5 mile time and heaves?

ShaneW1986

groundshaker wrote: »

By the way, whats your 1.5 mile time and heaves?

Got lazy over christmas and stuffed my face and had a few drinks back in the gym now and runin around 10:20 best effort trying to get that down to between 9:30 and 10, Runing has never been my strong point, i can do it but not like the whipets you see at the tests. And at the min heaves are at 6, looking to get those between 10 and 15!

Both which I reckon could be achiveable within a couple of weeks as long as I put in the effort.

Any chance you could tell me what grade 1 is across the infantry at the min for everything including jerry can(if this is timed), push ups, situps, run, heaves and dead lift? would be appreciated and would mean i could schedual my traing to suit.

Also thanks for the info on the Irish Gaurds more in your post than the whold of the Gaurds webpage. Gonna stick it down as my second choice.

groundshaker

Well if you have any more questions on the Irish Guards just ask.
By grade 1 I'm assuming you're refering to the ABC,etc grading system at ADSC. Well I can't say for definite what scores constitute getting an A grade overall at selection, but i have heard that a runtime of under 9:30 is definitely an A score and if you got 10 heaves you could safely assume that would be A grade aswell. I wouldn't worry about the deadlift if i were you, thats the easiest test you'll do. Pushups and situps aren't tested at selection. That being said you can still get an A grade if you fall outside those scores, if you perform exceptionally well on the teamtasks and the icebreaker. The most essiential aspect of selection, assuming you can perform moderatly at the physical tests, is a good icebreaker. If you can deliever a great one, it's the best way of shining out from the others at the start. Trust me, don't try and make it up once you're standing up in front of the crowd, you should write out exactly what you're going to say. Once you get a grasp on the matter the words will flowand it'll show you've prepared well.

wjrobin64

THe irish quite often joined the english for only putting bread on the family table. the english also hired hessians to add to their forces at times.

Dogwatch

wjrobin64 wrote: »

THe irish quite often joined the english for only putting bread on the family table. the english also hired hessians to add to their forces at times.

You have confused me!

What do you mean by this random comment?

rockagusroll

ShaneW1986 wrote: »

Got lazy over christmas and stuffed my face and had a few drinks back in the gym now and runin around 10:20 best effort trying to get that down to between 9:30 and 10, Runing has never been my strong point, i can do it but not like the whipets you see at the tests. And at the min heaves are at 6, looking to get those between 10 and 15!

Both which I reckon could be achiveable within a couple of weeks as long as I put in the effort.

Any chance you could tell me what grade 1 is across the infantry at the min for everything including jerry can(if this is timed), push ups, situps, run, heaves and dead lift? would be appreciated and would mean i could schedual my traing to suit.

Also thanks for the info on the Irish Gaurds more in your post than the whold of the Gaurds webpage. Gonna stick it down as my second choice.

Grade A's start at 124 points and up i think. You're graded at everything over the 2 days at ADSC including your team tasks, ice-breaker, grenade test etc.. As said above, a good run time and heaves will definitely help towards your overall grade but make sure to not only concentrate on them (a guy on mine was deferred for being too quiet after running 8.40 and 16 heaves). The situps and pressups are not graded but you may do a few in the pt session in the evening.
Have you got yours coming up soon?

Rebelheart

tac foley wrote: »

How many non-Irish and on-ethnic nationals are there in the Irish Defence Forces? I mean ANY UK citizens from any part of the UK [Wales, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland], any British Commonwealth [Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Fiji and so on] or former part thereof - Sarth Efrican, Kenyan, Rhodesian, any religious minorities that depend on a different nationality to enjoy their religion - Moslem, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist...you get the picture, I'm sure.

I'll call back later when you've come up with the total.

Shouldn't take long. ; )

tac

Suffering Jesus. Yours is precisely the sort of anti-Irish attitude which is a pre-requisite for an Irish-born person to volunteer to become cannonfodder for the pitiful remnants of the once all-conquering British state. We read many likeminded people in The Irish Times article last year, all British soldiers and all looking down on the honourable Irish soldiers who join the Irish Defence Forces. And you British soldiers expect sympathy when one of the natives in Afghanistan or Iraq remove you from their country, and this earth. Grow up.

By your own admission, you're Irish-born and you went off to fight for the British crown forces of occupation while Irish people were being massacred by your colleagues on the streets of Derry and Ballymurphy and then you come back to look down your nose at the defence force of the independent Irish state because they apparently don't recruit cannonfodder of all different races. Wake-up call, Paddy: the Brits are into getting all the "inferior" types to die for their wars because, well, the English at the top have a finely-tuned sense of self-preservation. That, and evolution. Once it was the poor, undereducated Scots, then when the British Empire needed more mercenaries, it lifted its ban on Catholics. As they became more educated the British had to look for more cannonfodder and sure enough they suddenly got converted to extending their concept of multiculturalism beyond those backward Irish Catholics: anybody of any skin colour can now die for the British Empire! Hooray! And that's your selling point vis-à-vis the Irish Defence Forces? Hilarious. British recruitment policy really isn't rocket science, let alone reflective of some admirably enlightened attitude on the part of John Bull to what the British used to blatantly describe as the "inferior races".

If you look closely around you the sort of Irish-born people who join the British forces are not what one might term the most educated or fortunate. They are almost always marginalised kids with serious family problems and a history of mental illness. That's the reality of the force you, and others on this thread, are attempting to glorify and pimp to some poor, misguided schmuck who's just dying to get away and become part of a gang and feel accepted by a "family" for the first time ever. Now, that sort of predaciousness is pathetic manipulative behaviour of the most rank order.

Rebelheart

tac foley wrote: »

Heavens above - what's that? A REAL Irishman from a REAL town in REAL Ireland - a Major [Company Commander or Batallion 2 i/c] in the Irish Guards, part of the prestigious Guards Division of the British Army?

Naaaaaw, must be a publicity stunt.

If you're not aware that it is, in fact, clearly and indisputably a publicity stunt then I can't say I'm surprised. And obviously while he may be Irish-born, he's no Irish soldier. He's a British soldier, who has sworn an oath of allegiance to defend the all-Protestant sectarian British monarch against everybody, including Irish people fighting for Irish freedom from British rule.

tac foley wrote: »

'“My soldiers are not stepping off to Afghanistan with the words of the prime minister ringing in their ears,” says Lieut Col Weir, “they are going because the guy next to them is going.”

What embarrassing, delusional brainwashed rubbish. 'Group think' of the most cringe-worthy type.

Rebelheart

tac foley wrote: »

Irishmen everywhere should be proud that Ireland has always had its Wild Geese heroes - even if you believe that they were somebody else's wars.

Self-serving nonsense trying to put the average undereducated Irish-born slaveen who joins the British Army on the same footing as, say, the San Patricios. There's nothing to be proud about somebody who joins the British forces while part of Ireland remains under British rule. Only in the most delusional of minds can such people be morally and ethically equated with the (far greater number of) Irish-born soldiers who've fought for other countries throughout Ireland's long history under British occupation.

Morpheus

Rebelheart wrote: »

who has sworn an oath of allegiance to defend the all-Protestant sectarian British monarch against everybody, including Irish people fighting for Irish freedom from British rule.

What do you mean by All Protestant? He has also sworn to defend the millions of British Catholics.

It wasn't me!

Rebelheart wrote: »

If you look closely around you the sort of Irish-born people who join the British forces are not what one might term the most educated or fortunate. They are almost always marginalised kids with serious family problems and a history of mental illness. That's the reality of the force you, and others on this thread, are attempting to glorify and pimp to some poor, misguided schmuck who's just dying to get away and become part of a gang and feel accepted by a "family" for the first time ever. Now, that sort of predaciousness is pathetic manipulative behaviour of the most rank order.

Want to provide any evidence for this?

RMD

Rebelheart wrote: »

who has sworn an oath of allegiance to defend the all-Protestant sectarian British monarch against everybody, including Irish people fighting for Irish freedom from British rule.

Rebelheart the troubles are over by a decade and a half, give it over with this "fighting for freedom" crap. Everyone knows the only way a united Ireland will come about is through a democratic process, the only thing "fighting for freedom" got us was a bad name and a body pile of 1800 innocent civilians. Anybody in NI right now who claims to be "fighting" for Irish freedom using bombs and violence is a backwards delusional retard. What about the millions of Britains of catholic Irish descent, they're also swearing to protect those. End of the day ask any soldier in the BA, the oath of allegiance means **** all. They're not going into a battle thinking "let's do this for the queen", they're going into battle with the only thought on their mind being protecting their squad members. I'm joining the BA when I'm older, I'll take the oath and it will mean jackshít to me, it's just another stupid req to me for joining the army. End of the day, I couldn't give a shít about the queen or any of her buddies.

ShaneW1986

Rebelheart wrote: »

If you look closely around you the sort of Irish-born people who join the British forces are not what one might term the most educated or fortunate. They are almost always marginalised kids with serious family problems and a history of mental illness. That's the reality of the force you, and others on this thread, are attempting to glorify and pimp to some poor, misguided schmuck who's just dying to get away and become part of a gang and feel accepted by a "family" for the first time ever. Now, that sort of predaciousness is pathetic manipulative behaviour of the most rank order.

Such a stament from someone who knows nothing about it. Under privilaged abusive familes such utter bull.

I was brought up in the middle east while my pearents worked for the saudi minister of defence and the oman minister of defense. I can garentee you I had a much more privilaged life than you! As for uneducated once I hit secondary school I was sent to a borading school at the cost of 27000 euros a year then on to Uni, think my education was slighty better than yours aswell.

Dont try and be smart dosent suit you!

discus

Rebelheart wrote: »

If you look closely around you the sort of Irish-born people who join the British forces are not what one might term the most educated or fortunate. They are almost always marginalised kids with serious family problems and a history of mental illness.

Of the many Irish lads I've met along the recruitment path, half of us had a third level qualification.

Dogwatch

ShaneW1986 wrote: »

Such a stament from someone who knows nothing about it. Under privilaged abusive familes such utter bull.

I was brought up in the middle east while my pearents worked for the saudi minister of defence and the oman minister of defense. I can garentee you I had a much more privilaged life than you! As for uneducated once I hit secondary school I was sent to a borading school at the cost of 27000 euros a year then on to Uni, think my education was slighty better than yours aswell.

Dont try and be smart dosent suit you!

discus wrote: »

Of the many Irish lads I've met along the recruitment path, half of us had a third level qualification.

Rebelheart is only trying to stir thngs up as he does not have the maturity to see that the people he is describing would not be accepted into the British Military or any other military service. They would not make the grade.
From my experience, the people he is describing end up in illegal organisations.

ShaneW1986

groundshaker wrote: »

Well if you have any more questions on the Irish Guards just ask.

Thanks lad for all the advice, I droped my application in on friday and heard back on monaday about my BARB need to get into the gym more often and get my head down now. Once again thanks for the heads up till you mentioned it i didnt even realise there was an ice breaker.

discus

The biggest mistake I've seen guys make is with the gym, ShaneW1986.

1) You are tested on your run - so use a park, path or road and start running.

2) You are tested on chin ups - so start lashing a few out on bars every time you get a chance.

3) You get a tough gym session using bodyweight exercises - so practise sprinting, push-ups, sit ups, squats, pull-ups, chin ups and burpees.

Dedicate time to 1,2 and 3 first. If you have a bit of extra time, throw in some cycling, swimming or the gym. Your run and chin ups are the most important. There is usually a huge range between the best and the worst in terms of these.

edit: I'd be interested in Rockagusrolls take on it - he's been through as well - he might denounce my post as ****, or at least have some other advice

RMD

If you follow the get fit plan on the website you'll more than likely be grand, it's designed for applicants after all.

discus

RMD wrote: »

If you follow the get fit plan on the website you'll more than likely be grand, it's designed for applicants after all.

That's true, if you have the timescale that it allows for. I thought it was a bit basic myself.

rockagusroll

discus wrote: »

The biggest mistake I've seen guys make is with the gym, ShaneW1986.

1) You are tested on your run - so use a park, path or road and start running.

2) You are tested on chin ups - so start lashing a few out on bars every time you get a chance.

3) You get a tough gym session using bodyweight exercises - so practise sprinting, push-ups, sit ups, squats, pull-ups, chin ups and burpees.

Dedicate time to 1,2 and 3 first. If you have a bit of extra time, throw in some cycling, swimming or the gym. Your run and chin ups are the most important. There is usually a huge range between the best and the worst in terms of these.

edit: I'd be interested in Rockagusrolls take on it - he's been through as well - he might denounce my post as ****, or at least have some other advice

I'd agree fully with that, just make sure to get a lot of training in beforehand, as they say ''Fail To Prepare, Prepare To Fail''.
Also practice your ice-breaker too, seems to be the toughest part for a lot of people.
Best of luck

discus

rockagusroll wrote: »

Also practice your ice-breaker too, seems to be the toughest part for a lot of people.

Yeah! **** me, I didn't realise how many people would find it tough! I'm used to presentations and such from university and work - but some lads had an awful time. There was 1 lad on my pre-ADSC who couldn't get a word out.

rockagusroll

discus wrote: »

Yeah! **** me, I didn't realise how many people would find it tough! I'm used to presentations and such from university and work - but some lads had an awful time. There was 1 lad on my pre-ADSC who couldn't get a word out.

Yea I was at the same pre-adsc as discus and the poor lad couldn't get a word out, just goes to show, practice will do ya the world of good!

ShaneW1986

Thanks discus & rockagusroll for the info and advice!

Just quick questions to anyone who knows the answers? How often do you actually get out in the field in the british army? And other than the obvious afganistan how often are overseas tours available, and where are they most likely to send you?

SamuelFox

ShaneW1986 wrote: »

How often do you actually get out in the field in the british army?

In the Infantry you will be out almost every day, either in the local area, on the ranges or on a training area. You won't be bored!

ShaneW1986 wrote: »

And other than the obvious afganistan how often are overseas tours available, and where are they most likely to send you?

Afghan is the main effort so thats where you will go. Its not like the Irish Army where you volunteer as an individual - in the UK your regiment will go somewhere and you will go with them.

ShaneW1986

Ok guys for anyone thats interested quick update on my BARB had it last thursday and got a 61 and knew I had made a couple of silly mistakes but no need for a higher score, highest need for any job is 60 i think?!? So no problems there for infantry.

discus

Nice one. Now all you need to worry about it fitness:D!! Start bashing out pull ups, chin ups, push ups, sit ups and a bit of running. Once ya start seeing an improvement, start recording speed, distance, number of pull ups etc. And let us know.

dublinman1990

Just to interest you here lads, I had recently discovered through old records that my great grandfather had fought in the disbanded RIR many decades ago. He was only a member for six months from January to June of 1917. His name was James Dwyer.

He was born and raised in Enniscorthy in Co. Wexford. He was from grandfather's side of my family. His wife's name was Mary Dwyer.

James Dwyer had lived through bad health all his life, since he was born with asthma and bronchitis.

One of the places that I understand was from his Old Medical Report, was in Gallipoli.

His son who became my Grandfather was named Thomas Dwyer, who then was renamed Thomas O'Dwyer. He worked as a Postman for An Post.

He lived in both Phibsboro and Blackrock, Co.Dublin for many years. My Grandfather died of Cardiac arrest in November 1997.

I did found the history very interesting and surprising IMO.

I'd don't think I would be able to join the forces in the UK because I am not known personally to have a hard personality. I am generally a nice person, but I do my limit's when talking to other people.

tac foley

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I'd don't think I would be able to join the forces in the UK because I am not known personally to have a hard personality. I am generally a nice person, but I do my limit's when talking to other people.

I don't mind admitting that I find your comment very odd, to say the least. Are you saying that applicants for the British Army need to be a bunch of mindless thugs?

Those are not the people that I served with for almost 33 years all but a week.

Whether or not you care about it, you are also insulting the many thousands of Irishmen who are currently in the British Army by your inference.

tac

Morpheus

I'd don't think I would be able to join the forces in the UK because I am not known personally to have a hard personality. I am generally a nice person, but I do my limit's when talking to other people.

That's one of the most misinformed comments I've ever read on an internet forum!!! What exactly is your definition of hard?

Morpheus

I'd don't think I would be able to join the forces in the UK because I am not known personally to have a hard personality. I am generally a nice person, but I do my limit's when talking to other people.

That's one of the most misinformed comments I've ever read on an internet forum!!! What exactly is your definition of hard?

dublinman1990

I think it would be best to disregard my previous comment. I know personally, I made a complete mess of it. I just spent too long on Boards yesterday. So, Forgive Me!

What I was trying to say that the Military is not the right path for me.

I feel that for me it is too much of a burden. The lads are bigger and stronger than me, They do eat and exercise a lot more then me and I won't be able to get that strong in my life. I am about 5ft 2inches in height. And I have a small weight.

Also, I wouldn't be able to go to places such as Pakistan or Afghanistan, because, I would be instantly terrified of going to them.

It's just that I thought the information about my great grandfather was very interesting. I am proud that he fought as a soldier, Even his soldier rank is unknown to me. I have to ask my relatives about that when I can do so to give me more information.

It doesn't mean that I disrespect the Armed Forces, I think they do a fine job of fighting the enemies of our nature. There is huge respect from my family on whatever he did for the country. I don't expect that respect to change any time soon.

tac foley

dublinman1990 wrote: »

One of the places that I understand was from his Old Medical Report, was in Gallipoli.

It is always of great interest to find out what your own relatives did, particularly as yours took part on one of the greatest debacles and defeats inflicted on the British Empire and its allies in the entire WW1.

See - 6th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Dublin in August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 29th Brigade in 10th (Irish) Division. Moved to the Curragh in February 1915.May 1915 : moved to Hackwood Park (Basingstoke).
7 July 1915: embarked at Liverpool and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros. Landed Anzac Cove 5 August 1915.
29 September 1915 : moved via Mudros to Salonika, arriving 4-5 October.
September 1917 : moved to Egypt for service in Palestine.
15 May 1918 : disbanded at Deir-el-Nidham.

Please note the highlighted dates and compare that with your comment - He was only a member for six months from January to June of 1917. His name was James Dwyer.

Hmmmmmmmm.

Did your GGfather survive the war? If so, there ARE ways of finding out more about him. And if he died, then you can find where he is buried, and like me, go visit a grave and have a few quiet words.

Standing at MY grandfather's grave a few years back, I was reminded that I was standing next to the closest relative I had. It was very sobering, I can admit to you.

tac

Fratton Fred

My GGrandfather was in the Royal Inniskilling fusiliers. He was seriously wounded on Harts Hill (another debacle) during the relief of ladysmith. He was invalided out, but joined up again in 1914 (I don't think he ever really left as addresses we have for him link him to the movements of the 2nd Battalion).

Whilst we have had trouble tracking his war record, we believe he was at the Somme and then transferred to Gallipoli. He survived that war but although my father knew him, he can't remember him speaking and like most, never talked of his experience.

Not surprising really, no one could go through that and not be seriously affected.

goldie fish

Many Military service records relating to WW1 were destroyed during the Blitz.

pablomakaveli

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I think it would be best to disregard my previous comment. I know personally, I made a complete mess of it. I just spent too long on Boards yesterday. So, Forgive Me!

What I was trying to say that the Military is not the right path for me.

I feel that for me it is too much of a burden. The lads are bigger and stronger than me, They do eat and exercise a lot more then me and I won't be able to get that strong in my life. I am about 5ft 2inches in height. And I have a small weight.

Also, I wouldn't be able to go to places such as Pakistan or Afghanistan, because, I would be instantly terrified of going to them.

It's just that I thought the information about my great grandfather was very interesting. I am proud that he fought as a soldier, Even his soldier rank is unknown to me. I have to ask my relatives about that when I can do so to give me more information.

It doesn't mean that I disrespect the Armed Forces, I think they do a fine job of fighting the enemies of our nature. There is huge respect from my family on whatever he did for the country. I don't expect that respect to change any time soon.

I've met a Guardsman who was only around your height. If you wanted it enough your size would only stop you if you let it. Though the military life isn't for everyone and there's nothing wrong with that either.

tac foley

goldie fish wrote: »

Many Military service records relating to WW1 were destroyed during the Blitz.

That's quite true - many of the documents on-line relating to my G'father's rather inventive version of his life are singed at the edges. In particular those regarding his enforced repatriation to face his wife and daughter that he had deserted immediately prior to joining up...

tac

discus

pablomakaveli wrote: »

I've met a Guardsman who was only around your height. If you wanted it enough your size would only stop you if you let it. Though the military life isn't for everyone and there's nothing wrong with that either.

Hmmm... It wasn't niknak by any chance was it?! Met him myself a few months ago!

jeff daly

Just after coming across this on a RIR google search and it seems that a small number of writers actually are more informative than any other BA website iv been on so i joined this in order to see if any of ye can settle a small issue hopefully..

im 23, a mechanic, got sick **** of the same boring no excitement, pissing your life away existence of it and decided to go back to college.. But 6months in, my grant got denied so an id to pull out or come up with 2700 in 2wks
The only constant in my life has this dream of being a soldier and being the very best in my field. I just kept putting it off to be "sensible" and work a 9 to 5.. And now that ive come to the firm belief i wont be happy doing anything else, the irish army are dead in the water, not that they wer my first choice anyway but closer to home and family..
my problem with the BA is i cant seem to find an answer to this one question anywhere.
From the word go, how often would i get to come home as ive\a 3 year old daughter who means the world to me and even though my only passion is to join the army, in truth i dont know if id cope being away for her for weeks on end when not doing a tour of duty abroad. as in when im in england how often could i get home an see her. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thank you..

Dogwatch

Contact BA recruitment in NI and ask them. Their answers will give you a good idea of the reality of your situation.

Good luck whatever you decide and consider REME in view of your skillset.

tac foley

Dogwatch wrote: »

Contact BA recruitment in NI and ask them. Their answers will give you a good idea of the reality of your situation.

Good luck whatever you decide and consider REME in view of your skillset.

+1 on that one.

An already mechanic-minded noob would certainly have a better time of being a VM in REME than as an infantry soldier, too, IMO. Mind you, you do get detachments and postings with vehicle or armoured vehicle workshops and LADs [a smaller sub-unit]. So you could still end up anywhere, for sure. However, the training you'd be getting in the BA is worth tens of thousands of £/eu - you'll not get anything better, that's for sure, unless you had a RR apprenticeship.

tac

Chiorino

jeff daly wrote: »

Just after coming across this on a RIR google search and it seems that a small number of writers actually are more informative than any other BA website iv been on so i joined this in order to see if any of ye can settle a small issue hopefully..

im 23, a mechanic, got sick **** of the same boring no excitement, pissing your life away existence of it and decided to go back to college.. But 6months in, my grant got denied so an id to pull out or come up with 2700 in 2wks
The only constant in my life has this dream of being a soldier and being the very best in my field. I just kept putting it off to be "sensible" and work a 9 to 5.. And now that ive come to the firm belief i wont be happy doing anything else, the irish army are dead in the water, not that they wer my first choice anyway but closer to home and family..
my problem with the BA is i cant seem to find an answer to this one question anywhere.
From the word go, how often would i get to come home as ive\a 3 year old daughter who means the world to me and even though my only passion is to join the army, in truth i dont know if id cope being away for her for weeks on end when not doing a tour of duty abroad. as in when im in england how often could i get home an see her. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thank you..

Once your phase 1 training is over you will get most weekends off unless you're on guard. You can also try to get posted to the North (not by any means guaranteed) though I don't know off the top of my head if there is a REME regiment there at the moment. It's doable but will be tough and you'll end up spending a fortune on flights. You just need to decide yourself if it's worth it ( having done it myself I would say yes)

tac foley

@Jeff Daly - From what you are saying I'm guessing that you are not married to your daughter's mom?

Or even living with her?

Else you'd be entitled to a Married Quarter at whatever unit you were based at.

tac

awec

ShaneW1986 wrote: »

Thanks discus & rockagusroll for the info and advice!

Just quick questions to anyone who knows the answers? How often do you actually get out in the field in the british army? And other than the obvious afganistan how often are overseas tours available, and where are they most likely to send you?

The main one is Afghanistan, you do 6 month stints with 2 weeks R+R in there (though not necessarily in the middle of the 6 months - it all depends).

There's no real schedule on how often you go, depends on when your regiment goes. I would say that one year in every 3 would be the sort of rough ratio where you'd expect to be away.

If your regiment is due to go to Afghan it's likely you'll be sent to Kenya for pre-deployment training.

You get a bit of a break when you get home. From a purely financial point of view getting sent away isn't the worst, imagine getting your full salary for 6 months and hardly spending a penny of it, and then a big fat operational bonus on top of that which I believe is tax-free.

Rebelheart

More murdering British bastards. Renaming the hated, sectarian anti-Irish B Specials as the UDR (in 1970) and then renaming the UDR as the Royal Irish Regiment (in 1992) doesn't change the reality that anybody who joins these murdering British thugs is an enemy of the Irish people and all those Irish people throughout the centuries who have aspired to the freedom of this country from British colonial occupation.


This history lesson will not be approved of by the anti-Irish recruiters, who prey on ignorant poorly-educated young men in marginalised urban areas, for this group of thugs but now that those of you who are thinking of joining it know the reality, you can't say you're ignorant. There are easier, more moral, ways to make money and even to have a great adventure. How can you justify it? Really? Hand on heart? Even with limited intelligence, how can you justify joining the oppressor who continues the British tradition of oppression while telling the world they are only "helping" the natives, that the natives would be lesser people without them? If you believe in a might makes right philosophy then you deserve some respect for being honest about it. But if you really think Britain is invading other countries for the benefits of the natives then your naivety is contemptible. Low intelligence is not a crime. Using it to inflict pain and suffering on other people, while wealthy people in the state in whose army you are in profit, is immoral in the extreme.

An Irish person joining the British Army simply allows a British person to join other branches of the British crown forces and uphold the British occupation of Ireland and other non-British countries that the British, in their traditional foreign policy fanaticism, claim as their own. Even with a basic awareness of the role of the British military and political classes in Irish history, how can you justify that?

Manic Moran

[Mod]OK, Rebelheart has been banned for a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, please don't rise to such events again in the future, just send us the report and we'll get around to it. It makes it much 'cleaner' when there's only one side misbeheaving. Assorted comments deleted.[/Mod]

krissovo

There are REME detachments in most BA units from the SAS to commandos and even RAF. Certainly a few detachments in the North with the various units.

Mechanically you have a number of choices, in REME you can be a "B" mech and fix wheeled vehicles or "A" mech and work on track vehicles. The Engineers have Fitters that work on construction plant and the logistics have Marine Fitters. All will require you to start from scratch in the class room for training but once you have finished training experienced mechanics usually promote quicker and get on class 1 courses quicker which means more money.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

RMD

feeney92 wrote: »

Lads I jus wanted to ask, are there any Royal Irish left up north? Apart from the TA of course.....

Nope, 1RIR are based in Ternhill, Shropshire. AFAIK the only full time infantry regiment with a battalion based in the North is the Rifles. 2 Rifles are based in Ballykinler, Co. Down.