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Somebody mention my name I do still stalk the forums, but not in a bunny boiler way. So there's no need to hide your pet rabbits

Right, deployment opportunities within the RMR. The RMR seems to be different in deployment opportunites (as in call up to service eg., Iraq), in that the RMR has been able to support the Corps with people who have volunteered unlike the TA where units have been compulsory mobilised (ordered to mobilise).

The question of mobilisation is a common one from people looking to join the reserve forces and the answer is different from each unit.

With the RMR, call up to mobilise for Iraq was done entirely by fully trained RMR personel who all wanted and volunteered to go (no one was ordered to mobilise they all chose to).

This was mainly down to the Commando units themselves being able to draw from one of the other Commando units or even deploying a Gun battery or Engineering unit from the Brigades supporting arms to support the Commando unit in an infantry roll.

The Corps ability to do this meant the RMR only needed to fill a few spaces and more lads than required chose to go, some even quitting their jobs. All lads that volunteered were taken and most where trained in a specialist qualification (Assault Engineer).

The Corps itself at the time was top heavy with the basic GD (general duties) fighting marine and required a lot of extra specialist qualified marines to support it's operations within Iraq. This is now heavily reflected in the current RMR's attitudes towards training after a recruit has earned his green beret.

All RMR units are now taking on specialist roles. So the RMR you join will depend on what SQ you are more likely to be asked to train in, post earning your Green Beret. Manchester Det are Mortar specialists. RMR Bristol (all dets) are now HMG and Anti tank weapons, RMR Scotland are assault engineers and looking to get Recce Leaders as well.

Currently within the RMR there are deployment opportunities with the Corps. But not in the sence most people looking to join the reserves are thinking about. Lads that join will not on earning their beret are not going to be imediatly deployed to Iraq and still have to undergo continuation training (live firing) inorder to be allowed to serve with a regular Commando.

I have consistently been told in the last few years that inorder to join a Commando unit (even FTRS contract ie., signing up to a unit for six months or a few years) that you have to now have an SQ to be even considered for a place within the Corps.

This is due to regulars joining for a few years and not staying long enougth to give any serious support to one of the specialist branch's within the Corps. But this dosen't mean that they aren't filling the posts, it just means that the corps is filling all the General Duties (fighting Marines) spaces within the Corps.

Right, following this retelling of war and peace the bottom line is:

1) you must firt complete phase 1a & 1B (earn your green beret)
2) Complete continuation training

You can then do what ever you want to do. Sign on for a few years as a GD marine if there is a space available (if you want it that bad they won't say no.

Choose to gain the units SQ or if you have your heart set on a diffrent one take up that SQ. Then join the regular Corps....if yopu want to.

If a Commando unit deploys to Iraq in its current state of play, they will request volunteers or pull someone in from one of the other regular units. But should there ever be a requirment for the Brigade to deploy in full and not just one of the Commandos, then there may be a chance to be compulsory mobilised (at the moment this seems an unlikly thing but it dosen't mean it can't).

Opportunites to work with the Corps are always available voluntarily, but these are just that, voluntary.

This might confuse you more than anything. But if you want to join and wotk with the Corps, then you can. What you join doing is up to you. And if you want to join as something were there appears to be no need. Then a place is often created just to give you the opportunity.

If your still unsure, then ask more questions. I'm always lurking around and can answer your questions

As for the other off topic items.

There did use to be an 'R' under all RMR personels flashes. This was worn wether working within the RMR or with the regular Corps. It was eventually withdrawn from service as it lead to some bad feeling with certain lads. Somewhere never given the chance to prove themselves and felt tarnished with the 'Rubber Daggers' comment and even seen off with duties because they felt an easy target. But not everyone was treated that way.

So the 'R' was withdrawn from service. The cost of producing such a small number was also a big factor. The RMR did have a should epillete with 'RMR' on it. But due to cost of production it is now being replaced with just the standard 'RM' one.

Also 'Rubber Daggers'. It is a term that is often used, but never to the harsh extent it used to. I hate the term when it is used as a straight almost racist comment 'effing rubbers' or the like. Sometimes some people deseve it. But when used as a polite jovial way it's ok. I've even used it myself before. But never outside the bounds of jest.

I have posted before on what an RMR reservist goes through and often gives up just to be part of the biggest family in the world. And most deserve the title Royal Marine for there efforts. But as with any where in life thewre will always be the stupid twonks who deserve a more than a polite kick in the canasters.

As far as I am concerned now, rubber dagger always should be used in jest.

When I was serving a few RMR guys would get attached to the Units and would just fit in straight away. There was none this Anti feeling the regular Army seem to have about the TA. The Term Rubber Daggers was used but more as a term of affection not as abuse.

Maybe things have changed, I don't know the answer to that one. As it is a fair proportion of the RMR were ex regulars and this combination of Ex and Civvies seemed to work well as the Ex guys would instill into the other guys the habits and traditions of the Regular Corp.

One thing I do remember was that some RMR guys could apply to serve with a unit for one year and we had one such guy with us in HQ & Sigs. He was a Driver and worked in the MT. As to whether this is still done I don't know maybe Skiff could shed some light on this practice.

Artist

Artist,

There are many diffrent ways of reservists joining or working with the regular Corps. I have seen lads earn there lid, get a bit og green time under there hats and then disapear into the regular corps not to be heard of till his haed pops up at CTC on a regular training course.

Others have stayed RMR and done every odd job required by the regular corps doing a week here or there as driver, enemy or just to make up numbers.

The minimum time for serving with the regular Corps is normally six months going up to four years and then signing on again if you want to. But shorter ones have been known.

Anything else is done by staying a reservist and assisting the regular Corps

Skiffle, can you transfer to the regs on a short term (6 months/year) as soon as you get your lid, or do you have to serve for a set time in the reserves first?

Thanks,
Zak

Ghost,

Once you have earned your green beret, you have to then complete phase 2 training (continuation training/ live firing).

You cannot do any form of FTRS (full time reserve service) contract until you have passed at least the live firing training from personal weapons tests right the way up to section/ troop live firing exercises.

This is because you are very likely to do a live firing exercise in a regular commando unit and they don't want to have to teach a bloke how to shoot a live fire exercise. This is normally the last thing you would do as a regular recruit at CTC, but reserves have to do it as a seperate package due to time constraints.

benjordan81 wrote:I have gone for the RMR because I have a good career and have decided that I need a challenge in non-work my life. The RMR will offer me this.

I don't think the term 'Rubber Dagger' is fair. RMR recruits have to pass the same tests as the regs.

I dont think what your saying is fair "non work life" i think blokes in the RM would have something to say about that, i mean at the end of the day its a job and a has good career prospects.

"By sea, by land, by Sunday lunch time"

I served with lads who had been in the RMR but had joined up and did the full nod course and with one who slipped into the Corps after Op Haven - he was never really accepted but the others were - but were still called rubbers The commando tests aren't really that hard on paper - trained ranks could do them every week. Doing them after 28 weeks of degeneration was difficult.

I looked at joining the RMR in Bermondsey after I left the regulars and found the culture to be entirely different - just my experience - and not for me. I don't mean to cause offence but I've read so many times on here that there's no difference - I think there is. Nobody is going to tell me that doing parts of the course and tests bit by bit after decent rest and scran is exactly the same as doing it in a one'er. That's not the same as saying that a given reservist is any less than a given regular.

Having said that I have the greatest respect for men who can hold down a full time job and commit their spare time to our beloved Corps.

Ben,
I mean,its good that youre on this site making the right decisions and all that,but as far as making statements such as 'Not fair,you have to do exactly the same tests in RMR' , yes that maybe right,but personally i think maybe one of the toughest aspects of training was that it was 32 weeks,non-stop,PERIOD.
Not just rock up at random times in the month,that means your bodies recovered,which could be one of the reasons why the term 'rubber daggers' is used.
Ok,im not slating them,im just saying that if youve decided to join RMR because you have a good career(which so do I might I add = RM)then dont try and prove a point that they are just as good,you havent even got there yet fella

TUGG

Tugg,

I must admit to being a bit surprised at your attitude. I'm sure you will agree that it is not reasonable to compare training in the regular core with training in the RMR. But I think you are missing a couple of key points. RMR training is not just a case of "rocking up at random times in the month" and requires a lot of training in the recruit's own time usually fitted around a full-time job. This for most means training before and/or after work every day as well as a couple of good sessions each free weekend (remembering you are away with the RMR every second weekend during training) and leaves very little time for anything else. This goes on for, on average, 10 months. This of course is necessary to reach the same standards the regulars reach and to be able to pass the commando course.

The fact that the recruit has to be almost entirely self-motivating and doesn't have a hairy-arsed corporal shouting at them all the time makes it even harder to sustain for the 10 month period! Another interesting point is that far fewer recruits who pass PRMC in the RMR get their green lids that in the regular core. This is partly because it is harder to leave Lympstone once you are there than it is to leave the RMR. However, is also related to the point I have made above about having to do the training in your own time and off your own back. In fact I have heard it said from both regular/RMR bootnecks that the RMR is the hardest way to get your green lid. I personally have no doubt that anyone who has attained their green lid in the RMR would have done so in the regs as well.

I'm not a "rubber dagger" by the way, but I thought I should post this to hopefully give you a different perspective!

Didnt see anybody had mentioned this before in search but who here has done the Commado Challenage? Is it exactly what they do on the PRMC? http://www.commandochallenge.co.uk/

I think they just use the endurance course for the POC and not the PRMC.

Has anyone done this Commando Challenge?

Is it any good?

benjordan81 wrote:Has anyone done this Commando Challenge?

Is it any good?

Completed it in 2002. Was a good laugh. Will probably do it again at some point. There was a thread on here about it with pics that I posted. Link is here:

http://www.militaryforums.co.uk/cforums ... 015#101015