ive been reading all the raf reg posts back dating nearly 2 years on this site now and am wondering why everyone thinks there crap, i mean after all they are part of the british forces so they must be worth something right ???
i want to join the raf reg as an officer and would like to hear from anyone that has done/or is doing this, one more question why do the marines think they are the best??? is it because they carry the title commando would it be worth thinking bout joining the marines instead??? replys welcome
OOH hecky thump lew!!!
Whatever you do do not make such comments in the presence of any "Rock Ape". I mean the eat Commondos, Para, Marines (even US ones) for breakfast. That is if they are not in a bad moood.
My best mate is an Ex Rock - cant say he still eats it etc but whooa they are a proud bunch of buggers.
Im not even going to lower myself in saying the word u used lol
Now you have made the said comment I urge u to change your mind about joining them, and possibly go for a job as the Queens dog handler. Yes they bite but not as bad as a Rock.
ok no offence intended there mate, concidering i want to be a "rock" it was just that everyone was slagging them off so i had to find out for myself thanks for your reply... how long did your friend serve and was he in the field or rapier squads???
Lew, you will get plenty of piss take replies on this thread but the general answer is like any military unit they fulfill a role.
Pete's answer is a bit tongue in cheek. They are not supermen (or at least they weren't in my day!) but I think you will find the Regiment is adaptable and are generally seen as an asset. I have noticed a lot of younger Rocks trying to give the impression of being Elite but I disagree. They have generally proved to be reliable and dependable when deployed I can't say what the regiment is like today but in my day (early to mid 70's) they were good at what they did but definately not elite.
I can only give you history as I know it when I joined. The training failure rate was around 75% over a 10 week course at Catterick (Now Marne Barracks) and 46 started on my course and 12 finished. There was/is an emphasis on Physical Fitness and there was plenty of scope for change. My first squadron was LLAD on Bofors 40/70mm and then I went to 2 Field Squadrons. There is an Airborne capable squadron and there are Rapier air defence squadrons. I am not sure if there are still light armoured units but they were coming in as I left in 1977. I do know that in the 80's there was an option of recruits doing Basics and then doing a period of training with the Royal Marines and RM's serving with Regt squadrons. I don't know if that is still the case.
As for the slagging off, that is called 'Esprit d'corps' and is what every man and woman in HM Forces should have. A Para believes he is in the best unit as does a Bootneck as does a Rockape. And rightly so because which ever unit you served with has got to be the best. When this boils over into a physical exchange of Wit and Repartee with the odd bout of fisticuffs then this is just Esprit d'corps at its best. You will find most units will fight each other (look at any NAAFI on a mixed unit on a Friday/Saturday night!) but those same guys will readily work with each other the following day if they need to.
I suppose the simple answer is that you make your choice of trying to be a Rockape or Bootneck or whatever and take on the training. If you pass you can walk the walk and hold your head high. If not you either gen up and try again or walk away. Simple.
Budgie is right in everything that he's written. Put simply, the RAF Regt are good at what they do, that is the protection of RAF assets, wherever they may be. They're not in the same business as the Paras or Marines, therefore how they train and how they operate is different. The RAF Regt also tends to keep a low profile, there's no particular reason, however I suspect maroon and green berets look far better on the news reports than blue.
Having looked at many of the comments left by people about the RAF Regt, it's obvious that many of them don't know what they're talking about. The Regt must be doing something right, as the USAF is adopting the RAF Regt Field Squadron structure for the protection of their assets. Also, in the past 2 years, RAF Regt teams have won Gold and Silver medals on the Cambrian Patrol, so there are some good soldiers within its ranks.
Also, the RAF tends to treat its personnel better in terms of accommodation, food and conditions, plus the career structure within the Regt offers a bit more variety than the Army might have to offer.
This is not 'willy waving' propaganda, the RAF Regt just has a different mission to other combat infantry units. Try not to get too distracted by all the 'doubters' out there!
any who can be trained in basic weapons one minuate then go to a rapier unit the next or a drill sqn the next must be good .You can be sure if there is a hot spot some were in the world and the RAF is deployed the regt is with them .
I my self was on a field sqn doing basic weapons from mortors to the anti tank weapons then got put on to the scorpian tanks when they were in service
Why do people not like the RAF reg ? I've been reading through the various rockape threads and it seems people are either having a laugh or genuinely dislike the regiment?
You will find that in the military, taking the P**s is a way of showing respect. Everyone is far too butch to say 'great bunch of lads, love them like brothers'.
Wow, a trip down memory lane, I think this was my first thread I’ve since decided to join the Para’s as a soldier, if anyone reads this and is a little confused...
lew
All I want in life is a cold beer, a fast car, a big F**King gun and a hot woman to fetch the beer, and clean the car! is that really to much to ask? - Quotes by a redneck.com
recruit test 21 march - PASSED
medical 30 march - PASSED
interview 30 march - PASSED
PJFT - 11 april - PASSED 9:18
PRMC - 7th - 10th JUNE. PASSED
foundation - 29th August
Well dont leave it too late Lew, I did and being 27 they basically said naff off!! Thats with even being in their TA battalion for about 4 years!! Such is life I guess.
I'm now going for the RAF regt because they have a higher upper age limit and also an airborne unit which I hope to get into.
I wont leave it to late, I’m 18 next Tuesday, by the time I finish college I’ll be turning 20, and am going straight down the recruitment office...
lew
All I want in life is a cold beer, a fast car, a big F**King gun and a hot woman to fetch the beer, and clean the car! is that really to much to ask? - Quotes by a redneck.com
recruit test 21 march - PASSED
medical 30 march - PASSED
interview 30 march - PASSED
PJFT - 11 april - PASSED 9:18
PRMC - 7th - 10th JUNE. PASSED
foundation - 29th August
Good question and yes I have thought about it. My answer is no, that route dosn't appeal. My way of thinking and it may be ill informed, is that its all or nothing. This was one of the reasons why I left the TA in that I couldnt give it the 100% commitment it needed in the end, due to other more pressing reasons. Now I dont have the other 'burdens' I want to go in as a regular, to experience working as a regular, not as an attachment which an S-type engagement involves.The S-type length of service as I remember varies in duration so this is not ideal for me because I'd like to make a career of it in the forces and I would hazaard a guess that would take a few years to get on the ladder!
