MilitaryForums.co.uk

Alright lads?,
I am looking into joining up as an armoured infantry soldier but I was wondering, the website isn't to clear bout this, do you do your 14 week basic training then your 24 week infantry course or just fire into the infantry course straight away? bit puzzling anyway any help is appreciated cheers. oh aye and are the Black Watch based in Scotland or in Warminster I know they have an HQ in Perth but am no to sure where the regulars are based. ta.[/list]

Hi, the Infantry course for line infantry is 24 weeks long. If you join non infantry regiments or job trades you do 12 weeks basic then go on and do your trade training. With the Infantry you do both Basic and trade training in one go. So the pace don't let up the entire way through whereas corps etc have it a lot easier after their inital 12 weeks basic. I could not tell you about the black watch, only that our WO1 RSM 3rd Bn ITC Catterick is in the black watch. Oh and if you join either Paras or Guards you do a 26 week combat infantrymans course. The difference is Guards do extra drill and Paras do extra fitness.

tip top cheers grimey

Yes mate Blackwatch are still down warminster "poor B@#tards" Not for long though i belive. Dukes are due to relive somebody down there and i was speaking to a guy in 1BW who said they were getting ready to move out but he didnt no ware to, so sounds like theyl be on the move soon.
As for joining armoured infantry its all done at ITC like grimey said, and youll find that regiments are always switching roles i.e armoured inf for so long then light role for so long etc so i wouldnt put to much focus on the armoured side of things for now, besides which you dont learn any of the armoured / light role skills till you get to battalion, just infantry training at ITC.
Hope thats helped some
AlphA

Hey Alpha, i am sure you started training in October in Athens Platoon, paras who just passed out a few weeks ago, was it you and did you finish training?

WO1 RSM 3rd Bn ITC Catterick is in the black watch

Grimey that wouldnt be Hally by any chance would it, just my mate went through there last year.

Indeed it is the same man. Still have Lt Col A D Jackson as the CO of 3rd Bn ITC as well, sound guy. He told me that one of the recruits from the Paras Documentry on training is now a WO1 in the SAS, can't remember his name off by heart but something like Horton.

lucky him, but it might just be hear say really.

Lt Col A D Jackson as the CO of 3rd Bn ITC? when my mate was there it was a guy Newman or something his name was.

Enjoy your training guys especially the long walk up to the gym! Dnt ya just love those hills lol[/quote]

Oh lad i enjoy the mile up there. Especially when we have a tab, some how everyone has a depressed look on their face cant think of the reason

I only have 10 weeks left, 8 if i was line Infantry. GET IN

Cheers again lads much appreciated I will probably be back tomorrow dripping about something else i am not to sure of!!

Jock if you're that keen to get into armour just join the RSDG. You still go to Catterick for basic and you'll still find loads of mates there.

GD wrote:Jock if you're that keen to get into armour just join the RSDG. You still go to Catterick for basic and you'll still find loads of mates there.

Sorry mate I am a matelot not to savy with squaddie slang whats RSDG

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards mate. They're Scotland's last remaining cavalry regiment. They're in Challenger 2's (heavy tanks). Great bunch of lads.

http://www.army.mod.uk/armcorps/scots_dg/

Cheers GD it's always worth thinkin about mate. The main reason I was intrested in the Black Watch (other than being able to say that I was one of them) is that I come from Dundee where they recruit alot of there lads from.

That's ok mate, can't blame you for wanting to join your local mob, although I think if your name isn't Smith you probably won't get in LOL

The RSDG recruit from all over Scotland and you will have to do basic infantry training first before getting your tank trades. You'll go to Cambrai Lines in Catterick instead of Alma.

As a Scotsman and especially as you're a Dundonian I'll give you a very important piece of info to help you make up your mind: TANK CREWS GET PAID MORE THAN GRUNTS! LOL

Every trade you add to your basic infantry skills will get you an extra few quid a day. You need to qualify on three trades first - gunner, driver, radio op/loader. Then you will take a specialisation in one of those three a couple of years after you're posted to regiment. If you're good enough to get promotion you will also get the chance to do a tank commander's course which is MORE EXTRA MONEY on top of your stripe pay.

How do you feel about that mate?