Marines or the Army?

[Doc]

ffs was hoping this argie bargie would have continued










ONLY JOKING, glad you both tongued and made up, penicillin at the ready!

[GuyNamedBob]

the Army aren't quite as well trained as the Marines

Bob,there are loads of roles in the Army and for you to generalise like that is quite ignorant.

Like I said before you need to look at which job you want to do not which unit you want to join

Hi Adam, i don't mean to offend anyone, i am probably influenced a lot by the media, because as of now i don't have any connections with the Armed Forces, ( i did say this just after the quote you used )

I would like to join in the infantry, but later become an officer, do you know if its possible to do exactly that? or whether i have to take a different path to become and officer.

Thanks, Bob.

[Airborne Legend]

It is possible to join as a private soldier in the infantry and then go on to train as an officer, I know at least one guy in 2 Para that did just that. But if you want to be an officer then why not do that from the start? There's always the chance that if you try to do it as a private soldier your headshed will be a pain in the arse about it and it might never happen. Get yourself to the careers office and get all the info to work out what you actually want, moving around once you're in can be a nightmare.

[jcclimber]

Para Reg run a potential officers course(POC) which is good preparation for applying to become an officer from the ranks, although it is predominantly filled by civvys. A few lads from 2 and 3 Para were on it a few months back.

[HCR]

I would imagine if you joined as a Private then became an Officer you would be shipped off to another Regiment. Because your mates wont take you seriously and wont salute you I dont think. Was not a problem when there were loads of Infantry Regiments but with all the old Regiments coming as one so there is only a handfull of Regiments now.

I know the Paras have 3 regular Battalians but Iwould imagine they is alot of mixing. I dont know maybe Im wrong. Just join as a Officer from the start. But you have to be good to get in the Infantry as a Officer,and they can afford to be choosy so be ready for it and good luck

[SupFAC]

The only factor I would consider in my opinion is that Marines look after there boys better,when I say this I mean at QM/stores/getting kit/conditions.

Complete b*llocks. Para Regt look after the blokes by giving them what is available. The blokes however don't constantly moan and whine about the lack of kit!

Let me re-word my post then. I have found that the RM looked after attached units as if they were there own cap badge. I have found when attached to other army units (para/WG) they looked after there own first then whatever was left the attached guys could have. I am talking about kit etc. As for moaning???? I am a soldier its my duty to moan,however when the job needs doing I do it well.

The frustating part is when you need a bit of kit and you cannot get hold of it,then you see another unit with that kit and they are not using it.Well hopefully you get my point.

[SupFAC]

I dont want to keep going on about it, but it makes me so angry and punch my own bloody monitor when you get some of the crap written. I cant believe people actually believe only Paras/RM's do all the fighting and the rest just stag on. Theres been normal regiments like the R Anglians and the Mercians involved in real nasty,hardcore war fighting in Afghanistan. The casualty rate is terrible. And the same can be said for the Rifles and Royal Welsh when I was in Iraq just gone. People dont realise just how bad it is still in Iraq. Well, when we were still in the Palace anyway. And the PJCC was like Rorkes Drift at times Im serious.

Like I said I dont want to keep going on about it but it does wind me up. Recognition is very important I think and when people still say the things they do its disrespectful and insulting to the lads who are doing brilliantly.

Its good to see Greenronie say what he did about the Royal Anglians. Because sometimes the Paras can be alittle insulting sometimes. There were some amongst 3 Para who didnt want the Fusiliers and the Royal Irish to come out to Afghanistan last year. The Fusiliers came out with less than aweeks notice and went on to hold apposition in Nowzad Hill for over 4 months. The longest in British Army history I think. And not a word in the media. Which I think is the reason behind all this in the first place. There does seem to be a bias towards the Paras/RM's

Anyway rant over. And more seriously did anyone watch Corrie last night. I missed it

HCR I do agree with you mate.However it is the press and how they cover the action. The guys that matter know the score.A few years aog I found the maroon machine to be the biggest bunch of arrgant tw@ts in uniform.Now with all the focus in Afghan and Iraq,the older para types have ''educated'' some of the young buck toms in the ways of the battlefield ,now I have no problem whats so ever with any of them. we are always going to get the old ''hat'' comments which to be honest is great as its the para ethos to be the best. If it works for them then cracking. Lots of other Inf regiments are just as good.However you must remember if you need a short sharp shock to unit to sort a hard area that will only respond to robust aggressive soldiers then call the paras every time because they are the best at that.

Oh HCR I hope you dont think I am 9TH/12TH becuase that is the biggest insult you can give a man.


Once again the above post is based purely on my experience as a soldier.

[Chas]

It has been stated on many occasions that Perce appreciates
serving with Royal. Having said that when I was near the Shot I
found the Paras to be extremely contemptuous of the HSF.
It suddenly changed when we met at Longmoor and then they
discovered that all of the HSF were former senior NCOs' with
some ex paras, booties, SAS and even RAF in our unit.
Subsequently they requested that we acted as enemy in FIBUA
exercises. We were rather too old for a pln or coy attack on them.
In defence we had few peers. I do however admire and respect
the Paras for their unique qualities. However their arrogance is
often misplaced and frequently other regiments prefer not to work
with them. As I said before all units complement each other and
they can learn from one another.
Royal has always been generous and not demeaning.

[wato212]

Ok here goes, i had to comment on my experiences from both training and afghanistan. 1st if you want a trade join the army or the raf, these are the best places to go for that. 2nd if you want to join up because you want to be a soilder then there is only two regiments i can think of worth joining, and that is funny old thing royal marines or the paras, i cannot believe there is people on here trying to say that 'were all the same' and some 'regiments in the army are just as good as the marines/paras' what a load of shit. last march we took over from the rifels and i have never never cames across such a bunch of un professional people in all my life, they were shocking some of the stuff there was getting up to. now i know i'm goin to get a load of flak for this but to be honest i dont give a f@#k. I'm not doubting that there is i'm sure just haven't came across it yet, good soldiers in the army, same with everywere however on a whole they are w@#k end of dit. Good luck with what ever you do. merry x-mas everyone.

Wato212

[SupFAC]

Ok here goes, i had to comment on my experiences from both training and afghanistan. 1st if you want a trade join the army or the raf, these are the best places to go for that. 2nd if you want to join up because you want to be a soilder then there is only two regiments i can think of worth joining, and that is funny old thing royal marines or the paras, i cannot believe there is people on here trying to say that 'were all the same' and some 'regiments in the army are just as good as the marines/paras' what a load of shit. last march we took over from the rifels and i have never never cames across such a bunch of un professional people in all my life, they were shocking some of the stuff there was getting up to. now i know i'm goin to get a load of flak for this but to be honest i dont give a f@#k. I'm not doubting that there is i'm sure just haven't came across it yet, good soldiers in the army, same with everywere however on a whole they are w@#k end of dit. Good luck with what ever you do. merry x-mas everyone

Wato212

Well wato212 I am sure after a few years service you will remove your head from up your own ass and learn a thing or two.See you on Herrick 9 shippers,I for one am looking forward to meeting you.lol

[wato212]

ye cheers mate, cant wait lol. as for my comment what you disagree, tell me which bit. I feel very very strongly about it, i seen 3 top lads get killed in front of me because well not all there fault of course however some of it was because of the army wrapped and couldn't be f@#k. An the 3 lads were from 29 commando best soldiers i'v ever worked with hands down, well there team anyway. And as for a couple of more years it will not matter i will always feel the same. However, through my anger i can see how this can piss people off. But i'm sure you would feel the same if you went through what i did. Wato212

[jcclimber]

I would imagine if you joined as a Private then became an Officer you would be shipped off to another Regiment. Because your mates wont take you seriously and wont salute you I dont think. Was not a problem when there were loads of Infantry Regiments but with all the old Regiments coming as one so there is only a handfull of Regiments now.

I know the Paras have 3 regular Battalians but Iwould imagine they is alot of mixing. I dont know maybe Im wrong. Just join as a Officer from the start. But you have to be good to get in the Infantry as a Officer,and they can afford to be choosy so be ready for it and good luck

If you served as a tom in battalion and went for officer you would be transfered to one of the other battalions. You cant discount the experience a person gains as a tom later in life, except for some dodgy shenanigans on a friday night in Colly

[SupFAC]

Wato No worries mate.I respect your opinion.Hopefully a few months in gannerswith my unit may change your opinion. We worked very closely with 42 on Telic 2003,so ask your muckers what they think of the ''commando light horse'' on the Al Faw. Sorry to hear about your loss out there .We have all been there. Regards

[GuyNamedBob]

Thanks for your help guys. I wont be making my decision just yet, so I'm going to think about what i want to do in the which ever regiment i want to join, i'll probably head to my local army careers office and get a few heads up on what is best for me. thanks.

[Artist]

Just join a part of the service that you will feel happy joining, be it the Bootnecks/Paras/any Infantry unit/Tankies/Engineers/Arty/Crabfats/Navy/Girl Guides/The Stoke on Trent Pole dancing Corps/The Millicent Martin Fan club.

Come the end your still going to be serving your country are you not? I served in the Corps of Royal Marines. As I've said elsewhere it don't matter a jot who you are serving with one Iota. All units whilst at the pointed end do the same job and get the same flak from the same people.

Your a member of the British Armed Forces for Gods sake! Cap Badge/Beret rivalry..........Bollox! Do the job, come home and you will do for me people.

Artist