No vacancies!!!

[reflective]

Hi all, I have just returned from my local careers office following my 1st interview having completed the barb test a couple of weeks ago.
I have clearly stated from the start of my application that I wish only to apply for para reg, only to be told today that there is absolutley no chance of any vacancies until into 2005,
the recruiter has told me that he wants to forward my application for entry to the worcestershire and sherwood foresters (his own reg). I am not happy about this.
Has anybody else encountered similar problems? and does anyone know if the above info is true??
cheers.

[I love beasting]

Jan 2005 is only 6 months away. To join the Para's there is a que like this, and is quite normal. Keep applying and at least you know where you stand and can train harder!

[ED]

Stick to your guns. If you have to wait then wait. Hopefully you can get all the selection/interviews etc out of the way in the meantime. Para Reg is what you want to join so don't be talked out of it.
These fu**ing recruiting team sargeants do my fu**king head in! I had the same shit when I joined up. There are incentives for them hitting numbers with certain regiments. Tell him to F**k Off! Not literally though!
Cheers,
ED.

[Tab]

Well it is one way for him to get recurits for his Regiment

[para001]

if this is true then i will soon find out, i have ben waiting 2 weeks now,,, i have done my barb test and im waing for a letter for a interview and if they tell me its full then im gonna have to wait it out coz my heart is set on paras.....

[reflective]

cheers for comments all.
para001 be sure to put up a post asap when you find out!!
This was at the birmingham office which obviously covers a very large area.
When I questioned it, the sgt stated that they had only 9 vacancies for para reg and that is the lot until 05

[wannabe_bootneck]

Bugger me! Thought all the army were badly undermanned. How wrong I must be.

[ED]

Suppose so Tab. Just wish they'd do it the right way instead of fu**ing lads about.
Cheers,
ED.

[ashley]

Why the apparent rush?

You've got a good few months to ensure your fitness is tip-top, so take advantage of the situation. Just explain to the AFCO that it's the Parachute Regiment you want to join, not any other.

[s a s h a]

Belive it or not the army is overmanned overall, some core/regt's need More individuals while others are letting men leave early if they want to.
(According to ATRA).

[Stephen]

I'm a bti confused here. My interview is on friday and he's hopefully going to get me away to RSC next month for paras.

The insight course blokes did say there is a 3 month waiting list... you can imagine, the paras have a reputation for being one of the best so there's going to be no shortage of potential recruits...and my recruiting sergeant mentioned that I can complete RSC asap but the next possible intake for the paras isn't likely till the end of the year.

So your recruiting sergeant sounds about right, however I'd say there's nothing stopping you going to RSC asap, then of course whether you pass or fail you know your weaknesses to work on for the next intake.

[reflective]

I appreciate what your saying stephen and you are right there is nothing stopping me doing rsc, I am told there is a max period of up to 9 months in which to enter basic training after completion of rsc.
However my point is they will not forward my application for paras as they are certain "There are no vacancies until well into 2005" (there words)
It seems as though they have tried to put me off para reg since the first time I walked through the careers office door.
These are some quotes I have endured whilst in the careers office;

"anybody can parachute, when I was based in cyprus there was a civvy parachute school just down the road, I used to go there"

"Everybody thinks the paras are elite, whenever you see the maroon beret on tv you can pretty much guarantee that it will be someone from another regiment, like an engineer etc. that has done p company"

"at the end of the day, infantry is what you want to do, the paras are no different to anybody else, we all put the same uniform on everyday, ok, some of their phys is a bit tougher but that's about it"

"their capability is limited due to equipment, i mean look at the gulf wars they just sat on the flanks"

These are a few of the QUOTES I have recieved in the careers office, also everytime I mention the regiment they seek to silence me as quickly as possible with a load of w#@k talk such as the above..

Anyway the point was they are not even letting me apply, however I can attend rsc with my application forwarded for the county regiment, which surprise surprise is the recruiters regiment. wonder what his bonus/incentive is for that!!!!!! he stated he want's to get me through selection asap....

Cheers for taking the time to read my rant,
Im going to contact para hq to see what they suggest.

[Stephen]

You have just reminded me.

When I was on insight last month, the sergeant on the recruiting team (ask for andy) he said if we encountered any of the problems that you have had, i.e. careers office blokes being awkward, just ring him up and he'll ring your office up and sort them out, which was a very nice gesture... my careers sergeant has been very helpful so theres been no need.

However whether youve been on insight or not, heres the para hq recruiting teams number 01206 782343, ask for sergeant andy ** (cant remember his surname) explain the situation and he will sort it out for you.

[Jagger]

Your recruiter sounds like he was trained in the same recruiting schoolt hat US recruiters are Reflective ..i.e they really only want to recruit people to where manpower needs them and give potential recruits a really hard time. What seems to work with these kind of recruiters is to just say straight up, that you want to apply to the paras and that if you don't get the paras you will not accept anything else and will walk out of that door. Bottom line is a recruiter would prefer to gain a recruit to an overmanned unit, then to not get a recruit at all.

If you want to go for the Paras, don't take NO for an answer!! Go to another recruiter if need be.