Joining TA

[Calamity_Jane]

Just got an email from the TA today.

To pass the 2 week recruit course you have to be able to run 1.5 miles in under 13.5 mins.....

Reading through all the responses Ive noticed that theres no mention of female standards.. Do females have to run 1.5miles in under 13.5?

[Spooky]

sadly in my experience females run it in whatever time they can.

longest ive witness was just over 16 mins, young girl too. seen guys put in similar times too...

ta standards are not adhered to quite as much as you'd expect.

[friendlyfireaintfriendly]

How much do the TA build you up? Do they actually build you up to fully trained Phase 2 infantry etc or what?

[lew]

How much do the TA build you up? Do they actually build you up to fully trained Phase 2 infantry etc or what?

They don't, they simply don’t have time to, and the emphasis is put greatly on personal training and fitness. On average you get one night a week (few hours at the most) and one weekend a month, for training exercises etc, there is no time to "train" you properly as it is without wasting time on getting people to run and stuff.

Sorry for the cynical view, but from what I’ve experienced that’s just how it is.

lew

[King_duck]

Yeh Lew is right. My unit was helpful in that they helped me plan what training I should be doing as well as giving hand outs on things to learn. You need to put the time in yourself if you want to be any good!

[friendlyfireaintfriendly]

Did you find the TA gave you the motivation to train harder though? Im thinking of doing the TA as a kind of "test" to see if i want to do the Royal Marines or Army as a Job as well as giving me the chance to get some experience and something noone i know does

[lew]

Did you find the TA gave you the motivation to train harder though? Im thinking of doing the TA as a kind of "test" to see if i want to do the Royal Marines or Army as a Job as well as giving me the chance to get some experience and something noone i know does

That was one of the reasons I joined, to make sure it was what I "wanted" to do, as when I was 17 joining the army/navy seemed like such a big undertaking. It did confirm to me that I wanted a life in the military, and I had some cracking times during training, you meet new people, do things that none of your mates will have any idea of, and after your first forced march, you will definitely see the benefits to getting yourself fitter.

Just don’t make the mistake I made, join a teeth arm, go for something you’ll have pride in i.e. not sigs or rlc. All I ever end up doing is sweeping out the hanger or scraping rust of shovels.

I kid you not.


lew

[Spooky]

Just don’t make the mistake I made, join a teeth arm, go for something you’ll have pride in i.e. not sigs or rlc. All I ever end up doing is sweeping out the hanger or scraping rust of shovels.

some of us are proud to be sigs mate - and ive not swept out any hangers or scraped rust off shovels.

[lew]

some of us are proud to be sigs mate - and ive not swept out any hangers or scraped rust off shovels.

Lucky you . i think the lack of trade training is "was" because I told them I'd applied to join the RM.

Either way, it's boring as brown smelly stuff, and I only go once a month now just to keep them informed of my progress application wise.


lew

[Spooky]

s'funny that - i applied elsewhere/injured/returned and the interest level in me dropped off completely. only in attendance every now and again right now...

was alright in the beginning though...

[King_duck]

Friendly... I definately got more motivation to train harder!! The amount of testing bergen runs etc you get makes you train real hard so that your not the mong at the back!! Join infantry or RMR or something! You'll have a great time as long as you keep your sense of humour!

[friendlyfireaintfriendly]

Friendly... I definately got more motivation to train harder!! The amount of testing bergen runs etc you get makes you train real hard so that your not the mong at the back!! Join infantry or RMR or something! You'll have a great time as long as you keep your sense of humour!

You see that attitude of "be the best" is something ive already had out of cadets (although to a less intense degree) just i want a new challenge soon as i go into sixth form, i want to finish up a few challenges then start TA (id go for RMR but my nearest one portsmouth is an hour away)

[Hantslad]

[quote (id go for RMR but my nearest one portsmouth is an hour away)[/quote]

If you want the RMR bad enough, you would put up with an hours travel.

My mate joined 21 SAS and travelled on public transport (he couldn't drive) from Aberystwyth to Newport every week!

[Noz]

I was in the TA many moons ago and you get out what you put in.

When I first went to the recruitment weekend I was pretty unfit and very unprepared for what I'd let myself in for. A combination of me "hitting the streets" and training nights got me up to fitness. Mind you, the BFT for women then was 2 miles in 22 minutes and there were some at Guildford couldn't do that.

Build up training little by little. I think that all uni's have gyms and they cost very little to join. (strathclyde uni's was really cheap)

Remember - Always carry PT kit and a sense of humour. Can't go far wrong.

[Thrithraing]

As some people are saying here, I too joined the TA because I want to join the RM. Before anyone starts, I know they aren't the same worlds.

However, I have a full time job as Recruiting Potential Officer for our company. That has give me some experience in dealing with problems and taking command of a body of men in my own little STAB way. Taking command isn't all "AAAAAAARGHGOANDDOTHISNOWYOUJACKBAAAAAAAARSTAAAAAARD!".

As far as phys goes, some of it's hard, most of it's not. Just as long as your putting your effort in, you'll get the most out of it. Let's be honest, when you're on your chinstrap, it's the same to keep goping whether your doing a stretcher race, or doing bottom feild. It's a strenght of mind exercise.

Or so I gather. But I'm just a STAB, ignore me