Light Infantry

[Fow22]

I've been looking into choosing an Infantry regiment lately, and I've recently been informed by a Captain from the LI that 1LI (Armoured Infantry in Paderborn, Germany) are going to Iraq in April 2006. He also said that 1LI is most likely going to stay in the Armoured Infantry role for the forseeable future, and 2LI (Edinburgh, Scotland) are going to stay in the Light Role, as opposed to rotating like in the past. Also of note, apparently transferring between batallions is an option, and getting your choice of batallion after Catterick is also likely, unless a certain batallion is undermanned. Hope that can help anyone interested in the LI. Kyle.

[para001]

Also to add that the D&D regiment is going to make the 3LI some time this year.

[Tactical-Sales]

As an ex member of 1 LI, go for it, best Unit in the British Army

[Hantslad]

have you seen that D & D and RGBW are now all wearing the LI green berets. Its the first stage of the amalgamation. At the moment, they still have their current cap badges

[uk_Taylor]

talking about where regiments could be deployed is breaching secruity. It's not wise to do so.

[AdamR]

See 'Latest News'
http://www.army.mod.uk/912lancers/index.htm

1st Battalion Info
http://www.army.mod.uk/fusiliers/battalions/index.htm

All very well talking about OPSEC when some of the units themselves are broadcasting the info on their own websites, with exact dates in the Lancers' case.

[joethejudge]

And anyone want any info about Paderborn I'm your man.
One liner avoidance thingymajigerooney.

[BUBBLEHEAD]

From a none infantry recce soldier , the light div are by far the best infantry in the British army . I have worked with both jackets and LI and found them to be head and shoulders above any other inf units, work hard play hard . Much better than the paras as well , mind you 3 para are pretty good as well . Worst has to be the Kingos or QLR utter crap unless you need a new car stereo.

[Jobag]

Much better than the paras as well

I wouldnt go that far bubble. Remember the ol' saying, "if you cant hack it, be a jacket!" The Jackets think they are the dogs nuts aswell. I am afraid they are outclassed by the maroon machine

[harry73]

Jobag wrote

I am afraid they are outclassed by the maroon machine

As a famous politcian once said "You would say that"

The Jackets think they are the dogs nuts aswell

Pot, Kettle and Black spring to mind there.

Bubblehead is'nt a Para, Green Jacket or Light Infantry hes a Recce soldier so is'nt being biased. So if he thinks the LI are the best Infantry he as worked with then I believe him. We have recently come back from Canada as OPFOR and we had a Platoon of LI attached to us. Beleive me they were excellent Infantryman and a good bunch of lads as well. I've also worked with Paras as well in the past with 16AA and again excellent Infantryman. But I think the LI were a bit better in many ways, as I think you will agree theres more to being a good Infantryman than just fitness. For example just because someone as the ability to pass as a Para does'nt mean that there skills and drills and natual ability and common sence are any better than the rest of the Infantry. Fair one do you think.

I think from your wink at the end of your message Jobag your message was to be taken light hearted. And so should this.

Harry

[Jobag]

Of course there is much more than fitness that makes a good infantryman. But we only have to look at the amount of Paras that pass SF selection compared with the rest of the infantry. Surely you agree this is much more than a test of fitness?

There are certain qualities that are essential if a soldier is going to survive when he has just been inserted into enemy territory by herc, or helo, qualities that i believe only para regt have. Dont get me wrong, the rest of the infantry are British army, and the best infantry in the world. But when it comes down to it, who are the MOD going to send in first? Troops such as the Paras, Royal Marines and SF, or the Light Infantry units? And we only need to look back at the immediate past to proove how much the government relies on the quick reaction forces. Operations such as Sierra Leone, where Royal Irish soldiers were taken hostage by the West Side boys, and it took 1 Para and 22 to get them out. Why didnt they send in the Royal Green Jackets then? Because they know that Para regt will get the job done no matter what.

Again, im only putting up my argument, not trying to start WWIII on Military forums

[harry73]

Fair one Jobag I dont want to start WW111 either

Harry

[flynn101]

Jobag dont want to start world war III either But 1 Para going to Sierra Leone wasnt that down to the fact that 1 Para are the Designated SF support battalion? Also the paras getting sent in first might be down to a lot of other things as well, like the Media you dont really hear about the Famous Light Infantry only really the Famous Paras. A not direct example of this is the RAF Regiment being mistaken for the Army by some newspaper. Also Officers high up who were from the Paras would also probably want to send in there old regiment rather than another. For example Gen Mike Jackson im sure he might favouritise his old reg. Another thing is maybe mis-understandings like because the paras are para trained and have tough training doesnt especially mean there better soldiers. Which is highlighted here when Bubblehead commented on his views of the Light Div being the best infantry in the Army. Ive probably got a couple things wrong but this is just through my own eyes and opinions and im not doubting or downing down anything about the paras either

[harry73]

Flynn as a very good point. The Paras are eveyones blue eyed boys especially in the press.
For example the first green units into Pristina (Kosavo) were Recce Troops from the Household Cavalry. The Press were ready and waiting so the Household Cav were held back to allow the Paras to meet the press first. The headlines were Paras this and Paras that. You can imagine how p*ssed off certain people were and still are. And this is'nt the first time and wont be the last. Just the other week the Sun had headlines and a two page spread on the Paras going to Afganastan to sort the place out. out of the 2500 troops being sent only about 1000 are para reg. This does p*ss the rest of the Army off big time. Im not blaming the lads of the Parachute Regiment but they do believe in there own hype and because of this look down there noses at eveyone else.

Harry

[Jobag]

Dont you think there is a reason behind the press putting us in the papers? I mean, the press put the SAS in the papers and everyone loves them after the Iranian Embassy seige, but do you really think the SAS get their reputation just because the press hypes them up? No. And its the same with the paras.

In the small time the regiment has been around (compared with a number of other Army Regiments), it has served this country so well as a shock force and been used on many occasions. In the past they MAY have used the Light Infantry units as quick reaction forces, but now the paras have shown they "have never failed in any task" and the government or MOD isnt going to risk sending someone else, when they know the paras will do a good job, as always.