[quote="Fusilier"][quote] see your point of view and in part i agree. There is no reason for 'negative' down talking for no reason or simply for the sake of showing off. But you must realise and accept that there is a genuine feeling that guys from certain regiments (Para/RM) genuinely would rather serve alongside the same kind of soldier they know they are themselves, very highly trained and completely proffessional. I see know problem with this, and i dont see it as being 'big headed' or arrogant towards other regiments.
The facts are that the training involved during Para training or Commando training requires exacting standards and knowone will pass out who does not meet these, therefore the guys passing out at the end have met these high standards which are not required in other Infantry regiments, you cannot get away from that. I can only assume this continues on to life in a Battalion or Unit and at the end of the day you will not find many RM or Para's who are not up the task required of them and those within know this and that is why they have trust in each other.
That is not to say that there are not very capable soldiers in other regiments, and very capable other regiments as a whole and there are many within other regiments who i am sure would hold their own in the RM/Para's. Many have done fantastic jobs in Afghanistan and Iraq, and should rightly be proud of what they have done. Many have earnt alot of respect. but the fact still remains that across the board you will not find many RM/Para's left wanting and they are extremely Proffessional consistently. It is no coincidence that whenever there is a 'crisis' that requires the governments intervention through force, that the first thing they think is 'where are 3 Commando Brigade, where are the Parachute Regiment?'....[/quote]
Plenty of good points in there mate and a few I would like to answer.
First, I never met any Fusiliers that cared if Para's/RM's were supporting them. I am not aware that any of the other Infantry regiments have been found wanting in Iraq or Afghanistan. I am not aware that the RM's or the Para's are or have done a superior job while out there. I met plenty good Fusiliers and w@#k**s and the same went for Para's.
Yep the above are great as SHOCK troops, very fit. Hence the Falklands etc. Yet the Para's are not the first choice for UN operations and they never really made a great impression in N.Ireland. Horses for coursers comes to mind. The Marines are a very smaller unit of men, 7200 so can be a lot more selective, that said they alone do not have the equipment to fulfil a sustained military role on their own.
I mean this with no disrespect but a Corporal I knew use to say that the Para's always go on about how good they were because the have so little history.
They are a great Regiment by the way.
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Stick to looking after your tropical fish mate