the best army band

[bored_stupid]

Does it really matter about what Beret they wear???? They are the Band of the Parachute Regiment????

I know what you mean but you are told from day one that you have to earn the right to wear the beret and the cap badge. It shows you have passed P-Coy and have proven your worth.

I am in no way saying that any member of the Regiments band could not pass P-Coy or they are not cracking soldiers. However I think they should, as HRH said, wear a different cap badge maybe, as all others attached to the Para's do.

They're barely soldiers at all they do only the very basics of military training and I'd bet good money none of them could even do a 10 miler at P Coy pace never mind the whole course! (unless they're ex-Reg of course!)

As for whether it matters that they wear the Maroon Machine and Cap Badge, I think the general consensus of the Reg is that yes it does matter and they' shouldn't be wearing it. I've never heard a Para say a good word about them.

They should at least wear some sort of backing behind the cap badge like the Joes do to show they've not passed P Coy.

Of course it doesn't really matter as it's not likely to change but I think anyone who has spent even 5 mins in a Para Pltn will understand why this is more annoying to people than, for example, the Guards bands wearing their cap badge/beret.

The Marines have the answer, their band wear the white pith helmet so avoid any problems regarding head dress.

[herbie]

Does it really matter about what Beret they wear???? They are the Band of the Parachute Regiment????

I know what you mean but you are told from day one that you have to earn the right to wear the beret and the cap badge. It shows you have passed P-Coy and have proven your worth.

I am in no way saying that any member of the Regiments band could not pass P-Coy or they are not cracking soldiers. However I think they should, as HRH said, wear a different cap badge maybe, as all others attached to the Para's do.

They're barely soldiers at all they do only the very basics of military training and I'd bet good money none of them could even do a 10 miler at P Coy pace never mind the whole course! (unless they're ex-Reg of course!)

As for whether it matters that they wear the Maroon Machine and Cap Badge, I think the general consensus of the Reg is that yes it does matter and they' shouldn't be wearing it. I've never heard a Para say a good word about them.

They should at least wear some sort of backing behind the cap badge like the Joes do to show they've not passed P Coy.

Of course it doesn't really matter as it's not likely to change but I think anyone who has spent even 5 mins in a Para Pltn will understand why this is more annoying to people than, for example, the Guards bands wearing their cap badge/beret.

The Marines have the answer, their band wear the white pith helmet so avoid any problems regarding head dress.

Ah but the Royal Marines band is so much more than just being the best band in the world.
They go on ops in the rough bits of the world, a lot of the drivers and transport is manned by the members of the band.
They also do a lot of the medical back up for the guys at the front.
As for wearing the pith helmet as you call it? well that's only on their No1 uniform, their normal head gear is a blue beret with a red patch behind the badge.
So you say you've never heard a para say a good word about the band, well that's a sad statement to make.
I can tell you that I've never heard a Royal Marine say a bad word about their band, they are proud to have them, treat them as an equal which is what they are, but then again I suppose that's how it is when you work with grown ups.

[HRH]

they are proud to have them, treat them as an equal which is what they are

but the band to the para's are not equal cos they haven't done p-coy

[WilliamPallett]

I havn't a clue which Regt/Corps Band I'd get into yet...but I do have my list ready...& if say I was put into the Para Band, I'd actually want to do P Coy because that way I'd feel an equal to the men who I'd be playing for and also I'd then earn that Maroon beret.
I guess a Para Musician could ask to do it...yes I'd only be an Army Musician which I know people look down on but I understand that ARMY comes first lol.

I really would like to opt to go on Operations to assist the RAMC & Driving etc which I know some Musician's still don't understand even when at Phase 2. Anyway I'm rambling now sorry! Hope you understand William.

[HRH]

Far as I know anyone can apply to do p company, a lad I know is in the RMP and he's on the last couple days of pcoy now

But your unit has to believe u can pass it before they put u forward, you can't just 'give it a go'.

[WilliamPallett]

Yes that's fair enough & understandable, I hope your friend passes it

[HRH]

yea so does he lol

so do musicians not get sent on ops?

[MSI64]

No Bandsman are used as Stretcher bearers in times of WAR.
However there promotion system is different from everybody else

[HRH]

what does that mean they never go on exercises or ops?

[WilliamPallett]

The primary role of Army bands is to play music in support of the Army's moral component and to assist in its engagement with civilian communities. This musical contribution can be at home or abroad, even within operational theatres.

On large-scale military operations, it is intended that musicians would be employed in the chemical decontamination of casualties at medical facilities.

Individual musicians also deploy for non-musical roles in operational theatres and, occasionally, perform supporting roles in the training of other units and formations.

[Tab]

The comments on the Para band at one time they would have all passed P Company and would be used as stretcher bearers when we went into action. These days any one attached to Para's can wear the Red Beret, but they can't wear the those wings on their arm.

[HRH]

but they are allowed to wear the wings on the beret

why did it change so they don't have to do p coy anymore?

[gpw2009]

would be used as stretcher bearers when we went into action.

I'm sure I read that they were used in the Falklands as this. Correct me if I'm wrong though. And regardless if you have done P-Coy, that is a comendable and harsh job!

[bored_stupid]

I can tell you that I've never heard a Royal Marine say a bad word about their band, they are proud to have them, treat them as an equal which is what they are, but then again I suppose that's how it is when you work with grown ups.

Well it'd be interesting to see how "grown up" and "equal" the Marines treated their band if they suddenly decided to rock about wearing Green lids

WilliamPallett, I doubt you'd be able to do P Company as a bandsman as you generally need a valid reason to be on the course ie; serving with Airborne Forces and because your role wouldn't really require it you wouldn't be a priority so you'd be at the bottom of the list I would think.

That's not to say you couldn't do it, if you struck lucky they might have spare places on a course which they might allow you to fill but generally they don't like badge collectors and therefore you usually need to have an official requirement to do the course.

I've probably come across as being quite a tit towards them when to be honest, it's not really the bands fault, they just wear what they're told and are just doing their jobs same as anyone else.

It's just that as gpw2009 said earlier, it's drummed into you from day one that the Beret and cap badge have to be earned so it'd does go against the grain of what you've been taught.

[Hyperlithe]

I can't comment on the Army bands, but my brother is a Royal Marines Bandsman, and he's been sent on all sorts of ops, and not just as a stretcher bearer. They don't do the exact same training as the rest of the Marines, and neither should they, but they are respected by everyone they work with, and they are certainly the best military band in the world.