Assault Pioneers

[RobT]

what are they?

what do they do?

is it worth becoming one?

what special qualities would i have to posess?

what would training be like?

[gash-hand]

what are they?

Jack of all trades

what do they do?

Well they are supposed to be ahead of the main advance clearing obstacles etc etc. But since being amalgamated into the RLC they are used for the crap jobs that no one else wants to do.

is it worth becoming one?

Dunno its up to you - do you want to be one?

what special qualities would i have to posess?

none whatsoever

what would training be like?

same initial military training as reg army then whatever they do for continuation trg.

[RobT]

Cheers gash.

Have you made them seound far worse than they are?!

I have the option of becoming one in my TA unit i believe

[ExCrabMate]

Basically, armed navvies, not kidding.

[gash-hand]

Rob,

I've worked with some Pioneers whilst in Kosovo and whilst they wern't the sharpest tools in the box they were on the whole decent lads and pretty good soldiers.

I can only go by what they told me but before being amalgamated into the RLC they had much better jobs and got involved in a lot more, the RLC tend to use them as extra manpower for whatever s*it job comes along, consequently they are a bit p*ssed off - however it may be worth going along to see some of the lads and see what they get up to in the TA, the TA may use them for what they were intended.

[Contractor]

Yep they seem to have been shafted now they are in the Really Large Corps.

Used to be Royal Pioneer Corps a.k.a. Chunkies

Hard working lads, not the brightest but very reliable. Not the most glamourous of career choices but check out the gallantry awards

[harry hackedoff]

It`s easy to take the piss out of them (You Harry? Take the piss Harry ) but they do perform a vital function and the Army would be in shit street without them( sometimes quite literally) As the Pioneer Corps, they have a long and proud history. As Contractor said, check out the awards. Is it true, C-man, that theirs is the only verbal entrance exam?

[Contractor]

Unsure that only a verbal entrance exam is required, but would suggest that you could not fail a written exam in order to pass - work that bit of grammar out

[sunman]

RobT, Its as Contractor says.
However IF you had been able to join
your local RMR Unit then....'Possibly' you
could have joined the Elite of the Corps by
becoming an Assault Engineer.
Now thats a career that goes with a BANG.

Aye Sunman 0X .

[Josh]

At the RSC when we had our talk on fitness targets to be met in the various training stages I noticed that they had to be as fit as the infantry, unlike the rest of RLC.

[GARRYOWEN]

When were they amalgamated into the RLC.

[Contractor]

When were they amalgamated into the RLC.

1993

[RobT]

So they are part of the infantry and they go ahead and clear things before everyone else arrives?

(i am simple yes) maybe i'd make a good one

[Contractor]

Not really Rob.

They are a pool of labour that can be used for labour intensive tasks that require sweat and muscle.

This what the official blurb has to say:

Pioneers are multi-skilled highly resourceful logistic soldiers trained to undertake a wide range of practical engineering and construction tasks for all three services anywhere in the world. RLC Pioneers are responsible for the defence of major military HQs, the construction of field defences and the supervision of civilian labour forces. You will be trained in bricklaying and carpentry, preparing and wiring defensive positions, and handling ammunition and petroleum. There are also opportunities for Pioneers to volunteer as dog handlers.

[RobT]

Right that sounds crap

cheers contractor. I'll just stick with no ideas till i've finished basic training!