Ruperts

[Sisyphus]

Lew

If you can't spell rapport then it's unlikely you'd get past the selection.

[lew]

Wow, that took ages for someone to correct my spelling, thank you sir


lew

[chunky from york]

Combat, you will find that only 'junior' officers actually work in the field with their men.

As a 2/Lt or Lieutenant, you will spend most of your time leading men, under the surreptitious eye of the sergeants, but as a Captain and Major spend more time in an office co-ordinating.

Lt.Colonel and over and you are part of the General Staff (thats what the red tabs on the collar indicate) and will spend your time with maps and logistics and rarely come into contact with soldiers in the field.

You will find the army will teach you a great deal about how to behave with other ranks, it is called 'Man Management' and the army publishes a damn thick manual for you to memorise, in addition to the hours in the classroom.

So don't worry you will know exactly how to behave when you are inflicted on the chaps.

[Jacko]

I'm looking at Regiments in the Gunners and Scaley's. Keeping my options open till i've met the people there.

Most of the bods at sandhurst are posh. double-barrel surnames and very well spoken. they're mostly polite, but a few of them are spoiled. I get some very strange looks when I walk into a room and shout "ayup" as opposed to "hello, how the devil are you old chap...."

I'm off on exercise for the week to sunny sennybridge - the one environment where we all become equal (through misery......)

Jacko

[RobT]

I'm going to try to become an officer in the end but being classed as some kinda rich twat. Being northern also like the bloke (cant remeber his name) was saying before, people dont like us and i feel out of place with posh(er) (in some respects to) southern folk. I dont know what anyone else feels about this but even after i've finished my degree i feel more and more temped to join the ranks and apply for a comission......

early days yet though.

Rob

[kwew]

i dont think you should judge people who speak well as toffs, because i speak well and no-one would guess i was from the black country because my parents didnt want me to sound like that, unfortunately because most people assume your thick when they hear the accent. now anyone who knows the black country will know its not a nice place, there are an awful lot of ethnic minorities and unemployment is high. So basically what im trying to say is im not rich but i still conduct myself well and speak properly just because there is no need to act like your common.

[vincenzo]

unfortunately rupert is a corrupted nickname these days.

it USED to be(b4 andy mcgrab et al) that a RUPERT was an officer from a private school, and of a 'certain' background.

And a HERBERT is an officer who comes from a grammar school, or comprehensive these days, and not terribly posh background but who is trying to pass himself off in that social circle.

it was invented in officers messes to distinguish(and make judgements on) different types of officers within the mess.not invented by the lads!

for the last 35 yrs there have been substantially more Herberts than Ruperts in the British Army(unlike 50+ yrs ago when terms were invented)

Info supplied by former gf's mother(her father Commander RN, married a man who l8r became a LT.COL)[/i][/b]

[Tazzers]

Had very few problems with ruperts in my regiment. They didn't like being saluted were usually refered to as boss/gaffer etc and sometimes (when we were out drinking with subalterns, yes thats what I said) it was first names only. So long as you carried out your orders and were not in the vicinity of a BS merchant the relationship was a very good one in my experience. I also think it was a good working relationship. The officer corps has changed a lot since WW2.

[CanadianHighlandFusilier]

^What he said.

I find it that those officers who take time to know their troops will help the unit function better.

I personally don't believe in 'if you're an officer, you're suppose to be distant from your troops'. Why is that? Is it just because an officer's suppose to be a leader?

Well, so are sergeants and warrant officers, yet I've drank with them before as a mere private.

I find it that I respect an officer more easily when I know them better. (And he better be good in the field also) So what if an officer comes out to drink with the troops? He's getting to know his troops. And that's a bad thing?

[BenChug]

The problems don't really arise in Canada at the moment mate, the problems arise in war. If you become good mates with your men how are you going to take it when you order them "over the top" and they get capped? Its all about not knowing the men you just sent to there deaths it makes it easier for you to do you job.

[Contractor]

Spot on Ben, all very easy to be matey with 'the troops' when times are easy, however, when times are tough and 'difficult' orders are given rather different situation.

"Hey, Johnno me old mate, do us a favour and risk getting slotted by checking that car out with the four ugly twats sat in it."

"What do you mean, you don't fancy it?"

"Go on be a pal.....please check it out, Ill buy you a pint"

etc. etc.

[Sisyphus]

Its all about not knowing the men you just sent to there deaths it makes it easier for you to do you job.

How does this work for a corporal leading a section attack or a sgt leading a platoon attack when they've been separated from the chain of command and they need to make independent decisions?

[CanadianHighlandFusilier]

^What he said.

A corporal may be put into same situation as a captain might be in.

[BenChug]

Its all about not knowing the men you just sent to there deaths it makes it easier for you to do you job.

How does this work for a corporal leading a section attack or a sgt leading a platoon attack when they've been separated from the chain of command and they need to make independent decisions?

Ther is also a line there to as with corporals, is one of the hardest positions to fill in the Army. As at that rank you are still living with the men while leading them. In the CF it is more along the lines of a Master Jack as that is where the Junior Rank closes.

[CanadianHighlandFusilier]

Still doesn't explain why an officer shouldn't hang around with the troops.