Sniper?

[bigdj]

Hi im thinking about going into the RAF as a gunner (then progressing to sniper) or something on the tech side.

But just wanted to know, if i went in as a gunner and then done a sniper course would my pay increase?, and what would change, if anything?
Also if i went in on the tech side, could i still do a sniper course incase i ever put myself forward to be deployed?

Cheers

[Artist]

Think your going to have a very long wait if your expecting a RAF REGT Sniper to reply.

Best course in the Brit armed forces for Snipers is run by Her Majesties Royal Marines. Most of the courses back in my day were half Bootneck and half SAS. The SAS Top Echelon knew just how good the RM Snipers course was/is so always sent a few Troopers to CTCRM to do the course.

In all honesty why would a ROCKAPE need to do a Snipers course anyway? Their main role is guarding the assets of the RAF as in aircraft and bases.

Artist

[Airborne Legend]

Just a note on that one, the RAF Reg guys I've got with me a funking good guys (if a bit too straight!). I've been guilty of slagging them off on here before, but there's a least a platoons worth of top guys. Incidentally, There's a handful of snipers amongst them.

[Artist]

Just a note on that one, the RAF Reg guys I've got with me a funking good guys (if a bit too straight!). I've been guilty of slagging them off on here before, but there's a least a platoons worth of top guys. Incidentally, There's a handful of snipers amongst them.

Times change it seems. Said it over on Mfat, my hat goes off to all people serving these days in the armed forces. Regardless of capbadge or service they face shit on a daily basis with the Gan, the Sandpit plus the other little places that the Brit forces go. Just glad I'm outside and past me sell by date.

Artist

[Airborne Legend]

Fair one mate

[Artist]

Fair one mate

So stop picking on me you big bully! Oie be a new member oie be and if you keep giving me hassle I'll tell Beast on you so oie will!

He be me Oppo so he be. Arrrrr!

Artist

[Airborne Legend]

What you on about you nutter

[Artist]

What you on about you nutter

This and That.

Artist

[mutter1]

What you on about you nutter

This and That.

Artist

Do you happen to be a Government employee....you dodge questions like a ninja

[davo141]

They still send the Odd SAS bloke on the course at lympstone, ive seen a few kicking about on it whilst ive been down there as well as the SB lads and yanks, is meant to be the bee's knee's in snipes courses like!

[London Boy]

Ex-RAF Regt sniper replying (alright there Artist ) No, your pay doesn't increase, well back in 82 it didn't. Unlike the army where your pay increases for each new specialisation, RAF Regt gunners were expected to add on specialisations as and when needed without a pay increment


"In all honesty why would a ROCKAPE need to do a Snipers course anyway? Their main role is guarding the assets of the RAF as in aircraft and bases" Artist you're talking out of your chalfonts mate

Ever heard about pro-active forward defence?

I think you need to read up on the RAF Regt as well as Sneaky Beaky Or are you just on a wind-up

[Artist]

Ex-RAF Regt sniper replying (alright there Artist ) No, your pay doesn't increase, well back in 82 it didn't. Unlike the army where your pay increases for each new specialisation, RAF Regt gunners were expected to add on specialisations as and when needed without a pay increment


"In all honesty why would a ROCKAPE need to do a Snipers course anyway? Their main role is guarding the assets of the RAF as in aircraft and bases" Artist you're talking out of your chalfonts mate

Ever heard about pro-active forward defence?

I think you need to read up on the RAF Regt as well as Sneaky Beaky Or are you just on a wind-up

As I said previously these days everything is arse about face compared to when I was in. I don't knock other Capbadges or other parts of the forces as as far as I can tell all have to go to the pointed end far more than they did in my time.

I remember the big stink in the mid seventies when I think the Daily Mirror ran a story telling the world that the only Sniper Course running in the Brit Forces was the one at CTCRM. The big wigs running the Army stood up and took notice resulting in the Army sending a ruck of blokes from various regiments to CTCRM to learn how to Snipe and run a Sniper course along the lines of the Bootneck course.

But even now the Army and I suppose the Rockapes still send guys to CTCRM to take part in the Sniper Course. When I did mine in the early seventies just over half the course were SF, both SBS and SAS whilst the rest were Bootnecks. And to be honest you would have had a problem telling who was serving in what when we were out and about doing our thing.

I still remember Jerry Lee the WO2 in charge telling us about a signal recieved from some Army Horse Regiment asking if it would be possible for four of their Officers to attend the course as they had nought to do at the time. The Regiment concerned was told to "go away in short sharp jerky erotic movements" as the course was not a JOLLY for bored Hoo Rays but a course for dedicated "real" soldiers.

Artist

[London Boy]

Oh yes, memories, don't you just love hoorays!

I remember on the short range one day a real hooray Flying Officer calls back towards us "Staff, staff I can't seem to fire my gun"

I go up "No sir, that's because your pistol is blocked sir" putting heavy emphasis on the word PISTOL. I clear it, hand it back to him, and I swear to God, no word of a lie , just like from an episode of Jeeves & Wooster he says "Oh thanks awfully"

The scarey thing about that though was that here was a pilot who couldn't even clear a blockage on his own sidearm on a firing range.

[Artist]

Used to get the odd Hoo Ray on the AACC at CTC. Scary people who had the power to totally cock up a blokes life with thier inept attitude towards Soldiering once they were let out into the big world.

Thankfully most Officers who I took though the AACC were switched on kiddies, both the young uns and the owd uns. Quite a few of the lads however were pressed men and it took a heck of a lot of patience and time to try and motivate them. But in the end most on earning the Green Lid made the effort to come up and thank me and the other members of the training team for making them "See the Light".

Artist

[London Boy]

I know what you mean about the pressed men. On returning to London in 82 it seemed that every second estate agent or up-market car-dealer in Chelsea had been an officer, usually (sterotypically enough) guards, and even more stereotypically forced into it by dear papa. That said, none of those I became friends with regretted their three years in, but did often bring up in the pub that they often wondered what they would have done had they not gone in. But that's normal for everyone I think. All the wondering about what-ifs.