TA

[k0sai]

is anyone here in or has been in the Territorial Army?

if so, mebbe u can answer me a few questions...

is there a set time when u go (eg only saturday or sunday) or can you choose when you go?

will joining the TA as a soldier get you more weapons training than if you joined as say, an engineer?

Is it true you can train as a para in the TA?

say you arrived on a saturday morning. what do u do until you leave?

Is it likely if we go 2 war with iraq, that TA soldiers will be called up??

thanks, Any info is appreciated.

[Beast]

There are set times, mostly depends on what Units you join, Independent or Specialist.

If you join an Independent Unit you are expected to carry out a minimum of 27 days per year training and including a two week annual camp.
Training includes evening and weekend sessions.

If you join a Specialist Unit you will spend less time training than TA soldiers from a Independent Unit due to you already having a civilian skill or trade.
You are expected to carry out a minimum of 19 days per year training of which includes a two week annual camp and two weekends.

When you join you all go through the same Recruit Training.
Weapon handling usually depends on what unit you join, but basically it's all the same for everyone. You have to get all your training out of the way first before they even let you pick up a rifle.

Yes there is a Reserve Para Regiment, feathers will be able to fill you in on more details on that subject.

All depends on what stage of training you are at.

In times of crisis and war yes you are liable for Call Out, it's all part of the job.
Before deploying on any operation, you will receive specific training.
You will not get Called Out during any part of your training, only when you have completed your full training and have everything under your belt you will then be considered.

I would recommend visiting your local recruitment centre for a brief chat or they have plenty of readable material you can walk away with and study.

Good luck whatever you choose.

[DGT]

I’m in a TA infantry unit & so might be able to help with some of your questions

is there a set time when u go (eg only saturday or sunday) or can you choose when you go?

A typical drill evening would last about 2 hours on say a Tuesday or Wednesday evening & a typical training weekend starts on a Friday evening & finishes on a Sunday afternoon (or longer if you are in the machine gun platoon).

The weekends & drill evenings are scheduled but, depending upon your unit, you don’t have to attend all of them. You will find that some weekends are more important than others such as weekends where you will be taking your annual weapons test or combat fitness test etc… There are minimum requirements for attendance as posted above but you would be better off checking with your unit before you decide that you are only going to turn in for a total of 14 days in addition to annual camp – if anyone tried that in my unit without a good reason then the colour sergeant would be phoning them up asking them to hand their kit back in pretty quickly.

Is it true you can train as a para in the TA?

The parachute regiment has one TA battalion (4PARA) – I know they have a company based in Leeds & a couple of other companies/detachments spread around the country.

My advice to you would be to either go to your local armed forces recruitment office & speak to them. Or, if you have decided which unit you want to join (perhaps your local infantry unit?) then go straight to them and ask the recruiting corporal about how much time they expect you to commit etc…

If you do join a infantry unit you will have to do a recruit selection weekend & then your phase 1 training over 4 weekends – run by your regiments own training team. You will then be able to take part in company/battalion training weekends & at some point would have to be sent to Catterick for 2 weeks for your combat infantryman’s course.

If you join 4PARA then apparently you have to do a few more weekends to complete your phase1 training mainly to build you up for P-coy. Then you do a slightly shorter combat infantryman’s course & P-coy at the end of it.

[scaleyback]

4 Para website;

http://www.parachute-regiment.com/rec_s ... torial.htm

Phase 1 is 8 weekends, then CIC, then p_coy. P-coy is the same as regs except no 20 miler (Wales). Jump training is the same but done at own convenience. CIC is CO's discretion depending on if you are ex-reg or not. (non-para)

Dont be put off by coy location throughout UK, they recruit nationwide. EG, 10 coy in London, I live in Norwich, a fair trek but paid for.

[_mat]

I formerly trained with 4 para, although I had my house reposessed and had to move away before I completed p-company.

There are 8 basic training weekends, and then 2 weeks of p company and a 2 week long CIC (combat infantryman's course).

The training is very demanding, and even though a lot of people will scoff and say "it's only a weekend", the hardest thing to do is to switch between civvie life and military life. One day you're asleep in your comfy bed, a full nights sleep ahead of you and the next night you're lying awake in a wet muddy field on stag. I loved it but I know we lost most of the recruits because they had trouble making the transition more than any other factor. Also, you need to be VERY self motivated because to attain the level of fitness needed for p-coy is extremely difficult and even more so when you have to motivate yourself and find the time yourself.

I just finished my phase 1 training with 104. reg Royal Artillery (ta) and am waiting to go on my 2 week BTC (supporting arms version of CIC). It's tougher than I expected (more than one of the training team are ex-para), but a good crack and well worth my weekends.

I don't know what's happening in Iraq but I'm hoping to get the chance to go (how likely that is i've no idea). I'm also going trekking in Scotland.

Although if you want a military career I'd advise you to join one of the regular services, the TA is a great break from regular life, a good place to earn extra cash and apart from that it keeps you fit, you get to see a bit more of the world than maybe you would normally and it's good character building stuff.

The only downside is you have to keep your kit at home and if you're not careful about being organised with it, your house can end up looking like Rambo just dropped in.

That's pretty much all I have to say about that. If you wanna know anything else, just email me.

Cheers;
Mat.

[GARRYOWEN]

Can members of the TA based in Northern Ireland join 4 Para or do P Company, because we do not have a TA Airborne unit over here.

[lew]

Ok I’m doing my training at the moment, and it has changed more or less completely.

You first go through what is called a selection process; this consists of a few command tasks, some fitness V basic, and some lectures and interviews. (If you fail any of these you should be embarrassed and go and live in a box for the rest of your life as there that easy)

Next are the two TAF’s (TA foundation) weekend they cover the lecture side of things, military law, finance, uniform, drill, etc there is also a bit of phis, 1 1/2 miles best effort, max sit-ups/ press-ups in 2 mins. The second of the two TAF weekends is more or less completely drill.

Then comes the 2-week course, at Pirbright, Lichfield, or Grantham. More on the actual soldiering side of things, (the good bit)

After that there are another 6 gap weekends, the first 3 cover more drill, lectures, map reading, phis, after they’re complete this marks the end of your clean, phase of training, the next 3 are spent in the field and on ranges...


Hope that helps


lew

[lew]

16th auguest mate, and i cant wait to go...


cheers pasha


lew

[Smiler.wales]

All I can say is that I joined the TA 6 years ago and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Its being paid for having fun as far as I can tell (allthough there are some crap duties they are usually few and far between)

I think the only downside was for the first 4 years I had to use 10 days worth of holiday to attend annual camp which wasnt too bad when I was single but now Im in a relationship 2 weeks camp and 2 weeks holiday plus a few days for xmas pretty much wipes out your holiday entitlement.Saying that Im with a company now thats very pro TA and they give me an extra week holiday due to my being in the TA.

Outside of that the TA will really allow you to see yourself grow sometimes there will be harsh lessons but usually you laugh them off a few weeks later, the sense of extended family throughout your regiment is also hard to ignore.

[lew]

cheerz Pasha, much appreciated, what a shame that would be cutting some drill out, maybe see you around soon then...


lew

[lew]

I got a phone call today from the nice lady at Chelmsford TAC, it was regarding my two weeks at Pirbright, apparently it's been cancelled and I have to do a different one...



lew

[mattt_h]

ive just finished my CIC at pirbright any one got any questions just ask