what makes the the regimental system the best in the world?

[jlitt]

A question posed to me by my recruiting officer is what makes the regimental system of the British army the best in the world? As opposed for instance the American system? My idea is that it increases a sense of loyalty regional or otherwise and a “friendly” sense of rivalry between regiments, any other insight on the system?

[Dave.Mil]

It used to be because Regt's recruited from specific areas the one I was in was mostly from the Manchester and N Lancs area, so when you joined there was a good chance that there were many people from your home area. There was also the history of the regt that you could look back on for unit pride.This has changed as Regt;'s have amalgamated my old regt now recruits from Wiltshire area as well. The truth is now in my view it does more harm than good regt's are made up of so many parent regt's their history is almost meaningless in the sense of relating it to the current regt. What it does do is keep lots of ex officers employed in home HQ's. My personal view is that when the last lot of RAC amalgamations took place they should have disbanded all the RAC and reformed as 1 regt RAC 2 regt RAC etc and redistributed the recruiting areas to reflect this. There is also a problem of lack of inter regt postings so your career can be held up waiting for a post in your own regt while another regt is short of somebody to fill a post. I know a lot of those on this board will disagree but in order to make the forces better they have to change with the times.

The only thing we learn from history is
we learn nothing from history.

[Sisyphus]

A question posed to me by my recruiting officer is what makes the regimental system of the British army the best in the world?

Ask him what proof he has that it is.

We believe it is: but the proof is?

[Tab]

Dave they stopped recurting to many locals into local regiments after the first World War, when whole villiages lost every man after some attacks.
What makes a good Regiment is the men in it and the men that follow them having the same spirit.

[Dave.Mil]

Tab

Area recruiting was still a big thing in the RAC right up to the last lot of amalgamations, there was always a few who ended up in the wrong regt because they got pushed there by the training depots, but generally you ended up in your area regt. I had'nt even heard of mine before I got to Junior leaders. The Pal's Battalions you mentioned from WW1 did get binned. And I fully agree with your last statement, that spirit is also built on the deeds of former members(battle Honours). In the modern RAC regts that history is so diluted by the number of parent regts that I think it is of little use.

[Tab]

Dave, I think you would find that most Para's would disagree with you on your statement about the Regiments not affecting the todays soldiers.
May be one or two of the commando section might think like wise.

[jlitt]

I was so bloody lucky during my interview for the R Anglians I blagged it all with a last minute reading of the information of the website. Hopefully impressed them so they are fast tracking my application for preRCB March RCB April.
Luckily my bosses son is in the RE and she wants me to be in the forces so she has authorised my absence from work for as much time deemed necessary for my personal development. My careers officer in the R Anglians expressly told me to get as much careers experience in every arm possible so that’s what I'm doing now! Not coming from a military background at all has meant a lot of research, thanks to everyone who has answered any of my questions!

[jlitt]

Sorry a bit off topic but the questions asked were many and varied and included several sub-topics.
reading redcoats is a good book gaining original insight into the formation of the regiental system.
The history of my choosen reg. was hard due to the vast amount of information ,history and tradition of the regs that went on to form the RAR.

[Dave.Mil]

Tab I think you answered your own point by mentioning the Para's. They are a relatively new regiment (my parent regt was formed in 1715) and was/is made up of battalions of The Parachute Regiment so the history from formation is relevant to the whole regiment irrespective of battalion. The regiment I served with was amalgamated in 94 so it is now made up of about 8 seperate regiments each with a unique history, in the cav there were dragoons, hussars, lancers, This is why I think it is time to reform the RAC as RAC regiments so that the history of all the Cavalry and RTR can be viewed as the deeds of the past of the modern regiments. I agree that Regimental pride is very important but it is difficult to make it relevant when in is made up of so many sources.

[shemulie]

I am at an academy in the US. Those here that have worked with us Brits envy our system. We preserve our history, our heritage, and have strong sence of comradery withing Regiments.

Them... they rotate people out of one division to another like it's nobody's business. The idea is that is gives officers 'well rounded' experience. They may even get someone say from transport to command a rifle platoon for a year or two at times!!! When they don't need regiment, or division... they disband it, and it's history is lost.

The phrase, "Jack of all trades, master of none comes to mind!"

As soon as anyone gets experience, or a unit has operation time, they're rotated all over the place.

[anglo-saxon]

They used to call the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment, the Duke of Anybody's Royal Regiment, because so many troops were cross-posted at depot. There were more tafs than you could shake a stick at, and guys who should by rights have been in the RRF, woofers, DnDs, Gloucesters, hampsters, Cheshires, you name it.