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im very interested in joining the paras i am scottish though and ive heard that a lot of scots get bullied in the army although i feel i could put up with the odd bit of mocking the usual 'jock' stuff i would not want to go into a job for years were i am going to be bullied. so is the paras very english or is it just a good mix

Hi mate, bullying will go on in all units at times just as it will if you work in Safeways of Halfords but its not big and its not clever, i would say that you being Scotish will not be a factor of you becoming a victim of bullying in fact it will probably be a factor of you being a good soldier, my very close freinds at work are both Scotish and both ex Sgt Major Para Regt. Do not let your nationality put you off your first choice of unit mate as you will only regret it later, yes you will get the "jock" banter but thats how frienship is made and ice broken no offence will be made by it so please go for your goals and dont look back.

TinCanMan wrote:so is the paras very english or is it just a good mix

Looking around this site mate, i think you can confidently say that their is a range of nationalities wanting to join the army elite. So being Scottish you should feel quite at home!

During training, if you get any nonsense just ignore it, be the quiet confident one, "the grey man" and you will succeed.

Cheers.

James

Bullying is NOT accepted in the Army mate, if you have any trouble at any time go see who's in charge and tell them your problems.

If its just name calling then call them somthing back, whcih the ultimate insult will be to call them crap soldiers (But just call 'em nancy boys instead hehe)



Everyone in the force's takes a small bit of banter in their time because of where they are from. Being one of a few Yorkshiremen in a batalion of Geordies and Smoggies, i get the piss taken but so does everyone else for being, Small, tall, fat, thin, ugly, nice etc etc etc.

Give the bullies a bit of the old Scottish hospitality:

If a first you don't suceed boot him in the balls, and gie him the heid!

You won't be bullied again!

Good Luck! ex Para

At the end of the day when your workin alongside other blokes regardless of who they are where their from or how old they are - your gonna get banter, ribbing, stick or abuse call it what you want! The trick is how you react to it! Just joining in and laughin along is best, otherwise if you bite and look upset/wound up your dooooooomed...

gunner75 wrote:otherwise if you bite and look upset/wound up your dooooooomed...

Yeah, just make sure you laugh it off even if it pissed you off.

Answer to that is no I really don't think so. Give it a month or two and you should find a sasenach to bully so it shouldn't be a problem.

Seriously tho - It shouldn't be a problem as there are always a good number of scots joining pretty much everything. You will all be that busy keeping your training team happy you wont have time to bully each other. If you do get bullied you have a choice - go thru proper channels and possibly get labelled a grass or stand up to them and at the worst take a kicking. Better to do option a if talking to them wont help - as others have said it can happen anywhere.

You'll all be too busy trying to keep on top of your kit etc to bully each other. I don't think it should be your major concern, put it that way. If what you perceive as bullying does occur the chances of it being because you are scottish are almost non-existant. It is more likely to be because you dropped a bollock and got everyone beasted.

Once your out of training you might get stick at first but the line between that and bullying is seldom crossed despite the horror stories you hear. Everyone likes to take out their stress on a crow/trog/FNG. Its more to do with the bully than you usually - remember that. Like the man said - BE GREY and don't attract attention to yourself.

i am scottish though and ive heard that a lot of scots get bullied in the army

All new blokes in The Parachute Regiment (should) get the official and un-official acceptance cadre when they first come up to the lines, this ensures that we don't have gobby crows getting big time when there only just up.

As for bullying - there is no racist or secterian bullies in the Reg as it does not exist. The Reg in general hates everyone outside the Reg, and has a mix of english, micks,kiwi, taff, jock, gypo, chink and every thing else. With the absence of another event coming first, the most likely thing is that you will be refered to from day 1 in Battation as Jock...surname.

Loads of jocks in the regiment, but if you're really concerned about severe piss- taking and other forms of perceived bullying then perhaps it's the wrong regiment for you. Once you're out of Depot the pressure is even worse because you've got to prove yourself all over again to experienced soldiers. If you don't then life can become difficult. No point in pretending otherwise. Develop a thick skin and black sense of humour!
ED.

go with the flow mate and enjoy, im sure you will make many a life long friend who will get you through hard times

Which football team do you support Celtic or Rangers.

When I visited 1 Para last year it was very international with chaps from all over the world serving well together, so another foreigner would not be noticed.

Celtic diehard garryowen wot bout yourself

A right Mongrel