he_who_dares_rodney
Flight Sergeant
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This is way many TA guys feel so neglected, Imagine going out and slotting into an Infantry unit with your 26 days of annual training?
Absolutely shocking.
Slightly off topic
As some one who did a tour with the TA can I just refute this myth
When you join the TA you effectively join the army
You join a branch of the Army - Para,Recce,Inf etc
You train (albiet over a longer period) the same as a regular soldier
The same vehicles and weapons
My unit used to train wtih the HCR and 9/12 Lancers both regular units
Regular soldiers (Senior NCO's) are attached to TA units
TA do there two weekends a month plus a weekday night training and two weeks camp per year
Once TA are mobilised they do the same training as there regular counterparts often with the units they deploy with
In my case we did
2 Weeks at Grantham - Parachute Regiment instructing - weapon training - shoots - CFT,BFT - comms, mines,ROE's etc
Joined HCR at Windsor
6 Weeks including Salisbury plain and Hyde and Lythe - live fireing exercises over and over everything plus Castle Martin for vehicle shoots
Then we were placed into our troops
Once we deployed to Iraq we did training and a range package including top cover shoots
The cooks and clerk did exactly the same training as anyone (inc females)
I know of at least two contacts down town where women put rounds down range
If you are deploying out of trade then so be it theres probably nothing you can do
If I could offer some advise to you it would be this
Be positive so what it's out of trade enjoy it - you'll be able to hold your head high in the future and you'll get your ally pictures for the grankids
Fitness - get as fit as poss - the heat will take it out of you - even just doing top cover and if you do get a contact you will work fukcing hard
Be positive
Ask, ask and ask again even if you think you are sure ask - better to be regarded as the fukctard (no offence) who asked 'daft' questions (you can bet someone else wanted to ask it but daren't) than the fukctard who put a bullet in his mates head because he didn't pay attention in weapon handling
Be positive
Train hard even if you need to do remedials training (in fact if it's available then I would take it) and accept every offer of help and every extra course going
Be Positive
Stay calm - try not to get worked up before you go, some people get through 6 months without firing a shot some people are at it all day long - take a deep breath and don't panic ( I remember being chuffed to fukc because I changed mags after 24 rounds had been fired - round 25 still in the chamber no need to make ready)
It will be hard it's outside what you know so therefore outside your comfort zone and everything will seem strange.
A month into it it will feel like you have been doing it all your life and wil pretty much seem normal (when you get back you'll still be looking round and checking roofs and cars etc)
Man up take it on the chin and give it 100% (cliche I know)even if you sit in sangers bored for 4 months guarding camp, better to enjoy it and try than sit round crying all day it won't help you'll still be there
Also remember if what a Rock or whoever is in charge tells you to do, do it, if it sounds daft ask them to clarify but sometimes what sounds a bit funny to you makes perfect sense to them because they do it for a living some thing in your trade might sound daft to them but you would want them to do it your way
Ask about kit wise - do you want to take you issue webbing or can you throw £25 quid at a chest rig etc
Did I mention stay positive??
Above all enjoy it take care and have a good time - report back let us know how you get on
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