why doesn't anybody rate the Raf regiment?

[MyShineyAr$e]

But the regiment does have its own special forces, known as the G.D.T section, these elite number only a few and operate clandestine training missions behind enemy lines. They use terror tactics and specialize in Nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. They also have some of the most expensive equipment in the Raf at their disposal such as the S.A.T Range and the 'Gas Chamber' Their motto - Forward Assist

Hope This Helps.

Pure Gold. Its takes a alot to raise a smile from me at the moment out here in Banja Luka, but that sure hit the spot.

 

[GunnerP]

Banja Luka

Not at the old metal factory (BLMF) by any chance?

Lampy - If you have whittled it down to either Marines or Rocks, then in my humble opinion your biggest decision is whether you want the Navy or Airforce life. On this forum you will obviously get a slightly biased opinion.
If my son were to ask my opinion on what to do I would, depending on his age, tell him to join the unit he would get the most benefit from in regards to his employment when he leaves. If he asked when he was just leaving school I would advise joining as some sort of tradesman ( engineering ect) If he had already got some life skills and qualifications then join the more 'soldiering' influenced mobs.
I niether know nor care if anyone 'rates' the RAF Regiment.
I served 15 years wearing RAF Regiment rank slides and enjoyed NEARLY all of it. Made some lifelong friends, and had a few scrapes along the way. Was trained in 35mm AA Guns,Rapier,81mm Mortars, Signals and Drill and Ceremonial. Travelled all over the world and drank massive amounts of beer.
Whatever you decision I wish you the best of luck in the future.


P


P

 

[MyShineyAr$e]

Not at the old metal factory (BLMF) by any chance?

Off Topic Indeed it is. Bring back memories? Shame the RAF Regt aren't here now to sort out the Infantry.

 

[GunnerP]

My last tour before I got out in 97 was 3 months at Split, 3months at BLMF. Mostly gate guard. I remember the very liberal 2 can rule, and getting into a spot of bother with a bottle of Slivo

I don't envy you being out there this time of year mate. Do they still have that godawful smoke roll in every night? We had loads of lads suffering 'Banja Luka Lung'


Lev

 

[LAMPY]

thanks....

thanks....

Thanks for the replys. I wish you all the best 2007 has to offer, any more info would go down a treat.


lampy.

 

[Gunnerrock]

No, allow me to retort.

No, allow me to retort.

Lampy, (Note the Font Size)

I still think this is a windup but I will give you the benefit of the doubt here.

You do not state in your first post that you’re simply seeking careers advice! You come into an RAF-Rockapes Forum and start a thread asking "why doesn't anybody rate the RAF regiment?" are you really surprised that some may think it’s a windup?

Would you walk into a bar full of Navy, Army or RAF and say words to the effect of “Everyone Says Your ****" and then expect them to get you a pint, sit you down at a table and politely tell you the history of the unit?

Do not ask me or others to compare units, as we all have our place and role in the British Military.

I will however tell you what the RAF Regiment are currently doing.

We have a unit in Basra Iraq, another in Kandahar Afghanistan.

Personnel are employed on G.D.T (Training staff for the regular RAF)

RAF Regt personnel are also employed in the following roles:

FAC Parties
Bde Air Liaison Officers
Special Forces Support Group
Joint CBRN Regt
Counter Terrorism
Instrutors at Warminster and Sandhurst
Joint Personnel Recovery
Survival Training

And we also have personnel serving on the usual stuff such as Special Forces, exchange tours with the Army and RM, UN tours etc.

Simply by joining the RAF Regt does not mean you will be employed in the roles I have stated.

If you’re seeking a career in either the RAF Regt or the “Royals” I suggest that you go to your Careers Office and ask to come on a PGAC which basically is a expenses paid trip to RAF Honington, there you can ask all the questions you wish about the RAF Regt for 2 days.

I also believe the Marines run a similar thing at CTC Lympstone.

I would suggest that you keep the Special Forces questions to a minimum, and concentrate on passing your initial trade training first as only about 50% of people who turn up actually pass out.

As for the jealousy thing – Well read ARRSE a lot of posts in there slag the RAF Regt about (I Quote) “Gucci Kit” and yes I admit we do get some good equipment (as well some **** kit), the reason being is the RAF invests a lot in us (not as much as we would like) as Aircraft are most vulnerable on the ground.

In regards to ARRSE well not every post in the place says we are **** (granted a lot do). There are some well thought out comments by other members of the Armed Forces about the RAF Regt.

I hope this helps.

 

[JAFAD666]

Why would a TG3 Techie side with the Regiment ... because I`ve worked with them ... "I`d rather have 1 rock in front of me than 600 Para`s behind me."

Plagerised from Gen Patton.

 

[LAMPY]

reposts and retorts...

reposts and retorts...

Gunnerrock

Thanks for the info, I'm a straight talking person, sometimes too straight as my intial post may imply. To beat about the bush dosen't help anybody and it's not my way. How else could I have asked the question other than the way I had? I've read what other people had to say about the Raf regiment so I thought I'd ask those in the regiment and draw a conclusion from the answers I recieve. I wasn't asking why the Raf regiment was better than other regiments, I asked why the regiment didn't get the respect they deserved and why those in the regiment thought the regiment was special.

You seem to be fiercely proud of the RAF regiment which is to be expected. As I've said previously, it appears to me that you are no stranger to defending the honour of your regiment. This then leads to the question why you have to defend them as opposed to letting the caperbilities of the regiment speak for themselves. That's why I ask the questios I do in the manner I do. I'm not a Politician so straight questions and straight answers are the order of the day. Please don't take this as a swipe at the regiment because it's not my intention. Whether you belive me or not is up to you.

By the way I went to a 'meet the marines day' earlier this year and asked a marine why a person should join the the marines rather than another regiments. He asked me If I knew why the Globe and Laurel was awarded because if i did that whould be the answer. And as I've said before, a friend of mine was in the parchute regiment, I asked him why I should join the paras as opposed to the marines/Raf regiment. I also asked him about the arogance they seem to have as I 'm not that kind of person so I would doubt that I would enjoy that kind of atmosphere. So you see I don't set out to upset people but but if I want to know something, I'll ask even if it does mean that peole get cheesed off with me. If the choice is ingorance or upseting some ones sensibilties that i'm afraid a person is going to get upset. Forgive my ramble but I thought I'd better let everyone one where I'm coming from.

Anyway I ask about the special operations just out of intrest. To join an elite unit of an elite regiment is something to aspire to. As I've said I've been considering which regiment to join and I've read little of that nature about the Raf regiment.

regards

lampy

 

[POB]

Lampy. As this is a public and open forum you will not get an answer to any question about the more specialised roles of the RAF Regt (or for that matter any of the SF). To aspire to join any elite organisation is a worthy desire...To achieve that would be something to be very proud of, be it as a Para, Bootie or Rock. But once you are there you will know and understand why you are not going to get an answer here...Not much help to you I know but "security" is not a dirty word.


P

 

[FOMz]

Totally agree POB, security is not a dirty word, Crevasse on the other hand is. DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Gunnerrock]

Totally agree POB, security is not a dirty word, Crevasse on the other hand is. DT_Xtremez_28:

But which type of Crevasse? - Marginal, Transverse or Longitudinal?

Happy New Year

 

[Wannoscrew]

RAF joining the SAS - not just Rockapes!

RAF joining the SAS - not just Rockapes!

Well here we go, the RAFR and the SAS,

Even though I left 12 years ago I'm still covered by the OSA (due to my current occupation) so I will be brief and loyal.

During my time at a 'certain' station in a 'certain' location where we called all of the locals 'swampys or swamp rats' - 'av you gotta loit boy? Every month or so we would get these guys fly in at the weekend on a very special looking Herc. Most would have a on tracksuit top on or plain T-shirt or fleece, which were rare in those days of the mid 90's, along with OG's and flashy boots, not looking scruffy, but relaxed like they were not interested - but all would have a very notable beret and cap badge. All of them used the JRM to have their food, SGT's and WO's as well.

I was very impressed one day when one of them grabbed me by the balls in the mess. It was **** **********, I had joined the RAF and passed out with him at Swinderby at a 'certain' time.

He was a PSF Shiney who after a few years got attached to the RAF Regt (13 Sqn I think) as a scribe. They then all got attached, or trained with, or was on exercise with the Royal Marines and virtually all of them wanted or tried to do the Commando course. They all laughed at my mate when he said he wanted to have a go because of course he was just a 'Guin' and they were rock hard. He was one of them and passed it. I can still remember him wearing his green beret with RAF cap badge - at a certain station, somewhere blah blah blah!

The next I heard was when he wrote to me from somewhere I'd never heard of via a bluey, and then he was greeting me in the mess at RAF ****** and he was in the SAS, standing there right infront of me.

At the bar later (no not the NAFFI), where I was the only RAF allowed but had to buy all the drinks, he told me not to be shocked as he new other ex RAF in 'The Regiment' that were mostly ex Rockapes, as well as a Stacker and an MT Driver. He new of one or two ex-Snowdrops that had also served in the past. Most surprisingly it was the fact that most of the ex RAF Regt guys were RAF Regt Officers and were now Officers in the SAS.

When I was in I had no love for the Regt, if anything they let themselves down. Most that I knew were not on frontline squadrons, they were doing basic MDT crap or GDT training - I don't know what you all call it now! I got on with one or two as they were either from London or thought they were from London, one was from Brighton and was called the 'Cockney Sparrow'. I put him straight.

RAFR are OK if they are on a squadron and up front. The rest will just tell you that they had their day or are waiting to go back to a squadron, they just have a gammy ankle etc - blah blah blah.

Whatever they say, take my advice, they are not the best in the RAF, I know SAC's that have gone on to be the best, not just "Gunners" - and they were'nt shooting monkeys as a past time on the rock of Gibraltar during WWII because they were boredDT_Xtremez_28: .

 

[Red-Rock]

Totally agree POB, security is not a dirty word, Crevasse on the other hand is. DT_Xtremez_28:

I think you meant CREVICE didn't you????DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Red-Rock]

Well here we go, the RAFR and the SAS,

Even though I left 12 years ago I'm still covered by the OSA (due to my current occupation) so I will be brief and loyal.

During my time at a 'certain' station in a 'certain' location where we called all of the locals 'swampys or swamp rats' - 'av you gotta loit boy? Every month or so we would get these guys fly in at the weekend on a very special looking Herc. Most would have a on tracksuit top on or plain T-shirt or fleece, which were rare in those days of the mid 90's, along with OG's and flashy boots, not looking scruffy, but relaxed like they were not interested - but all would have a very notable beret and cap badge. All of them used the JRM to have their food, SGT's and WO's as well.

I was very impressed one day when one of them grabbed me by the balls in the mess. It was **** **********, I had joined the RAF and passed out with him at Swinderby at a 'certain' time.

He was a PSF Shiney who after a few years got attached to the RAF Regt (13 Sqn I think) as a scribe. They then all got attached, or trained with, or was on exercise with the Royal Marines and virtually all of them wanted or tried to do the Commando course. They all laughed at my mate when he said he wanted to have a go because of course he was just a 'Guin' and they were rock hard. He was one of them and passed it. I can still remember him wearing his green beret with RAF cap badge - at a certain station, somewhere blah blah blah!

The next I heard was when he wrote to me from somewhere I'd never heard of via a bluey, and then he was greeting me in the mess at RAF ****** and he was in the SAS, standing there right infront of me.

At the bar later (no not the NAFFI), where I was the only RAF allowed but had to buy all the drinks, he told me not to be shocked as he new other ex RAF in 'The Regiment' that were mostly ex Rockapes, as well as a Stacker and an MT Driver. He new of one or two ex-Snowdrops that had also served in the past. Most surprisingly it was the fact that most of the ex RAF Regt guys were RAF Regt Officers and were now Officers in the SAS.

When I was in I had no love for the Regt, if anything they let themselves down. Most that I knew were not on frontline squadrons, they were doing basic MDT crap or GDT training - I don't know what you all call it now! I got on with one or two as they were either from London or thought they were from London, one was from Brighton and was called the 'Cockney Sparrow'. I put him straight.

RAFR are OK if they are on a squadron and up front. The rest will just tell you that they had their day or are waiting to go back to a squadron, they just have a gammy ankle etc - blah blah blah.

Whatever they say, take my advice, they are not the best in the RAF, I know SAC's that have gone on to be the best, not just "Gunners" - and they were'nt shooting monkeys as a past time on the rock of Gibraltar during WWII because they were boredDT_Xtremez_28: .

Well, where to start.

Any member of the armed forces is eligble to apply for selection to the SAS but obviously they tend to look more favourably on the teeth arms, Infantry, Marines, Paras or RAF Regt. Your 'friend' who was on a non-exhistant Regt Sqn after doing an AACC would have been a favourable candidate for selection due to this point. Had he not done it they probably wouldn't have looked twice at him.

How you can say that the only decent Rocks are the ones on a Sqn and up front baffles me as you have only served at one place where thare has been a resident Regt Sqn, N.I., I assume you were at Aldergrove where 3 Sqn were based. People with injuries don't get posted away and then wait to get back onto a Sqn. I know loads of guys who were posted to GDT sections or onto chopper Sqns who are fantastic blokes and they are not what you would class as 'front line' You seem to have a very blinkered attitude about the RAF Regt but then again if you only get on with people from London that is only to be expected.

By the way, the RAF Regiment never has been and never will be known as or been referred to as RAFR and as an ex member of the RAF you should be well aware of that, shouldn't you??????????

We never claim to be the best in the RAF, though we are obviously better than quite a lot of themDT_Xtremez_15: but we are the best at what we do. And at no stage during WWII did any Regiment personnel whilst bored take any shots at the apes on Gibraltar. Get your story straight before you start spouting sh1te you cockerney ex-guin tw@t.

Rant over, crack on.DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Red-Rock]

Gunnerrock

Thanks for the info, I'm a straight talking person, sometimes too straight as my intial post may imply. To beat about the bush dosen't help anybody and it's not my way. How else could I have asked the question other than the way I had? I've read what other people had to say about the Raf regiment so I thought I'd ask those in the regiment and draw a conclusion from the answers I recieve. I wasn't asking why the Raf regiment was better than other regiments, I asked why the regiment didn't get the respect they deserved and why those in the regiment thought the regiment was special.

You seem to be fiercely proud of the RAF regiment which is to be expected. As I've said previously, it appears to me that you are no stranger to defending the honour of your regiment. This then leads to the question why you have to defend them as opposed to letting the caperbilities of the regiment speak for themselves. That's why I ask the questios I do in the manner I do. I'm not a Politician so straight questions and straight answers are the order of the day. Please don't take this as a swipe at the regiment because it's not my intention. Whether you belive me or not is up to you.

By the way I went to a 'meet the marines day' earlier this year and asked a marine why a person should join the the marines rather than another regiments. He asked me If I knew why the Globe and Laurel was awarded because if i did that whould be the answer. And as I've said before, a friend of mine was in the parchute regiment, I asked him why I should join the paras as opposed to the marines/Raf regiment. I also asked him about the arogance they seem to have as I 'm not that kind of person so I would doubt that I would enjoy that kind of atmosphere. So you see I don't set out to upset people but but if I want to know something, I'll ask even if it does mean that peole get cheesed off with me. If the choice is ingorance or upseting some ones sensibilties that i'm afraid a person is going to get upset. Forgive my ramble but I thought I'd better let everyone one where I'm coming from.

Anyway I ask about the special operations just out of intrest. To join an elite unit of an elite regiment is something to aspire to. As I've said I've been considering which regiment to join and I've read little of that nature about the Raf regiment.

regards

lampy

Lampy, one of the main things to consider when looking at which Regiment to join is obviously the role that each one has within the armed forces. The Paras role is pretty obviously spearhead infantry unit right at the front. The Marines are obviously the amphibious version of the Paras and will generally tend to be on the front line as well. Both of these Regiments/Corps are offensive units.

Then you have the RAF Regiment which is a wholly DEFENSIVE unit, tasked with protection of the FOB/MOB and all RAF air assets.

Your decision has to be based on which role you wish to undertake as well as how you feel about each of the options available. Only then will you be able to make the right choice for you.

I am, like Gunnerrock fiercely proud of the RAF Regiment and will defend it when we are being slagged off. Most of these slaggings though come from people you don't wholly appreciate the actual role of the Regt and where we fit into the grand scheme of things. It is because of this that we have to 'defend' our regiment rather than let it's acheivements speak for themselves.

Hope this answers any questions not already answered. If you need any more info don't hesitate to ask.

 

[DrunkenMonki]

My best mate from back home was a para orig, then did 2 years in the regiment before an accident finished him. I know at least one of his mates there was an ex rock, spoke very highly of him, which was unusual, as anyone who wasn't a para mainly got slagged off by him! I do remember when he joined up though that he was 50/50 on para's or RAF regt. Ex spacy you see. For me as an ex Artillery man (OP then rapier) i've always had time for RAF regiment guys. Now im a guin', so i just keep to myself!

 

[Gunnerrock]

He was a PSF Shiney who after a few years got attached to the RAF Regt (13 Sqn I think) as a scribe. They then all got attached, or trained with, or was on exercise with the Royal Marines and virtually all of them wanted or tried to do the Commando course. They all laughed at my mate when he said he wanted to have a go because of course he was just a 'Guin' and they were rock hard. He was one of them and passed it. I can still remember him wearing his green beret with RAF cap badge - at a certain station, somewhere blah blah blah!

DT_Xtremez_28: .

What a load of Sh1t.

You are right - Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah

Now Fcuk off before P.S breaks yous Spine.

 

[Gunnerrock]

What a load of Sh1t.

You are right - Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah

Now Fcuk off before P.S breaks yous Spine.

A couple of hours later now - Did I bite at wannoscrew's trivial Sh1t ?

Yes........

Please Ignore.

Out

 

[CWO_Rtd]

Well, where to start.

Any member of the armed forces is eligble to apply for selection to the SAS but obviously they tend to look more favourably on the teeth arms, Infantry, Marines, Paras or RAF Regt. Your 'friend' who was on a non-exhistant Regt Sqn after doing an AACC would have been a favourable candidate for selection due to this point. Had he not done it they probably wouldn't have looked twice at him.

How you can say that the only decent Rocks are the ones on a Sqn and up front baffles me as you have only served at one place where thare has been a resident Regt Sqn, N.I., I assume you were at Aldergrove where 3 Sqn were based. People with injuries don't get posted away and then wait to get back onto a Sqn. I know loads of guys who were posted to GDT sections or onto chopper Sqns who are fantastic blokes and they are not what you would class as 'front line' You seem to have a very blinkered attitude about the RAF Regt but then again if you only get on with people from London that is only to be expected.

By the way, the RAF Regiment never has been and never will be known as or been referred to as RAFR and as an ex member of the RAF you should be well aware of that, shouldn't you??????????

We never claim to be the best in the RAF, though we are obviously better than quite a lot of themDT_Xtremez_15: but we are the best at what we do. And at no stage during WWII did any Regiment personnel whilst bored take any shots at the apes on Gibraltar. Get your story straight before you start spouting sh1te you cockerney ex-guin tw@t.

Rant over, crack on.DT_Xtremez_28:

I'm not sure the"The SAS tend to look on the teeth arms more favorably" is quite correct. Most people that go special forces are from Infantry, paras/commandos in particular, units. But I thought it was the case that anybody from the regular armed forces could attempt selection your previous service & rank didn't come into it. Apart from the fact you had to have served at least 3 years.

My friend who was an ex RAF Navigator knew a Radio Technician that went and passed selection. The Regiment teach you all you need to know, Map reading etc, for the hills anyway.

I agree with the rest of your post though.DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[pongo_FAC]

My opinion

My opinion

Well Lampy here is my two pennies worth.In the past I have had a few dodgy experiences working with the RAF Regiment.These (for me) tarnished my opinion of them.However I have had the chance to work with them on several occasions of late and to be honest I have been pretty impressed.Allowing security issues, my latest involvment with the RAF reg was at S/E of Basra airstation late at night whilst I was controlling a pair of US Apache helicopters, the ''Rocks'' on the ground acted very professionally nuff said on that one.

I am a serving soldier however not in an ''elite'' unit as you put it.Please understand that all members of HM forces are ''Elite'' in there particular trade not just paras.In fact I am sure if you asked many serving soldiers that have actually seen a bit of incoming ,I am sure many would have there own ideas about who is ''elite''. In short as many of the posters on here will say ,the RAF Regiment have there own role ,of which they are very very good at .Much of the slagging they get from other members of the armed forces is from people that have no idea of the Regiments role is (i was one of these) .However if you are ever in a public order situation in Northern Ireland you dont want 3 SQN RAF REG with you .

I am a regular poster on ARRSE , saying this due to the fact that I am actually a serving soldier in a Recce unit with 3 Iraq tours under my body armour I to get a hard time on Arrse from posters that have either never served,left when putties were still on issue ,members of the TA (some of them are pretty good) or damn right walts.

Please for your ownsake have a good look about ref your military career.Dont just think that everyone else apart from Paras, Marines and the RAF regiment are elite. We all have ''tales'' to tell . Best of luck