Originally Posted by almightyhaggis2002

Right thats a strange way of answering the question. If a member of RA went into Sphinx they would be able to stay in longer is that what your saying?

The soldiers tend to stay there long term. If you are an RA soldier you will be posted in there and that is where you will stay. Some of them move into other batterys in 5th regiment for promotion reasons but like to go back to the mothership. There is a special observer career stream but promotion can be hard.

Soldiers from the REME for example can do two years but tend to transfer cap badge and stick around. They have soldiers from all over the army, from royal sigs to para Reg.

When you qualify as a special observer you wear a black version of your cap badge on the infantry beret.

For officers you do a standard 2.5 year posting and then move on. If you come from another Regt/ corps you can either return to that or attempt to change cap badge to the RA. The Adjt 5th regiment is ex REME and 4/73 for example.

Originally Posted by stabtoreg

The soldiers tend to stay there long term. If you are an RA soldier you will be posted in there and that is where you will stay. Some of them move into other batterys in 5th regiment for promotion reasons but like to go back to the mothership. There is a special observer career stream but promotion can be hard.

Soldiers from the REME for example can do two years but tend to transfer cap badge and stick around. They have soldiers from all over the army, from royal sigs to para Reg.

When you qualify as a special observer you wear a black version of your cap badge on the infantry beret.

For officers you do a standard 2.5 year posting and then move on. If you come from another Regt/ corps you can either return to that or attempt to change cap badge to the RA. The Adjt 5th regiment is ex REME and 4/73 for example.

Thats exactly the informations i was looking for thanks very much for the reply. :D

Just to add to that

The 2 year rule applies to non RA personel who pass selection, at the end of the engagement they are given the choice, return to original unit or formally transfer to the RA.

I have known guys who have served their entire career within the Bty

Oh and stop callling it Sphinx or Sphinx Bty, that the Bty Honour Title, not some secret CoD designation.

Where did CoD come from :-S

Every member of the forces i know refers to it as Sphinx lol

Originally Posted by almightyhaggis2002

Where did CoD come from :-S

Every member of the forces i know refers to it as Sphinx lol

I have never heard it referred to as sphinx battery. Mainly just 4/73 or alternatively the special op battery.

Just out of interest, considering they recruit from all 3 services inc. reservists, if I was RMR and wanted to apply, would I have to completely transfer on starting, or would it be the same process?

Also, if RMR Commando-trained and you are fortunate enough to get into 4/73bty, at the end of the 2 years could you go to 148bty and finish up the training for them, or would moving to 29cdo require you to re-do the Commando Course?

Originally Posted by ExplosiveKiwi

Just out of interest, considering they recruit from all 3 services inc. reservists, if I was RMR and wanted to apply, would I have to completely transfer on starting, or would it be the same process?

Also, if RMR Commando-trained and you are fortunate enough to get into 4/73bty, at the end of the 2 years could you go to 148bty and finish up the training for them, or would moving to 29cdo require you to re-do the Commando Course?

Are you RMR? Or is just a civvy wet dream?

In fact dont worry I have checked and answered myself. You are at college and want to join the paras, RMR, SAS, 4/73, and 148 Bty.

Originally Posted by stabtoreg

In fact dont worry I have checked and answered myself. You are at college and want to join the paras, RMR, SAS, 4/73, and 148 Bty.

Shit happens. It all sounds and probably is a bit waltish when you put it like that but I'd rather be obsessed with them and make the effort to get into at least 1 of them, than to stop aiming high and end up stuck in some dead-end civvy job or inside-the-wire role.

As for UKSF, though the last post on that was only weeks ago, a recent event sparked me to focus primarily on just getting in and though still a wet-dream, it can wait a good 8-10 years.



Any answers to my question(s) though, if good enough to pass it all in the 1st place?

In answer you probably could move to 148 Bty, and I'm pretty sure the commando course is in perpetuity.

My advice is this though. Research Make a choice, train for it and then do it.

RMR are reserve infantry soldiers, 4/73 battery perform a specialised role within the royal artillery, and 148 are forward observers and do NGS. Three completely different roles.

And IMHO I would leave behind the snide comments about behind the wire roles until you have achieved something. There is no problem at all with aiming high but don't get ahead of yourself.