Useful

**SunrayDown** · 09-01-2008, 00:09

Join the Irish Guards get that recruiting Sarge's quota up then he can move on to his next posting having done his job - the Army is not about what you want mate its what they want. Quicker you learn that, the quicker your get on in the Army!

**SmithsRail** · 09-01-2008, 02:17

Originally Posted by big_jim

alright fellas, just a quick question for anyone who may know! Im currently in a TA Infantry regiment, but Im giving serious thought to going regular in the infantry, but am worried that my age (25) is much older than the usual recruit to the infantry. Was wondering if any of you enlightened chaps would know if many other people my age sign up, or would I be the lone old c**t amongst a bunch of 16-18 year olds?!

cheers in advance for any info! J.

I know somebody who is 30 who's just started the Guards CIC

**Mr.Brown** · 09-01-2008, 12:45

Originally Posted by SunrayDown

Join the Irish Guards get that recruiting Sarge's quota up then he can move on to his next posting having done his job - the Army is not about what you want mate its what they want. Quicker you learn that, the quicker your get on in the Army!

Well he never even suggested that. The office is completely plastered with Rifles recruiting posters so I suspect that's where they'll try to steer me but we'll see. Anyway I have the interview this afternoon, wish me luck.

**SmithsRail** · 11-01-2008, 16:29

how did it go Mr brown?

**duckiciao** · 11-01-2008, 17:01

Originally Posted by Vino

The sex pistols put it best when they wrote 'be a man, a real man, join the army and kill somebody'. The Infantry are God's soldiers who find, close with and destroy the enemy. You can lead the rest of your life wondering or grow a pair and join up.

Thats what my brother told me, and the next day i was rattling on the AFCO doors at 0900. Got my application form and posted that off, however that was when everyone had knocked off for chrimbo.

Should I expect to wait 10 WDs from the time they all went back?

**Mr.Brown** · 11-01-2008, 18:29

Originally Posted by SmithsRail

how did it go Mr brown?

Quite well, the recruiter steered me towards The Rifles as I expected he would, since he does have "Rifles" written underneath his Sgt's insignia. I made sure Royal Irish went down on my preferences as well, I honestly have no idea how it would work from here on, since I'd imagine the Rifles and R IRISH have the same entry standards, correct? Anyway I'd be happy with either Regt so I'll see how things progress. If I did go for the Rifles then there's the added question of what Battalion but I guess I woouldn't have to worry about that for a while. One of the main factors in my decision making is where and when a Battalion is going on ops, with R IRISH I'd miss the next tour of Afghanistan because I'd still be training, and I see this as a downside, although I know I'll get my chance sooner or later whoever I join. With the Rifles I have no idea, I know one of their battalions (4 Rifles?) was involved in the withdrawel from Basra but other than that I don't know what they're up to.

Anyway he said I was an ideal candidate once I get my fitness up (finding it to be rather sub-par at present), to be on the safe side he put me down as not available for ADSC until the 1st of April, so I don't doubt I'll be up to scratch by then.
Any info on The Rifles and what they'll be up to in the future would be helpful, however at the end of the day as I said I'm not really fussed between R IRISH and the Rifles as they both sound like good Regiments.

**Mr.Brown** · 18-01-2008, 18:48

Well folks, things are going well fitness wise, since I've gone from 12:20 to 10:10 on the 1.5 miler, 39 presss-ups (up from 25) and 45 sit-ups (up from 30) in two weeks. So I guess I just dropped in to ask if anyone can shed some light on what Rifles Bns are going to be doing over the next 1-2 years, as I'm rather keen to get some time on ops (assuming I pass ADSC, and then pass the CIC without injury... well, assuming a lot really) early on. With R IRISH this could be a problem as the entire Battalion would be coming back from Herrick at about the same time that I would be finishing the CIC (again, assuming a lot), so I'd imagine this would leave me waiting for a while. I've read around that some people are individually sent off to make up the numbers for other units, but I wonder if this would be the case for a raw recruit?
Basically, this is what I'm joining up for, and joining up is what I came to the UK for, so it's a pretty important consideration. At the end of the day though, I understand that my desires and the Army's needs may not always meet so I'll be willing to stick it out either way.

**duffdike** · 19-01-2008, 18:59

IMHO it is a mistake to choose your regiment based on where they are going to be over the next 12 months. All the ops tours etc work out fairly in the end. If you try to second guess the system it always goes wrong.

**Mr.Brown** · 20-01-2008, 14:39

Originally Posted by duffdike

IMHO it is a mistake to choose your regiment based on where they are going to be over the next 12 months. All the ops tours etc work out fairly in the end. If you try to second guess the system it always goes wrong.

Hmm, I'll keep that in mind. Seems like a lot of Battalions or elements thereof have been doing near back-to-back tours so I don't doubt I'll get my chance one way or another.