im irish and in the parachute regiment. there's no problem. everybody pulls the piss but its always good natured. as long as you can measure up to the paras standards the will accept you. don't be worried about that just worry about getting super fit. if you need any more info send me your email and i'll fill you in

Originally Posted by terryland1831

im irish and in the parachute regiment. there's no problem. everybody pulls the piss but its always good natured. as long as you can measure up to the paras standards the will accept you. don't be worried about that just worry about getting super fit. if you need any more info send me your email and i'll fill you in

See what I mean Delta!

There's even a fellow Mickatroyd offering to fill you in!

Can't be any fairer than that now, can you?

From a different era but hopefully of interest - page 25 on

http://fethard.com/annews/2001.pdf

Originally Posted by johnny_Doyle

From a different era but hopefully of interest - page 25 on

http://fethard.com/annews/2001.pdf

What the Hell is that all about. Are you from a different planet to everyone else?

Originally Posted by twothreeuptwothreedown

What the Hell is that all about. Are you from a different planet to everyone else?

quite possibly but just an example of an Irish lad who had no problems going Para and then Stores And Supplies despite background and family objections. As I say, different era. 2 Para Co from a short while back was Irish, ex FCA. There is no problem being Irish in Paras and never has been.

Originally Posted by johnny_Doyle

quite possibly but just an example of an Irish lad who had no problems going Para and then Stores And Supplies despite background and family objections. As I say, different era. 2 Para Co from a short while back was Irish, ex FCA. There is no problem being Irish in Paras and never has been.

I thought it was an interesting story and relevant to the OP; thanks for that JD.

I did not read anything about the repatriation of James Condon's remains in 2000; presumably the burial of a former SAS soldier in the RoI was not something the MOD wanted to publicize.

There is no problem with being Irish and in the Paras, except some of your (our) compatriots and family may not approve. You can, by your own efforts, advance up the ranks. Former privates can, and do, become commissioned and/or retire after 22+ years. There is, of course, a risk of injury or death in service.

However, personally, I cannot see why you'd want to. As Biscuits-AB said in another thread:

Originally Posted by Biscuits_AB

....... we spent the best part of the 19th century raping the planet and conning darkies. We were the original snake oil salesmen. We've had our day, it was fun..for some..but now we're fuck all but an irrelevance led by self serving, toadying wankers for politicians.

Why would you volunteer yourself to be sent to the planet's most hostile shitholes by politicians of the calibre of Blair, Brown, Cameron, etc.? The Afghans mostly don't want to fight for their own country, they'd prefer to claim asylum and benefits in the UK; most of the British public don't want the army in Afghansitan and don't support the troops. Why would you volunteer for it?

Our leaders do not inspire confidence; most have had their fingers in the till, up to the elbows, fiddling their expenses and stealing from the public purse. The country is fucked as a result of their writing benefit cheques to buy their own popularity at the ballot boxes and the taxpayers cannot afford to pay those cheques. You will be fucked over by the MoD at every opportunity.

I wish you every sucess in your chosen career, just take time to consider your motives before committing yourself. Best of luck.

Fcuking hell Onetap........I was feeling ok until I read that, feel like jumping off a bridge now...talk about depressing.

D-Ire, at 16 you will change your mind every other week about what you want to do career wise. If your still serious about it in a year, then Para Regt run insight weekends and occasionally week long versions. The Army website and Para Regt link will give you the details.

Soldier Recruiting - British Army Website

If your still keen after that I guess you just follow the same route as everyone else - AFCO etc (you might have to go up to the North to get to one). As for Irish lads in Para Regt, we had some in my time, I'll be honest not loads...from memory I recall a couple of NCO's and an officer.

Originally Posted by johnny_Doyle

quite possibly but just an example of an Irish lad who had no problems going Para and then Stores And Supplies despite background and family objections. As I say, different era. 2 Para Co from a short while back was Irish, ex FCA. There is no problem being Irish in Paras and never has been.

Sorry Johnny,

I've just trawled through all that & found the story about Condon.

Very interesting!

Before my time too, however, I've known quite a few ROI lads, One of my best mates was a Sergeant Major in 2 Para.

He won't go home to ROI to this day, because the boyos know who he is & that he was in the Parachute Regiment.

Yet there are quite a few others that are back there now, no problem.

Originally Posted by twothreeuptwothreedown

There have always been Irishmen serving in the Parachute Regiment.
From the very beginnings in 1940 right up till now.

Blokes from both the Republic & Norn Iron, Catholic & Protestant.
If you're good enough to get in, stuff like that matters not one bit!

3 Para have a Green DZ Flash.........Guess why?

One of the hardest, toughest men I ever came across in the Regiment was an Irish, 5ft 5" Sergeant Major
who boxed for Norn Iron, called Sammy D from 3 Para!
A total legend!

So if you think you're good enough, you know what to do!

I can testify to the above comment, Sammy D was TA training wing Sergeant Major when I did TA P Coy. He was hard as fcuk but a top top bloke. He took a shine to me for some strange reason. He must have liked `Gobby Southerners'!! As for the Irish in Para Regt, all of the above comments are correct. We had a guy from Dublin in D Coy 2 Para in the mid 80`s, and there were a few others in other Company`s, best of luck, you won`t regret it!!

Originally Posted by johnny_Doyle

From a different era but hopefully of interest - page 25 on

http://fethard.com/annews/2001.pdf

JD, excellent article .