Originally Posted by msr

Originally Posted by AlabamaHotPocketer

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Wouldnt that apply to any one who is named in the media? Military or civ, reg or ta?

Yes, although it is easier to target TA soldiers because they live outside the wire and within proximity (potentially) of the neighbours who may want to attack them for whatever reason. It is easier to target a TA soldier.

You really don't have any friends do you?

He's right though. The old days when the TA and NI never mixed are long gone - hell, they make a point of "One Army" these days. So you're a target just as much as the regs. Also, back then, before the internet, it was a damn sight harder to ID someone. These days - particularly for the tools who plaster their personal details online - it is frighteningly easy. Even more so if you're happy to ignore the law, and as we're talking about terrorists here I'm guessing that's probably a given.

And remember, regs have the local Sy sect to look after them while the TA get fuck all. I'm sure someone keeps an eye on the TAC but who lives near that these days ? "The system" doesn't know where you live, it doesn't monitor what's going on near there and the first time it will find out is when something unpleasant hits the papers.

Publicity ? Just say no. The media ops chap doesn't get the fallout, you do.

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Any other TA units do the same? Or is it a Para only thing?

The Rifles work in a similar fashion. With 5 regular battalions it is a guarantee that at least one battalion will either be on ops or preparing for deployment so the two TA battalions are geared to directly support them with augmentees. Mostly junior ranks, but by no means entirely.

To be fair the Paras led the way on this a few years back, but it was obvious to many of us back then that this was the future of the TA Infantry. I'm guessing that most, if not all, TA battalions are like this now.

Originally Posted by freedomman

Originally Posted by polar69

Originally Posted by OldSnowy

There are a few typical DTel typos, and one Craftsman is oddly shown as an Aircraftsman,

Isn't that the two SAC's with the RAUX ?

Only one SAC - Ralf Oram, who'll be ringing the bell in the Sqn bar when he gets back!

Others that owe crates to their respective bars are:
Pvt Tom Emerson - 3rd Btn Royal Welsh
Craftsman Sarah Dorey - 118 Recovery Co REME
LCpl Dean Young - 35 Signals
Major Rhys Jones - 3rd Btn Royal Welsh
? Peter Burns - Works Group (hurrah!) RE obviously too ugly to feature the pic!

Very good piece.

Pvt?! Damn yanks.

Originally Posted by RP578

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Any other TA units do the same? Or is it a Para only thing?

The Rifles work in a similar fashion. With 5 regular battalions it is a guarantee that at least one battalion will either be on ops or preparing for deployment so the two TA battalions are geared to directly support them with augmentees. Mostly junior ranks, but by no means entirely.

To be fair the Paras led the way on this a few years back, but it was obvious to many of us back then that this was the future of the TA Infantry. I'm guessing that most, if not all, TA battalions are like this now.

As if Battalions or Regiments get to write their own OCP.

The OCP sets the task that TA Inf Bns fulfill, be it providing a cohort to a Bn or deploying a formed company. TA Bns have been doing both since TELIC.

4PARA provided formed companies in TELIC and 6RIFLES had a company in HERRICK last year. With exception of Kabul, there are currently no TA Inf Coy deployments; FP in BSN is now an RAF Regiment gig.

Until another company task emerges, it's cohorts only.

Future of the TA - not sure, cohorts and formed companies have diffferent advantages to the TA infantry, with the passing of the HERRICK company, you keep the advantages of cohort deployments but lose the benefits of deploying whole companies. Its not an either / or choice.

Originally Posted by AlabamaHotPocketer

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Wouldnt that apply to any one who is named in the media? Military or civ, reg or ta?

Yes, although it is easier to target TA soldiers because they live outside the wire and within proximity (potentially) of the neighbours who may want to attack them for whatever reason. It is easier to target a TA soldier.

Given the amount of info and photos on Facebook and You Tube, this is hardly difficult. In any case, if you wanted to target a TA soldier, you'd just park outside a TA Centre on drill night.

Originally Posted by The_Duke

Originally Posted by MrTracey

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Any other TA units do the same? Or is it a Para only thing?

Hopefully, it's just a Para thing....

Yes, because the blokes hate doing the very job they are trained for, right at the forward edge, standing shoulder to shoulder with their regular counterparts - they would much rather be doing a made up "TA special" job in a force protection company somewhere.

You 'bit' then....

Originally Posted by MrTracey

Originally Posted by The_Duke

Originally Posted by MrTracey

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Any other TA units do the same? Or is it a Para only thing?

Hopefully, it's just a Para thing....

Yes, because the blokes hate doing the very job they are trained for, right at the forward edge, standing shoulder to shoulder with their regular counterparts - they would much rather be doing a made up "TA special" job in a force protection company somewhere.

You 'bit' then....

A bite, or a response to yet another ridiculous post from you? How long before you eventually resign from this organisation that you seem to hate so much in it's current form?

Originally Posted by Richard_Hannay

Originally Posted by RP578

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Any other TA units do the same? Or is it a Para only thing?

The Rifles work in a similar fashion. With 5 regular battalions it is a guarantee that at least one battalion will either be on ops or preparing for deployment so the two TA battalions are geared to directly support them with augmentees. Mostly junior ranks, but by no means entirely.

To be fair the Paras led the way on this a few years back, but it was obvious to many of us back then that this was the future of the TA Infantry. I'm guessing that most, if not all, TA battalions are like this now.

As if Battalions or Regiments get to write their own OCP.

The OCP sets the task that TA Inf Bns fulfill, be it providing a cohort to a Bn or deploying a formed company. TA Bns have been doing both since TELIC.

4PARA provided formed companies in TELIC and 6RIFLES had a company in HERRICK last year. With exception of Kabul, there are currently no TA Inf Coy deployments; FP in BSN is now an RAF Regiment gig.

Until another company task emerges, it's cohorts only.

Future of the TA - not sure, cohorts and formed companies have diffferent advantages to the TA infantry, with the passing of the HERRICK company, you keep the advantages of cohort deployments but lose the benefits of deploying whole companies. Its not an either / or choice.

No, TA Bns do not write the OCP. They do however discuss the manning requirements with their parent units, who can then provide input to the people who write the OCP.

4 Para have provided 1 formed Pl for Telic 4 and a formed Coy for Telic 7. Telic 1 and Herricks 4, 8 and 13 were/will be cohorts. The receiving unit want it that way, and the soldiers in 4 Para want it that way.

The negative response to the possibility of a formed Coy for Herrick 13 was not a pretty sight!

"Great piece for everyone- just wish the R Irish could get publicity like this sometimes."


It's well known that the R Irish have a PR machine that is well organised and sometimes one could think from media reports that it was the only regiment with any TA soldiers in Northern Ireland

Originally Posted by The_Duke

Originally Posted by MrTracey

Originally Posted by chrisg46

Any other TA units do the same? Or is it a Para only thing?

Hopefully, it's just a Para thing....

Yes, because the blokes hate doing the very job they are trained for, right at the forward edge, standing shoulder to shoulder with their regular counterparts - they would much rather be doing a made up "TA special" job in a force protection company somewhere.

I take it you were in a bad mood when you wrote that.

Pretty crass and not true.

As you have stated in previous posts/threads the TA should just do what they are told for the good of the army as a whole (i'm in agreement with you in this) this is misleading. They way i remember it Telic 1, Telic 4, Herrick 8 we did what we were asked to do by div. We never asked for a 'special job', each time we went we released another Reg Inf manoeuvre group onto the ground/back to their parent unit. And anyway each tour started as a 'TA special job' and ALWAYS within 1 month we had platoons posted all over the place- turn up do the job well don't moan/bitch and bobs your uncle your on the ground.

I thought, and i may be wrong. 4 para were given on FP tour on telic didn't like it (discipline issues due to boredom?) and said we're not doing that again, its beneath us.

I'm ready to be corrected in this as i like 4 para (All the TA para blokes i have met on courses always been great lads) and i thought it showed them in a very poor light.

On a side note i have found in my very limited experience that you really get to see the quality of Rangers/NCO's/Officers on a brutal period of FP- maintaining standards, discipline etc while smashing out 2 on 3 off including QRF and GDAs for 14 days (Telic 1)