"I forgot they were orignally formed as Engineers"

I think you'll find that all Signals units started as Royal Engineers. Something else for the RE to be embarrassed about.

and we took a bit of your laurel leaf with us

Originally Posted by exsniffer

"I forgot they were orignally formed as Engineers"

I think you'll find that all Signals units started as Royal Engineers. Something else for the RE to be embarrassed about.

True lots came from the RE Div signals - but plenty of others have antecedents who were infantry during WW1 and then converted to RE searchlight or gunner AA units in the 1930s. Other squadrons started as cavalry or gunners but it takes all sorts.

Back at the thread my experience was that recruits tended to join "the TA" rather than a particular unit. If there's a choice in the area so much the better but 'footprint' matters and the 18-20 year old recruit was always tied to walking distance or a decent bus route and these are the ones who matter; if there's no TAC that fits the bill then they'll find something else to do and you've lost them for good.

Originally Posted by oldnotbold

but 'footprint' matters and the 18-20 year old recruit was always tied to walking distance or a decent bus route and these are the ones who matter; if there's no TAC that fits the bill then they'll find something else to do and you've lost them for good.

What about women they may have to choose a unit as the local unit has filled all its female slots. I suppose you could say if your the only TAC in town, then you have to be a CS/CSS (high mixed sex content) unit otherwise you prevent a largish from joining

Originally Posted by JPALegend

Originally Posted by oldnotbold

but 'footprint' matters and the 18-20 year old recruit was always tied to walking distance or a decent bus route and these are the ones who matter; if there's no TAC that fits the bill then they'll find something else to do and you've lost them for good.

What about women they may have to choose a unit as the local unit has filled all its female slots. I suppose you could say if your the only TAC in town, then you have to be a CS/CSS (high mixed sex content) unit otherwise you prevent a largish from joining

Very true but I think the 'footprint' principle still applies.
One R Signals troop I served in was around 50% WRAC despite the local area also having EOD, gunners, infantry, RAMC and RMP all of whom either refused to take women or took them only in small numbers and in limited roles. The other attraction of women to the Signals in the mid 1980s was that they could usually type - and hence were ready for data telegraphist trades: blokes usually couldn't type in those ancient times unless they were ex-Corps.
Failing a 'suitable' unit nearby I agree the women are stuck with either travelling - just like their male counterparts albeit with further limits on their employment: in another troop several of the women commuted 10-15 miles as the other TA units in the area were infantry.

I would strongly suspect that TACs which a prominent and visible have an advantage when to comes to recruiting.

I would also like to see the stats for average journey distance to TAC, which must be available as we have to fill in an annual HTD mileage claim.

MSR

For those who live/work/attend in cities, distance is only a small part of the equation. I live less than 10 miles from my TAC (the closest I have ever lived to any of the 6 TACs I have attended) but it can take up to 2 hours to drive, and up to an hour on public transport.

It is all about the time taken to get there and back, not the distance involved, which is why being close to a number of good public transport links and key access roads is vital.

PS - I cycle - it is the only sure way of getting there and back in a reasonable time.

Originally Posted by msr

I would strongly suspect that TACs which a prominent and visible have an advantage when to comes to recruiting.

I would also like to see the stats for average journey distance to TAC, which must be available as we have to fill in an annual HTD mileage claim.

MSR

Agreed! Also the building helps. I remember walking into the London Scottish HQ and thinking wow. The sense of history about the place was truly moving.

I cannot believe any recruit feels the same regarding the utilitarian offering where I am now. Its hidden away from sight between a cemetry and a vandalised old factory. It makes the work of the recruiting team just that little bit harder.

no need to take the p*i*s*s but im at uni and rifles! Students are not the ready supply of recruits, especially on education i know people are alot more inteliegent then mytself, not very helpful when most of your recruits cant/wont mobilise i cant wait but alot wont so. Something about education? Country comes first to me but hey, very rare among other young people? I would say people join the TA when they are young (FULL STOP) not a particular unit! Ops are a massive bonus everyone loves a chance to prove their salt if they are worth it and if they join for anything else they dont deserve the paper they are written on in my books! council estate's im sure wold produce some very fine soldiers and SNCO'S which are the heart of any unit officers are a neccesary part but very good SNCO'S should surely be promoted if a shortage of OCT'S cannot be found? Im sorry im talking to logically, i forgot im talking in reference to the MOD.

PS i no my English is shoite so pls spare me the p*i*s*s taking