Thread: Help with regiment choice

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Originally Posted by Sundog

you will also be able to apply for all arms commando with 1 Rifles. My understanding is that once you've done that, you're exempt 'P' Coy (in keeping with other commandos) and could in theory apply for your jumps course.

Your understanding is incorrect. Whilst RM Commandos are exempt P Coy having already done CTCRM, soldiers who have completed AACC are not. I'm not sure as why the distinction. I believe the only other arduous course that obviates the need to attend P Coy before jumping and gaining your Parachute wings is SAS selection. Maybe one of the Paras here could correct and/or expand?

Originally Posted by Sundog

I can see that within a few years, that all Rfn will be commando and wings qualed.

Well I can't to be honest. It'll enough of a job getting all of 1 RIFLES commando qualified and as it is the only battalion we have with the Commando Brigade, there's no need for the other battalions to undertake AACC. As for the wings, unless you have an airborne role it's highly unlikely that you'll do the course. As the Army already has an entire regiment of paratroopers, I can't really see the desire for any more.

AACC is a qualifying "arduous selection couse" required prior to attendance at the basic para course, along with P Coy, endurance, PF selection and a few other peculiarities. Whether an Army Commando is "exempt" P Coy if he transfers to a para roled unit is a different issue to course prerequisites.

As said though, meeting the selction criteria is only half of the battle. Pressure on places on the BPC means that course loading is highly selective - Para Regt, airborne roled units, RM in selected roles (Recce Troop, BPT etc). Arduous course without para role means no course for you, so stand fast 1 Rifles. The days of everyone loading themselves onto a para course for the fun of it are long gone.

If you want to go for the Rifles then go for it because they are the Regiment you want to be part of, not because of what courses you hope might become open to you later in your career. What if you join the Rifles but never end up serving in 1 Rifles and appempting AACC? Would you feel that you had wasted your time and should have gone RM instead?

Originally Posted by The_Duke

If you want to go for the Rifles then go for it because they are the Regiment you want to be part of, not because of what courses you hope might become open to you later in your career. What if you join the Rifles but never end up serving in 1 Rifles and appempting AACC? Would you feel that you had wasted your time and should have gone RM instead?

Completely agree.

Originally Posted by The_Duke

AACC is a qualifying "arduous selection couse" required prior to attendance at the basic para course, along with P Coy, endurance, PF selection and a few other peculiarities. Whether an Army Commando is "exempt" P Coy if he transfers to a para roled unit is a different issue to course prerequisites.

Thank you for the clarification on that Duke, I had always wondered about this since seeing that Channel 4 documentary "P Company". There was a Ordnance chap on there who had already passed the AACC. Maybe their units make them undergo P Coy as well out of convention? 3 minutes 20 secs in

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Originally Posted by The_Duke

AACC is a qualifying "arduous selection couse" required prior to attendance at the basic para course, along with P Coy, endurance, PF selection and a few other peculiarities. Whether an Army Commando is "exempt" P Coy if he transfers to a para roled unit is a different issue to course prerequisites.

Thank you for the clarification on that Duke, I had always wondered about this since seeing that Channel 4 documentary "P Company". There was a Ordnance chap on there who had already passed the AACC. Maybe their units make them undergo P Coy as well out of convention? 3 minutes 20 secs in

My understanding is that as AACC is the course to select people for service within Commando units, so P Coy is the course for selecting people for service within airborne roled units - not just selection for attendance on the BPC. Many of the units within 16 Air Asslt Bde have para and non-para elements within them, so it is not an absolute in the way the Cdo course is for joining 3 Cdo Bde.

A 7 Para RHA gunner with a P Coy pass would still be expected to pass the AACC before service with 29 Cdo RA, (sadly not vice versa, although many would do so), but both of them are qualified to attend Brize.

You will find that females are attached in support role only to the infantary.

We cannot actually join and fight as men do on the "front line". :D

Originally Posted by Combat_Baby

You will find that females are attached in support role only to the infantary.

We cannot actually join and fight as men do on the "front line". :D

Which is what I said They were employed in a non combat role.

So, they are in an Infantry regiment, wearing infantry qualifications in many instances and most certainly wearing infantry regimental headress. I guess thats them in the Infantry then ;)

Originally Posted by 2/51

Originally Posted by Combat_Baby

You will find that females are attached in support role only to the infantary.

We cannot actually join and fight as men do on the "front line". :D

Which is what I said They were employed in a non combat role.

So, they are in an Infantry regiment, wearing infantry qualifications in many instances and most certainly wearing infantry regimental headress. I guess thats them in the Infantry then ;)

No - as you have been told many times now - there are no women in the Infantry. There was an anomaly for a short period in the '90s but that has now (correctly) been removed. Women may serve attached to the infantry as clerks, medics, drivers etc but there are no women in the infantry.

Women do not attend CIC, so are therefore not trained Infantry soldiers.

Originally Posted by 2/51

Originally Posted by Combat_Baby

You will find that females are attached in support role only to the infantary.

We cannot actually join and fight as men do on the "front line". :D

Which is what I said They were employed in a non combat role.

So, they are in an Infantry regiment, wearing infantry qualifications in many instances and most certainly wearing infantry regimental headress. I guess thats them in the Infantry then ;)

I wish

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Originally Posted by 2/51

I can say catagorically that there are females serving with the RAF Regiment this very day.

Not as members of the RAF Regt though. Again, they may be attached arms..

I will state once more, there are females serving in, not with the RAF Regiment. 51 Squadron had female RAF Regiment personnel with them supplied by 2622 Squadron.

2622 Squadron has a female corporal and several Aircrafts"wo"men serving. They are not attached, they are in the squadron.

Originally Posted by 2/51

Which is what I said They were employed in a non combat role.

So, they are in an Infantry regiment, wearing infantry qualifications in many instances and most certainly wearing infantry regimental headress. I guess thats them in the Infantry then ;)

Fuck me. You're thicker than whale omelette. Which part of 'No women serve in the infantry' do you not understand? There are women attached but not in a fighting role.

Originally Posted by 2/51

I will state once more, there are females serving in, not with the RAF Regiment. 51 Squadron had female RAF Regiment personnel with them supplied by 2622 Squadron.

2622 Squadron has a female corporal (Gunner) and several Aircrafts"wo"men serving. They are not attached, they are in the squadron.

It's a good job the RAF Regt aren't infantry then. Muppet.

Originally Posted by 2/51

Originally Posted by Combat_Baby

You will find that females are attached in support role only to the infantary.

We cannot actually join and fight as men do on the "front line". :D

Which is what I said They were employed in a non combat role.

So, they are in an Infantry regiment, wearing infantry qualifications in many instances and most certainly wearing infantry regimental headress. I guess thats them in the Infantry then ;)

No they are not! Good grief man is there no getting through to you? Look at the links I provided to both the Army and RAF careers website and you will see that they boldly state that Infantryman and RAF Regt Gunner are male only jobs.

An RAMC medic attached to the Infantry on ops, on ex, on the bloody parade ground, is still a medic and not 'in the infantry'.

A bandsman attached to an Infantry battalion, wearing their cap badge, is still a bandsman and not 'in the infantry'.

What defines an Infantryman in the British Army? Someone who has attended and passed the Combat Infantryman's Course.

Ok, lets settle this one by an internet "show of hands".

Everyone who is currently serving in the infantry and therefore has a pretty good idea of whether women are allowed to serve in the infantry, put your hands up....

Falsch..White rabbit..me.. OK, got all those.

2/51... RAF Aux you say? Were in the TA years ago but no idea about the current reality? Best keep your hand down and listen to those that actually know about it then. You might just learn something!

Originally Posted by 2/51

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Originally Posted by 2/51

I can say catagorically that there are females serving with the RAF Regiment this very day.

Not as members of the RAF Regt though. Again, they may be attached arms..

I will state once more, there are females serving in, not with the RAF Regiment.

I think you just contradicted yourself there.

Originally Posted by 2/51

51 Squadron had female RAF Regiment personnel with them supplied by 2622 Squadron.

2622 Squadron has a female corporal and several Aircrafts"wo"men serving. They are not attached, they are in the squadron.

Well perhaps you'd better point that out to the RAF Regt as their website states the contrary.

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

Originally Posted by 2/51

Which is what I said They were employed in a non combat role.

So, they are in an Infantry regiment, wearing infantry qualifications in many instances and most certainly wearing infantry regimental headress. I guess thats them in the Infantry then ;)

Fuck me. You're thicker than whale omelette. Which part of 'No women serve in the infantry' do you not understand? There are women attached but not in a fighting role.

Probably the same part you dont!

A woman can go directly into an Infantry regiment, but not as an infantry COMBAT SOLDIER. Saying a woman cannot serve in the infantry is not correct. Saying she cannot serve in a combat role is different and correct.

I have never denied that point.

The females we had joined direct, still went through Infantry Training (I was lucky enough to be on the first "female" recruits course at Penicuick in 1993 as demo staff), still were badged (Wee bayonet in a laurel wreath on the sleeve etc) but where employed in non combat roles.

They also got paid the same as an infantry combat soldier....if Infantry qualified.