Thread: REME Commando?

Originally Posted by jon_d_h

I was told that they may not allow you to do aacc straight away as they would want to to stay with the army as they have spent so much on your training?

So what ever technician trade I choose even avionics technician I will still be able to do aacc or are some technician trades more able to do the aacc? Another thing I was told was that you can't do aacc if your in the army air cops which I would be in if I went down the avionics tech route.

Cheers

No, you will be a REME soldier attached to the AAC. There are plenty of Air Techs kicking about here to give you more of a heads up than I can.

If you were a Tech Elec serving with a 3 Cdo Bde unit you would still be in the army and employed to be a Tech, just in a Cdo unit.

Originally Posted by spaz

Yeah, Tech Elec now covers it all, the first SuperTechs(!) left the factory in around 2004. Now Techs just get posted to a slot somewhere and told to crack on with it. So we end up with ex Radar Techs working on Optronics, Inst Techs on Tels kit, you get the picture.

That's nothing new I was a Inst Tech doing a Elec Tech job back in 96. To be fair it was more the Elec Tech being a useless twat and me picking up the slack. If you do like being warry it is possible to do both Para P company and Commando course in the REME I once had a Q man who done both. By the time he had his Para wings, Commando dagger Hammer and tongs and his AQMS badge he had one busy sleeve on his jumper.

Originally Posted by ExwobblyHead

Originally Posted by spaz

Yeah, Tech Elec now covers it all, the first SuperTechs(!) left the factory in around 2004. Now Techs just get posted to a slot somewhere and told to crack on with it. So we end up with ex Radar Techs working on Optronics, Inst Techs on Tels kit, you get the picture.

That's nothing new I was a Inst Tech doing a Elec Tech job back in 96. To be fair it was more the Elec Tech being a useless twat and me picking up the slack. If you do like being warry it is possible to do both Para P company and Commando course in the REME I once had a Q man who done both. By the time he had his Para wings, Commando dagger Hammer and tongs and his AQMS badge he had one busy sleeve on his jumper.

It would be both sleeves as the Wings and dagger go on opposite sleeves. Wings on Right, dagger on left.

Thanks for the help. Thats all my questions so far. I may ask more at a later date. I will probably be going into the afco tomorrow planning on applying for the elec tech course.

My main concern was not being able to do AACC as that is a key reason for me joining.

Cheers

Plenty of Techy types at CLR (Commando Logistics Regiment) at RMB Chivenor.

You say your main reason for joining is doing your AACC - Have you thought about joining the Marines and doing a trade once you've done a bit of time with them?

RM Jobs

From a purely aviation perspective:

If you go Avionics, you won't get a chance to do the AACC. 847 Naval Air Squadron used to be manned by Army techs, and it was those guys who got the chance to do it. Since it got handed back to the Navy, not a single air tech has gone to AACC for quite a few years as there's no need for it.

If you're posted within 16 Air Assault Brigade (3, 4, 9 Regt AAC or 7 Bn REME), there is still the opportunity to do P Coy however be aware most of the guys I know who have passed P Coy recently still aren't wearing wings as jumps courses at Brize are difficult to get on.

If getting daggered up is your ultimate goal, forget about Army Aviation I'm afraid.

If, as it would appear, your main aim is to complete Commando training, why are you considering joining the REME?

Why not apply to join the Royal Marines and apply for a trade with them?

Originally Posted by Bodhisattva

If, as it would appear, your main aim is to complete Commando training, why are you considering joining the REME?

Why not apply to join the Royal Marines and apply for a trade with them?

If my memory is correct, you have to serve in a rifle company for a couple of years before you get traded. Is this still correct?

Nobby

Also, promotion is VERY slow in RM - there was a Royal Marine on my Class 2 Tels Tech. course. Six years later I did the AARC and a year after that went out to Malta as a Sergeant and met the same guy out there. Guess what, he was STILL a Marine!

In my experience (although going back a long way) it is easier to volunteer for Commando Forces from training (when you are being posted to a unit anyway) than when you get to a working unit. I was going to volunteer after my Class 1 trade but decided to give Germany a go and it took me a year from joining a Field Workshop to getting to a Commando unit.

Bear in mind, though, REME does not like you staying with Special Forces for too long and like to move you back to the 'real' Army after a maximum of 4 years.

With regard to Air Techs., what happened to Commando Air Squadron where all the techs. were REME - is it long gone?

Originally Posted by mnairb

With regard to Air Techs., what happened to Commando Air Squadron where all the techs. were REME - is it long gone?

Like I said in my post above, handed back to the Navy about 10 years ago.

You get the occasional SNCO exchange posts with Jungly squadrons, and of course there are tri-service units such as MASU, but going across with a view of completing AACC while you are there is unheard of in REME aviation nowadays. Once all the guys sporting daggers who were lucky enough to serve in 3 BAS are out, that will be that.

Jon_d_h - I sent you 2 PMs in response to yours, did you get them? I appear to be having some problems with PMs since the ARRSE upgrade.

Mnairb - just come on here and seen this. I have not had your PM yet? Just wondering if it went through yet.

With regards to joining, I have done my application, BARB and am waiting for my fitness test hopefully next wednesday. This is all for Electronic Technician. As I will be out of a job at end of August, I was planning on going travelling around Australia for 6/12 month as I was told that there are currently no jobs as an Electrical Tech and it may take up to 12 months for a start date.

My plan now is to try and get all the application sorted and be offered a place before October, then go Australia, and hopefully, in 12 months be offered a start date to come back for. Is this likely to happen or would october be too early? Also, if I decided I wanted to stay in Australia, but got offered a place in the Army, could I always pospone it or turn it down?

Thanks

Jon

I don't know why but it really grips my shit when you get these "want to join REME to get this and that" posts. How many times do we come across this Corps being used as a stepping stone for something else? Just an opinion of course.

Mind you - all this me-me-me talk of feathering your own nest - you will fit right in at Arborfield.

If you are fit and ready for it then do the all arms course as soon as you can. Don't expect any help from anybody in your COC, don't expect a first posting there either. Royal and logs do not want sprog soldiers. Do the course to prove to yourself you can pass. Then go somewhere for a couple of years to prove to REME that you are capable of being a tradesman. Wings will be a thing of the past so don't waste too much time there. Good luck and be careful you are up to it. There have been too many wannabes in the past.

Thanks for the advice Tytus_Barnowl. I am still in the selection process and am hoping for a date for September for selection. I have another interview on Tuesday with a REME sergeant so can hopefully get some info about AACC and how long my phase 2 training will take as I am qualified now.

Cheers