Thread: RIP TA

Originally Posted by stevieni22

Jesus christ im saying this is in my view as a bod on the ground...

Many years ago in a snowy place a "bod on the ground" made similar comments to me, and was stunned to hear that I was a stab, and several other blokes in his platoon who he'd assumed had just been posted in from elsewhere in the regs.
Surprisingly enough we don't all wear big yellow badges with "TA" written on them. Go to an op and at some point you *will* encounter TA, you just probably wont know it...

The reason people jump on your comments about TA not being at the front is because of the high percentage who have had experience of just that recently and it riles when someone talks rot like this and encourages out of date stereotypes. Especially when we are being royally humped by the Govt/MoD/CoC

Originally Posted by western

I posted this on the 'Does the Army understand the TA?' thread a couple of weeks ago. How much closer we seem to-day.

I think that what is needed in this debate is that both the TA and Regular Army need to structure and think for the current conflicts. The role of the TA it seems is to supply manpower as individuals, not formed units apart from the Inf Coy currently serving at Bastion say. As such the TA will evolve into a pool of trained individuals with little need for formed units just an establisment of regional training centers.

I totally agree there should be a pool of reserves rather than formed units as alot of the 'dross' which the regular army looks down on can hide in these places and give decent blokes a bad stigma.

I spend a week away instructing with the Regt and not a sniff of this from anybody. Came back yesterday, to be told by a chap around the corner washing his car today, that my training has been shelved. He is not who I should have heard that from, fxxxng livid

Stevieni22,

Given your vast experience of the TA, why are you so keen to bring up the "dross" that seemingly inhibits the "good lads" so much? Didn't you have that in the Regs?

I digress however. I have been told to wait out pending "direction"-don't think anyone know everything really, at least those in a position to tell us!

Gordon Brown, 19th March 2008:

"And with this year the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army, I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the servicemen and women in our reserves who are such an essential element of our nation's defence."

I despise that man. I hope Labour are utterly obliterated at the next election. How much longer do we have to suffer these morons destroying everything that is good about this country?

I'm mobilising in a month's time. At least I thought I was. It is depressing to think I will come home to find my regiment disbanded. What are the implications for families support from the regiment while I'm gone? The stupid fcu king MOD just have no bloody idea.

I reckon it's time for a proper bloody demo. Imagine the impact of several thousand TA soldiers marching on Whitehall...

Originally Posted by theprior

Stevieni22,

Given your vast experience of the TA, why are you so keen to bring up the "dross" that seemingly inhibits the "good lads" so much? Didn't you have that in the Regs?

I digress however. I have been told to wait out pending "direction"-don't think anyone know everything really, at least those in a position to tell us!

Yeah we have dross but as im sure u and most arrsers will know anyone who is not up to the standard now gets a 3 month warning then the boot.This is because of overmanning now in the Infantry as for manning even the regular army has had cuts announced with 3 inf Bns going to fund the war on terror.My experiance of the TA is that i have trained some while at ITC Catterick and me referring to the 'dross' was on what ive been told by other TA soldiers whilst i was training them.

P.S. I hope he goes blind.

Originally Posted by Skua2

I reckon it's time for a proper bloody demo. Imagine the impact of several thousand TA soldiers marching on Whitehall...

Wide-spread piss taking from everyone watching predominantly obese, tick-tocking soldiers making a fool of themselves?

Ooh...let's not bite at JonnoJonno, otherwise this will become yet another STAB/ARAB thread when it's something a lot more important! The few return of tour reports I have seen suggest a good deal of TA troops would not fit in either category ;)

*Steps off soap box, dismounts high horse*

Originally Posted by stevieni22

As i said dont bite because the TA is an old cold war back up that no longer serves its use and i know as a Pl Sjt that the number of TA on the fronline was next to zero sorry fellas this is the reality!

im very surprised you havent anyexperience of having TA infantry serving in your unit after nearly 7 years of continuous operations. Maybe you've just been unlucky not to have any in your own platoon :P

As a for instance my own platoon has sent 9 trained gunners out to serve with 2RRF's MG Plt and they are most certainly in the front line. 5 have been persuaded to stay on when the battalion returns in a few months time.

it takes time to train our gunners and guncontrollers and we were already very concerned at the reduction in MTD's. fcuk knows how we are supposed to fulfill our role now

Originally Posted by theprior

Ooh...let's not bite at JonnoJonno, otherwise this will become yet another STAB/ARAB thread when it's something a lot more important! The few return of tour reports I have seen suggest a good deal of TA troops would not fit in either category ;)

*Steps off soap box, dismounts high horse*

Actually I am TA, just prepared to see wide spread cuts to the TA in order to provide the regular army with a cost-effective deployable reserve.

Hear, hear Fusilier50.

I can only presume the madness occurring in RHQs across the country...what we don't want is a stampede for the door, and it will be Seniors that can stem that flow.

Originally Posted by fusilier50

Originally Posted by stevieni22

As i said dont bite because the TA is an old cold war back up that no longer serves its use and i know as a Pl Sjt that the number of TA on the fronline was next to zero sorry fellas this is the reality!

im very surprised you havent anyexperience of having TA infantry serving in your unit after nearly 7 years of continuous operations. Maybe you've just been unlucky not to have any in your own platoon :P

As a for instance my own platoon has sent 9 trained gunners out to serve with 2RRF's MG Plt and they are most certainly in the front line. 5 have been persuaded to stay on when the battalion returns in a few months time.

it takes time to train our gunners and guncontrollers and we were already very concerned at the reduction in MTD's. fcuk knows how we are supposed to fulfill our role now

Dont be suprised.You dont know me and like i said i havent seen any immediate input from the TA while i have been in just telling it from how i have seen it.

Fair one S22, but you must see you're baiting TA posters here! I can assure you that many, many soldiers and officers are doing excellent jobs both in theatre and in FTRS (though not as many as I would like.) As has been repeated ad nauseam, there are bad eggs in all walks of life, and in my regiment certainly, it is very difficult to shift the dead weight-both because of restrictions and also because they are the ones with the Hazmat quals, the driving quals, the ability to fiddle the system in our favour...so while they may not deploy, they often contribute in some shape or form.

Originally Posted by JonnoJonno

Originally Posted by Skua2

I reckon it's time for a proper bloody demo. Imagine the impact of several thousand TA soldiers marching on Whitehall...

Wide-spread piss taking from everyone watching predominantly obese, tick-tocking soldiers making a fool of themselves?

Speak for your own unit, by all means, but my lot are pretty handy at the old drill. Handy enough to do a full presentation of new colours parade involving the Queen.

Now pipe down and get back on thread.