ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by bokkatankie

I strongly disagree, we have not learnt to use Brigades that way at all, they are all, and have been for the last 10 years, hotch potches, last minute jam togethers, otherwise how the hell did 1RTR suddenly get an operational role in this Herrick, overmanned, overstaffed and badly run, more to do with ensuring everyone get a turn than operational capability.

Take it easy BT - my "heated agreement" warning light has just started flashing in double-time !!

Originally Posted by Stonker

Take it easy BT - my "heated agreement" warning light has just started flashing in double-time !!

Bit like my career light, wonder why I never had one?

Originally Posted by chocolate_frog

I might be biased, but I'd think more of a British Cav Officer cutting about with a riding crop than some of these cnuts from US Space Command walking around in pilot grow bags and leather jackets because they 'pilot' the sattelites...

I think the point is that they actually have a space command - possibly something of rather more relevance to national security in the C21st than sporting the trappings of a latter day Jorrocks.

Originally Posted by Kitmarlowe

Bergen-Hohne makes perfect sense as everything is on one huge base.

The downsides I see is going to be is the critical mass needed to find the next JNCO's in their arm and start their training inhouse. SOME training is pretty much the same for all arms, everyone needs to shot straight with a rifle and prove their fitness but navigation and map reading for a tankie or a gunner is going to be a different kettle of fish to a rifleman.

Logistics wise, some stores are common to all but some stores are very unique and sometimes a store will hold something only tankies are scaled for in clothing that others are not allowed, as an example.

However. That's not a major concern. What does matter is that people don't seem to like being part of just a number, it's a bit of a tribal thing but it's there in us.

Your arguments smack of desperation in looking for reasons to do away with the single-arm battalion formations. Can't be done because the tankies have a different clothing scale... A tankie needs different map reading lessons.... FFS!!!! Are these the most credible arguments you can advance to justify the regimental system?

Are you really trying to suggest it is easier for the ARMD INF btn to suddenly take on the stores/log spt for a couple of RAC sqns, RA bty, RE sqn etc etc at the very last moment when pinged as a ARMD BG than to have that as permananent?

An INF btn already has to in-house train across a wide spectrum of tasks. How does it become impossible for a BG to in-house train the very same and a few more? But given the concentration within super-garrisons such as Tidworth - far greater opportunities of scale exist for in/out-house training. Period.

Originally Posted by whitecity

Your arguments smack of desperation in looking for reasons to do away with the single-arm battalion formations. Can't be done because the tankies have a different clothing scale... A tankie needs different map reading lessons.... FFS!!!! Are these the most credible arguments you can advance to justify the regimental system?

Are you really trying to suggest it is easier for the ARMD INF btn to suddenly take on the stores/log spt for a couple of RAC sqns, RA bty, RE sqn etc etc at the very last moment when pinged as a ARMD BG than to have that as permananent?

An INF btn already has to in-house train across a wide spectrum of tasks. How does it become impossible for a BG to in-house train the very same and a few more? But given the concentration within super-garrisons such as Tidworth - far greater opportunities of scale exist for in/out-house training. Period.

Nope.....I'm trying to cover all possible bases to poke at this amazing change and see if it's got flaws, expensive flaws. If anyone can convince us that this will work and improve the army WITHOUT costing any more money that we haven't got and will never get then bring it on. If not. I don't want the army wasting a single penny.

Originally Posted by Glasgow_Jock

With an A grade, I had to wait almost 5 months to get a spot at ITC for RRS, & with the exception of the xmas period we have intakes every 2 weeks (approx. 50 bods an intake). I don't know what the waiting list is like now for RRS intake for Catterick, but my limited experience would suggest the issue lies with retention (whether that's due to burn out from constant ops / big exercises or blokes feeling they get messed about back in barracks too much I'll let other serving soldiers decide).

You walk in to a Scottish recruiting office & wish to go infantry, unless it's paras the recruiter will obviously steer you towards RRS. The RRS may have a large F & C element but it projects a very Scottish image to me; we have yearly Highland Games (ops permitting), Ceilidhs etc & we have a very public profile with all the battalions regularly doing marches through local towns in various states of dress (combats, no.1s etc)... unless someone can show me hard data then it's my belief we recruit fine, we just have an issue with retaining guys.

Ta.

Which raises the question that if the RRS is getting folk through the door, is their retention worse than other regts - i.e. what's the underlying cause of their comparative undermanning?

*Stonkernote: Actually, it was officially "Task force Echo", with an HQ comprising 2 men and a dog, at the time, but that's another story[/QUOTE]

Gosh, off topic. We were Task Force Foxtrot in 79.

Originally Posted by pimpernel

I was the Pl Cmdr of 6Pl B Coy under a certain Maj in the Scots Guards (A.P)made up of the Jocks from Jan 81 to the Disbandment in 82

Just been looking at the Household Div. photo of Mar '80. Was AW the GG CSM still there? We had some interesting times in the Mess on a friday afternoon happy hour. Any idea how he finished up? I think that was his last posting.