Corps Recruitment (ORs)

[STITCH]

I heard a bizarre thing the other day (Source: A1), apparently the 'powers that be' for this Corps would rather recruit from 'Private' as opposed to 'State' schools.

And the benefits are....?

If you are a DE (Not to worry), Transferee (Heaven forbid) or even a E2 (Where G1 & G4 are not dirty words), please reply.

 

[Bilbobaggoff]

So at a time when the Army s trying to expand recruitment, retain people and then have it's Int Corps dramatically expand in the next few years, it will in this case limit the recruitment base by seemingly excluding people from state schools? Great strategy, I don't think.

Absolute shoite. It's stupid rumours like that that put off decent candidates. I've seen how the Corps recruits - don't believe a word of it, and that applies to potential recruits who may be considering applying. It's the quality and ability of the individual that counts. This kind of thing beggars belief - it's as bad as when potential officers were told they couldn't go for a commission because some plank said they either didn't have a language degree and/or didn't go to Oxbridge.

Tell your source to poke off. They'll only make sensible people rant even more.

 

[quick-morser]

utter bollocks

i joined up at 16, no quals worth mentioning.

am now retrading to the int corps. they are interested in what you can do and what you are capable of doing.

everyone sits the same tests. if you score above the required standard you get your chance same as everybody else.

how/why/where you came to sit those tests didn't seem to make any difference at all to those managing the process.

if your good enough they'll have you. if you aren't they won't.

-just waiting for my own results-

 

[error_unknown]

Cobblers. Some time back I used to do OR selection interviews for the Corps and I honestly don't recall asking a single candidate what kind of school they went to: if they had the requisite qualifications etc, it made no difference.

 

[Whiskybreath]

That's soldier selection interviews....

 

[error_unknown]

That's soldier selection interviews....

Is it?

 

[Whiskybreath]

The description of soldiers as 'other ranks' has always been a deliberately demeaning one, designed to denigrate as incidental and subservient rather than compliment; I object to it as much now as I did when I was a Private soldier.

 

[Gizzit]

Miaow. Conversely, Pishbreath, I'm rather hurt that my commissioned brethren are consistently deprecated by the use of the word 'Soldier' to describe everyone in the Army apart from them! Are they suggesting we Officers are not soldiers?

 

[Biscuits_AB]

utter balls

i joined up at 16, no quals worth mentioning.

am now retrading to the int corps. they are interested in what you can do and what you are capable of doing.

everyone sits the same tests. if you score above the required standard you get your chance same as everybody else.

how/why/where you came to sit those tests didn't seem to make any difference at all to those managing the process.

if your good enough they'll have you. if you aren't they won't.

-just waiting for my own results-

You failed.

 

[subbsonic]

The description of soldiers as 'other ranks' has always been a deliberately demeaning one,

WB times have indeed changed in the short while since your "retirement".

As a thick LE orofice, in an MI company of predominantly LE officers, the soldiers were usually known as the graduates.
( there may well be some MI companies where the soldiers can muster more graduates than some Bn or Regiment's officer's messes. )

Even in moments of extreme indiscretion, I have heard lecherous Bde and Div staff officers call Corps soldiers many things*, most of which could be regarded as complimentary, but never " other ranks"

Maybe this could be the start of an "OR" revival??

*probably the best MI Section in the universe....

 

[Whiskybreath]

Miaow. Conversely, Pishbreath, I'm rather hurt that my commissioned brethren are consistently deprecated by the use of the word 'Soldier' to describe everyone in the Army apart from them! Are they suggesting we Officers are not soldiers?

Frequently, pizzle. The term 'soldier' is normally only accorded to those in the higher echelons who have proved their worth and have earned respect for it. The dross are never so named. That isn't to say that the vast majority of all ranks are any such thing; they aren't. However, the belittling intent of the label is, in my opinion, arrogant and insulting. It should have been discarded many years ago.

 

[STITCH]

Guys, 'Chill Out', having read some of the replies, it seems I have upset a few people. I do not believe everything I hear or see! Subsequently my source is now 'E5'!

As for 'Quick-Morser' ???

 

[error_unknown]

Following on from subsonic-we had an analysis cell where the worst qualified out of 6 NCOs had "only" completed 3/4 of his degree studies. The rest were graduates 1 uni and the rest OU. Our nongrad OC admitted to being intimidated by the quals we had. Personally we didn't think it made that much difference-each had ther own reasons for continuing education. I went to a public school and failed RCB-there are plenty of state educated DE officers. There were grads, non grads, thickos, runts and rambos in my own glorious Squad at Ashford and those that stayed the course have all done reasonably well. It is the person that is imprtant. [exits left carrying soapbox]

 

[error_unknown]

The description of soldiers as 'other ranks' has always been a deliberately demeaning one, designed to denigrate as incidental and subservient rather than compliment; I object to it as much now as I did when I was a Private soldier.

Hmm, I've never thought about it that way. I wouldn't normally use 'ORs' but did so in this case because the original poster did. Anyway, no offence was meant on my part.

However, I don't necessarily agree with you. Officers are also soldiers in the same way that Privates, Corporals and anyone else holding rank. I've always assumed that the phrase 'Other Ranks' was to distinguish non-commissioned personnel from soldiers with officers' rank. It may well be slightly dismissive but it is an archaic usage and attitudes have changed. Anyway, it doesn't really matter.

 

[error_unknown]

Following on from subsonic-we had an analysis cell where the worst qualified out of 6 NCOs had "only" completed 3/4 of his degree studies. The rest were graduates 1 uni and the rest OU. Our nongrad OC admitted to being intimidated by the quals we had. Personally we didn't think it made that much difference-each had ther own reasons for continuing education. I went to a public school and failed RCB-there are plenty of state educated DE officers. There were grads, non grads, thickos, runts and rambos in my own glorious Squad at Ashford and those that stayed the course have all done reasonably well. It is the person that is imprtant. [exits left carrying soapbox]

In my year as the Basic Training Officer at Ashford, I recall three graduates going through recruit training, although one of these also had a Masters and a couple of years of a PhD under his belt. It was unusual but certainly not 'rare'.

 

[Fraser]

Do we not have Commissioned Ranks, Non-Commissioned Ranks and Other Ranks? A reflection of this is the Officers' Mess, the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess, the Corporals' Mess and finally the Other/Junior Ranks' Mess. There is nothing derogatory or demeaning intended, it is simply a label. I personally prefer the Other Ranks' Mess, rather than Junior Ranks' Mess. The latter could infer a level of immaturity.

 

[Filbert Fox]

Do we not have Non-Commissioned Ranks and Other Ranks

arent the two usually the same?

 

[Fraser]

I think the jury is out on that. You don't often see the RSM eating lunch in the OR's Mess.

 

[Whiskybreath]

OK, ok. It's just a bit of gristle caught behind the back molar. It hardly affects me, and hasn't for decades now, but what kicked it off was the experience of helping out at a mess function in Aldershot when, during a break in the to-ing and fro-ing to the kitchen, I was showing some of the attendees' v young kids the three-ball trick (or something) on the lawn, and a plummy voice commanded them to stop playing with Other Ranks, boys. Murder was nearly done. I don't remember what went into the next bottle of wine to go out, though; my sense of moral responsibility has blocked that out....
Now, I'm ex public school, and (now) at Master's level in education, like many of my peers in the Corps. I've nothing much left to prove to anybody, except a few tall stories to my son. As I said previously, and as you do too, CP, it's archaic usage. Therefore it shouldn't be used.

 

[Filbert Fox]

I think the jury is out on that. You don't often see the RSM eating lunch in the OR's Mess.

but in the big pic ture, all non commissioned ranks are 'other ranks'.
the ORs dont have a mess, its the NAAFI and cookhouse for Junior ranks and the WO & Sgts Mess for Senior ranks.