Deployment frequency between RM and paras? also worried about the overall frequency of deployments in the coming years

[adam.a]

I'm looking to make an application to the army and am wondering which of these two would be deployed more often. I ve done a quick Google search and found out that the paras last real (major) tour was about a decade ago and their last real combat drop was even longer ago so this worries me about the paras as i was dead keen on giving them a shot. However the thing thats making me cling onto the paras is 1 para as surely they must be deployed more than the RM. Another thing that worries me especially about the military in general is that it seems like we re in "times of peace" and there isnt going to be any major war for a while now meaning that i might just be stuck in barracks and not go on any real deployments which i definitely dont want. I'd appreciate any help on clearing up some of these doubts i have.

 

[Commentator]

The people getting deployed most over the course of a career is probably Engineers.

A lot of the Specialised Infantry Battalions are doing lots of training missions abroad.

Focus more on which unit you want to join than on how to get the most deployments.

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[SkippedOnce]

I'm looking to make an application to the army and am wondering which of these two would be deployed more often. I ve done a quick Google search and found out that the paras last real (major) tour was about a decade ago and their last real combat drop was even longer ago so this worries me about the paras as i was dead keen on giving them a shot. However the thing thats making me cling onto the paras is 1 para as surely they must be deployed more than the RM. Another thing that worries me especially about the military in general is that it seems like we re in "times of peace" and there isnt going to be any major war for a while now meaning that i might just be stuck in barracks and not go on any real deployments which i definitely dont want. I'd appreciate any help on clearing up some of these doubts i have.

Good luck, whatever your decision.

 

[Kroneit44]

The people getting deployed most over the course of a career is the RAF.

And deployments involve hotels, a LOT of aircon and very little roughing it.

FOC. Though maybe submariners do quite a bit too but f*ck that.

 

[RumRationReject]

...and the Royal Marines are not part of the army.

I cant talk about The Parachute Regiment, as its not in my remit. Bu the RM are, currently all over the planet. UKAF don't need a full blown war to be getting to grips with "issues".

 

[par avion]

Another thing that worries me especially about the military in general is that it seems like we re in "times of peace" and there isnt going to be any major war for a while now meaning that i might just be stuck in barracks and not go on any real deployments which i definitely dont want.

You can never say never, but major wars are vey expensive and with Covid 19 wreaking havoc on the both the UK's and the Worlds economies and with little public appetite for 'foreign adventures' after Iraqi and Afghanistan you could be in for a prolonged period of peace (some people might not think that that is a bad thing). You wont be stuck in barracks as ships, aircraft and troops deploy on major Nato exercises as a deterent to any potential enemy's.

Any active operations are likely to be carried out by Special Forces and Aircraft (RAF). If you really want to see action the French Foriegn Legion could be your best bet as they have been deployed on active operations in Mali since 2013 along with other French Forces.

The Royal Engineers have Parachute and Commando Regiments which support 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade. There is also a Bomb Disposal Regiment which has Parachute and Commando trained elements. Most Engineer Regiments also have Diving Teams. Besides supporting their various formations with Engineer tasks, Royal Engineers also go all over the world building things, such as building roads and schools in Kenya, or deploying with the RN in British colonies in the West Indies devasted by Hurricanes to assist them in rebuilding their communities.

 

[Bobby_Bert]

Just to give you a recent snapshot- 2 PARA returned from operational deployment in April 2020, following a six month Op Toral tour. They were primarily based out of Kabul. Their primary role was to support NATO’s resolute support mission, helping to support Afghanistan’s development. 4 PARA, the reserve Bn, deployed a number of their ranks alongside the 2 PARA battlegroup conducting Advisor Force Protection.
Less than two weeks ago 250 soldiers from 16 Air Assault deployed on Exercise Joint Endeavour in Ukraine. They conducted a large Para insertion alongside Ukraine Airborne Forces. The Pathfinder Platoon conducted a HALO insertion.

The Royal Marines deployed over 300 Commandos last week on a three month deployment to the Mediterranean in a three ship flotilla consisting of HMS Albion, Lyme Bay and Dragon. This is to drill littoral strike/ Future Commando Force tactics. According to the Royal Navy news section of their website - 42 Cdo is currently in Westland USA on exercise. The Royal Marines frequently deploy to Norway and Belize to conduct training.

Both 16 Air Assault & 3 Commando Brigade form part of the UK’s global reaction force.

 

[chimera]

To be honest you ask an unanswerable question. If you serve a full career (i.e. 20+ years) in any part of the Service you will get more than your share of deployments, and, without a crystal ball, you won't have a scooby where they will be.

Let me explain: At the back end of the 80s, the only operational show in town was Northern Ireland; then the Cold War ends, and as part of the "Peace Dividend" we end up toddling off to the Balkans for the best part of a decade (via Gulf War 1), with a few random UN shouts (Rwanda, Angola etc) thrown in. By mid 2001, the Army is starting to get bored, as Bosnia and Kosovo wind down, and there isn't much on the "operational" horizon. Peopel are getting bored...until 9/11 comes along, the whole world changes, and suddenly it is back to back Iraq and Afghanistan for everyone - not just the "sexy" units. When those wind up a decade later, we all think it is getting boring again until those nasty ISIS dudes just won't go away, and it is off on a shed load of training missions.

So if you join now, where will you will deploy in 2030, 2035, 2040? Your guess is as good as anyone's was when they joined in 1980 or 1990.

So the answer to your question is join which ever bit of the Service you think you will enjoy. You will get plenty of time away I can assure you.

 

[theoriginalphantom]

The people getting deployed most over the course of a career is the support arms

fixed

 

[Condottiere]

You can never say never, but major wars are vey expensive and with Covid 19 wreaking havoc on the both the UK's and the Worlds economies and with little public appetite for 'foreign adventures' after Iraqi and Afghanistan you could be in for a prolonged period of peace (some people might not think that that is a bad thing). You wont be stuck in barracks as ships, aircraft and troops deploy on major Nato exercises as a deterent to any potential enemy's.

Any active operations are likely to be carried out by Special Forces and Aircraft (RAF). If you really want to see action the French Foriegn Legion could be your best bet as they have been deployed on active operations in Mali since 2013 along with other French Forces.

The Royal Engineers have Parachute and Commando Regiments which support 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade. There is also a Bomb Disposal Regiment which has Parachute and Commando trained elements. Most Engineer Regiments also have Diving Teams. Besides supporting their various formations with Engineer tasks, Royal Engineers also go all over the world building things, such as building roads and schools in Kenya, or deploying with the RN in British colonies in the West Indies devasted by Hurricanes to assist them in rebuilding their communities.

What he said. All the Legion's France based combat regiments deploy regularly. If you want the added excitement of airborne, there is 2 REP, see the ARRSE thread:

https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/how-does-the-2-rep-ffl-compare-to-the-british-paras.161040/

It is huge, but plenty of info in there. My post trying to answer the original thread title is at the bottom of page four and since then there's a lot of posts on 2 REP and the Legion in general.
But it's not the relative comfort of the British Armed Forces and it's a hell of a commitment to make for an initial five years.

 

[Dr Death]

The people getting deployed most over the course of a career is probably UKSFG/SAS.

A lot of the Specialised Infantry Battalions are doing lots of training missions abroad.

Focus more on which unit you want to join than on how to get the most deployments.

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Fixed.
But remember other Special Forces are available via the Royal Navy/RM's and even the RAF!