TA IS Engr?

[polar]

Any views on how the introduction of this trade (20 years to late) will effect units?

I suspect several within my sqn will retrade, I've even considered it myself (a big step seeing as my training for my current rank toll several months).

 

[msr]

I would think it will be massively recruitment and retention positive on the proviso that the TA forks out for MCSE / A+ / N+/ Sy+ exams.

Employers should also be hugely onside.

msr

 

[Kitmarlowe]

I don't see employees being big onside.....

Why? Because I've never come across an IT Department anywhere that's overmanned, in fact it's normal for most IT departments in the Private sector to be as small as they can get away with. I've seen more teams get along with a bare handful of permanent and as many temps and Contractors as they need to get peaks dealt with, or as as part of their normal manning.

So a member of staff who's going to vanish for 8 months is not going to be attractive to Companies as Permanent staff, and may even fail to be interesting as a Contractor cos he keeps disappearing off for 6 months and falls behind in their skill sets.....

 

[msr]

I don't see employees being big onside.....

Why? Because I've never come across an IT Department anywhere that's overmanned, in fact it's normal for most IT departments in the Private sector to be as small as they can get away with. I've seen more teams get along with a bare handful of permanent and as many temps and Contractors as they need to get peaks dealt with, or as as part of their normal manning.

So a member of staff who's going to vanish for 8 months is not going to be attractive to Companies as Permanent staff, and may even fail to be interesting as a Contractor cos he keeps disappearing off for 6 months and falls behind in their skill sets.....

So here is the TA providing up to date skill sets and I would suggest, filling exactly these sort of roles.

msr

 

[polar69]

I reckon I could be an IS eng standing on my head

 

[msr]

http://learning.microsoft.com/Manag...rt=PublicationDateDescending&page=1&View=free

And for students: http://www.dreamspark.com

Polar: any chance you could create a wiki page with free resources applicable to TA IS Engrs?

msr

 

[steptoe]

Why would I do my £35k+ job for £40 per day.. I don't mind being a bod for that, sweeping out garages etc. But I am not going to set up a ESX platform, or fix a server for that kind of money.. I would be like working 7 days a week.

I think LIAG and LICSG have the right idea. Commissoning as a Capt I would still be loosing money if I was sent away, but not as much. And they only want 19 days a year.

I have heard some people say that ICT is easy and loads of people can "do computers" around the TAC. But like my other half who is a PQO I spent 4 years at Uni, + 3 years studying professional quals.

Sorry wont rant too much.. Just saw one of those IT adverts with the road sweeper earning 30k by doing a course with Computeach

 

[Kitmarlowe]

I don't see employees being big onside.....

Why? Because I've never come across an IT Department anywhere that's overmanned, in fact it's normal for most IT departments in the Private sector to be as small as they can get away with. I've seen more teams get along with a bare handful of permanent and as many temps and Contractors as they need to get peaks dealt with, or as as part of their normal manning.

So a member of staff who's going to vanish for 8 months is not going to be attractive to Companies as Permanent staff, and may even fail to be interesting as a Contractor cos he keeps disappearing off for 6 months and falls behind in their skill sets.....

So here is the TA providing up to date skill sets and I would suggest, filling exactly these sort of roles.

msr

The drama is going away on tour for 6 months plus. You come back, start job hunting and Agencies treat those 6 months as out of the loop, you may have been doing exactly the same work as you're now looking for, but Agencies haven't got a scoby and treat it as a blank space.

 

[msr]

The drama is going away on tour for 6 months plus. You come back, start job hunting and Agencies treat those 6 months as out of the loop, you may have been doing exactly the same work as you're now looking for, but Agencies haven't got a scoby and treat it as a blank space.

Personally I found exactly the opposite was true - plus it makes for very easy interviews

It is easy enough to 'civilianise' your CV.

msr

 

[polar]

Not sure it would really work, my employer is struggling for staff and has tried various measures to recruit more staff - such as opening an office on the M1 to try to get staff from Sheffield and Nottingham (this is in Leeds).

I think MSR is right, quals need to be offered to make it a decent trade off. The Army can't expect to rape skills without putting something in, maybe DELC etc can work but they need to be more accessible to TA and they need to gain real quals.

But then the medics prove this is wrong

 

[Goku]

I can’t see it being workable.

As has already been said, would an experienced Sys Admin want to do their day job for their Army wage?? I sure as hell wouldn’t.

Could the TA train up an inexperienced sprog to be Sys Admin…
With the time the TA has to work with (2 week camp, drill nights, a weekend a month) you wouldn’t produce anyone with particularly competent skills.
They’d need constant supervision.

 

[msr]

I can’t see it being workable.

As has already been said, would an experienced Sys Admin want to do their day job for their Army wage?? I sure as hell wouldn’t.

Could the TA train up an inexperienced sprog to be Sys Admin…
With the time the TA has to work with (2 week camp, drill nights, a weekend a month) you wouldn’t produce anyone with particularly competent skills.
They’d need constant supervision.

But you don't just need 3rd line support trained staff - you need a help desk and second line too.

I see it working like this: people will be able to borrow books from the TA library, study at home via DELC and get the 'hands on' on the small networks which will be provided at the TACs.

Class 3 courses may include Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician, Microsoft Certified Application Specialist, A+, Network+ and Security+, CCENT

Class 2 courses may include CCNA, MCP etc

Class1: CCNP, MCSE

Just look at what 35SR are doing and 33SR are trying to do.

msr

 

[polar69]

It would certainly be nice to be able to recruit people who had been attracted by the it/comms tagline

 

[Goku]

It would certainly be nice to be able to recruit people who had been attracted by the it/comms tagline

I looked into moving over to the Sigs a couple of years ago with the thought of doing IT in the TA.
I was put off when I found all I’d be able to do is play with radios, the thought of spending my weekends with static in my ears didn’t appeal.

 

[msr]

It would certainly be nice to be able to recruit people who had been attracted by the it/comms tagline

I looked into moving over to the Sigs a couple of years ago with the thought of doing IT in the TA.
I was put off when I found all I’d be able to do is play with radios, the thought of spending my weekends with static in my ears didn’t appeal.

Exactly. Recognised IT qualifications would be a major selling point for R SIGNALS (V).

msr

 

[Goku]

Sorry if this is a bone question, but do IT jobs even exist in the TA other than with LIAG whom only appear to have a TAC in Corsham?

 

[polar]

Sorry if this is a bone question, but do IT jobs even exist in the TA other than with LIAG whom only appear to have a TAC in Corsham?

Yes my sqn has a 'IT' det but mainly the IT stuff is done by the IS Eng PSI. We have soldiers who can do the work but we have a lot of red tape to get through to let them do so.

e.g. Had soldiers go through the right course only to loose their admin rights a few months latter

 

[Mali]

It would certainly be nice to be able to recruit people who had been attracted by the it/comms tagline

I work in IT (2nd/3rd line support) and I've recently joined a Signals Squadron. They have told me they will be putting me forward as a Techie, but as I have realised there are many flavours of the Tech trade in Royal Signals and I'm not sure what type of Tech trade I will be training for?

I have yet to complete all my soldier training so my trade training is a long way off at the moment. It would be nice however if my training in the TA could help me in my civilian job.

Regards

Mali

 

[polar]

The tech trade as it currently stands serves no function - they repair no kit, tech PSI's do this. We've had one of ours retrained as an Operator as it would enhance his carer prospects

 

[Mali]

The tech trade as it currently stands serves no function - they repair no kit, tech PSI's do this. We've had one of ours retrained as an Operator as it would enhance his carer prospects

He's a carer? I Didn't know they used comms kit sorry couldnt resist

In all seriousness thats a shame as I'm sure retention would be improved if the TA could provide training,certs and experience that are transferable to your civvy occupation.

Regards

Mali