Ask a military guy...

[Dectomax]

Ireland are part of the UK!

Aheheheh... no. I hope you're just confusing Northern Ireland with Ireland, and not displaying either a complete ignorance of, or total disregard for, Irish independence...

Traumatising? I've not really been in action too much. as I stated, I was deployed and within the second week hit by mortar fire.

What does being mortared have anything to do with taking a shit?

Cleaning was done by local contractors. They'd come atleast once a week. But sometimes they'd get threatened or combat operations would limit travel. They can get pretty full during those times. And if it's summer it is almost unbearable. You deal with it though.

That's quite interesting. But boy I don't envy those local contractors. Talk about a shitty job... I'd take soldiering any day.

I'm not entirely sure I understand your post?

 

[Hatter]

Don't want this to come off the wrong way but, Are Marines as over glorified over there as they are in the U.S.? It seems that your general Joe, even more so in the younger generations, over here thinks of your average Marine as Rambo, and a soldier as just some guy that walks around inside the wire and pees himself when he hears someone say "Taliban".

I can quote at least 30 people that I've seen posting on various websites that demonstrate this.

A regular infantryman in the British Army trains for 14 weeks.

A regular Marine in the USMC trains for 12 weeks. ( Correct me if I'm wrong? )

A Royal Marine trains for 32 weeks, with one of the most intensive and difficult Recruit training of the NATO forces.

Whilst I consider myself better trained and better equipped to deal with certain scenarios than other infantry, that by no means makes them lesser. I have the upmost respect for all members of the armed forces. (I just believe our units a little better...)

I believe that basic for Marines is 13 weeks, no clue how much everything following that would add up to.
It's refreshing to see someone with such a modest demeanor.

 

[Frizzle]

Will the marines allow non-americans to join?
Im considering re-enlisting into the army and im not going back to the russian army.

The Royal Marines are British. Have been since 1664. You would have to be a member of a commonwealth state or have been a UK citizen for 5 years to be eligible to join.

My bad about that i thought the marines were american and thanks for the information.

The U.S. Marines will allow non-citizens to join, yes. You have to just be a resident, if memory serves. I had a few mexican friends that still didn't have citizenship even after a deployment, though they did get it shortly after coming back.

And Dectomax, I think they changed the U.S. Marines' bootcamp to 9 weeks. They cut out some stuff they thought was unnecessary.

 

[Dectomax]

Don't want this to come off the wrong way but, Are Marines as over glorified over there as they are in the U.S.? It seems that your general Joe, even more so in the younger generations, over here thinks of your average Marine as Rambo, and a soldier as just some guy that walks around inside the wire and pees himself when he hears someone say "Taliban".

I can quote at least 30 people that I've seen posting on various websites that demonstrate this.

A regular infantryman in the British Army trains for 14 weeks.

A regular Marine in the USMC trains for 12 weeks. ( Correct me if I'm wrong? )

A Royal Marine trains for 32 weeks, with one of the most intensive and difficult Recruit training of the NATO forces.

Whilst I consider myself better trained and better equipped to deal with certain scenarios than other infantry, that by no means makes them lesser. I have the upmost respect for all members of the armed forces. (I just believe our units a little better...)

I believe that basic for Marines is 13 weeks, no clue how much everything following that would add up to.
It's refreshing to see someone with such a modest demeanor.

Thanks for the correction, I knew it was around that mark somewhere!

 

[Dectomax]

Will the marines allow non-americans to join?
Im considering re-enlisting into the army and im not going back to the russian army.

The Royal Marines are British. Have been since 1664. You would have to be a member of a commonwealth state or have been a UK citizen for 5 years to be eligible to join.

My bad about that i thought the marines were american and thanks for the information.

The U.S. Marines will allow non-citizens to join, yes. You have to just be a resident, if memory serves. I had a few mexican friends that still didn't have citizenship even after a deployment, though they did get it shortly after coming back.

And Dectomax, I think they changed the U.S. Marines' bootcamp to 9 weeks. They cut out some stuff they thought was unnecessary.

Didn't see this, 13 weeks or 9 weeks? I'm so confused! At any rate, their training is different and adheres to different specifications.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Has your unit ever serve with the Militaries of other countries? If so, which ones and how did you like them?

 

[Frizzle]

Will the marines allow non-americans to join?
Im considering re-enlisting into the army and im not going back to the russian army.

The Royal Marines are British. Have been since 1664. You would have to be a member of a commonwealth state or have been a UK citizen for 5 years to be eligible to join.

My bad about that i thought the marines were american and thanks for the information.

The U.S. Marines will allow non-citizens to join, yes. You have to just be a resident, if memory serves. I had a few mexican friends that still didn't have citizenship even after a deployment, though they did get it shortly after coming back.

And Dectomax, I think they changed the U.S. Marines' bootcamp to 9 weeks. They cut out some stuff they thought was unnecessary.

Didn't see this, 13 weeks or 9 weeks? I'm so confused! At any rate, their training is different and adheres to different specifications.

Don't worry, it threw me for a loop, too. When I went in 2002 it was 13 weeks long. A few years after, they changed it and made it shorter. I don't recall exactly how much shorter, but I could have sworn it was cut down to 9. I might have to ask my friend and get back to you on the exact length. Regardless, yes the training is different.

I will say that I got the chance to work with a couple of guys from the British forces, and I have nothing but good things to say. I was actually kinda jealous at the time because you guys have toilets in your vehicles, and we still had to go outside That, and I like your rifles a lot more
Cheers

 

[Dectomax]

Has your unit ever serve with the Militaries of other countries? If so, which ones and how did you like them?

We have had a few USMC over to train with us and for the most part there great lads.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Will the marines allow non-americans to join?
Im considering re-enlisting into the army and im not going back to the russian army.

The Royal Marines are British. Have been since 1664. You would have to be a member of a commonwealth state or have been a UK citizen for 5 years to be eligible to join.

My bad about that i thought the marines were american and thanks for the information.

The U.S. Marines will allow non-citizens to join, yes. You have to just be a resident, if memory serves. I had a few mexican friends that still didn't have citizenship even after a deployment, though they did get it shortly after coming back.

And Dectomax, I think they changed the U.S. Marines' bootcamp to 9 weeks. They cut out some stuff they thought was unnecessary.

Didn't see this, 13 weeks or 9 weeks? I'm so confused! At any rate, their training is different and adheres to different specifications.

Marine Basic Training is 13 weeks, Air Force is 8 1/2, Army is 6 and I think Navy is 8. This is only the very basics though, every service member goes through more training specified to their career field after basic.

 

[Dectomax]

Will the marines allow non-americans to join?
Im considering re-enlisting into the army and im not going back to the russian army.

The Royal Marines are British. Have been since 1664. You would have to be a member of a commonwealth state or have been a UK citizen for 5 years to be eligible to join.

My bad about that i thought the marines were american and thanks for the information.

The U.S. Marines will allow non-citizens to join, yes. You have to just be a resident, if memory serves. I had a few mexican friends that still didn't have citizenship even after a deployment, though they did get it shortly after coming back.

And Dectomax, I think they changed the U.S. Marines' bootcamp to 9 weeks. They cut out some stuff they thought was unnecessary.

Didn't see this, 13 weeks or 9 weeks? I'm so confused! At any rate, their training is different and adheres to different specifications.

Don't worry, it threw me for a loop, too. When I went in 2002 it was 13 weeks long. A few years after, they changed it and made it shorter. I don't recall exactly how much shorter, but I could have sworn it was cut down to 9. I might have to ask my friend and get back to you on the exact length. Regardless, yes the training is different.

I will say that I got the chance to work with a couple of guys from the British forces, and I have nothing but good things to say. I was actually kinda jealous at the time because you guys have toilets in your vehicles, and we still had to go outside That, and I like your rifles a lot more
Cheers

I've got to say, I love the L85. It's an amazing rifle. The only weapon I've used that I feel is as good as it, is the Canadian C7. That was a nice rifle too. Light and didn't have much kick to it.

 

[Shock and Awe]

How do you feel when you see people protesting against your work in Afghanistan? Guilty? Hateful? Unappreciated?

It's their right. I neither care, nor worry about these people.

Also, how frequently do you ever question an officer's orders? Are your opinions appreciated or is it still like how it was in the 19th century? I ask because because it happens all the time in my cadet force.

Take it from a fellow cadet, our programs' similarities with the military stop at the uniform and ranks.

 

[Dante54]

How do you feel about the unquestioning obedience aspect of the whole thing? My father spent over a year as a cadet, and walked away with a lifelong hatred for any kind of intrinsic authority. Granted, this was in the USSR, and he was general-purpose infantry [read: meat-shield], but the idea that somebody can treat you like dirt 'just because' disturbs me. I understand the necessity of discipline, but doesn't it feel strange sometimes? And since we're talking about the British Armed Forces, how do you feel about the fact that a sizeable portion of the Officers got their job due to their ancestry as opposed to their abilities?

I'm toying with the idea of joining the British Armed Forces [I'm Irish, but that shouldn't really be a problem], but these things tend to niggle.

Just joined the escapist and I read this with interest. I'm a Royal Navy Officer and I thought I'd answer the officer related questions. Yes I listen to what the ratings say some of them have far more experience than I do. I did not get my commission because of my family there is now a through interview process. I'm not allowed to treat people like dirt because I feel like it they can complain.

 

[Dectomax]

How do you feel about the unquestioning obedience aspect of the whole thing? My father spent over a year as a cadet, and walked away with a lifelong hatred for any kind of intrinsic authority. Granted, this was in the USSR, and he was general-purpose infantry [read: meat-shield], but the idea that somebody can treat you like dirt 'just because' disturbs me. I understand the necessity of discipline, but doesn't it feel strange sometimes? And since we're talking about the British Armed Forces, how do you feel about the fact that a sizeable portion of the Officers got their job due to their ancestry as opposed to their abilities?

I'm toying with the idea of joining the British Armed Forces [I'm Irish, but that shouldn't really be a problem], but these things tend to niggle.

Just joined the escapist and I read this with interest. I'm a Royal Navy Officer and I thought I'd answer the officer related questions. Yes I listen to what the ratings say some of them have far more experience than I do. I did not get my commission because of my family there is now a through interview process. I'm not allowed to treat people like dirt because I feel like it they can complain.

Thank you! I've been trying to answer the questions as best I can, but with only just over a years experience and being a Lance Corporal, some of the questions I've just had to make educated guesses.

Good seeing a fellow Navy man here!

 

[Dante54]

Well Navy woman

You can answer the how annoying are officers questions.

 

[Dectomax]

Well Navy woman

You can answer the how annoying are officers questions.

I stand corrected! Sorry! Haha!

 

[CompetingMantis]

I'm actually looking to join the British Army as an Officer after I graduate from university this year, and I've got my first interview at a Careers Office in a couple of weeks. Any advice on what sort of questions I might be asked, or that I should be asking?

Also, assuming I get that far in the selection process, I know you're supposed to pick a regiment to be sponsored by through training, and I honestly have no idea what differentiates most of them. I'm looking to be involved in the infantry rather than anything else, but beyond that I'm not really sure - I don't come from a military family and don't really know anyone that serves, so other than trawl through descriptions of regiments on Wikipedia or whatever I'm not really sure how to make a decision.

 

[Dectomax]

I'm actually looking to join the British Army as an Officer after I graduate from university this year, and I've got my first interview at a Careers Office in a couple of weeks. Any advice on what sort of questions I might be asked, or that I should be asking?

Also, assuming I get that far in the selection process, I know you're supposed to pick a regiment to be sponsored by through training, and I honestly have no idea what differentiates most of them. I'm looking to be involved in the infantry rather than anything else, but beyond that I'm not really sure - I don't come from a military family and don't really know anyone that serves, so other than trawl through descriptions of regiments on Wikipedia or whatever I'm not really sure how to make a decision.

It depends on what role you want? The Infantry have a rather large amount of regiments.
EDIT:
The Rifles and The Merican Regiments are two of the most respected Infantry regiments, though there are others too. the Royal Engineers and The Royal Artillery are very good, offering multiple trades to advance your career. So, there's a fair few options to look at.

As for the interview, the first time will just be a quick chat and some basic questions, why do you want to join? What interests do you have stuff like that. It's all very informal so there's not much to worry about!

 

[BlueMage]

I understand that the (.au) military offers full engineering degrees (and an officer rank upon graduation) but how willing are they to take a slightly-older (mid to late twenties) individual who already has a degree or two.

For clarification, I'm an engineer (mechatronic, so mech and elec) by education and employment, but I have considered joining the military previously, just wanted to know if what I've already done counts for anything.

 

[CompetingMantis]

It depends on what role you want? The Infantry have a rather large amount of regiments.
EDIT:
The Rifles and The Merican Regiments are two of the most respected Infantry regiments, though there are others too. the Royal Engineers and The Royal Artillery are very good, offering multiple trades to advance your career. So, there's a fair few options to look at.

As for the interview, the first time will just be a quick chat and some basic questions, why do you want to join? What interests do you have stuff like that. It's all very informal so there's not much to worry about!

Thanks for the reply! I thought the interview might be an informal thing - I'm still going to try and over-prepare though I guess, simply because it's something I really want to do, and also because I've applied for bugger-all else this year so it's this or moving back home...

And cheers for the advice about regiments, I'll have a look at the two you mentioned. At the moment I haven't really had much time to do any research - my final-year dissertation is eating all my time at the moment - but I'm hoping to look into it a bit more deeply once that's all over with, and possibly meet up with an ex-serviceman friend of my parents to have a chat about that sort of thing.

 

[Dectomax]

I understand that the (.au) military offers full engineering degrees (and an officer rank upon graduation) but how willing are they to take a slightly-older (mid to late twenties) individual who already has a degree or two.

For clarification, I'm an engineer (mechatronic, so mech and elec) by education and employment, but I have considered joining the military previously, just wanted to know if what I've already done counts for anything.

Well, if it's anything like the British Army, they'll except you until your 32. Previous knowledge of engineering can only be a plus!I would have thought as long as you are physically able, they would take you on.