any of you lot in the 170th royal engineers reserves?

[elsparko]

looking to dip my toes back into military life, just wondering if any of you lot are in the engineer reserves so i can arm wrestle you

 

[Pete999]

looking to dip my toes back into military life, just wondering if any of you lot are in the engineer reserves so i can arm wrestle you

I'll have whatever he's having

 

[Madocks]

Nope

 

[DavidSpark]

From what I hear (having looked into it) they are very friendly and active in terms of actually getting away and doing stuff. However you must have what they are looking for obviously (not hard considering current shortages).

As a national reserve unit you only need to do the minimum commitment days, I think its 19 per year. That's a two week "training exercise" which I was told was actual work on DIO sites across the globe, and then maybe 2 weekends and that is your commitment.

As they are national they don't do the turn up on Thursday night and do drill type stuff so if that is what you are looking for, you won't find it with that unit.

Also depending on when you left and your rank, you could be entitled to the good old regular to reserve bonus, which I think may be left less than 6 years ago and be under SGT. Anything over 6 years (don't quote me on this) and you may have to go back to basic and do the reserve basic training course.

Give them a call and they'll be more than happy to help! However I'd wait till maybe after the 8th as it's doubtful you'd get a hold of anyone otherwise!

You'll find their information at the bottom of this page:
Reserve Elements - British Army Website - http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28913.aspx

 

[Midwest]

Will you be an Oggie or POM?

Military type joke - Royal Engineers - www.ShootForum.com - http://www.shootforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=151&t=18871

 

[elsparko]

From what I hear (having looked into it) they are very friendly and active in terms of actually getting away and doing stuff. However you must have what they are looking for obviously (not hard considering current shortages).

As a national reserve unit you only need to do the minimum commitment days, I think its 19 per year. That's a two week "training exercise" which I was told was actual work on DIO sites across the globe, and then maybe 2 weekends and that is your commitment.

As they are national they don't do the turn up on Thursday night and do drill type stuff so if that is what you are looking for, you won't find it with that unit.

Also depending on when you left and your rank, you could be entitled to the good old regular to reserve bonus, which I think may be left less than 6 years ago and be under SGT. Anything over 6 years (don't quote me on this) and you may have to go back to basic and do the reserve basic training course.

Give them a call and they'll be more than happy to help! However I'd wait till maybe after the 8th as it's doubtful you'd get a hold of anyone otherwise!

You'll find their information at the bottom of this page:
Reserve Elements - British Army Website - http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28913.aspx

i should clarify that i never fully served as i was failed my medical at the last hurdle this was around 13 years ago

was about 2 weeks before i started phase 1 that i was informed i would no longer be going, i was told however that i could still join the reserves if i chose to, scored almost perfect marks on the BARB, not that it was a hard test lol

im looking to avoid the drill nights as i did plenty of that as a cadet, i feel like i have knowledge that would benefit the 170th now that im almost through my apprenticeship

by the looks of the news looks like we will be nation-building in north korea when the yanks stick their noses in

 

[DavidSpark]

If that is the case then there will be a bit more to it than just turning up, best contact them and they'll give you all the info you need to get on your way! Best of luck with it!

 

[dave274]

Are you sure you can join the reserves if you failed the medical? I thought they just did the same as the regular army.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Are you sure you can join the reserves if you failed the medical? I thought they just did the same as the regular army.

the standards to join reserves now has come down quite a bit as they are in desperate need of numbers.
i was medically discharged so cant do reserves. would love to go back and do something, If the proverbial really hits the fan i will be on phone to the mod making myself available

 

[dave274]

Was you in the corps Gavin? just asking with 40cdo being in Taunton.

 

[not_today]

I'll be following this post with interest ... I've been considering the reserves for ages now .. I'm starting my level 2 in the next month also ... I think I may swing past the army careers center in town today ...

 

[dave274]

I'd like to recommend the Royal Marines Reserve to anyone thinking of joining part time. You have to do the whole 32 weeks basic training and the commando tests but you'll be accepted as one of the family and will only be called a rubber dagger for a year or two.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Was you in the corps Gavin? just asking with 40cdo being in Taunton.

No I was RAF, did consider the Royal Marines as they have a good reputation in the west country and people respect them. I did go on a pre selection course at Lympstone, was tough but enjoyable. My interest was more into aviation, so RAF sealed it, I was lucky that i got a grant for flying lessons when in sixth form but due to becoming bored and disillusioned with a-levels i went in in the ranks rather than seeking a commission as an officer. It meant i didnt have to pay the grant back though! I only did 20 hours so never got my ppl. Ended up as a weapons tech. then had a few health issues and got a medical discharge.. i miss the good sides of the job but hated the RAF's petty ocd rules on things to do with kit. A friend of mine who joined same time was a avionics tech and got posted with the red arrows, the lucky so and so spent several months every year in cyprus and travelled the world with the red arrows.

 

[dave274]

I spent a month at RAF Akratiri after a several month exercise in Egypt, I remember the food being fantastic compared to the muck we used to eat, but then I remember even the army's food was better than ours lol.

 

[SparkAndy]

Spent 5 years with 170 Reserves, including a 6 month tour. Feel free to message me direct

 

[Pete E]

I did 11 years in the TA, both Infantry and Cavalry...I would recommend it to anyone, but I would not go into a specialist Unit that was essentially a continuation of my day job...I joined to do something "different" if that makes sense.

Was reading else where on here that members of the Reserves can get some sort of grants/discounts towards training in civvie street...

The discussion was concerning one of the 10 week training providers and however the scheme worked, the costs of the course to the trainee reduced from £6000 to £1000 which is a fantastic saving...