Thinking about doing a bit more with my life now the kids are growing up a bit. Thinking about joining the TA or RAF reservists and doing a bit for the country and helping alongside the real heroes.
Anyone had any experience or currently enrolled? Would like to hear your opinions.

My cousin and her husband were both in the TA’s and ended out in Iraq so it isnt something to undertake lightly.

Edit: Sorry didnt want to sound negative but a few people I know seemed to think it was playing soldiers but the reality is slightly different. These days it is quite likely you could be called up to active duy

I spent some time instructing after my regular service. It’s a very different organisation than what it was; you will be expected to mobilise to AFG. I think the important thing is to choose the right unit for you, so visit as many as are in your area.

Yes, I realise that the chances of being shipped out is high. I have both TA and RAF just on my doorstep. Will make an appointment to go and see them both.

Curly, I’m a former regular and current TA, I would highly recommend it to anyone who has an ambition to work outside the ‘norms’ and broaden their skillset and experiences. The TA has changed massively since the 90s when it was a bit of a Boys-Own-drinking-Club, it is now a thoroughly professional organisation which operates very advanced equipment in some extremely challenging environments. The requirement to deploy on Operations is a red-herring, you are only eligible to deploy once fully trained in your specialist field and only go if you volunteer; the current Op in Afghan is not a declared war-fighting Operation and therefore Compulsory Call Up is not in effect (although there are Specialist exceptions to this). I am very familiar with some of the units in your area (Para, RAF Regt) and would say the most important step is to find the Unit which you’re the best ‘fit’ for i.e. your skills match their needs and their role ‘excites’ you enough to keep you interested (currently my minimum committment is 1 night a fortnight, 1 full w/e per month and a 2 week overseas camp per year).
Make the right choices and I guarantee you’ll get great satisfaction from Serving.

I’m ex regular and went to join royal marine reserves but they said I’d be out to Afghanistan within 6 months which Mrs wasn’t too happy with. So don’t undertake lightly and as said above pick your unit wisely as some are required to stood by for call up

I’m ex-TA and want to join up again, assuming I can shift my long-term running injuries.

If you’re Ipswich way then you’re near my old lot (formerly East of England Regt., now 3rd Battalion Royal Anglians) and the RAF Regt. over at RAF Honington, as well as various others in Colchester (although I don’t believe that there’s a TA Para unit there). I’d agree with all of the above – have a mooch round and see what takes your fancy.

I had a real love/hate relationship with it, which apparently is how it’s meant to be. I found the TA to be very professional and definitely a good thing to do; however, the chances are you will be asked to do a tour once fully trained. Friends in the RAF Regt. reserves were called up as soon as Iraq started and the Royal Anglians have been regulars in Afghanistan.

Mrs Scamper was in the TA for 4 years before joining the regular RAF. She loved it – “like the regular forces but without all the shit”. I presume by that, she mean all the admin/lifestyle faff.

Firestarter, I’m a member of my Units Interview Board for potential Officers and we always ask how they’d feel if deployed in 6mths, we use the question to gauge committment/interest/screen-out-would-be-Rambos! However the reality is quite different, the pre-deployment training alone is in excess of 6mths fulltime for anyone going frontline, closer to 9mths for ‘bayonets’ and well over a year for EOD types (such as Sapper Blanchard who was killed this week). I’m former RM and even though RMR Mersey is only 30 miles away I’ve ended up in another unit as I did not get positive vibes when I enquired/visited the detachment, if you’re still interested there are many other options out there.

Think seriously before you take this step. Think about all the negatives if you are injuried and returned etc.

A very noble proposition/thought though and good luck.

Personally I’d also consider the Specials if I was you.

Personally I’d also consider the Specials if I was you.

Eh?

http://www.thespecials.com

Into de_void not sure I’d bother now tbh with two little ones. I went to local para one But they put me right off too much like the regular lot 😉 mate is in 23 which are local he’s enjoying that. Got straight in as done hills already but got injured in jungle in regs . Done Iraq twice and Afghanistan already tho so its a big commitment

questions you should ask:

1. is my employer supportive (do I get extra leave for the 2 week camp and for speciallist courses or is it out of my normal allocation

2. what happens with childcare, support for the wife etc if you do get deployed (it’s not the regulars so little unit based support) and when you go on camps and courses for two weeks

3. what is the basic training? how long, how much done

4. what is the specialist role training? how long how much done

5. what is the training programme for the year (remember last FY they stopped the weekend training to save money until the outcry found some more money)

6. within the training program how much is in the field, how much in barracks training, how much kit polishing/ equipment maintenance

7. if its a specialist unit how often do they operate the kit on exercise, get to fire the big guns/ missiles etc

8. how often in the training program do you practise basic personal skills such as shooting straight and small unit tactics outside the annual “bounty test”

9. how professional does the unit look, how “athletic” does the command team look

The final question is do I think the basic training will get me to a standard to sit next to a regular soldier doing pre-deployment training (you don’t get extra).

Get answers and you can make an informed decision, if you do join make the most of it but remember the family as the wife takes up the slack at home.

Yes, I was in the RAF Aux Defence Force, which was disbanded about(?) 15 years ago, based at RAF Brampton, Cambs. We were set up during the cold war to provide station defence to allow the regulars to do their ‘real’ jobs, but we were a victim of the end of communism, so we didn’t have a role for the last few years, so we just did a lot of range work and dicking around in Land Rovers at STANTA. Great fun but not what you’d do now in the TA or RAF Reg.

*hand up*

Yes. Joined my unit about a year ago now and love it. But, it’s a national unit, so I only get to see the rest of my unit at MATTs weekends or formal occasions.

I would say that if you are thinking about joining, bear in mind that the TA is becoming more a core part of operations, so anyone that is thinking of joining should be prepared to spend six months plus away from home, family and work. That means you do need to have a supportive family and a job that understands.

Also think wisely about what part of the TA you want to join. Apart from the teeth arms, maybe consider the RLC or the RAMC/QARANC. Maybe Signals. Each of these will provide a contribution to the effort that the regulars put in, and will help a lot on deployed ops. They may not be as glamorous as Infantry, but they have the potential to be as dangerous. They are also essential to an army’s functioning.

If you want to talk more about it off the forum, PM me and I’ll be happy to chat.

Last regular tour I did there were more ta/reserves than regulars in my section and It’s the norm now

What unit are you in Willard?

Yeah, REME VM in an RA regiment. Joined when I was really quite young and before I had a family. Unfortunately life has started taking over somewhat with work/kids and trying to have a hobby so time with the TA has been seriously limited lately!

If you join take advantage of everything going, there are some brilliant opportunities ranging from driving licenses to adventure travel abroad. I spent a month out in Kenya and got the chance to go on safari and dive off the coast of Mombasa, things people save a lifetime for and I was getting payed to be there!!

I’m really glad I joined, my confidence shot up and I’ve had some amazing experiences and made friends for life.

Jazz, it’s part of RSIGS, HQ’d about an hour west on the M4 from you.