the T.A

[Beomere]

Anyone in it? Any stories, info? x

[Kenny Everett]

With every chance of getting sent to a war zone and shot at, you're not on

[SOLIDBOB]

McCoy prefers seamen.

[Sgt Craig]

aye i think these days (post iraq and afghan invasions) the TA is no longer just a bunch of sad weekend warrior types (like us airsofters :P) . Recently they have been involved in some pretty serious stuff and have done pretty well.

I watched a documentry recently where it was a TA officer who was in charge of a mixed squad of regular british army and a bunch of lithuainians (i think) and they were in one of the remote Afghan compounds on the frontlines by themselves, pretty mental stuff as the guy was a postie or something back home.

[Semprini]

They certainly make Hampden a noisy place...

[Beomere]

Lol hello Chris - might've expected that from you ;o)

[Jaemi]

Seems like a bit of a waste of time for me.
I've considered the army, never the T.A.

I dunno, it just seems like a pure raw deal.

[sjonit]

I was in the T.A then went to the University and Officer training Corps when I started Uni.

Its great fun if you are an adventurous type. Early starts, very physically demanding work, it can take its toll on your body but you become used to it.

Its usually 1 training night a week with 1 weekend away every month, and a easter summer and winter camp. You only need to attend for 27 days though.

Training nights usually consist of small arms fire, learning your particular trade/skill dependent on which TA regiment or corps you go into, drill and PT.

Weekends are usually fri night/sat/sun morn then home for sun night. You undertake a lot in this space, anything from map reading exercises to simulated battles.

The big camps are awesome, up to 2 weeks at a time. Where you participate in mock campaigns.

We had a 10 day exercise in the Hebrides were we simulated rebel groups attacking British base camps.
On one day my company were doing a patrol of the outer perimeter and we saw 3 ppl approaching (at night). So we sneaked up to them and forced them to the ground and demanded they tell us who they were. It turned out they were American Tourists, hahah, was so funny.

Exercises are the best part, so much adrenaline when you are storming enemy positions, sometimes with live fire over head. Mortar rounds echoing through canyons and explosions not far away.

As said before though, there is an ever increasing likelyhood you will be called up as the British Army are extended to their limits at the moment with all these theatres of war atm.

Go for it if you like adventure, travel, and WAR, haha.

some of my best memories.

[bugpowderdust]

The soldiery life has never had any appeal for me whatsoever, but I always thought that if I had to go to war I'd want the guys next to me to be bad-ass, not part-timers.