ta

[eupraxia]

I think I'm in the right place. My question is How long do you have to be in The territorial army before you are sent on active duty to some where like Iraq Or Afganistan.

Am I right in thinking you have to be in for some time before they let you go..

Thanks for your time

[johnlambert]

Hi eupraxia,

Im an ex PSI at a TA unit, basically you need to be qualified for role, in my old Unit's case that meant that the Medics had to CMT2 and the RLC/REME people needed to have completed relevant courses.

TA units tend to called up en mass now so if you are alresdy in then just wait, it will happen. If you cant wait and want to go quicker then apply for an FTRS (if that system still operates) to an operational unit.

You didnt say if you are in the TA or not but I hope this info helps,

TA soldiers were looked on as just playing at being soldiers not so long ago, however, now the Regular Army cany operate without them so they are seen as a valuable asset.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!

[funnywebsite]

It usually depends on the war, i.e. if the war was to get more violent more soldiers would be called up and that will mean TA's and ex soldies.

[eupraxia]

yea Sorry I din't stae that did I.

I'm not in but a friend of my sons is. He says hes been to Afganistan and Iraq. he's in the Green Jackets. He's about 20 and he went to Afganistan about 4 or 5 months after he joined. I thought this was a bit soon to be sending these guys in to a combat situation. After all the regulars get a lot more training. I know this cos I was born and raised around the Army in Aldershot. But I realy don't know that much about the TA.

[johnlambert]

He will have done a 2 week Infantry course, it takes the Regular Army soldiers 6 weeks to complete this and it culminates in 3 stage exercise on a training area like Catterick or Salisbury Plain (both VERY cold places), however, because time with TA soldiers is limited we only have them for 2 weeks and (as I am sure your friends son will tell you) the training is VERY intense. He will also have undergone several recruit selection weekends and drill nights prior to the 2 week Cadre.

Added to this he will have gone to to the RTMC (Reservists Training and Mobalisation Center) in Chilwell, Nottingham for another 2 weeks, where he will have done further training ie First Aid, NBC defence, weapon drill, and attended lectures on the current operational situation etc before being deployed to theatre.

So he will be fully trained and able to cope with any given situation so no need to worry, just be ready to sit done the pub when he gets home safe and listen to hours and hours of war stories while admiring his shiney campaign medal.

Hope this puts your mind at rest.

Regards

PS, send him copious ammounts of letters and parcels, when I've been to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia etc I've been bored rigid

[eupraxia]

I ought to tell you the guy is a bit of a rat really. he called himself my sons best mate but nearly made him homeless and recked a lot of his stuff in the prosess. yea it takes a lot to do the job you guys do but it doesn't always make you a good guy.

I take my hat off to the majority of you but not this guy.

He almost wrecked my sons life and has cost him a lot of money in the prosess. I wouldn't want him in my unit if I were in the TA. Not the sort you would trust in a life or death emergency.