Territorial Army (TA)

I've been in the TA over seven years now and my attitude to it has developed the whole time. When I first joined it was because a friend persuaded me to go along, I was at college and not at all interested in the military but I went along out of curiousity. What I found was a group of people from all sorts of different backgrounds who have a sense of adventure, want to do something constructive with their spare time and develop themselves personally. In my unit there are plumbers, IT experts, motorcycle couriers, students, a millionaire, psychiatrists, and loads more. The first few years to me it was just a hobby (although you get paid for it) - you go along ...

After spending the night under a poncho that was suspended from bungee's and sleeping on a flimsy roll mat, I was not fully refreshed and ready for action when I crawled out from under the basha. However, a few cups of ration tea later and a barely cooked breakfast I was packed, locked and cocked ready for another full day at the "office". The troops had already been assembled thanks to my Platoon Sergeant and we were trudging along a snow covered Scottish hillside up by Aylth, NW of Dundee. We were heading out to attack a few positions, perform a recce and set up an ambush. The weather was not in our favour. Snow saturated our ...

Having served in the Royal Corps of Signals for over 15 years I have seen massive changes in both the soldiers and the technology that they use. When I first joined the discipline was far harsher than it is now, you would not say anything unless spoken to, and then it still might get you into trouble! Nowadays the recruit is far more questioning, which can be a good thing, as long as when the time comes they know when to stop the questions and just do the do! We have a lower level of fitness now as well but this is probably due to the computer generation that is now emerging, the days of playing football as a child seem to be dwindling. As for technology, my Corps is now ...