or know anyone who is ?? specifically in the Sheffield area ?

Just wondered what it was like.:? :o

I have a uni friend who is in the TA. I have been thinking about joining for the last 6 months but have been really busy. I'll find out what it is like for you. Give me a few days...........!!!!

Thinking of signing up are you? I know a lot of them got posted to Iraq in order to save our more expensive, higher trained ones from being shot :(

Yep, and they are having a recruiting drive at the moment too.

Is anybody in the TA? East and West Riding Regiment?

I am joining that regiment, have all the paperwork and that. I just wonderd what it is like thats all, what sort of excercises you go on at the weekends and that. I will be joining the one at Endcliffe Hall.

not TA but my bloke is in Dukes in the real army :P

**Part Timer u :hihi: **

not TA but my bloke is in Dukes in the real army :P

**Part Timer u :hihi: **

Gotta get fit first, cant quit my job just yet. If I get fit and enjoy i may well go in full time. I can see that happening next year to be honest. Hate my job im in right now but couldn't afford to quit!

I live with 2 house-mates hwwo BOTH happen to be in TA. Both 'do it' part time, though at the moment, as far as I am told, all new recruits will be advised to expect a call up to Iraq/ Afghanistan.

Both these house mates LOVE playing army - one more than the other granted, but both can't wait to go to Afghanistan after a tour in Iraq!! (Being that fit doesn't seem to be an issue either ;) )

If you want more details - PM me and I'll sort you out with info.

Oooh they're up at Endcliffe Hall too

Yeah, when i went on tuesday the guy told me there is a highto a very high chance I will be called up. To be honest that is what i want. I would love to go over to Iraq or Afgan. I know what i have said may be strange to some people but I love a risk and a challenge.

I know - it DOES sound crazy - but I've heard it too many timesn ow for it to raise even a flicker!!

I also believe that when posted away in Iraq or wherever there is very little chance for you to spend money on anything so the cash adds up rapid style!!

They seem to enjoy the weekends, though at times come back a little tired and in need of comfort food.

LOL, im sure I wont come back loaded because pay in the army will be less than I get paid in my real job and I have a mortgage still to pay.

I am looking forward to it though, i may well have seen your flat mates on Tuesday when I went.

I think you may well have done hmm There's CPL Richardson (Richo - sorry Richo - shiny head and proper army cut) and Lego aka Phil - dark hair, tall, etc
Think about it - 6 months and no-where to spend your money on even if you wanted to!!

Have fun anyway!!!!! And be prepared for your volcabulary to change - I've taken your dobie out. Actually translates to I took your washing from the machine and put it in a basket for you!

yeah Richo/Richardson is the one I spoke to.

I thought it might be - he said that he'd told all the recruits to expect to go.

He's OK, he WILL tell you all about being in Iraq if you let him (come to think of it sometimes even if you don't) with an enthusiasm that I haven't seen matched by many!!

They all seem to be a really good bunch of lads, think most have now spent time on our living room floor when wrecked (I'm the female of the house - and still think they're OK if that helps). And I'm sure you'll be happy there!!

If you need any further info or anything you want to know 'on the sly' so to speak drop me a line and I'll help all I can!!

Cheers, Thank you.
So Richardson lives with you does he?

More a case of I live with him I think, Lego also rents a room !!

Do you know him?

I dunno, I may have seen him but i only know Richardson because that who I was speaking to.

You'll have to give us an update when you've been on your first weekend trip!! (TAKE ALL THE WARM THINGS YOU OWN!)

Prepare for Hangover Wednesdays after the tuesday meet up !!

I would love to go over to Iraq or Afgan. I know what i have said may be strange to some people but I love a risk and a challenge.

That was what my friend said when he joined up. It is a VERY different story now he's out there. Really, you shouldn't look at it with rose tinted glasses.

doesn't TA stand for Toy Army?

That was what my friend said when he joined up. It is a VERY different story now he's out there. Really, you shouldn't look at it with rose tinted glasses.

I know what your saying but unless you know me you wont know. Anythign where there is a risk, high or low I would be there. If i did finish up going out there and did die then I died doing what I wanted to do. Its a bit better than crossing a road and dieing ey!?


Is it just me?:rolleyes:

I know what your saying but unless you know me you wont know. Anythign where there is a risk, high or low I would be there. If i did finish up going out there and did die then I died doing what I wanted to do. Its a bit better than crossing a road and dieing ey!?


Is it just me?:rolleyes:

why not go paint balling instead!?

then go travel the world! :thumbsup:

I know what your saying but unless you know me you wont know. Anythign where there is a risk, high or low I would be there. If i did finish up going out there and did die then I died doing what I wanted to do. Its a bit better than crossing a road and dieing ey!?


Is it just me?:rolleyes:

It's not so much about you dying, it's all the time you spend watching other people die, and seeing your friends and colleagues getting shot and injured, and having to live with these memories forever. But as you said, I don't know you so maybe you will thrive on that sort of thing.

doesn't TA stand for Toy Army?

The TA is also known as the SAS - the saturdays and sundays :D

It's not so much about you dying, it's all the time you spend watching other people die, and seeing your friends and colleagues getting shot and injured, and having to live with these memories forever. But as you said, I don't know you so maybe you will thrive on that sort of thing.



The TA is also known as the SAS - the saturdays and sundays :D

haha I like that! :hihi:

TA is not like it used to be. People just imagine sados wanting to run arounf playing with toys. These days it is real. There are or have been thousands been over to Iraq, Afganistan, Bosnia etc etc. TA train along side the normal Army. The only difference is the normal army does it full time. Where the army may spend say 10 hours on one thing TA will spend 2 hours on it.

Dont diss it!

Merlin believe me, if they get called up to Afghan or Iraq there is sooo much they can spend money on, the UK and American bases out there are full of shops, where they can buy electrical stuff(tvs,playstations) dvds, cds, perfume, there is also eating places like pizza hut and Burger King,my bloke was in Iraq last year for 6months,he should have come away with at least a few thousand pounds, instead he came back with hardly anything, as they have to spend money to make their time there livable. it aint pretty either, it was awful, this year(march/april) he may be getting called out to Afghanistan...

Good luck though MarkB :thumbsup:

Make sure it is what you want before you sign up for the forces(not TA) my bloke hates it and wants to leave but as you may know you cant get out until you have served your time, and the minimum time you have to serve is 4years!

My bloke has only done 2years 5months....

Dear Mam, sell the pig and buy me out.

Dear Son, t'pig is gone, soldier on.

Dear Mam, sell the pig and buy me out.

Dear Son, t'pig is gone, soldier on.

:confused: :confused: :confused:

chuffinel what are you on about??


if your implying people can buy themselves out of the army then you are very much mistaken as you CANNOT buy yourself out of the army !!

I just don't understand why anyone would want to be shot at?

Or have the possibility of losing a limb or dieing.

Or have to shoot at other people.

If you read up on your history, war is hell.

I'd watch a few films like "the deer hunter", "platoon", "born on the 4th of july"....

I mean what are you fighting for? :loopy:

I mean what are you fighting for? :loopy:

Its not all fighting, there are peace missions as well.

Its not all fighting, there are peace missions as well.


good point, but how much control do you have over where you're sent?

I guess it's down to the individual - love it/ hate it - save/ spend - laugh/ cry etc etc

chuffinel what are you on about??


if your implying people can buy themselves out of the army then you are very much mistaken as you CANNOT buy yourself out of the army !!
I guess that you can't do that now but at one time (30-40+ years ago) you could. I was in the T.A. many years ago and we had lots of ex-regulars in our unit. They used to joke about when times got tough in the regular army they would use the aforementioned quote. Any old volunteer soldiers of 70 plus would recognize the expression.

Although my dad was an excellent story-teller, cant remember him saying the army was ANY fun although he had a remarkable gift of finding the humour in even the most unpleasant of situations. But he was under the Japs during WWII.

Yeah, when i went on tuesday the guy told me there is a highto a very high chance I will be called up. To be honest that is what i want. I would love to go over to Iraq or Afgan. I know what i have said may be strange to some people but I love a risk and a challenge.

Iraq is quite a risk because of the roadside bombs and boobie traps.
It sounds worse than the "Falklands" at least there we knew what we were up against.

My mate is in Afghan (Marines) dont hear anything for months.

i think you should go for it mark, i don't know you but you sound like you'd rather be shot at than go to a dead end job every day - if you worked anywhere like i do, i think i'd prefer to be shot at too.......:hihi:

Yeah Spunky, I dont know you either. Im in a dead end job too. :hihi:

Looking to transfer to sigs in Manor in a few weeks. Former RA in Worcestershire.

If anyone has info, I believe there is a infantry or other types of unit around.

PM me!

TA be the best... Have a look on www.arrse.co.uk

Regards, Ash

I went to join the Sigs at the top of the Manor last year but stopped my effort when they said I couldnt keep my old rank as I had been out for too long.

Looks a good crew though with a good social calendar.