Para life

[Iron]

Very important thread. I’ve served in both 1 and 2 PARA. I’ve also served outside of the Battalions by instructor postings at both ITC Catterick and HDPRCC. I like to think I’ve had ALOT of professional development and career progression opportunities with PARA Reg.
Generally speaking career aspirations are supported by the regiment so long as they marry up with operational demand. Everyone has the opportunity to apply for and attend regimental cadres. Likewise everyone has the opportunity to apply for tri service units once eligible. The chain of command can not prevent you from volunteering for the likes of PF or SF once you meet their entry requirements, but may defer their application for operational deployments. This is why communication with your chain of command is important.
As a SNCO I actively encourage all ranks under my command to discuss their aspirations so these can be annotated ahead of any SJAR (appraisal) meetings. Although a duty of care exists regarding soldier career structure I always advise blokes to take ownership of their career.
All Paras will be given the opportunity to develop their career through training and promotion provided they are recommended and eligible. Promotion Boards will meet annually throughout the year to select soldiers for promotion to each rank to fill known vacancies. The Career Structure aims to provide soldiers with the right experience and ability at the appropriate rank to meet the operational demand. Be proactive and don’t be afraid to discuss your aspirations with your chain of command. As pointed out the overwhelming majority of what was listed on the RM list is available within PARA Reg.

 

[Redders]

Ah see i didnt realise you could do them jobs once in the battalions. This is what i was digging for , cheers.

You don’t just join and get stuck in a rifle coy for life. It’s down to you really to get off your arse and apply for things. If you want to be a sniper then apply for the cadre and pass it. If you want to be one of the company PTIs then go pass your PTI course. If you want to be involved in recce then apply and pass the patrols cadre or PF selection. You need to knock on the doors and not wait for things to land in your lap

 

[Zozo]

What attracts you to Royal Marines and what attracts you to the parachute regiment?

 

[Helmet head]

In theory could a Paratrooper apply for SBS selection or is this only open to Royal Marines?

 

[Iron]

In theory could a Paratrooper apply for SBS selection or is this only open to Royal Marines?

UKSF selection is tri service.

 

[Redders]

In theory could a Paratrooper apply for SBS selection or is this only open to Royal Marines?

For RM to suggest SBS as one of their “specialisations” is a bit cheeky. An RAF clerk could apply for it if he/she wanted. Agree with the above comments that most on their list is available to any inf soldier in Army

 

[Iron]

This isn’t going to descend into a Maroon V Green dick measuring session. It’s important you arm yourself with accurate information. It’s also important that this thread maintains accurate information as others will undoubtedly read it.

 

[Chelonian]

It's worth bearing in mind that the diving role of the SBS presents hurdles beyond passing the tri-service UKSF selection.
Regardless of fitness and tactical ability not everyone has confidence and capacity to operate in a technical and specialised diving role.

 

[Iron]

Moving forward a fork in the road is on the horizon that will further divide the roles of PARA and RM. As @Mackers said the HERRICK years blurred the lines between the two as RMs were basically an Infantry unit.
Contrary to what a lot of civ div think we don’t actually have much exposure to RM. Outside of SFSG and the odd course a young Para and a young Marine won’t have many opportunities to work alongside each other so this can be where a lot of unknowns can stem from. From what I’ve read RM is undergoing a modernisation process called FCF which you can google yourself. My understanding is this is to move more in line with Royal Navy commitments and to get back to Commando force taskings.

PARA Reg continues to be as busy as ever despite COVID, with multiple operational deployments and major training exercises such as Wessex storm. In our role is to conduct range of operations, from prevention and pre-emption tasks, to complex high intensity war fighting. PARA is the tip of the sword. This is what all our training revolves around. PARA Reg also provide direct support to Special Forces via 1 PARA. Keep asking decent questions like this lads. Great work

 

[Crispy]

How do you become a PTI?

 

[Iron]

How do you become a PTI?

You have to pass the All Arms Physical Training Instructor Course. It is a very physically and mentally demanding course.

 

[Brixstix]

HERRICK years blurred the lines between the two as RMs were basically an Infantry unit.

How did the paras’ operations differ from line infantry regiments in the HERRICK and TELIC years ?

 

[Tony_m]

Day to day routine will differ depending on your role and what shit is on. A platoon in a rifle coy will differ from a sniper platoon and they will have a different routine a than mortars pl. It all depends on your role. Sport touched on this on his thread. But on average in a rifle coy your day will normally start at 0800 with some form of PT, except for Wednesdays. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday is normally platoon level duties. This could be anything from platoon battle drills, tactics, navigation lessons, admin. Normal running is you’ll either have a NAAFI break around ten or you’ll be cut away to shower and get dressed into working dress after PT. Then it’s back to work for 1030 and then should be finished for scoff. Normally an hour or hour and a half. In the afternoon, you’ll crack on with what ever detail you are on and work till approx 1630. You’ll then check orders for the next day and be stood down for the day. Some lads will then do more phys and some will just fade away into the block. Either way from 1630/1700 its your time.
Wednesdays are traditionally sports afternoons. This means no PT that morning and normal work however the afternoon is generally down to sports or personal phys. Some blokes play footie, some go running, some even play fucking basket ball. Either way unlike some units who go to the pub and claim darts is the sport in the Bn most genuinely do use it as free phys time. Likewise if you are in a club such as the boxing club they can cut away for their club training.
Fridays are often half days. We used to have CO’s PT. Which normally is a tab or battle PT. Something nails. You’ll crack that first thing then do a bit of weapon cleaning or various admin and be cut away for lunch time allowing lads to travel home for the weekend. Some go home, some stay on camp. It’s your weekend to do as you please.
As for the Bootnecks I’d imagine it’s a similar life for them only with more showering and baby oil. No point me banging the same drum as the others. Different roles but what we do have in common is mental attitude, determination and resilience. Neither are for the weak and timid.

 

[DannyMac]

something i know for a fact we did different was we covered the ground quicker than other units. We moved quick to beat the dicking screen which was basically locals dicking on us and reporting our position. we rarely bimbled

 

[Parkhead]

Real answer obviously Im going to pick the reg but I’ve never worked with the Marines so can’t comment on their opportunities. Like us they are extremely close-knit and like us they do a lot of infantry training. We both can cover a lot of distance, carrying what we need at speed and close with the enemy. During the Herrick and Telic years they may as well of been another Army light infantry regiment.
But I think it’s wrong to compare us with them outside of banter as we have different roles. Unlike us they are not solely an infantry unit, they are a big Corps that are as I understand it self sufficient. They also work on ships and in smaller teams. Where we have other units within 16X to pick up the support roles they don’t. We have RLC drivers, AGC clerks, RMP coppers, RAMC Medics, RE sappers whilst they tend to cover a lot of their support roles with marines. A lot of their “specialisations” are support roles that we have other units for. In terms of snipers, patrols/recces, mortars, anti tanks, assault engineers, heavy weapons/MG we run annual cadres for all of them too. SFSG is also built around 1 PARA. We both also have the opportunity to apply for tri service units like SF.
As a marine you may find yourself working as a driver or a storeman whereas with us you know when you walk through the gate of battalion you are going into a rifle company.
It’s not a competition and we both are the best at what we do. They are Navy at the end of the day and we are Army so the overall purpose differs. I’d have no dramas at wall fighting alongside them but I don’t regret my choice at all.

Great points and this is why I have decided not to try again for RM and instead am going Para

 

[Newt]

Can you chose your battalion and does it differ between them? Thanks

 

[G87]

Can you chose your battalion and does it differ between them? Thanks

You would initially go to a rifle company in either 2 PARA or 3 PARA until you gained experience in that role. After a few years you will have the chance to load onto courses to allow you to move company’s and into different roles.

 

[DannyMac]

Can you chose your battalion and does it differ between them? Thanks

use to be if you had family member in a certain battalion they could bid for you

 

[Newt]

How much leave do you get?

 

[Tony_m]

How much leave do you get?

Works out about 6 weeks paid leave per year which normally works out as Xmas, Easter and summer block leave