T.A. units going to Afghanistan?

Question

I know the army stretch at the moment but sending parttimer's with only a few months combat training into a grazey war zone like Afghanistan must be complete madness.

Answer 1

The TA is part of the one concept army. Newly qualified soldiers go to war with less experience than many TA soldiers. Who are the part-timers? In general the regs work 3 days and two half days per week with PT making up the rest of the time. In general TA soldiers work five days a week in a job, one night a week TA plus a minimum of one weekend a month oftern two or three, 15 day exercise annually, maybe a 15 day course and on top of that PT. The guys and gals want to support the regs, who they often train alongside.

Answer 2

Alot of T.A reserve soldiers Have had previous regular military experience, Alot of them have served with their units for 10+ years therefore have more experiance than the red arses. Most of the part timers have seen action somewhere along the line so its not all new to them, Besides the fact that they are all very well trained. Its Not often you find T.A Or reserve units operating on there own, with the exeption of Marines & Para reserves most are usually there to beef up the regular units or offer logistical support. Alot of Army Doctors come from the T.A

To me they are still Stabs though. (Silly. Territorial. Army. Barstewards)

Only joking, they do a good job.

Answer 3

Your question shows a total lack of understanding of how the TA works, and how professional it's soldiers are.

Most TA units are twinned with a regular unit, they train together, share equipment, and the TA is designed to be used as reinforcements for that regular unit.

Many TA soldiers are not the rookies you would believe. Many are ex regular soldiers, their experience is invaluable to the unit. Many TA soldiers have already served in combat zones, and indeed many were in the Gulf war.

Any regular regiment will be made up of at least 25% of soldiers who are on their 1st active tour, most will have been in the Army less than 2 years. Average age about 20.

Average age of TA soldiers more like 25, so they tend to be more mature, many hold down highly responsible civilian jobs and see the TA as a 2nd career.

Please do not belittle what these guys and gals are capable of, and willing to do. When they are with their regular units you cannot tell who is who

Answer 4

Part timers? Guard and Reserve units are made up of many soldiers who were once active duty. Many with combat experience from Somolia, First Gulf War, Bosnia, Kroatia. They have young inexperienced soldiers also. The Active duy units get new replacements everyday straight out of training. Madness? No, not everyone can join the military already having combat experience. Can't be done. It works. The Guard and Reserve unit here in Afghanistan pull their own weight very well, thank you.

Answer 5

I also have a buddy interior the Royal army Reserve - comparable, yet on issues that flow. The TA isn't boy-scouts in military uniforms - you would be extremely-greater healthful and as able as any familiar serviceman. you additionally are "energetic". If the brown pungent-stuff hits the whirly factor everywhere interior the international, you stand a solid risk of being despatched there. i think of roughly 33% of our forces presently deployed are TA. in case you're attentive to the reality that human beings will in all probability shoot actual bullets at you, curiously that is between the main precious issues you're able to do.

Answer 6

Lostokieb & Martin have it. T A units have a broad mix of experianced men with years of service threaded through the ranks. You seem to be under the impression that they are little lads playing at war. Not so as our enimies are finding out

Answer 7

Utter lunacy as is the whole enterprise. The russians had a huge number of professional soldiers in Afghanistan which is right on their border and they couldn't beat the Taliban. What chance a bus driver from Bolton?

Answer 8

i got recently assigned to a non-MTOE unit and what they are doing is taking them one of a time and putting them into units that are low, regardless of regular army or reserve forces, the people that have gone have been usually staff personnel but a few combat leadership slots.

you have got to get rid of the part time mentality, full time soldiers regardless of reserves or not, and remember soldier and riflemen first, so take whatever combat/m-16 training you get seriously

Answer 9

Blame the so called goverments for this act as they were the ones who cut back on our military forces , unfortunatley having a military back ground i know all to well how this affects regular soldiers so what the blue blazes is this goventment planning on sending out the boy scouts next to back the ta up.

Answer 10

The TA are often used in support of the regular army, nothing new to me.