**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

Comm Systems Engineer. Phase 2 is ok, can suck a bit of the time, but just have to remember you're still in a training environment, not out at a unit, so still have to follow some crappy rules heh.

Still get regular PT, 2 sessions a week booked in to training programme, then other phys you're meant to do on your own, and you can tell the people who don't do any extra phys because they're always breathing out their hoop on phys sessions lol. I do my two sessions a week, plus 3 extra ones a week training for a tournament, 40 mile race over arduous terrain with 40+lbs, and aiming to complete in around 8 hours, very hard training for that :D.

Weekends are generally your own when in phase 2, as are most evenings from 16:30, or sometimes from 18:00 onwards. Gets a bit different when at your unit, like half day Fridays, or sports afternoon on Wednesdays. Can't wait to get to unit haha.
 
Hi Ghosteh.

Just a curious question, what sort of topics do they cover at phase 2?

I only ask as i've met a lot of signals guys and a lot of them seemed abit under trained when working on comms kit compared to the Navy/RAF!
 
Cheers, sounds really good. Yeh I'd always do PT, I suppose you get access to gym and that so will be class.

Can you take up sport whilst in phase2 or do you have to wait til your in unit to do that? I'd like to do boxing (even though i've never done it) and probably 5 a side or something. In fact I'd like to do as much sport as I can, even if I am crap.

You in the classroom environment for a lot of it then?

Asking too many questions soz :)
 
If your joining the army at least go infantry for 3 years to get a feel for what all your efforts are going towards. Everything else is DIRECT SUPPORT FOR THE INFANTRY no matter what anyone says you will be serving to the infantry needs. I scored 68 on my BARB (with a broken touch screen that wouldn't work and made me loose at least a minute) entitling me to any army job and I'm still joining The Rifles so i can do my all arms commando and see what actually doing the business is like. Then later on in my career I'm planning on shading off to the paras if I'm fit enough or going to do something in the RMP.
 
Andr3w said:
Hi Ghosteh.

Just a curious question, what sort of topics do they cover at phase 2?

I only ask as i've met a lot of signals guys and a lot of them seemed abit under trained when working on comms kit compared to the Navy/RAF!
Click to expand...

Honestly mate, they let though some right useless *****. On my course I would say I'd be happy to let though around maybe 4 people out of 16, and I would say we have a good course. And considering there are 14 courses that go though a year, that's a lot of people who are there and shouldn't be.

It's very much an attitude of revise for exam, pass exam, then move onto the next one. In no time what so ever people loose their knowlage. At the moment we've just finished doing a Windows Server & exchange module, been on it for quite some time, and for the exam yesterday, which was exchanged based, people we're still ******* up their server install and configurations, so god knows what it'll be like when at their unit etc.

I think it's the case of the army had a number of rolls to fill, so people were put into jobs that didn't really suite them. They're not interested in their subject out side the classroom, so they don't suite the IS roll.

lemonkettaz said:
Cheers, sounds really good. Yeh I'd always do PT, I suppose you get access to gym and that so will be class.

Can you take up sport whilst in phase2 or do you have to wait til your in unit to do that? I'd like to do boxing (even though i've never done it) and probably 5 a side or something. In fact I'd like to do as much sport as I can, even if I am crap.

You in the classroom environment for a lot of it then?

Asking too many questions soz :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, there is plenty of opportunity to take up sports if you wish. Our regiment is massively into it's boxing, and our squadron in particular takes a massive roll in it. Same for Football, Rugby, loads of sports.

And yeah, 90% classroom for my course, some workshop, some field. All depends on what trades you go for though I guess.

Feel free to ask any questions though mate.
 
Ghosteh said:
Honestly mate, they let though some right useless *****. On my course I would say I'd be happy to let though around maybe 4 people out of 16, and I would say we have a good course. And considering there are 14 courses that go though a year, that's a lot of people who are there and shouldn't be.

It's very much an attitude of revise for exam, pass exam, then move onto the next one. In no time what so ever people loose their knowlage. At the moment we've just finished doing a Windows Server & exchange module, been on it for quite some time, and for the exam yesterday, which was exchanged based, people we're still ******* up their server install and configurations, so god knows what it'll be like when at their unit etc.

I think it's the case of the army had a number of rolls to fill, so people were put into jobs that didn't really suite them. They're not interested in their subject out side the classroom, so they don't suite the IS roll.
Click to expand...

Yeh i know exactly what you mean :(

It's a shame really
 
Andr3w said:
Yeh i know exactly what you mean :(

It's a shame really
Click to expand...

What's worse mate(well, not entirely worse, makes me happy lol) is at the end of our trade course we do a potential NCO course, and get our first stripe with out even having to go to a unit. The only thing I do like about it is it's easily removable once they get to unit and show how crap they are at the job lol.
 
As a Comm Sys Eng, do you happen to do much in the way of networking or is it mostly just your standard sys admin type stuff?
 
Dist said:
As a Comm Sys Eng, do you happen to do much in the way of networking or is it mostly just your standard sys admin type stuff?
Click to expand...

It's all aspects mate, from the making of actual cable (Cat 5, Single/MultiMode Fibre), the rigging up of networks, right to the system administration side of the servers.


Of course, this is still training, how much I get to do at my unit may vary massively lol.
 
One other question I have that the army website doesn't seem to explain that well (or at all), is about class system. From what I have read, as well as progressing up the rank with experience/time served, you also progress from a class 3 engineer to a class 2 engineer (or the other way around, im not sure), what are the classes all about?


Also, I was going to check the army jobs website as I remember it mentioned for the Comm Sys Eng role that you go up to the next class after a year of service or something, but when I went to check the website I was given this error:

"An error occurred during the processing of . http://server/_catalogs/masterpage/MODJobDetailLayout.aspx(102): error CS0102: The type 'ASP._6d09f0c9_78f2_429c_adc0_5be436b4cf7a__1067223054' already contains a definition for 'JobSaveCommand1'

Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services."

Seems like they arn't training you guys enough :p
 
Classes go from 3 to 1, 1 being best. Basically every time you go up a class, you come back to the DCCIS(Defence College of Communications and Information Systems), and do another course, just takes your understanding to a new level. Once you hit your class 1, usually around Corporal, you're basically doing a degree level course, and you're stuck here for a year. Once you complete your course you usually get a promotion from what I understand of it.

It's a bit different from going up grades, where you go up a grade every year served. So for example in a few months I'll go up to Grade 2 Private and get a pay rise. When I get promoted I'll move up to Grade 7 Private, which is the first level for Lance Corporal, and get a nice payrise by around £8k or something :).

Should be a good year, Pay rise with the new tax year, the another because 1 year served, then another for promotion, and a £2500 Golden Hello for completing my course hah :D.

Oh, and all that stuff is run by civvies, the weak link in the services lol.
 
Surely it's best to go trade then do Para/Commando training...

That's what I intend to do anyway, but I know jack I guess :)

There is a backlog on infantry now so at least i'm already in the waiting mix
 
lemonkettaz said:
Surely it's best to go trade then do Para/Commando training...
Click to expand...

Suppose it comes down to how you want to look at yourself. You'll only ever be a para or commando if you do it first, then do a trade second. If you do a trade, then do p-coy, as my plan is, you'll never be considered a true para, even if you wear the pink hat.
 
Ghosteh I don't suppose you know what sort of stuff the Comm Sys Ops get trained to do and do on a daily basis? Even though in a year I will have an ICT degree, I don't have GCSEs so the operator is the only sort of ICT trade I could hope for as it has no requirements. All I could find out for sure about the trade is that there is no promotion when finishing training like most of the engineers get, so starting pay is worse after training, and general the job is not as good as the engineer but I havn't been able to find out specifics.
 
Basically trained to operate the kit, trained in using correct voice procedure, how to touch type up to around 40wpm(which isn't that fast but hey ho lol). I'm not totally sure what they do more in depth than that, because as techs we're hated by ops, and because of that we hate them lol.

Even if you did apply as an operator mate, there's still the possibility you could do a trade transfer when you're going though basic, or even as you turn up at Blandford for phase 2, you could ask to go Tech rather than Op, they won't let you in the careers office because they're well rigid on what they're allowed to put people though for, but once in you can transfer easier.
 
bit of a random question here

are the ages limits 16 - 29 set in stone ?

im wanting to join the RAF Logistical Movers which has a age limit of 29,
im 29 now but im 30 in may,

and the jobs become available or the application does in April

so im kinda at a loss, of what to do now
 
Can anyone answer a question about the SA80-A2 for me please ?

Is the version being used in Afghanistan with the modified foregrip being introduced across the whole range and as standard issue to all infantry etc or is it just a modification for that region and conflict ?
 
Ransom said:
bit of a random question here

are the ages limits 16 - 29 set in stone ?

im wanting to join the RAF Logistical Movers which has a age limit of 29,
im 29 now but im 30 in may,

and the jobs become available or the application does in April

so im kinda at a loss, of what to do now
Click to expand...

I would contact the careers centre now. I had a chap when i was in training who was 3yrs over the age for joining. So may be a chance still, just don't give up ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom