To All Prospective RM Officers

[jm745]

Cheers for the PM and the info on this,
been a lot of help,
just wondering if you've got any information on the medical assistant specialisation?
Not a lot of information on it on the RM site.
Thanks.

Joe

[RM Recruiting Officer]

I haven't got a great deal on the MA Spec. It's a difficult course to get onto and you to have an interview before you join the waiting list. You need to be aware that you are joining an Infantry Corps first and foremost, you must not set your heart on the MA spec as you may not get into it.

[jm745]

Don't worry about it mate,
I want to join the marines,
specialisation comes second,
just I heard they might ask you what specialisations you've looked at and I was wondering what medical assistant involved.
Cheers.

[RM Recruiting Officer]

Ok mate, that sounds good to me. The RM MA career spec is similar to the RN MA career spec so research the Navy version and you won't be far off!

[just_me]

Always keen for an opportunity to pass on some facts about paras vs Royal. I am not going to get into a slagging match as they are a very capable regiment and highly respected by many including me.
Firstly though, Red Devils, fair enough but it's a very small part of the Regiment and you shouldn't join to join them.
Secondly, Marines can apply to be in SFSG, they make up a large part of the group.
Thirdly, Since they stopped para training the Regiment, there are now more Royal Marines with their wings than paras...admittedly, some haven't jumped in a while!
...and Finally, Air Assault. Who did the last air assault in a modern war? The Royal Marines in Iraq 2003, first into combat on the Al Faw peninsular. True air ops are a part of amphibious doctrine, and that's Royal's business.

Have a look at how long the training is for both the Corps and the paras and then decide who is more capable.
Tom, Are you applying for Officer level entry?

I'm always ready to stand corrected!
No, I'm not applying for an Officer entry, I'd prefer to enter as a Tom, and perhaps further down the line I'll consider a commission from the ranks. Before commanding people I'd much like to know my job inside out (considering I get there ), including having been on operations before even considering becoming an Officer. A lot of people have told me "become an Officer, you'll get more money!" to whcih the reply is "You don't join the army to make money". As long as I can live off my pay, with perhaps a little for small luxuries from time to time, I'll be fine... I hope!

[Alfa]

Always keen for an opportunity to pass on some facts about paras vs Royal. I am not going to get into a slagging match as they are a very capable regiment and highly respected by many including me.

Strange statement to make since no one even mentioned the Paras.

Thirdly, Since they stopped para training the Regiment, there are now more Royal Marines with their wings than paras...admittedly, some haven't jumped in a while!

Well this "fact" is highly dubious as they haven't stopped Parachute training altogether and even if they had, how exactly would the Royal Marines have managed to get more than 3 Battalions of trained Paratroopers??

...and Finally, Air Assault. Who did the last air assault in a modern war? The Royal Marines in Iraq 2003, first into combat on the Al Faw peninsular. True air ops are a part of amphibious doctrine, and that's Royal's business.

Isn't there Air Assault ops going on all the time in Afghanistan, the main method of insertion always seems to be by helicopter? So again how accurate is your statement that Al Faw was the last Air Assault op?

Have a look at how long the training is for both the Corps and the paras and then decide who is more capable.

Well 28 vs 32 weeks is hardly much over a soldiers career is it, besides when is final ex for the RM Recruits?


It's good to see it's not only us wannabes who chat the brown stuff from time to time

[fodd]

Well 28 vs 32 weeks is hardly much over a soldiers career is it, besides when is final ex for the RM Recruits?

Week 26

[RM Recruiting Officer]

Alfa,
I have had a few messages regarding the Parachute regiment and wanted to offer some of my thoughts on the forum regarding Royal Marines training instead of replying to them all individually, I thought this was fairly obvious. Just read my post a little bit more carefully next time.
Are there actually three fully trained para units? I don't think there are given recent defence cuts.
I said air assualt in a modern war...most units gets around by helicopter in Afghanistan which is a peacekeeping operation. These are not air ops in the same sense as a deliberate assault by helo which was conducted on the Al Faw. However, it is not the only way Troops travel. We still conduct convoys and MOGs. I'm taking it that you haven't been though so I won't go into it any further.
If you want to make accusations regarding me talking shite, have the knowledge to support it, otherwise go back to the Para page.

[marinewannabe]

Here we go once again. Here's a bootneck officer offering advice and telling us what i know is correct to the best of my knowledge and already the know it all's are kicking in .

[Taxman]

Has anyone seen Brookesy? He can solve this one!


Keep up the good work RMRO.

[Alfa]

Are there actually three fully trained para units? I don't think there are given recent defence cuts.

Well there's the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions so I'd say there were still three, plus 4 Para too. I just find it difficult to understand how you can state, as fact, that the number of para-trained Marines is higher than the number of Paras with their wings.

I said air assualt in a modern war...most units gets around by helicopter in Afghanistan which is a peacekeeping operation. These are not air ops in the same sense as a deliberate assault by helo which was conducted on the Al Faw. I'm taking it that you haven't been though so I won't go into it any further.

Fair point about me not being in the Forces so you're right that I'm not completely up on the exact definitions of air assault operations however I'm fairly sure that 3 Para inserted using Helo's to seize towns back in 2006 in Afghanistan which were hardly peace keeping operations.

If you want to make accusations regarding me talking shite, have the knowledge to support it, otherwise go back to the Para page.

Well, as Fodd has just stated, RM Recruits do final ex in week 26 which is also when Para Reg Recruits take theirs so that doesn't exactly support your assertion that there's a huge difference in the training.

Also this forum isn't segregated so I won't simply "go back to the Para page" because I disagree with the information you're giving out, especially when you're doing what a lot of forces recruiters do by giving out duff info on other units to put people off joining them over your own.

I think it's a great idea that you're helping out Potential Marines/Officers on here, I honestly do, so don't get the impression I'm just having a go at you for the sake of it but I don't see why advice which is dubious at best can't be challenged or corrected just because it's from a serving Officer. Maybe it'd be a better idea to keep it on topic and keep the info you dish out limited to Marine training, that way all the info you give out will be guaranteed to be accurate.

[Wholley]

RMRO.
Don't say I did'nt warn you
Bunch of ungrateful individuals if you ask me.

[Mitch]

I don't want to add to the argument but i would like to point out that I think you, Alfa, have the wrong end of the stick with regards what RMRO said about the difference in training. My take on it was that RMRO was inviting people on the forum to have a look at the differences all round, not just the length (you can find very detailed information on the RM website, not sure on the Paras), and then take your pick. If you look carefully there is no mention of one being better than the other, RMRO was telling those who are torn between the options to look at the differences within the training regimes, which are often overlooked by those who are obsessed by the length.
Unfortunately, not being in the military (yet! ), I cannot offer my insight into the other things mentioned.

Mitch

[Para_Hopeful]

.

[RM Recruiting Officer]

I think I have probably proven myself to be a bit naieve with the use of the forum. I can assure you that the information regarding the Royal Marines and in particular the Officer specialisation is correct. I have served in Afghanistan with elements of the army (Royal Anglians) and the Corps. I found the Anglians to be completely competent in everything they did, I just prefer the Royal Marines and truly think that the espirit de Corps has to be experienced to be understood.
I am open to debate regarding the paras but would rather stick to my recruiting efforts and INFORM more people about the Corps so they can make rational and well considered decisions about which Regiment/Corps to join.
Many thanks.