Young Soldiers

Anyone see this on the box last night? Catterick has changed a bit since I was there. One thing puzzled me was that their army numbers appeared totally different to what I consider usual. I think they all began with a 3, so what happened to 24****** and all that?

I didn`t see it..but my grandsons` number is 25****** and he went in 9 years ago.So any changes must have taken place after that..

That is 1,744,000 after mine,and just realised we have the same last three

off on a tangent a little bit
when we joined up we swore on the bible to serve the queen and country (this is not a racist comment ) but how do the young guys who join up of different beliefs ie Muslims, atheist ect how do they overcome this what do they swear on? also do they still receive the Queen shilling (Or has that gone up)

Call me a traditionalist but I thought the cap badge was supposed to be worn over the left eye? every time I see soldiers on the TV these days they seem to be wearing the cap badge over the left ear! the European conscript look is obviously trendy these days.

Apparently regimental numbers started with 3 for all new recruits when the army brought in a a new computer system called JPA. There has been a lot of moaning about it on another site. It seems that claims ect all have to done via the computer by the person claiming, and believe it or not, monthly pay chits are no longer issued, all on the computer mate!!

davwood wrote:

Apparently regimental numbers started with 3 for all new recruits when the army brought in a a new computer system called JPA. There has been a lot of moaning about it on another site. It seems that claims ect all have to done via the computer by the person claiming, and believe it or not, monthly pay chits are no longer issued, all on the computer mate!!

Correct. Since JPA, all numbers begin with 3, both male and female. None of these W numbers for the girls now. JPA was introduced to make admin easier by masking the soldiers do it themselves. If you make an incorrect claim, it's straight in front of the OC (unless the JPA authoriser is sympathetic). I think the MOD is trying to save money as the system has several blips and glitches a week, therefore the soldier gets bored and doesn't subsequently claim as he can't be a*sed.

Just my take on it

A bored soldier

Andrew wrote:

Call me a traditionalist but I thought the cap badge was supposed to be worn over the left eye? every time I see soldiers on the TV these days they seem to be wearing the cap badge over the left ear! the European conscript look is obviously trendy these days.

Maybe the Britsh Army Lads and Lasses think they are EU SOLDIERS !
Cap badges on the side a la France and Espana ! Not to mention the Poles.

I cannot believe how many European Countries are in the EU these days, it is spreading west rapidly.

I joined up in August 1963 at Army Apprentice School, Army No.23982021, you never forget! I don't care who knows my number these days !

Re the subject of Regimental Numbers etc, just seen a good article on a forum at :
http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Service_Number

The forum in question is called :
British Army Rumour Service (ARRSE) so thanks to them for their work on this subject.

Jimsigs1

jimsigs1 wrote:

Re the subject of Regimental Numbers etc, just seen a good article on a forum at :
http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Service_Number

The forum in question is called :
British Army Rumour Service (ARRSE) so thanks to them for their work on this subject.

Jimsigs1

It's life Jim but not as we know it!

I sort of knew where I was with the old numbering system. Bloody computers. Never catch me on one!

Beachley Boy wrote:

Andrew wrote:

Call me a traditionalist but I thought the cap badge was supposed to be worn over the left eye? every time I see soldiers on the TV these days they seem to be wearing the cap badge over the left ear! the European conscript look is obviously trendy these days.

Maybe the Britsh Army Lads and Lasses think they are EU SOLDIERS !
Cap badges on the side a la France and Espana ! Not to mention the Poles.

I cannot believe how many European Countries are in the EU these days, it is spreading west rapidly.

I joined up in August 1963 at Army Apprentice School, Army No.23982021, you never forget! I don't care who knows my number these days !

At one particular unit the various conscript armies we occasionally went on excercise with wore the cap badge over the ear. One or two of our lads started to do likewise, the CSM immediately nipped it in the bud.

hi there,
Some of the 'cooler and fast track' types in my Regt. were doing it in the 90's,rarely did they get repremanded.In fact most got promoted and were quite succesfull..........i don't get it either !!!
atb
pinky
HUSSAR

Hello Pinky, me & a mate were sent to an officers mess at Hohne to collect some mess silver, I'm sure it was 14/20H, however I will be corrected. The first thing we saw on arrival at the mess was a sports car smashed halfway through the front doors! We entered by another door and found a steward. The place was a right mess, it looked like a riot had gone off. The steward said the 'young gentlemen' had a party the previous night! we commented on the damage and in particular the front doors, the steward said they [The young gentlemen] take it turns to pay for the damage!

High spirits,for the young gentlemen

Vandalism for the ORs

Watching the last episode, I am sure they passed out on the same square we did at Helles barracks. The training depot was Vimy lines so I am not sure why this was?

hi wilf,
1420h were in hohne from about 1977 to 1985,officers had 'high spirits' in schloss brederbeck (officers mess) near the airfield...........your story sounds about right,we had some proper charlies in those days.
lol.
atb
pinky
HUSSAR

[quote="pinky"]hi wilf,
1420h were in hohne from about 1977 to 1985,officers had 'high spirits' in schloss brederbeck (officers mess) near the airfield...........


Schloss Bredebeck ! Now that takes me back.

In 70/71, the night before we moved out on an exercise I was detailed to guard the place. It was empty and the decorators were in.

I have a fertile imagination and somewhere in the building I could hear a window slamming in the wind, I was alone in that great empty place and all the horror films I'd ever seen came flooding back.

Guard ? I stayed in my little room ALL night.

F*** that for a game of soldiers !

Yep can't blame ya !!
lol
atb
pinky
HUSSAR