British Military Current Events

[CougarKing]

Neat, I'll look into this, I flirted with the idea of joining the UK army years ago.

Not so fast. Take note that the current British government recently ended the old MoD practice of allowing Commonwealth nationals such as Canadians, Australians, Fijians and Jamaicans to enlist without needing a visa or permanent residency first, as this 2013 article below from the same source as the new one above shows.

You'd have to double-check on whether the term "foreign troops" mentioned in the new article above means that recruiting of non-prior service Commonwealth nationals has been re-opened.

You might also be interested in this older thread about the book Wearing the Green Beret, by Jake Olafsen, a Canadian who joined the Royal Marines and served with one of their units in Afghanistan.

Daily Mail

Commonwealth Army heroes 'betrayed' as the MoD brings in test forcing them to live in Britain for five years before signing up

Government restructuring Armed Forces following 2010 Review
By IAN DRURY, DEFENCE CORRESPONDENT
PUBLISHED: 18:16 GMT, 11 July 2013 | UPDATED: 07:38 GMT, 12 July 2013

Soldiers from Commonwealth countries have been banned from joining Britain’s Armed Forces unless they have lived here for five years.
The residency test, which came into force yesterday, will prevent overseas recruits joining immediately as they do now.
The Ministry of Defence reinstated the requirement, which was scrapped in 1998, as it attempts to reduce the size of the military by nearly 30,000 troops.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[daftandbarmy]

Not so fast. Take note that the current British government recently ended the old MoD practice of allowing Commonwealth nationals such as Canadians, Australians, Fijians and Jamaicans to enlist without needing a visa or permanent residency first, as this 2013 article below from the same source as the new one above shows.

You'd have to double-check on whether the term "foreign troops" mentioned in the new article above means that recruiting of non-prior service Commonwealth nationals has been re-opened.

You might also be interested in this older thread about the book Wearing the Green Beret, by Jake Olafsen, a Canadian who joined the Royal Marines and served with one of their units in Afghanistan.

Daily Mail

that's the loop hole I used to join. I only needed a work permit, which essentially was a letter from the Parachute Regiment telling me that I was accepted into the Potential Officers' Course.

Of course the flip side was, a month before I was due to retire, I received a nice letter from the UK Government ordering me to leave the country within 3 weeks of my retirement date. Hearty thanks for a job well done!

 

[Kirkhill]

There are Commonwealth Citizens and Commonwealth Citizens -  Us 2nd Class Canadians (including my kids) with dual citizenship are also UK citizens.  Different rules apply.

Check with the local UK consulate.

https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality  And count the classes of Britishness...  ;D

 

[CougarKing]

Check with the local UK consulate. local British High Commission

TFTFY (There, Fixed That For You.) 

*As you well know, Commonwealth nations such as the UK, Australia, etc. open High Commissions for their envoys at other Commonwealth nations, not embassies or consulates.

 

[Kirkhill]

TFTFY (There, Fixed That For You.) 

*As you well know, Commonwealth nations such as the UK, Australia, etc. open High Commissions for their envoys at other Commonwealth nations, not embassies or consulates.

Mea culpa.  Too many grey/gray cells lost.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Check with the local UK consulate. local British High Commission

TFTFY (There, Fixed That For You.) 

*As you well know, Commonwealth nations such as the UK, Australia, etc. open High Commissions for their envoys at other Commonwealth nations, not embassies or consulates.

Let's see what the first paragraph says at the link you provided in the (ahem) "correction".

British High Commission
Ottawa

We are the principal UK diplomatic post in Canada. Along with consulates general in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary, we are responsible for all aspects of the bilateral relationship with Canada.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Thank Gawd for the Tory-graph....


Our 'Snatch’ campaign is still saving soldiers’ lives

Snatch Land Rovers were horribly unprotected against roadside bombs in which nearly 40 men would eventually be sent to their deaths

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/11938458/Our-Snatch-campaign-is-still-saving-soldiers-lives.html

 

[Kirkhill]

TFTFY (There, Fixed That For You.) 

*As you well know, Commonwealth nations such as the UK, Australia, etc. open High Commissions for their envoys at other Commonwealth nations, not embassies or consulates.


Let's see what the first paragraph says at the link you provided in the (ahem) "correction".

Christ....nothing worse than being wrong because I was right the first time....Aaaaargh.  ;D

 

[daftandbarmy]

SAS: Who Dares Wins - 8 tips on how to pass the gruelling Special Forces selection test

Neil Armstrong finds out just what will be expected of contestants – or should that be combatants – when Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins hits the screen


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11939959/Do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-join-the-SAS.html

 

[daftandbarmy]

Taliban seize British stronghold in Helmand as security unravels

Civilians begin to flee Lashkar Gah as the Taliban seize Babaji and there is heavy fighting in Nad-e Ali

https://www.google.ca/#q=Taliban+seize+British+stronghold+in+Helmand+as+security+unravels

 

[daftandbarmy]

Paras win 15-year battle to reinstate Pegasus emblem

Soldiers in Britain's airborne rapid reaction force will again wear the famed Pegasus badge from next month

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11945878/Paras-win-15-year-battle-to-reinstate-Pegasus-emblem.html

 

[daftandbarmy]

More proof that spy stuff is always more interesting in the UK:

'Spy in bag' Gareth Williams was 'murdered by Russian hitmen after sexual photo blackmail plot'

Former major and intelligence officer Boris Karpichkov claims he knows the truth behind the MI6 spy's death

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11952973/Spy-in-bag-Gareth-Williams-was-murdered-by-Russian-hitmen-after-sexual-photo-blackmail-plot.html

 

[daftandbarmy]

Well, it's OK then if he's sorry...

'I'm sorry': Historic moment Tony Blair FINALLY apologises for Iraq War and admits in TV interview the conflict caused the rise of ISIS

Former PM makes the confession after 12 years of refusing to apologise
Blair says he is sorry for his conduct which has now led to 'hell' in Iraq
Says there is an element of truth that the war caused the rise of ISIS
Comes after Lord Blunkett revealed he had challenged Blair about the war

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3287982/I-m-sorry-Blair-takes-blame-Iraq-War-admits-conflict-caused-rise-ISIS-astonishing-apology-TV-show.html


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3287982/I-m-sorry-Blair-takes-blame-Iraq-War-admits-conflict-caused-rise-ISIS-astonishing-apology-TV-show.html#ixzz3pYPmkOmh
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[daftandbarmy]

Islamic State planning mass attack on Britain, warns head of MI5

Andrew Parker says current level of threat from homegrown jihadis the highest he has seen in a career spanning 32-years

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11962037/Islamic-State-planning-mass-attack-on-Britain-warns-head-of-MI5.html

 

[dimsum]

RAF Touted For Return To Kinloss Or Leuchars

There's growing speculation that the RAF could soon return to either the Kinloss or Leuchars military bases.

The Ministry of Defence is understood to be considering the purchase of eight or nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft with next month's Strategic Defence and Security Review expected to recommend the return of maritime patrol aircraft.

http://forces.tv/86797669

 

[daftandbarmy]

RAF Touted For Return To Kinloss Or Leuchars

http://forces.tv/86797669

And that is likely due to the increased level of peskiness of the Russkies!

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Lossie could be a temporary home as well.  I am quite found of that entire area, and hopeful the RAF will ask its allies for a few folks to help get things back up and running again.  8)

Both locations are close to Cairngorms National Park as well.  :nod:

 

[daftandbarmy]

Lossie could be a temporary home as well.  I am quite found of that entire area, and hopeful the RAF will ask its allies for a few folks to help get things back up and running again.  8)

Both locations are close to Cairngorms National Park as well.  :nod:

We did a lot of mountain training (and drinking)there with 45 Cdo.

Glen Shee ski slopes has some of the best ice climbing conditions I've seen anywhere

 

[dapaterson]

CBC reports a former British soldier has been arrested in relation to the Bloody Sunday killings.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/bloody-sunday-ireland-arrest-1.3311910

This man, however, is still free...

 

[Kirkhill]

CBC reports a former British soldier has been arrested in relation to the Bloody Sunday killings.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/bloody-sunday-ireland-arrest-1.3311910

This man, however, is still free...

As is this one

A dab hand with a Tommy Gun by all reports.