Speed of Advancement

[graveltek]

I have just finished and handed in mu app for regs.  I have decided to go Combat Engineers.  Now I'm waiting.  I understand that in a perfect world, from start of BMQ to end of MOC training is approx. 42wks.  From that point on, how hard is it to get on advanced courses and rank qual courses?  Also, how long does a sapper wait until he can go on his jump course?  Do the squardrons have jump platoon/company?  Is it true that if you request a certain regiment that you will be posted there?

Cheers

 

[Chimo]

I felt like you when I first joined...nothing would happen fast enough. The best advice I can give you is work hard, be fit and do your best. Listen twice as much as you speak and read everything you can about the Army and the Combat Engineers. If you want to be a leader you have to be a reader.

Start by reading this forum, it will answer many of your questions. COngrats on picking the best trade in the Army. 

 

[geo]

Oooooh my.... another keener
skip the jump wings - go for the combat diver course......

You'll find that there is not much of a demand for Para engineers these days.
Airmobile ones (Air cav) working with the Light Infantry combat teams & groups are today's bread & butter.

All in all.... there are a fair number of openings in most of the Combat Engineer Regiments. Plenty of oportunities for Trade & career courses when you're not slated for deployments.... you'll find that Sappers have been on lots of missions..... more than a few times

Have a great time - you'll make friends that will be with you for the rest of your life.

Chimo!

 

[old fart]

Geo...can't let you get away with this: "skip the jump wings - go for the combat diver course...... You'll find that there is not much of a demand for Para engineers these days".

Without stepping into the world of developing light forces doctrine, a subject currently the topic of another thread....I will go with CHIMO on this: "I believe, the soldiers of our Light Engineers should be airborne qualified because there are few courses in our forces that offer that type of gut check. I believe our doctrine, training, tactics and procedures need to be developed around airmobility".

The newest Engr Regt in the UK ORBAT, 23 Engr Regt (Air Assault) is a mixture of AIRBORNE and Air Assault Sqns, all wearing as they did in WWII the maroon beret.

You can bet that I for one (and a few other's posting on here) are hoping things turn full circle.

AIRBORNE-CHIMO-UBIQUE

 

[geo]

Old fart...
Oportunities for Para courses don't grow on trees.... certainly inquire about it - I just wouldn't hold my breath for one though.

Don't get me wrong, what I wrote does not necessarily represent what or where our Engineer capabilities should be headed.
Over the last many years, with the dismantling of the Assault Pioneer trade in the infantry, the Combat engineer has never been in such demand OR high esteem.... they want us EVERYWHERE (Ubique!)

Where the Infantry (and RECCE) guys go, the Sapper is often leading the way... so where you have Light fighters.... you'll have to have "light" engineers. For the time being, most light infantry work is being done, on foot or "air cav / heliborne".

Lots of work has to be done - whatever experience we used to have with the Airborne Engineer Squadron has pretty much been lost, time to brush up on old notes and go back to the drawing board. The day of the Airborne sapper may come again.

 

[Zombie]

I too am waiting for the call and going Combat Engineer. What are the chances of getting both the para and diver courses? Once you have one is it more difficult to get the other (because of increased responsibility)?

 

[graveltek]

Oooooh my.... another keener
skip the jump wings - go for the combat diver course......

I know I have't got a phobia to water and I can swim like a fish but, I would rather jump from a perfectly good aircraft 10,000ft up than to be 20ft under water.

CHIMO

 

[Sapper6]

Oooooh my.... another keener
skip the jump wings - go for the combat diver course......

I know I have't got a phobia to water and I can swim like a fish but, I would rather jump from a perfectly good aircraft 10,000ft up than to be 20ft under water.

CHIMO

That's too bad...

S6

DIVE ARMY!

 

[John-Boy]

Get the dive course first while you have lots of weight to lose then go jump, I did it the other way around and land like a sack of s**t and freeze down under.  Just some musings from an Airborne Diver.