Does being in the RDF count as Military Service?

[Duffman]

I'm in the process of filling out my J1 Visa application and a number of questions relate to military service. Eg "Have you ever preformed a military service?" or "Do you have any specialized skills or training including, firearms, explosives etc..."

I was just wondering does being a member of the RDF (and participating in PDF exercises etc) class as military service? Also does the weapons training qualify in relation to "specialized skills"?:confused:

USIT have been unable to give me a definitive answer as to weather or not it does!?

Slightly off topic but quite amusing none the less, one of the questions on the form reads "Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in..subversive or terrorist activities..?" Tick yes or no........

I'm sure they've caught many a terrorist through those intense interrogation techniques...I imagine guantanamo bay is stocked with 1000's of these ingenius questionares!!

and please spare yourself the effort of resorting to the usual "bagger" related comments.. Serious question here!

[Joshua]

http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/MILITARYSERVICE

Noun: military service

1. A force that is a branch of the armed forces
   - armed service, service

The answer to your question is YES. In fact it annoys me that you have asked this question.
You are implying that you, as a member of the RDF, do not rate the rdf as a military establishment. In doing so, you are, unintentionally perhaps, undermining the service given by your comrades.
What else could your time in the RDF be classified as apart from military service?

There is a similar thread at:

http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/b...highlight=visa

[Docman]

I'm in the process of filling out my J1 Visa application and a number of questions relate to military service. Eg "Have you ever preformed a military service?" or "Do you have any specialized skills or training including, firearms, explosives etc..."

The Question should be, Are you in the Defence Forces or not. If you a member of the Defence forces, RDF or PDF, then you have done or are doing military Service.

Just because you are RDF does not mean you should demean your service. I'm surprised you even had to ask the question.


As for the other questions, when I was filling out my J1 a few years ago, they asked if I was guilty of any acts of Genocide!

[strummer]

Jaysus, just put "NO."

Do you really think you are a specialist in firearms and explosives?

Some people just seem to look for the hard way to do everything.

[combatlogo]

This reminds me of the poster who was trying to smuggle in his fake ID

To be fair, the INS is a good example of a bloated, completely ineffectivve federal bureaucracy - Mohammed Atta received his visa in the mail 6 months after he'd gone to the great celestial harem in the sky and another one of the hijackers put "Hotel America" as his address on the form.

[Bosco]

This reminds me of the poster who was trying to smuggle in his fake ID

To be fair, the INS is a good example of a bloated, completely ineffectivve federal bureaucracy - Mohammed Atta received his visa in the mail 6 months after he'd gone to the great celestial harem in the sky and another one of the hijackers put "Hotel America" as his address on the form.

WTF you have to be joking!! No-organistaion could be that stupid.

[hptmurphy]

Military service,,,,eh no!....that implies conscription...try member of armed services..reserve category...and if USIT have a problem with the format ...ask them to change their applications.

[average fridge door like]

put down no on that coz they might check if youve been charged or anything.. well i dunno actually i was told to put no down when i was gonna fill mine out

[Duffman]

In fact it annoys me that you have asked this question.
You are implying that you, as a member of the RDF, do not rate the rdf as a military establishment.

I in no way shape or means would discredit the organization or its standing as a military establishment...you misunderstand my question, the question is, weather or not "Military Service" is classed as Active Service and duties with a full time unit. Or, as i would consider it, any time a soldier PDF/RDF puts on his uniform that s/he is providing a military service.
As Docman put so aptly the question in itself is unclear. If the question was "Have you ever been a member of the Defence Forces?" I would have no qualms in proudly and loudly saying yes I have!

Jaysus, just put "NO."

Do you really think you are a specialist in firearms and explosives?

Some people just seem to look for the hard way to do everything.

Strummer, in comparison to your average civvie off the street the answer is YES..As any member of the DF that has fired a weapon has recieved "specialist" training enabling them to operate the said weapon. The same way in which a forklift driver would recieve "specialist" training on driving a forklift, but I'm sure he would not consider himself a specialist.

[California Tanker]

Apparently the bit about the 'entering the US to preform acts of terrorism/subversive activities' (I think there's another one for prostitution) is a 'failsafe' so that there is some form of federal jurisdiction if they find there is a need for it. "Aha! You like on your federal form!"

Many terrorist-related activities actually fall under state law, such as murder.

NTM

[Goldie fish]

On a slightly related note, I remember ordering a PC for my old CO when I worked in dell(staff discount etc). It was for work use, so naturally when I came to the question about "military end users" I said "Yes".
And that was the end of that order.

When I re-Ordered, answering the same question "NO" the PC got delivered.

[yooklid]

Jaysus, just put "NO."

Do you really think you are a specialist in firearms and explosives?

Some people just seem to look for the hard way to do everything.

Yeah. I mean, jesus. Why do people do this to themselves.

TICK THE NO BOX FFS!

BTW, they are the INS no longer, they are now UCIS.

[strummer]

...Strummer, in comparison to your average civvie off the street the answer is YES..As any member of the DF that has fired a weapon has recieved "specialist" training enabling them to operate the said weapon. The same way in which a forklift driver would recieve "specialist" training on driving a forklift, but I'm sure he would not consider himself a specialist.

What about some farmer who is pretty handy with his shotgun? Is he a firearms specialist too, despite not being in the military?

[ackack]

What about some farmer who is pretty handy with his shotgun? Is he a firearms specialist too, despite not being in the military?

I wouldn't say that's a fair comparison strummer, The farmer with the shotgun, while probably very good with the weapon, would have recieved no formal training in the weapons characteristics or handling, more likely daddy farmer thought him to shoot down the back field when he was a young lad.

Whereas RDF personell would have spent weeks if not months, in a classroom, learning about the weapon and would have a TOET within 7 days before firing.

I'm not saying this is "specialist" training but it is a far sight more than your farmer would have gotten,

[Duffman]

Well said ackack. There is no comparison, I know farmers that could shoot the arse off a blue bottle at 100m..albeit an impressive skill..it is not classed a "specialist skill" ie. Formal training and instruction, established SOP's, with drills and safety training by qualified instructors. Where by the individual undergoing this training is brought up to a satisfactory and regulated level of competence with the said weapon.

As ackack said the TOET's where designed for this very purpose.