Still a Recruit!

[Bravocold]

[MOD: Moved and edited (from "RDF-A Positive Experience")]

When reading "RDF- A Positive Experience", I noticed someone said that they were in the RDF 12 months and are a 3*. This month, September, is my 12th month of training. I started training Sept. last year and I've hardly missed a days training since I began (we parade twice weekly). I also have gone on several weekends and was on camp for 2 weeks over the Summer.

However, I'm still a G1 Recruit and have recently been told that despite going on recruit camp, I still have to do several modules before getting my stars.

How do people become a 3* while in the same space of time, I've remained a Recruit? Is this at all normal or are they just genius!

[McCarthy]

It depends very much on what Corps you are in.
I know of Infantry 3 stars who have been in the RDF for 6/7 months..yet I know of other people from different corps who have been in 15 odd months and are still two stars..

[Jimmy C]

It'll stand to you in the long run. I spent 1 year at G1 and 1 year at 2* before getting 3*s and I'm glad. Just because someone gets their stars before you doesn't mean they are better, if anything they are probably of a lower standard.

[HavocIRL]

Took me three years to get my 3rd star while it took others only two. Pissed off? You bet I am, back in my day we earned our rank. Nowadays it seems like they're giving them out like sweets.

[How Ya Doin?]

[MOD: Moved and edited (from "RDF-A Positive Experience")]

When reading "RDF- A Positive Experience", I noticed someone said that they were in the RDF 12 months and are a 3*. This month, September, is my 12th month of training. I started training Sept. last year and I've hardly missed a days training since I began (we parade twice weekly). I also have gone on several weekends and was on camp for 2 weeks over the Summer.

However, I'm still a G1 Recruit and have recently been told that despite going on recruit camp, I still have to do several modules before getting my stars.

How do people become a 3* while in the same space of time, I've remained a Recruit? Is this at all normal or are they just genius!

It depends on your unit.

I know somebody who in the same space of time was getting ready for a POTs course

[DeV]

It took me 3 years to make it to 3* as well. Syllabii have changed there is no way it should take a year to complete the recruit course if someone attends training.

The length of time you spend as a recruit varies greatly between sub-units (companies of a battalion) depending on how your unit is organised, their priorities, their resposibilities, resources, instructors and the amount of troops attending training.

[kk3star]

To get my 3 stars!!

it took me only 6 weeks to get mine... 2 weeks before camp i was sworn in.. i attended training twice. went on reruit training and then 2 star camp... 2 years on i know now its a bad thing but as we were told gettin our 3stars "sure ye'll all get paid 3star now so it dosent matter"

[MOB87]

It took me 11 months to get my army number and uniform. 15 months later i was upgraded to Gnr. 3* having trained on the Bayonet & fired the Steyr, Bren & QF 25 Pdr.

The other unit that we amalgamated with upgraded its recruits to 3* after a couple of weeks and a quick trip to the range to fire.

the difference in quality of troops is obvious.

[trellheim]

This is a point worth exploring.

Apart from the hotshots [ exceptions to the rule etc ]

Is it correct to say that a certain number of hours is necessary above and beyond syllabus

More "parade nights" , say recruit camp + 20 parades - usually a year or so.

[spider pig]

Went up first in september and got sworn in in march

then 15 months later i got my two stars

Now im training for my 3*s

Although it is annoying to see people who have been in a far shorter time than me be upgraded quicker i do feel satisfied to know that more time and training went into earning my stars.

[DeV]

2 Examples:

Recruit A, gets his uniform in March and starts his recruit training immediately & goes on a 2 week recruit camp. He covers all the syllabus & the required number of hours of training and qualifies for upgrading in July.

Recruit B (with 10 others), gets his uniform in November and starts training. He does a lot of the lessons over and over again, goes on 2 weeks recruit camp. Covers all the syllabus & over the required number of hours and qualifies for upgrading in July.

Recruit B has done more training but because he has been doing the same thing over and over again for 11 months. He has become bored and his morale is suffering. Most of the 10 people he joined with have left. The fact that he has done each lesson 3 times may not necessarily mean he knows the subject matter better - he may have concentrated in the first lesson and taken everything in.

[Gasplug]

The other unit that we amalgamated with upgraded its recruits to 3* after a couple of weeks and a quick trip to the range to fire.

Please do not bullsh*t about what you do not know. And don't spread rumours, they have a habit of biting you in the arse.

[MOB87]

Please do not bullsh*t about what you do not know. And don't spread rumours, they have a habit of biting you in the arse.

I was told by a member of that unit who was training with our rec pl. & complaining about his own troops standards.I have no reason to believe that he was bullsh*tting me, after having seen his unit's vid on youtube.

[Goldie fish]

Girls. Be nice please.

[Duffman]

I remember it as a "a year a star" and it seems to be the best policy, as there are too many cowboy units out there that bump up fresh faced recruits to 3* level just to bulk out their roster of available "trained men". I have personally encountered 3 *s that have only had their hands on a GPMG one time and one time only, that is when they were handed the weapon to fire it for their 3* tests.
Its only going be a matter of time till someone take a nap and wakes up with pips on their chest!!
Obviously man power, equipment and many other influencing factors have a major impact on how long it takes a soldier to move through the system. But with all things into consideration, I would prefer if the time was taken to ensure competent and well trained troops however frustrating or boring this may be, it results in better soldiers at the end of the day.
Also recalling from my own experience of the system , YES it does get boring and monotonous doing the same lessons over and over but this again does help weed out those that are not really dedicated to the end goal.