Are the TA and Reservists ready to replace the regular Army in 2020?

[flymo]

Originally Posted by 454697819

I think this is a wide tar covered brush you are using there,

Hear, hear. I was in a TA unit many years ago, we took pride in our work and did a bloody good job. I also worked with some very good, and very bad regulars. I've met regulars who couldn't run for a bus, never mind pass a fitness test.

In our Royal Engineer unit, we were staffed by many civil engineers, builders, computer specialists etc from civvy street. These people are often on occasion far more qualified and have a broader range of experience that can add a lot of value to an army unit.

Neither TA or regular can be summarised so generally.

[gruntygiggles]

There will be good and not so good in every group. That doesn't mean it is in any way right to make such sweeping statements.

I am grateful for anyone that will do anything to help others.

[Biker Biggles]

I dont think the issue is whether the TA is a good thing or a bad thing,or whether the regular forces are stuffed with numpties who cant do the job.The real issue is whether the balance between the two is shifting too far towards reliance on the reserves leaving inadequate defence.I happen to think the TA is a really good thing,but I also think we are going too far in our reliance on it.

I've got a mate who's an ex squaddie but now in the TA and he's a decent guy. He left the regulars because of the number of idiots he said he met. And based on the ex-squaddies we have at work, I dread to think how they would have performed on the front line.

Personally I think the TA should only be used in the event of war on home soil or close to it, i.e. real threats. Not sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to fight a war we can never win or that can be solved via embargos and closure of air space etc.

But hey, this is the way the country started going when Maggie started selling off everything. The government doesn't want any commitments to anything. Following the TA we'll be looking at privatised armies supplied by Halliburton.

stabs lol
signed ex arab

[Fallout]

Dunno what all the fuss is about. Start on the map, get a gun, headshot, tea bag them, wait for the 3 minute timer to finish, go home and make a brew. Easy.

I've played COD. I'm ready. Are you?

Can I take the bike to war?

sorry no you'll be issued a harley for that, and yes they are just as carp as the road bikes

An Armstrong?

I'd like one of those if so.

armstrongs (MT's) got replaced with harleys , now if your lucky you get the odd honda floating about