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Conference repair::reserve_forces

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Created:Wed Nov 15 1989
Last Modified:Thu Jan 01 1970
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22.0. "Territorial Army Questions" by ABE::STARIN (It didn't happen on my watch, Chief.) Fri Nov 24 1989 16:07

    A couple of questions for the Brits in the conference:
    
    1. When you refer to the Territorial Army, does that cover only
    the Army or does that also apply to Royal Navy Reserves, Royal Air
    Force Reserves, and Royal Marine Reserves?
    
    2. Is the Territorial Army equivalent to our National Guard? That
    is, does it have a dual role like the Guard to be available during
    natural disasters or civil uprisings?
    
    3. Is there still a Royal Navy/Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    or is that wartime only?
    
    4. Is there an equivalent of the US Coast Guard in Britain?
    
    5. Finally, how many drills do you perform per year? Are you paid
    for all of them? Do you have two weeks annual training?
    
    That was more than a couple of questions I guess :) :) :)
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR
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22.1SAC::PHILPOTT_ICol I F 'Tsingtao Dhum' PhilpottMon Nov 27 1989 09:2614
1: TA refers only to Army units.

2: Theoretically there is a civilian role, but more usually regular troops would
be used (eg during the current ambulance strike, several years ago in a 
firemen's strike, and the last time I believe they were used to quell civil
disobedience was in 1911 or thereabouts when the police went on strike, the army
came out to keep order and a battleship trained its guns on central Liverpool!)

4: yes- its called the Coast Guard :-) however life saving is the normal 
province of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. Naval and RAF aircraft and
helicopters are also used.

/. Ian .\
22.2Thats life Jim, but not as we know it.PEKING::BECKCTue Dec 12 1989 10:5524
    
    Mark,
    
    The answers to most of your questions.
    
    1)  The T.A. is the Army only.
    
    2)  Basically the T.A. is the same as the Regular Army.  We do exactly
        the same as the Army except on a part time basis. 
    
    3)  Unsure about the Navy, but we do have a reserve force for the
        RAF.
    
    4)  Sorry, don't know the answer to that one.  Maybe someone else
        could answer that one for you.
    
    5)  The T.A. operate every Thursday and we attend every other weekend.
        We also have a 2 week annual camp.
    
    Hope this helps you out.
    
    Regards
    
    Dustie
22.3148 drills/yr by our termsMPGS::MCCLUREWhy Me???Tue Dec 12 1989 18:5210
    I have read several articles in US Army journals, about the
    exchanges between Army National Guard and Territorial Army
    units for their, respective, ATs. Too bad we don't have a
    contributor whose been on one of these. I'd be interested in
    hearing about the things that don't make it in official journals.
    
    
    re .2
    Sounds to me like the TA participation requirements are a lot
    higher than USAR.
22.4My Turn for Questions???PEKING::BECKCWed Dec 13 1989 11:2720
    
    Just a few questions about the overseas reserve forces.
    
    1.  How often do they operate?
    
    2.  What kind of reseve forces are there, and what do they do.
    
    3.  Do you have to be regular before you become reserve or can you
        join from civvie street.
    
    4.  How do the regulars treat you, do they hate you or like you.
          
    
    OK that will do for know.
    
    Awaiting the answers with baited breath.
          
    
    Dustie
    
22.5 MPGS::MCCLUREWhy Me???Wed Dec 13 1989 17:0628
    Dustie,
    
    I think the answers to 1, 2 & 3 are posted elsewhere in this file.
    The US has Reserves in every service and National Guard in Army &
    Air Force.
    
    As for #4, it varies. Regulars that have never worked with reserve
    forces, tend to have the "f'in reservist" attitude. Part of this
    can be attributed to the fact that military indoctrination tries
    to instill self-pride into the recruits and make them believe that
    they are the best in the world. Therefore, they look down at members
    of other services, branches and non-regulars. Most of them grow up
    after a while. When I get upset is when a senior NCO or Officer shows
    that attitude. They should know better. The Reserve/NG forces in the
    US are so large, that there are bound to be units with members/leaders
    that don't really know what they're doing and don't care.
    Unfortunately, the rest of us suffer because of them. Units that don't
    enforce proper appearance standards cause all of us grief. First
    imperssions are as important in uniform, as they are in a job
    interview. The difference is that in the military it usually results
    in a directive being sent out to ALL units to clean up their act.
    Attitudes are changing now. Almost all the combat divisions stationed
    in CONUS, now have AR/NG units as part of their mobilization strength.
    More and more regulars are learning that the reserve forces are their
    only hope if "the balloon goes up".
    
    Bob Mc
    
22.6SENIOR SERVICE STRIKES BACKWOTVAX::LAWSONEdward LAWSON @OLOFri Jan 05 1990 14:5737
        
        
        In the UK, the three services all have reserves. TA refers only to 
        the Army.
        
        The Royal Naval Reserve is an organisation in itself which forms 
        the 10th Mine Countermeasures Squadron.	We have 10 fleet 
        minesweepers distributed at various sea training centres around the 
        coast. These ships are fully manned by RNR officers and ratings 
        (from junior stokers to the C.O.) and no regulars are normally 
        carried.
        
        At my Sea Training Centre, we have three full crews for our ship 
        and she is at sea three weekends out of four with the fourth 
        weekend used for alongside maintenance.
        
        We have two 'drill nights' per week (shore training sessions) and 
        we need to attend about 40 of these per year and spend at least 
        three weekends at sea. We also have to complete one two week 
        continuous training period per year either at sea or on a Royal 
        Navy training course. A fortnight's continuous training at sea 
        generally works out at 17 days away as we sail on the Friday 
        evening after work and return on a Sunday...pretty tiring when you 
        have to go back to work on the Monday.
        
        We form a major part of the RN's Mine Countermeasures effort and 
        specialise in the technique if Deep Team Sweeping.
        
        We ain't looking for magnetic mines nowardays because our new ships 
        have steel hulls!!!!! the RN's new minesweepers are fibreglass.
        
        Sorry for the essay, I only meant to write a couple of lines but 
        got carried away.
        
        
        Ed
        RNR
22.7PEKING::NASHDWhatever happened to Capt. Beaky?Fri Jan 05 1990 15:405
    Ed,
    
    What do you mean by Deep Team Sweeping?
    
    Dave
22.8Mines - weapons that waitDOCSRV::STARINMy other ham shack is a GooneybirdFri Jan 05 1990 17:2116
    Re .6:
    
    Sounds interesting, Ed. Also sounds like the RNR has adopted some
    of the practices (or maybe vice-versa) of the US Navy's NRF (Naval
    Reserve Fleet) except you guys make it an all-reserve effort (NRF
    ships typically have a mixed crew  of USN, USNR on active duty, and
    drilling USNR).
    
    What is the name for the mine specialist rating in the RNR? In the
    USN and USNR, they are known as MN's (Minemen).
    
    I'm not really familiar with minesweeping other than it is a very
    exacting task - navigation has to be right on.
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR
22.9RNR answersWOTVAX::LAWSONEdward LAWSON @OLOMon Jan 08 1990 17:0137
        
        
        Dave,
         Deep Team Sweeping is a technique used by the RNR to sweep moored 
        mines. Two sweepers are used. They approach to a ridiculously close 
        distance (well it frightens me!) of about 20 yards and pass a cable  
        between them. Then the two ships open out and pay out the sweepwire 
        with explosive cutters attached until they are as far apart as the 
        required swept channel width...there could be a mile of cable paid 
        out by then..the cable has other fancy bits and pieces attached to 
        make it follow the bottom.  When the mooring wire of a mine is 
        snagged by the cable, it gets pulled into the nearest explosive 
        cutter, severed and the mine floats free. The really hi-tech bit 
        follows...we then shoot at the mine until it blows up!
        
        
        
        Mark,
         The mine specialist ratings are part of the seaman branch. Their 
        rates are therefore the same ,i.e.
        
        SEAMAN
        ABLE SEAMAN
        LEADING SEAMAN
        PETTY OFFICER
        CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.
        
        They wear a mine warfare branch badge on their sleeve to 
        distinguish them.
        
        They have the designation (M.W) after their rate in official 
        documents...M.W.= Mine Warfare.
        
        E.G  PO (MW).
        
        
        Ed