i started in the air cadets but it was hard getting to the place, then i joined the army cadets just around the corner from where i lived and loved it after that jlb Shorncliffe in 76 one years training later my battalion 1st royal Anglian reg and would not change anything i would do it all over again as for todays army i dont think so
I joined 17 years later..as a Junior Leader..at 16.5 years old yes I always wanted the Army..but WHY did they get rid of Juniors? It gave vocation to many young lads and girls...
Joined IJLB Shorncliffe in 1983 (one of the last before it went to JIB). Did 7 years in my battalion (2 RANG Poacher) and transferred to the AAC in 1990 for flying training as a pilot. Only just retired as a QHI but still do the same job as a civvy now. Juniors was an exceptional start in life for a young lad (didnt think so at the time...).
@@jimjackson1795 AFC Harrogate bears no comparison to the old Junior Leaders. It's a kindergarten. The same is true of ITC Catterick etc. when compared to the old divisional and corps depots. Basic training is a bit of a joke these days.
The Major government and options for change did wholesale lasting damage to the British Army, it wasn’t broken, it worked as can be clearly seen from this film.
Me too, did Deepcut selection centre, in April 77, 3 weeks later I was at Cwrt-y- gollen , Crickhowell in the May intake. 34 in the platoon, then over 6 weeks we were down to 5 if I remember, so we got backsquadded to the next intake and had to do it all again! ffs. Sennybridge, running up Sugar loaf a couple of times a week, lads in Abergavenny looking for a fight, mind you the taffies in the RRW and RWF were always arguing, north and south Wales didn't like each other, neither did those from Swansea or Cardiff
Wow even though I joined the adults at 18 this brought back loads of memories. Finished trade training at 19 and posted to BAOR, life for a single soldier was crap, the lad in the film who brought his Mrs over had the right idea. Also funny to see the old BFG plates and a RHD Datsun I think.
The only thing that messed us up in the early seventies was having seen this film then becoming a junior soldier and wearing webbing from the 1930s and combat dress from the fifties. It seems combats and new Webbing was for filming only. Didn’t get modern kit till adult unit.
I joined in 77, IJLB, Folkestone, Guards Division. After a year all those passing out went on to regimental depots, us Guards Depot, Pirbright. None of this shite ATC Pirbright. At 17, went to 1CG, Fally, turned 18 three days in, two weeks later on the streets of Ballymurphy, West Belfast. By 19, I was a Lance Jack. By 20 I trandferred to the RMP. Full screw by 21. Out by 24 to get married, my still wife didnt fancy 2 years in Derry and hardly seeing me. Im now 63, been in corporate risk, security and investigation since I left. Thats what joining as a Jelly Tot has done for me. On top of that I train in a military fitness group twice a week. No being beasted though 😅
Aha. I recognise a few here. Bob Strick, Woody (RIP) both D and Ds. Dave Coath(Rip.) at 5.25? Scouse Whelby at 17.51. Killen in the Apc, Smudge refuelling I think? I also think this is mid to late 70s.
Why on earth they closed down Junior Leaders and Apprentices is a mystery to me. There was a campaign group who kept banging on about Child Victims forced into armies in Africa and compared our Junior soldiers to them and the usual loony leftsts.
I joined the JL RE at 15, way back in 1972. What a great time i had. We grew up a lot quicker. defo set me up for life
My son has just joined this week at Horrogate as a junior soldier I was 16 when I joined in 1980
i started in the air cadets but it was hard getting to the place, then i joined the army cadets just around the corner from where i lived and loved it after that jlb Shorncliffe in 76 one years training later my battalion 1st royal Anglian reg and would not change anything i would do it all over again as for todays army i dont think so
I joined 17 years later..as a Junior Leader..at 16.5 years old yes I always wanted the Army..but WHY did they get rid of Juniors? It gave vocation to many young lads and girls...
Joined IJLB Shorncliffe in 1983 (one of the last before it went to JIB). Did 7 years in my battalion (2 RANG Poacher) and transferred to the AAC in 1990 for flying training as a pilot. Only just retired as a QHI but still do the same job as a civvy now. Juniors was an exceptional start in life for a young lad (didnt think so at the time...).
i was also at shorncliffe in 76 1st batt royal anglians the vikings
One of the worst mistakes the British Army made in the 1990s was getting rid of Junior Entry.
No need for it & I never saw any getting promoted quicker
The world was changing and they would never have got away with maintaining the standards of discipline and toughness that made Juniors so effective.
No Juniors? The Army Foundation College at Harrogate might disagree.
@@jimjackson1795 AFC Harrogate bears no comparison to the old Junior Leaders. It's a kindergarten. The same is true of ITC Catterick etc. when compared to the old divisional and corps depots. Basic training is a bit of a joke these days.
@@Stanly-Stud I agree. You got to the Bn and started again based on who you are then.
Those 37 pattern belts - oh what fun!
This channel is on fire 😀
Thank you! Hopefully it will get better as we start to realise how RUclips works :)
It's channels like this that are giving YT what little decency it still has left.
The Major government and options for change did wholesale lasting damage to the British Army, it wasn’t broken, it worked as can be clearly seen from this film.
I was a junior soldier.....a year at the Guards Depot, certainly didn't mess me up....
Did my selection at Deepcut, messed me up!
Me too, did Deepcut selection centre, in April 77, 3 weeks later I was at Cwrt-y- gollen , Crickhowell in the May intake. 34 in the platoon, then over 6 weeks we were down to 5 if I remember, so we got backsquadded to the next intake and had to do it all again! ffs. Sennybridge, running up Sugar loaf a couple of times a week, lads in Abergavenny looking for a fight, mind you the taffies in the RRW and RWF were always arguing, north and south Wales didn't like each other, neither did those from Swansea or Cardiff
Guards depot 1976 WG loved it!
Wow even though I joined the adults at 18 this brought back loads of memories. Finished trade training at 19 and posted to BAOR, life for a single soldier was crap, the lad in the film who brought his Mrs over had the right idea. Also funny to see the old BFG plates and a RHD Datsun I think.
@@davebest5624 I imagined BAOR would be a great life for a single man, lots of German beer and Frauleins.
The only thing that messed us up in the early seventies was having seen this film then becoming a junior soldier and wearing webbing from the 1930s and combat dress from the fifties. It seems combats and new Webbing was for filming only. Didn’t get modern kit till adult unit.
did you have 303s
@ Only in Army Cadets prior to joining, even the blanks we fired would bruise you if the rifle was not held properly. We were issued S.L.R in 1972.
I joined and the B's shipped me to MunchenGladbach with the Transport, B's
I joined in 77, IJLB, Folkestone, Guards Division. After a year all those passing out went on to regimental depots, us Guards Depot, Pirbright. None of this shite ATC Pirbright. At 17, went to 1CG, Fally, turned 18 three days in, two weeks later on the streets of Ballymurphy, West Belfast. By 19, I was a Lance Jack. By 20 I trandferred to the RMP. Full screw by 21. Out by 24 to get married, my still wife didnt fancy 2 years in Derry and hardly seeing me. Im now 63, been in corporate risk, security and investigation since I left. Thats what joining as a Jelly Tot has done for me. On top of that I train in a military fitness group twice a week. No being beasted though 😅
Hi Tony, We were at 158 together. Hope you're well mate. Joe
I’m pretty sure the guy who’s doing the voiceover is the same guy who voiced the Action Man adverts
Michael Jayston
we've got the music, now all we need is a pizza delivery guy lol badam bap ba bow.......
Aha. I recognise a few here. Bob Strick, Woody (RIP) both D and Ds. Dave Coath(Rip.) at 5.25? Scouse Whelby at 17.51. Killen in the Apc, Smudge refuelling I think? I also think this is mid to late 70s.
IJLB Oswestry 1965 Queen's Own Buffs
Gis a Job - where do sign up ? 😗
Why on earth they closed down Junior Leaders and Apprentices is a mystery to me. There was a campaign group who kept banging on about Child Victims forced into armies in Africa and compared our Junior soldiers to them and the usual loony leftsts.
Same loony lefties now saying 'kids need some direction in life and a way of taking on responsibility'....
21 and then 25 ?? ha ha ha