@@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.
I joined as a junior soldier at 15 years of age. September 15 1970. Blackdown Barracks, Deepcut. Deep joy... 2 years of character building, and the ability to command respect!
Went to Arborfield at 16yr old, 28th June 77 first day of the rest of my life. I t certainly shaped me and prepared me for life. The new ish Foundation college system isn't a patch on the junior leaders or Apprentices system. We were trained by some of thr best soldiers in the world Our drill instructors were from Guards Bde Each Coy had a Guards CSM anf the College RSM was also Guards. Mit Trg Instructors were Para Regt , LI, Argylls to name but a few. Our trade training instructors were all ex Tradesmen IIRC so they knew what they were talking about because they had done it. And they all made an impression on a 16 yr old lad straight out of school.
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 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...
The raising of the School leaving age to 16 and the campaign against child soldiers worldwide against a backdrop of reductions in defence expenditure all combined to kill off the Junior Army. I served for 22 years as an infantryman as an adult entry and those who were former junior sodiers were heads and shoulders above those who joined as adults. Many of them went on to become Warrant Officers and Senior NCOs much earlier in their careers and some were Commissioned.
Joined in 72 aged 15 based at Preston s an infantryman and when that closed I was transferred to Cwrt y Gollen to complete my training so when I joined the battalion in 74 (Royal Welch Fusiliers) I went straight into Recce Platoon then the Signals platoon. Loved my time in especially as a JS
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.
Yep I joined 1977 Albermarle Barracks Ousten Royal Signals. Went to the Trade training school at 8 sigs after 9 months as a junior. Finished trade training and was at Krefeld. I was still 17 when I went to Germany. As a single soldier in Germany I had an absolute smashing time. Down to the queensway club and the Marly at JHQ, Into the Zweibel and jets in Krefeld, Muskies in St Tonis. Feck it was brilliant. Yep we worked hard and live out in the open in all sorts of shitte for a good chunk of time. But even then it was train hard live easy. Ulster fucked me forever
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
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 started my army career as an apprentice Plant Operator Mechanic at the AAC Chepstow in 1976 , best thing I've ever done but best of all is still being in contact 48 years later with guys that I met on that very first day. 🤜🤛
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.
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.
Went to AAJLR in 1964, the negative was the poor quality of the permanent staff they were locked into a “National Service”mentality. Couldn’t wait to get into adult service, which I enjoyed.
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 😅
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.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
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.
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
I joined as a junior soldier at 15 years of age. September 15 1970. Blackdown Barracks, Deepcut. Deep joy... 2 years of character building, and the ability to command respect!
Went to Arborfield at 16yr old, 28th June 77 first day of the rest of my life. I t certainly shaped me and prepared me for life. The new ish Foundation college system isn't a patch on the junior leaders or Apprentices system. We were trained by some of thr best soldiers in the world Our drill instructors were from Guards Bde Each Coy had a Guards CSM anf the College RSM was also Guards. Mit Trg Instructors were Para Regt , LI, Argylls to name but a few. Our trade training instructors were all ex Tradesmen IIRC so they knew what they were talking about because they had done it. And they all made an impression on a 16 yr old lad straight out of school.
My son has just joined this week at Horrogate as a junior soldier I was 16 when I joined in 1980
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
I was there in 1981
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...
The raising of the School leaving age to 16 and the campaign against child soldiers worldwide against a backdrop of reductions in defence expenditure all combined to kill off the Junior Army. I served for 22 years as an infantryman as an adult entry and those who were former junior sodiers were heads and shoulders above those who joined as adults. Many of them went on to become Warrant Officers and Senior NCOs much earlier in their careers and some were Commissioned.
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.
Joined in 72 aged 15 based at Preston s an infantryman and when that closed I was transferred to Cwrt y Gollen to complete my training so when I joined the battalion in 74 (Royal Welch Fusiliers) I went straight into Recce Platoon then the Signals platoon. Loved my time in especially as a JS
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.
Yep I joined 1977 Albermarle Barracks Ousten Royal Signals. Went to the Trade training school at 8 sigs after 9 months as a junior. Finished trade training and was at Krefeld. I was still 17 when I went to Germany. As a single soldier in Germany I had an absolute smashing time. Down to the queensway club and the Marly at JHQ, Into the Zweibel and jets in Krefeld, Muskies in St Tonis. Feck it was brilliant. Yep we worked hard and live out in the open in all sorts of shitte for a good chunk of time. But even then it was train hard live easy. Ulster fucked me forever
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!
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 started my army career as an apprentice Plant Operator Mechanic at the AAC Chepstow in 1976 , best thing I've ever done but best of all is still being in contact 48 years later with guys that I met on that very first day. 🤜🤛
Best thing I ever did. REME apprentice 1975
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.
Best year of my life in JL's
I’m pretty sure the guy who’s doing the voiceover is the same guy who voiced the Action Man adverts
Michael Jayston
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.
Went to AAJLR in 1964, the negative was the poor quality of the permanent staff they were locked into a “National Service”mentality. Couldn’t wait to get into adult service, which I enjoyed.
we've got the music, now all we need is a pizza delivery guy lol badam bap ba bow.......
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
My dad was provo cpl when you were there had Alsatian named Brit ,I used to go upto gaurdroom with him at shorncliffe ,and Napier
Gis a Job - where do sign up ? 😗
JTR Rhyl, Junior Driver RCT 1969 to 1971
IJLB Oswestry 1965 Queen's Own Buffs
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
Those 37 pattern belts - oh what fun!
Junior Parachute Company. There was nothing Junior about it.