More and More Joining.

[proudtobebritish]

From the looks and sounds of things there are more and more people joing the Marines, do you think that one day they will say nobody else can join now as we have to many troops. Also for the deployment, do you think as there are so many people joining that you won't get deployed as often as you normally would as there are alot of marines being brought in and deployed.

What does everyone else think?

 

[Illustrious]

Not a chance unfortunately. The problem they're facing at the moment is alot of senior ranks and NCO's have just had enough of the *text deleted**text deleted* they have to put up with on a daily basis. While recruitment is on the rise, retention (that is those who have completed their training) is on the fall.

 

[proudtobebritish]

Not a chance unfortunately. The problem they're facing at the moment is alot of senior ranks and NCO's have just had enough of the *text deleted**text deleted* they have to put up with on a daily basis. While recruitment is on the rise, retention (that is those who have completed their training) is on the fall.

Why would that be on the fall though?

 

[Babybell]

There may be lots of people wanting to join/have joined, but not all of them will become Royal Marines. People will drop out at various stages for any number of reasons. Didnt only seven of the orginal troop Chris Terrili was with pass out after 32 weeks? I cant forsee a sudden flood in numbers that would warrent them to bar people entry.

I think you are worrying too much about it Proud.

 

[proudtobebritish]

ok cheers mate

 

[Babybell]

I suppose as well that people really dont know what they are getting themselves into either. Its easy coming into forums like this and saying things, but when you acctually experience things first hand and the reality hits you...

Some people cant handle it well.

 

[JG]

Hes right, recruitment is on the rise, but people in the marines are dropping out.

 

[Touchstone]

Yeah I heard something a long the same lines, that they met all of their recruitment quotas for the year, whereas the Army is having problems meeting their recruitment numbers.

But if so many NCO's and Officers are leaving does that mean faster promotions? :wondering:

Though I expect in a few years time this forum will be filled with PRMC.co.uk veterans who have passed out.

 

[Seedytucker]

Why would that be on the fall though?

Bad press, not great pay, missing equipment, over deployment, better offers in private security, IEDs etc etc. stuff we all know about before signing up, but haven't experienced. plus not so many are joining for a career anymore. unfortunately with a high turnover comes high expense due to training, so i wouldn't be at all surprised if RMC training standards dropped in the next few years

 

[Sotiris]

Even though the application numbers may be rising they still have to go through the selection process and as we all know that's no easy task. I can't see the Corps dropping their standards ever. The Commando tests will still be the same and so even if (totally hypothetically) they make the rest easier..only real men can pass those tests...so in a way, hopefully, there will always be that "safety net".

 

[JG]

Bad press, not great pay, missing equipment, over deployment, better offers in private security, IEDs etc etc. stuff we all know about before signing up, but haven't experienced. plus not so many are joining for a career anymore. unfortunately with a high turnover comes high expense due to training, so i wouldn't be at all surprised if RMC training standards dropped in the next few years

I strongly disagree with you there, the royal marines will never ever let their standards drop, they are an elite outfit, how often do you see an elite outfit letting their standards drop? never

As the Pti said on commando on the front line " we have standards here lads, we do not let them slip, if you drop them we will back troop you, whether it be 1,2 or the whole troop i will back troop you"

 

[Ty]

Bad press, not great pay, missing equipment, over deployment, better offers in private security, IEDs etc etc. stuff we all know about before signing up, but haven't experienced. plus not so many are joining for a career anymore. unfortunately with a high turnover comes high expense due to training, so i wouldn't be at all surprised if RMC training standards dropped in the next few years

It's pretty much the truth. Many join the Marines for the experience, and the look on the resume. It's not to hard for a Marine to then quit after 4 years or so, and take a job in Body Guarding / Personal Escort of important individuals worldwide. A friend of mine was even offered a position in Australia teaching the special forces there, and also do security at Madonna's house for $20,000 a month. Of course he never took it, he became a Marine to see action, not walk around a house *text deleted*.. Even the United States would love to have you to help train with double the pay. It's just sad the Marines pour out all this money and expertise in training, but seem to then have trouble keeping the men due to pay cuts and lack of funding.

 

[Seedytucker]

I strongly disagree with you there, the royal marines will never ever let their standards drop, they are an elite outfit, how often do you see an elite outfit letting their standards drop? never

As the Pti said on commando on the front line " we have standards here lads, we do not let them slip, if you drop them we will back troop you, whether it be 1,2 or the whole troop i will back troop you"

They did a few years back (under whitehall's direction mind) and then had to take the standards back up. RMC are still trained up to the same specs as post WWII, you honestly think whitehall are going to be willing to spend in excess of £35k to train a soldier who will leave 4 years later? MOD are continuously fighting against the treasury to justify the money they spend. one day, inevitably MOD will have to reduce how much it costs to train Marines/paras so they can put more money into special forces/equipment/ i'm not suggesting that the RMC would do it willingly but with less money they wouldn't have a choice. and as far as elite troops never lowering their standards it's continuously happened in the history of war. the only exception is in wartime.

 

[JG]

A lad who i was speaking to was saying, marine training is easier than it was 5-8 years back, they have had to make it easier.

 

[Seedytucker]

EDIT: nevermind.

 

[Sam1]

from what a marine told me its not the training that will be changed, its things like the corporals punishing the recruits and 'extra phys' them alot, because of morale and sh*t like tha. :uglyhammer:

 

[JG]

from what a marine told me its not the training that will be changed, its things like the corporals punishing the recruits and 'extra phys' them alot, because of morale and sh*t like tha. :uglyhammer:

So the corporals will be harsher? if so thats good.

 

[Babybell]

I strongly disagree with you there, the royal marines will never ever let their standards drop, they are an elite outfit, how often do you see an elite outfit letting their standards drop? never

As the Pti said on commando on the front line " we have standards here lads, we do not let them slip, if you drop them we will back troop you, whether it be 1,2 or the whole troop i will back troop you"

Quoted for agreement. If they ever, and I mean ever drop the standard...well its too hard to even contemplate such a thing happening!

Even during the 2nd world war they never dropped the requirments just so they could bulk up the force size. (At least Im 98% positive on this point.)

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Standards & pass criteria vary over the years as different elements are brought into the skill-set required of today's Commando. Years ago you had to be fit, you still do, but you have to be capable of passing technical elements of training that previously never existed. (In 1969 a computer with the capacity of a current day 5 quid calculator helped take 3 men to the moon & back- likewise warfare is a bit more high-tech.)

It has long been the claim of those who served previously that is was always harder in their day. Of course it was - have you ever heard an old duffer claim it's harder now than ever before?

When I joined the RN 27 years ago everyone claimed we recruited people that were no good, those that recruited the people that trained me were told likewise & so the myth continues.

Retention: Most people only intend serving 5 years & state just as much when they join. Surprisingly perhaps, most stay longer than the minimum 4 years 2 months, but we should hardly be surprised when they leave as intended. The current average is 6.5 years. Of those that leave to join private security firms overseas, most do a couple of tours & increasingly more & more trained marines want to rejoin the Corps.

Recruiting figures are increasing for a multitude of reasons, not least because we're entering into a recession where there are fewer securer jobs that can offer you 18 years guaranteed income or longer.

Yes, the pay could be better & now more so than ever, you will most likely serve in combat that is at a more intense tempo for a longer period than ever experienced by servicepeople ever before. In my opinion the selection process is more rigorous, with more pass/fail criteria than ever before. Easier? I don't think so.

 

[Babybell]

Im currently in the process of watching "Commando: on the front line" DVD and think that anyone who is considering joining should watch. £10 from HMV if anyone is intrested (Though I have seen it cheaper online. I just had to have it stright away!) For all the beastings and hardships the recruits are put through I want to experince it first hand.

One thing I have noticed it that I think I need to start swearing more. Or is that only part of the requirments once you reach corporal? :P