|
Frequently Asked Questions These are some of the questions which we are regularly asked. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact to us.Email us at em-publicity@em.rfca.mod.uk or telephone: 0115 924 8610. What
Is The Commitment For Training?
Many of the units in East Midlands encourage you to attend a weekly training evening, and are open for training on at least one weekend a month. How much you do depends on how much time you can afford to give, and your enthusiasm for mastering new skills. To become a trained Volunteer and to gain your annual financial bonus you will need to do a minimum of 27 days in a year. This would normally comprise of a two week camp, about 6-8 weekends a year and a number of training nights which take place on one night a week. Specialist units do not expect such frequent attendance, and may suit those with less free time. To find out more about specialist units, click here.
You will sign on for an initial period of 3 years. However, non-attendance for a period of time will signal that you are no longer interested in being a member and you could be discharged as a result. You can apply to leave at any time but there is no point in joining if you lack determination and commitment.
That depends on where you live and how far you are willing to travel. Half the TA Centres in East Midlands contain more than one type of unit, but in some smaller towns there is no choice without travelling. To find your local unit, click here.
You are paid the same basic rate of pay as a regular soldier for every day you take part in military training. Your pay will also increase with service and promotion and you will be eligible for some travel expenses. Click here for more information on pay in the Reserve Forces. Adult Instructors and Officers with the cadet forces give much of their time voluntarily, but can earn up to 28 days pay per year.
Tax at the basic rate is deducted from your pay at source. Students and others who can claim exemption can do so at the start of the tax year. Alternatively, a rebate may be claimed from the Inland Revenue for low earners who think they have overpaid during the year. Those who pay the higher rate of tax should seek advice from the Inland Revenue on possible underpayment. National Insurance contributions are deducted when the monthly pay rises above the NI threshold.
There are standards to be met but provided you are reasonably fit and prepared to make the effort there will be no problem. You will be expected to pass a medical before being accepted into a unit. Your unit will help you develop your fitness throughout your training but the onus is on you to get fit and then maintain the standard. Fitness standards for officers and adult instructors with the cadet forces are not as rigorous as those for the reserve forces.
17 is the lower age limit for joining the reserve forces; the upper limit varies according to type of unit. Click here for more detail on TA and Royal Auxiliary Air Force age limits. There are exceptions to the upper age limit for those with certain specialist skills or previous military experience. Adults in the cadet forces can join between the ages of 18 and 55.
In most units there will probably be an opportunity to learn to drive at some point, and both Royal Logistic Corps and Royal Signals units may ask you to take your Category C+E driving test. Other units will have some requirement for drivers, but do not automatically assume that the TA will teach you to drive; it is really an added bonus.
The mere fact that you join the Reserve Forces signifies that you are prepared to serve your Country. You could be compulsorily mobilised, although this would not be undertaken lightly. For the enthusiastic volunteer, there are many opportunities for a trained individual to volunteer to be mobilised. It may surprise you to know that about one-tenth of our Forces during the Bosnia/Kosovo period have been Territorial Army or Individual Reservists. This is equally true for the RAF and Royal Navy forces in the Balkans. To find out more on your rights and those of your civilian employer, click here. Neither students with the OTC nor adult instructors with the cadet forces have any liability for call up at all
The answer is "Yes". Whether you are compulsorily mobilised or whether you volunteer to be mobilised, you and your employer have certain rights and safeguards under the Reserve Forces Act 1996. To find out more, see More about Mobilisation. Volunteers are expected to inform their civilian employer of their membership of the reserve forces, and if you volunteer for an operational tour, this is generally in agreement with your civilian employer.
As a responsible citizen joining a nationally important organisation, it is obviously better for all that your civilian employer knows about your commitment to the reserve forces in your own time. At present, the responsibility rests on the individual to inform his/her employer. It is likely that at some stage in the future the unit may, with your consent, approach your employer to inform him/her of your commitment. Many employers support the Reserve Forces and will give additional annual holiday for you to attend your annual TA camp.
Depending on your Unit you will be expected to train in military and specialist skills, some of which can be of use in your civilian life. It is not all military training and you will have the opportunity to take part in other activities such as adventure training, sports, parades and social activities. See "Where do you fit in".
This really depends on what the conviction is for; how long ago etc. Those convicted of a serious offence are unlikely to be enlisted, but your local TA Centre/Royal Auxiliary Air Force unit can advise on this. All adults working with cadets are screened to comply with the Children Act. No-one who has been convicted of an offence against a young person may join any of the cadet forces.
The majority of units will from time to time participate in large exercises overseas. The frequency of this depends on the role of the unit. Once trained, members of the Reserve Forces can volunteer to serve with regular units all over the world on operational tours or major exercises. Units may organise adventurous training expeditions abroad eg ski trips, sailing. Limited numbers of cadets and adults may participate in exchanges with overseas cadet organisations.
Yes, there will be opportunities to serve on operations and on training exercises once you are trained. Much depends on the skills that you have to offer and the time you have available.
The Reserve Forces accept British and Commonwealth citizens, and those classed as a British protected person. Some persons born in the Republic of Ireland may also be eligible. Your local unit can advise on individual cases. The same rules apply to adults with the cadet forces, and additionally you should have lived in the UK for the last five years.
Both the adult and the cadet services have a zero tolerance policy. Random drug testing can take place in reserve forces units as well as regular ones. You need a clear head and quick thinking to make the right decisions, especially where live ammunition, large vehicles or expensive equipment might be involved. There is no room for error or the influence of any drug.
|