Recalling Former Serving Personnel

[smoothbore]

I left about 4.5 years ago after 20 years service, the last 6 of which was in a couple of Joint Sevice Int appointments. I was an analyst for a while and then the lead Int planner for all planned and deployed operations inc the ops post Sept 11th. So what? Well, I knew that I was on the retired list but eligible for a recall, so having got myself a civvy job I observed the run up to the inevitable Gulf War and was expecting a recall. Particularly as the 3 things that the UK forces are always short of are medics, signals staff and int experienced people.

No recall occurred so I made a few quiet enquiries with a friend of mine who had taken my job on at PJHQ. I was told that PJHQ had asked all 3 services to recall or call up Int Reservists but the 2SL/CNH's answer was roughly along the lines of, "don't be silly, we don't have an Int Branch so we can't have any Int qualified reservists". My friend mentioned a few names and was then told that the Personnel IT system had us all down as "Warfare Officers (Non Spec)" & therefore they could not identify who was Int experienced or not!

Still no recall occurred. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to rejoin (although I would have done my duty had I been recalled) but it is a pathetic state of affairs that people like me are qualified and experienced in shortage categories but still don't get a recall, even though the Service is entitled to do so.

Shall I bin my uniform now...I would appear to have no use for it anymore and I could do with the storage space!

 

[Slop_Jockey]

Get it on Ebay sold all my uniform on there just after i went outside!
People will buy it - badges, lanyards the lot any old crap you got, some cabbage will buy it.... Soon cleared a space to store some more junk

 

[hammockhead]

That's all changing apparently, the RN is developing a formal Int specialisation.

 

[Greenie]

You are a reservist untill age 55 and liable to recall if they want you!!


Biggest gripe is that we don't get paid for it . Army guys I knew used to
do a muster once a year and get a bounty!

 

[higthepig]

On my 55th birthday i got a nice letter from M`lords thanking me for my reserve service, up till then , didn`t know i was in the reserve.

 

[Pierre_Argh]

Army guys I knew used to
do a muster once a year and get a bounty!

...Greenie, sure they weren't TA (aka volounteer reserves, who undertake readiness training... like the RNR, hence the Bounty?)

Higthepig... The Reserve commitment for ex-regulars is well documented, and was certainly mentioned in the bumph I received on leaving, so shouldn't have been a surprise?

I've heard a rumour that the Army has mobilised ex-regulars for service in Iraq (probably having run out of regulars and TAs)... and this was followed by the suggestion that the Volunteer Reserves might be done away with, and that ex-regulars would be utilised to augment when needed in future?

Any comments on that? Big problem I can see is that, as a VR, I have to notify my employer of that commitment and they will get get compensation if I am mobilised...

However if it become common-place for ex-regs to be wisked away to the far-flung at the Govts whim, the job prospects for anyone leaving the Mob in future might be severly affected. Thoughts?

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

You are a reservist untill age 55 and liable to recall if they want you!!


Biggest gripe is that we don't get paid for it . Army guys I knew used to
do a muster once a year and get a bounty!

It's a good thing the reservist liability doesn't apply to ex-RNXS bods or I would be in trouble! :lol: Mind you the Navy would be in for the bigger shock! :wink:

 

[Tartan_Terrier]

Army guys I knew used to
do a muster once a year and get a bounty!

...Greenie, sure they weren't TA (aka volounteer reserves, who undertake readiness training... like the RNR, hence the Bounty?)

Greenie is quite correct Pierre, until 1991-1992? regular reserves got called in once a year. Kit check, docs, a laughably short bit of classroom stuff (skill at arms, nbc, or whatever) and then got paid 75 quid (100-25 for tax :roll: ) and went on the p1ss!

 

[Steven_Goward]

BEING AN EX CABBAGE MECHANIC MYSELF. I FEEL REAL SAD FOR THE SLOP JOCKEY OUTING HIS KIT ON EBAY. WELL DONE THE S&S BRANCH ALWAYS TRYING TO GET A FEW EXTRA BOB OUT OF THE KITTY, WHEN HE'S 50 HE'LL TRY TO BUY IT BACK FOR HIS KIDDIES, AND LIKE A COOK HE'LL GRIPE (HOW MUCH!!!!).. SINCE LEAVING THE RN I HAVE SERVED ALL OVER THE WORLD UNDER DIFFERENT FLAGS FOR DIFFERENT CAUSES, BUT OUR MAGGIE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SERVE ENGLAND AGAIN. I LOVED SMOOTHBORES GRIPE ABOUT BEING LEFT OUT, ALL THE EX'S I KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN BACK, HAVE COME BACK UNFIT FOR CIVVY LIFE AND THERE ARE'NT ENOUGH COUCH DOCTORS TO HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOR ALL PERSONS SERVING IN COMBAT ZONES A BASIC INTEL IS REQUIRED. ALL INTEL BRANCES =2 BRAIN CELLS (and hopefully one knows what the other is doing)
S & S BRANCHES =3 BRAIN CELLS(one to read use by date & the second to keep an eye on the third)
SEAMAN = (as long as they can remember their last three)
OFFICERS (NEED NOT APPLY)

 

[Pierre_Argh]

SG I'm sure you're about to get inundated with messages from other rationeers telling you NOT TO SHOUT (i.e. use capitals) we can all read lower case just as well as uppercase.

 

[BusterQuin]

After serving my 22 (+2yrs as a junior) and leaving in '02 I received a letter last year saying that my reserve commitment had ended, before the official time (5 years I think) Not that I would have gone back anyway, they had a freebie 2yrs non-reckonable service out of me

On the subject of kit, instead of selling on Ebay, your local Sea Cadet unit would be grateful for your old kit

 

[Sea_Dodger]

Get it on Ebay sold all my uniform on there just after i went outside!
People will buy it - badges, lanyards the lot any old crap you got, some cabbage will buy it.... Soon cleared a space to store some more junk

If you see any tropical shoes on ebay give me a buzz.......Joining a ship soon and last saw my tropics 10 years ago!

 

[higthepig]

Greenie is quite correct Pierre, until 1991-1992? regular reserves got called in once a year. Kit check, docs, a laughably short bit of classroom stuff (skill at arms, nbc, or whatever) and then got paid 75 quid (100-25 for tax :roll: ) and went on the p1ss![/quote]

Not quite sure what you mean here, I left in July 79 after 24 years, and was never recalled, neither was i advised to keep my kit, perhaps ive read you wrong.

 

[slim]

I left in 85 after 22 years. I was advised to keep my kit and told that I was subject to recall until age 55. At 55 my navy pension increased with inflation and I think I received a letter informing me that my reserve commitment had ended. At no time in the 15 years did I have to report to barracks. Didn't get the £75.00 either and I would have enjoyed a PU at crown expense at Portsmouth or Plymouth .

 

[fido]

I left in 85 after 22 years. I was advised to keep my kit and told that I was subject to recall until age 55. At 55 my navy pension increased with inflation and I think I received a letter informing me that my reserve commitment had ended. At no time in the 15 years did I have to report to barracks. Didn't get the £75.00 either and I would have enjoyed a PU at crown expense at Portsmouth or Plymouth .

Lucky you - I left in '92 after 35 years (Ganges Boy to Lt Cdr) [and a Warrant punishment on the way]) and then received a letter that said quote "Officers are reminded that they are subject to continuous recall for Naval service, however, it is unlikely that an officer will be recalled for service at sea after aged 60" unquote. I was recalled in '93 and served again until Feb '94. I still have my kit but, funnily enough, some B*****d keeps sneaking in and swapping it for a smaller size whilst leaving the same lacing and medal ribbons - I'll catch him at it one day! Anybody need a Burberry or an out of date Gasbag?