RECAPPED BADGING OF 3R welsh

[ap1]

I was watching Question Time last week from Portsmouth. It was mentioned that the RN only has 19 combat ships(frigates and destroyers…..NINETEEN!!! Assuming some of them are in refit, that situation is appalling and all the major parties and senior military seem content with it.

On a thread running on Facebook, an ex RWF Recce lad was bemoaning the fact that when he went to the Army's recruiter "Capita" he failed miserably in his attempt to Join 3RW

"it was shocking to be honest... I was on their doorstep the week after I got out... But having spoke to the unit I was informed that since Capita had taken on the roll they'd not had anyone through the gates for 3 months, would have been happy to commit at THAT time…"

I think General Wall has made an error of judgment in his total support for the Gov policies, potentially it could fail on his watch, with recruitment of the reserves being the first failure! He could have been the senior officer who said "No, enough is enough", but instead has meekly stepped into line, whilst the people at the coalface are telling them its not working. Still….Its an excuse to re-show this brilliant video of a TA CO being briefed on his latest recruiting figures….Enjoy.

[peterlansley]

Capita are been paid £400m to recruit for the TA So far they have recruited 387 looks like money well spent.

[BennytheBall]

Hi Gerry Sorry I should have given a bit more background info. The TA Infantry Bn's have go down to 3 Rifle Coys and a HQ Coy, this includes 3rd Bn R Welsh their orbat is now HQ and 2 Rifle Coys in South Wales I believe HQ in Cardiff B Coy in Swansea, C Coy in Pontypridd with 1 rifle Coy in North Wales that being D Coy in Colwyn Bay & Caernarfon (until possible closure in 2016) A Coy at Wrexham & Queensferry have been taken out of the Orbat with the majority of its soldiers now Recapped Badged 398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) Sqn 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment RLC based at Queensferry (so apart from Des and Judy RHQ, NO R Welsh will be in Hightown Barracks).I hope that has given some info to go on
Best Regards
Benny

398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) Transport Squadron 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps

398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) Transport Squadron Royal Logistics Corps is formed from A Company 3rd Bn The Royal Welsh. The Company was formed from an amalgamation of HQ company and a rifle company of the 3rd Bn The Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1999 to become A Company the Royal Welsh Regiment. The Company has served with distinction both in Iraq and Afghanistan since the formation of the Royal Welsh in 2006.

398 Company Royal Army Service Corps was formed in July 1915 in support of 53rd (Welsh) Division alongside 249 Company, now the HQ Squadron of 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment RLC. Later being absorbed into the Labour Corps, the Company was the first in the Division to be equipped with motorised transport.

398 Divisional Airborne Composite Company was raised in 1943 serving with distinction in support of 6th Airborne Division (including 6th (RWF) Parachute Bn) throughout Europe. It was subsequently directed to Palastine in 1945 where it served alongside 223 Air Despatch Company RASC (now a sister Transport Squadron of 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment RLC).

The Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry has roots dating back to the origins of the Yeomanry (or volunteer calvary) in 1795 and included Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry, the Denbighshire Hussars and the Flintshire Yeomanry Calvary. The Yeomanry for North Wales was reorganised under the title Denbighshire (Hussars) Yeomanry in 1908 and attached to the Royal Artillery in 1922, a role which existede until 1969 under various guises including Caernarfon and Denbigh Yeomanry and the Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry. B Company of the 3rd BN RWF adopted the title Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry from 1971 - 1999. The Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry is re - established with 398 Transport Squadron on the 19th November 2013. (source from the recap badging parade programme 19/11/13).

[BennytheBall]

Keith approx on paper approx 450 but how many of them are regular attenders I can't answer that one?
Best Regards
BennytheBall

[keithwill38]

Thanks for that Benny,i have copied and paste a question with the answer that was published in Hansard it just gives the numbers for North Wales.The table provides details of the total number of personnel attending each TA centre in North Wales in each of the last 12 months. Due to the way that attendance is recorded, there are no separate statistics for Caernarfon (as it is a detachment of Colwyn Bay) or Queensferry (as it is a detachment of Wrexham). The figures in the table for Colwyn Bay and Wrexham therefore include the detachments as well. The figures show individuals' training based on the TA Centres they regularly attend, although they may on occasion go to another TA centre for some training.You will also note that the numbers have been rounded in accordance with Government statistical conventions.I hope this explains the situation.

Month	Location	Total numbers attending training
2012
October	Prestatyn	20

	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	40
November	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	50
December	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	50
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	40
2013
January	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	70
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	50
February	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	50
March	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn bay	50
April	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	50
May	Prestatyn	20
	Llandudno	50
	Wrexham	40
	Colwyn Bay	40
June	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	50
July	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	50
August	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	30
	Colwyn Bay	40
September	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	40
	Llandudno	40
	Colwyn Bay	40

I think the numbers seem to be inflated somewhat,as the numbers given for C/Bay and LLandudno combined together give a strength of well over a rifle company strength,so maybe i think seeing as the numbers come from The Secretary for Defence they may well be manipulated,but would he do that,to Bloody right he would.

[ap1]

I might be wrong but I think the picture may be even bleaker Keith. The figures as you say relate to the TA Centre itself. So for example Llandudno is a general hospital squadron and not part of the infantry. Similarly Prestatyn…is REME I think! North Wales has always had a strong TA, but that may suffer as local ties and historical loyalties are cut.

Regarding Capita, i'm sure i've recently read that the MOD has had to deploy a 1000 military staff to assist them get it back on track. From my own experience, both in recruiting TA, but mainly in recruiting for our regular battalion, we were always better at it ourselves….Funding/gaping was always the issue, plus of course the differing requirements of the Army's main recruiters, during my day ably led in the south by Colin J and Alan Phillips. Having worked in the profit led private security sector, we would always promise the client the earth, but in reality service delivery was really down to the competence of the local security manager and his team and corners were ALWAYS cut. I've no reason to believe that a money maker like Capita will be any different. Profit is the only goal.

[keithwill38]

Yes Al the Hansard report does not say what arms the people attending are wether Inf or other arms,but it does not matter how the government spin it the numbers do not add up and alas i do not think they ever will.They liken it to the National Guard model in the US,be where as we send x amount of Ta soldiers with reg regiments,the national guard send whole units consisting of full strength regiments(or whatever they call them),and as in Iraq some Nat Gd Reg spent a full year on duty in Iraq,it would not happen in this country

[jcj]

One of my last tasks before retirement from the Army as OC recruiting for SE Wales was to host all four bidders for the contract. Begrudgingly I had to give them a full brief of our recruiting methods etc. Every other question posed at the end of the brief was how they could cut costs. What annoyed me the most was the number of Senior Officers who were involved in recruiting who ended up on board with CRAPITA and the other bidders. The guys who had the real knowledge of how to recruit were the LSL WO2 office managers Dickie Brace up North Dai Williams in Bristol and others were basically ignored and slung on the scrap heap. CAPITA and the Army are blaming the IT system for the cock up which is bollocks you need experienced SNCO’s/WO’s to recruit soldiers. My six Office managers could weed out the C*** in minutes of an interview, you can’t do that with online applications.

[dcdl12976]

I dont really believe the government gives a shiny ****e about recruitment all they care about is losing bodies to cut costs so they can give more money to places like India so they can join the space race

[peterlansley]

Have you thought that the numbers should be divided by four to get a better understanding .