Drill is shocking. Check out a few vids of pass out parades from years gone by - or the Green Army for that matter - and you'll see how much standards have gone down the toilet in recent years. Operational tempo is no longer a valid excuse and never was for trainees in any case.
Been there , done that , hated every second of it , I will never forget the time I was there , I was on my passing out parade , holding my aquadron lance , I was unable to walk , but I passed out with the rest of my squadron , and served my queen , ......non of my children will ever join the forces
Cambrai Barracks Feb 1980 started basic, them were the days. Sadly no more recruits to my old regiment, The 16th/5th The Queens Royal Lancers, long gone but never forgotten. Well done Gentlemen.
A congratulatory and respectful tip of the Stetson from a fellow cavalryman old enough to be your father or grandfather. May you enjoy the same love/hate relationship with your vehicles that I did when I was your age. 😅
They were out of step, had questionable rifle drill and 2 of blokes receiving awards forgot to salute. Very concerning how visibly standards have fallen.
@wahiba could not be further from the truth. Drill remaining to this day the foundation of discipline in the British Army. It instills pride in the force and quickens the reflexes. The visible standards that are presented in foot drill are representative of all the standards of that unit. It's hardly like they spend less time on the square. The training has simply fallen to a lower standard.
And at 19:58 the winner for the most inspirational instructors award is somebody who has confused his left ear for his left eye and his beret for a glengarry. Clearly the RSM's eyes were shut when that nomination was made....
I passed off the square in 1951. 3 troops, half went to the Queen's Bays, half to the 9th Lancers. Despite being uniformed in wartime BD we were smarter than this lot in our parade drill.
I passed out there in 1970. There were only nine of us so we didn't get a band, just a corps of drums. But we didn't half make up for it with our boots. The old man said it was one of the best parades he'd seen.
Couldn’t be prouder of all these men. Well done for answering your country’s call, stepping up and looking incredible on a cold, rainy December day. And to all the armchair Sgts Maj here commenting on drill; I guess it’s the Army’s loss you packed it in after your 3 years laminating your biff chit.
Yeah, the drill was pretty ropey. From experience, some bods just have a different brain for each limb. The staff have zero excuses though. Their bods were actually 10x smarter than them. But these fellas haven't joined the mob to mince along behind a band like I did. It's a seriously dodgy world we currently live in, and as long as they can deliver the goods in the field and risk their lives to keep us old knackers safe, then their drill will do. Well done gents, enjoy the ride, because it's over before you know it. We should all be proud of you for stepping up, to where so many who are quick to judge you didn't have the courage. That Royal Welsh Corporal's beret was something to behold however. Honkbats.
A late January day in 1961 I had my passing out parade.....there were then 3 troops not one....I joined the 3RTR (ROYAL TANK REGIMENT) There then 6 RTR regiments to choose from not now...... same with the cavalry regiments all amalgamated....yes the drill could have been a better.....but riding in a tank you don't have to march far.......
Having served at Catterick in the sixties, I believe it would be a good idea if all trainees wore the same head-dress until they joined their parent regiment. At he moment -judging by the parade - they look disorganized. (former British Army SNCO)..
What for ? We don't want to march properly, we want to stroll to wherever we need to be with a limited amount of fuss and shouting, no need to be in step if all end up at the same place as each other at the same time😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Unfortunately too few of them...considering they represent all armd units! With the new tanks coming in there needs to be a recruitment drive! I hope they all do well in their units.
Very small numbers passing out. Sad sign of a how small are army is. And a more important thing that people aren’t choosing to join. Personally I wouldn’t blame them due how much are rulers disipes us the citizens.
Where are the training NCOs, or are they so poorly trained themselves that they can’t pass on high standards to recruits? Arms all swinging at different times, some soldiers almost out of step. As a training NCO from the early 70‘s, it breaks my heart to watch this!
