Ando's inbound...

[Ando]

Hi Rangers and all, my nickname is Ando, i'm 19 years old and i was checking out your site late one night and thought it would be cool to pull up a sandbag and spin the shit with you guys. I've got a fairly mixed military background, which is often hard for US Soldiers to understand. We do things a little differently to you! My military career started at the age of 12, in the UK in an organisation similar to the ROTC program you have in the states. However, the Cadet Force in the UK recruits lads from the age of 12 and trains them as Non-commisioned soldiers, rather than officers. I remained a cadet until i was 17, having reached the rank of Junior Colour Sergeant, which is equivalent to Master Sergeant i believe. (yeah, i know it's junior and as such doesnt count for shit! But i learned a hell of a lot and it was fun...) I attended regular and reserve army courses such as the Junior Command Course (Section of squad command) and the Senior Command Course (Platoon/Troop and Company Command), various fieldcraft courses such as Recce (Or recon, as you would call it) and MFC, and a Pre-Para course run by the Parachute Regiment. I also took part in exercises with the regular Army throughout the UK, in places like Salisbury Plain, Scotland and Wales etc. I travelled to BATUS in Canada for a two month exercise, and to Germany and Finland, as well as Norway.

When i turned 17, i enlisted in the Royal Marine Commandos and began basic, but suffered a serious injury and as such chose to voluntarily withdraw from the course until i was ready to give it another shot. Failure has never been an option. I can freely admit that i suffered a set back, due to some dumbass civilian with an attitude problem and 11 of his buddies. But if 12 of the UK's most disreputable drunken asshole kids couldn't finish me off in a bar, i reckon i can handle pretty much anything.

So, i joined the Reserves, and began the Combat Infantryman's Course, but decided i wanted more. Having proven that i had enough in me to be a Commando, but with 6 months before i could re-enlist in the Marines, i volunteered for the UKSFR (United Kingdom Special Forces Reserve) selection course, and passed a year later (The course is roughly 12 months long) to become a shiny-arsed rookie member of 21 Regiment. It was tough, but i got through. Anyway, now im just about ready to give the Marines another shot, and i miss talking to like-minded individuals.

If you men are willing to take me in, i'd value the oppurtunity to talk to some of the United States' finest, as any soldier who serves a country that would stand next to my father, grandfather and a further 6 generations of soldiers on both sides of my family before that is a friend of mine.

Yours sincerely

Ando

And remember, there are two ways to tackle a problem, the easy way, and the British way! I know you fellas intended that as a dig at us, but we the way we see it, if we can do it in British weather conditions, we can do it anytime, any place...haha

[Steadfast]

Welcome to our site Ando. I hope that we become good friends. I always need someone around everybody wants to beat up. Just kidding. I also hope you get a 2nd chance at the Royal Marines, isn't this the correct name? See you around bud.

[Bell]

Welcome to the board Ando.

RLTW
Bell

[Horned Toad]

Welcome
For a little wanker that’s a big intro, trained with you Brits several times and it was always a blast, in 93 or 94 went out on a training mission with your pathfinders and my self and one other on the boards have competed in your Cambrian Patrol competition.
I take it you have read the faqs
Have fun post away

[Looon]

Welcome.

[RideGrrl]

Hey Ando.

[Swoff]

Welcome, hope you make it through to the Royal Marines

[Earthpig]

Welcome to the site, Ando! Jolly good thing you found us! Good luck with your pursuits.
RLTW
EP

[Parabellum]

Welcome brother. I hope that you are not offended by Princess Dy jokes.

[Tay Depp]

Welcome to the site.

[Ando]

Ranger Horned Toad (or Ranger Toad? Ranger Horny? Bah! I give up...), The Pathfinders are pretty good lads, i worked with them on a couple of exercises when i was in 21. Any of you guys ever heard of 148 Commando Bty? I was working with them quite a bit towards the end of my time with 21, as i was specialising in recce and S&R ops (CSAR to you, i think). 148 Bty are equivalent to ANGLICO in the USMC i believe.

So, how do the Rangers rate the Royal Marines, then?

[Parabellum]

Ranger Horned Toad (or Ranger Toad? Ranger Horny? Bah! I give up...), The Pathfinders are pretty good lads, i worked with them on a couple of exercises when i was in 21. Any of you guys ever heard of 148 Commando Bty? I was working with them quite a bit towards the end of my time with 21, as i was specialising in recce and S&R ops (CSAR to you, i think). 148 Bty are equivalent to ANGLICO in the USMC i believe.

So, how do the Rangers rate the Royal Marines, then?

Royal Marines are an outstanding unit. I have alot of respect for them. Considering that during WW2 the 1st Ranger Battalion was trained by the Britsh Commandos. Setting the standard for the formation of the rest of the Ranger Battalions from then until now.

[Lotus Lips]

Ranger Horned Toad (or Ranger Toad? Ranger Horny? Bah! I give up...)

Ranger Horned Toad works. Just put Ranger in front of the Ranger's name.

[Ando]

Understood.