Getting all Territorial

CASE STUDY ONE: Nicola Innes

COMING under fire in Iraq is a world away from a day job as a civil servant in York.

For six months, Nicola Innes was stationed in Um Quasr, in southern Iraq, charged with preventing insurgents from blowing up oil pipelines.

When we meet for a coffee in York, she is happy to talk about her experiences in the TA, but reluctant to reveal what it was to risk enemy bullets.

"They were trying to blow up the pipelines to stop the oil being exported, our job was to stop them doing that," she said. "We had a couple of hairy moments. It was tough."

What she will say, however, is how well prepared she was for her six-month tour in Iraq. Before heading out, she spent four months in Windsor undergoing intensive training and drills, anticipating active duty.

TA members have to be prepared to take part in military action. They can be called up at any time, although Nicola volunteered to go to Iraq.

"There is not much point in doing all that training unless you are going to use it - you may as well join the venture scouts," she says with typical straight-forwardness. "It is the best military training in the world."

Nicola, 32, who is from East Yorkshire, is a member of Y Squadron, Queens Own Yeomanry, York. She said her mum was concerned about her assignment in Iraq, however her brother's reaction was amusement. "He is a fulltime RAF engineer and he wasn't called to serve." Her partner is a former Royal Navy officer so understood her determination to go to a war zone.

She was embedded with the Household Cavalry regiment, which does not have any female soldiers. So when she went to Iraq with the regiment, she was the only female soldier in the front line, which proved invaluable.

"I took part in patrols on the ground and because of the cultural differences it was difficult for the guys to engage with the female population. If we had to do house searches or arrest people, I'd be the person who would deal with female prisoners," said Nicola.

There was a lot of good will between the locals and the British troops, which was helped by their less formal approach: the Brits wore berets rather than helmets and would get out and speak to Iraqis.

The soldiers also learned basic Arabic before deployment.

"The women would come up to me and touch my skin," said Nicola, a redhead. "They'd never seen freckles before and when I took off my sunglasses they would stare at my blue eyes. They'd ask me about where I was from, all about my family; whether I had any children."

They were also curious about which football team she supported.

"Leeds," she says with a blast of enthusiasm. "There was a young lad over there who wore a Man U top so we gave him a Leeds one to wear!"

At base camp, Nicola shared quarters with female medics and clerks, but when she was out on long-range patrols was often the lone female in her troop.

"I think it was nice for the guys to have me there," said Nicola. "A lot of the young lads were 18 or 19 and I was a bit older than them and they would talk to me. Some had girlfriends or babies back home and probably wouldn't talk to their male friends about that because it would be seen as not being macho."

She believes that women can only enhance the armed forces. "Everybody brings something different. There are definite skills that women can bring. They might look at something differently to one of the guys or perceive the problem differently."

Nicola joined the TA five years ago after going to a recruitment evening with a friend who wanted to join.

In the end, they both signed up, but Nicola's friend left after a year. "She found out it wasn't for her," said Nicola.

Conversely, Nicola discovered TA life was exciting, thrilling and opened up a world of opportunities.

"I've been all over and done all sorts. We went to South Africa and had a trip of a lifetime. We did treks through the bush, went on safari. You would pay thousands of pounds for a trip like that in civilian life.

"We go adventure training - skiing, canoeing, rock climbing, hill walking, orienteering, mountain biking - all the things you have to put a great deal of time, money and effort into.

"And the TA plays a large part in people's social life."

Nicola also says the TA is a great social leveller.

"We have barristers, stockbrokers, builders and police in our squadron. It's not often you get a guy who works on the bins having a beer with someone who is a QC - on an equal footing.

"There is no prejudice. It's just one big team; one big family."

CASE STUDY TWO: Paul Meadows

PAUL Meadows makes a living as a tattoo artist and body piercer in Tadcaster. But he has another occupation - learning how to drive tanks for the TA.

"It's very loud in there - and hot, except when you've got your head out the top, then your head is really cold and your body is really hot because of the engine. You go about 40 miles an hour and that feels quite quick."

Paul, 33, joined up two years ago, realising a long-held dream. "I wanted to join in my 20s, but my wife wouldn't let me because it was time away from the family," says Paul who has two daughters.

Although plenty of people combine TA membership with family life, Paul joined up only after his marriage had broken down.

He is a member of the Y squadron, Queens Own Yeomanry, based at Fulford, York.

Paul chose the TA over the regular army for one specific reason. "I've got family in the regular Army. I'm not one for taking orders, so I knew I couldn't do the regular Army. The TA was the best option for me."

To date, Paul has already had more experiences than he dared hope.

"I'd never been abroad until I joined the TA," he said. "I got my passport last February then flew out to Canada for four months' training, then I was back in the UK for two days before flying to Germany for two weeks. I've also been to Ireland and Scotland and I've never been there before."

In Canada, he took part in pre-war training for Army regulars.

"It was a bit like laser quest where we wore vests and fired laser beams at each other. We played the enemy and we got to shoot at tanks. They used Challenger tanks like the ones out in the Gulf. It's very realistic. It's playing at war."

However, being in the TA is more than playing war games.

"It is dangerous. There were three deaths on the training exercise in Canada. There are serious risks involved," said Paul.

He often speaks to prospective recruits and always tells them that there is a real chance of being sent into a war zone. In fact, two members of his squadron are serving in Iraq.

The TA is on a recruitment drive and is hosting a series of open events next week where people can find out more about joining.

Paul says the main things people want to know are: how fit do they have to be, how much time does it involve and what's it like driving a tank?

He said the recruitment process is fairly straightforward and involves a medical and security check.

Recruits have to swear an oath to the Queen then are invited to weekend training in barracks where they learn the basics of map reading, weapons handling, field craft, drill and looking after their kit. Next comes a two-week training session where these skills are studied in depth. On the first day, recruits do a basic fitness test.

"You have to do two minutes of sit ups, press ups then run a mile and a half in a certain time. If you can't do that they will send you home after your first day," said Paul.

Recruits are expected to commit at least 27 days a year to the TA, most of which is made up from a two-week training camp and regular drill nights and weekends. They are paid for their time, the sum determined by the number of trades and skills they have as well as their rank.

Paul says his ultimate ambition would be to do a jungle tour of Belize.

He said: "It is rare in the TA, but not impossible. I'd love to do it just for the experience. It would be hot, sticky and full of animals, but it would be something to come back and say that I had done."

:: TA fact file

All trained members of the TA are liable to call-out under the Reserve Forces Act 1996. This is designed to help volunteer forces operate readily alongside regular forces.

There are almost 3,000 members of the Territorial Army in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

TA personnel have recently served on operations in Bosnia, the Falkland Islands, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Minimum commitment is 27 days a year (19 days if you have special skills already). Time is split between evening training once a week, weekend training once a month or so and a two-week training period. If you are required to go on active service after full training, you may be needed for about six months, but your job is protected and you don't lose pay.

Membership is open to men and women of British nationality. Previous military experience is not necessary. Most recruits are aged between 18 and 28 but the TA accepts people who are older if they have previous military experience or specialist civilian skills.

Soldiers are paid for all military training undertaken. Payment is made for certain travel expenses and other allowances may also be payable. An annual tax-free bonus is paid to soldiers achieving the required standard.

:: Find out more

An open evening is being held at the Yeomanry Barracks, Fulford Road, York on March 28 at 7.30pm. Anyone wishing to attend should turn up at that time.

Two TA centres in York will be open on Tuesday April 4 from 7.30pm: the TA Centre, Worsley Barracks, Fulford Road, and the TA Centre, Duncombe Barracks, Burton Stone Lane.

For more information about the TA visit the websites:

www.rfca-yorkshire.org.uk and www.armyjobs.mod.uk/territorialarmy

Updated: 09:27 Tuesday, March 28, 2006