The Rifles Office maintains contact with the 3rd and 5th Battalions of The Rifles as well as the Territorial Army Company and is a focal point in the area working to recruit to both regular and territorial forces. 

This work involves active liaison with key employers and those with influence in the area as well as keeping publicity at a high level.

Ex-regulars may be encouraged to keep their skill levels high by part-time soldiering with the TA Coy but new recruits are a crucial target.  In this respect the Army Cadet Force is significant and The Rifles Durham Office closely co-operates with the ACF. 

Contact is also maintained with schools and universities where potential officers are targeted and the The Rifles Office does process applications to Regimental Headquarters.     

       Territorial Army wants more recruits

 

The Territorial Army announced recently that it is setting up an infantry platoon for aspiring soldiers in the Durham City area. The last platoon based in the city vanished in the 1999 re-organisation.

 

The Tyne Tees Regiment, based at its Battalion headquarters at Gilesgate has launched a recruitment drive. It seeks to attract part-timers who are interested in serving their country.

 

The Territorial Army Headquarters has been refurbished. On 10th February the Mayor of Durham, Councillor John Lightley officially opened the new areas. There is now a new look to the Mess rooms and a special 'recruitment' room.

 

Captain David Snaith, Recruitment and Unit Welfare Officer aims to attract 25 to 30 men for the new platoon. He said, "We are trying to recruit an infantry platoon from the Durham area. It is the first time we have had an infantry platoon in Durham for many years. The nearest infantry used to be at Bishop Auckland, Washington or Sunderland. "A lot of young guys haven't got the transport, or can't afford to travel out to places like that, and we are hoping that they will be interested in joining a local platoon. In the past month we have recruited eight people."

 

For anyone interested, there are opportunities to gain qualifications and take part in activities such as skiing trips abroad. Territorials get regular Army rates of pay.  That amounts to £30 a day for a private and £150 for a lieutenant colonel - and there is a also a tax­free bonus! Recruits have to give at least 27 days service a year which is mostly done by serving at week­ends. Real action is possible and, currently, The Tyne Tees Regiment has more than 200 members serving in Iraq alongside regulars.

 

Recruitment to the new platoon will, according to Capt Snaith,  be open to people from all walks of life, including former regular soldiers.

 

Membership of the new platoon will be restricted to men, but the regiment has women, and there are opportunities for them to join.

 

Prospective candidates  have to be age 17½  to 32 (35 for former regulars).

 

 

Anyone interested can get more information from the centre  0191-386 4180.

 

 This building is now the Regimental HQ of 4 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

16 February 2007