• Be a vital part of the British Army
• Use your skills in a different environment
• Explore an area of interest
• Make new friends, meet new challenges
• Develop your skills and character
• Provide essential capability

The TA provides the Army with the essential capability it cannot operate without; but it would not be able to do so without the inherent skills and qualities of its people. The people are what the TA is all about, providing the mutual inspiration, encouragement, support and camaraderie to ensure that it can operate smoothly and effectively. To read what they have to say about life as a TA Specialist, choose a profile from the selection to the right.

• Encounter real diversity
• Train with the best
• Develop as a team
• Push each other further
• Share in your achievements
• Make new friends

There is so much that you can get out of being a TA Specialist - the benefits far outweigh the time and effort you have to put in. TA training builds the kinds of skills, experience and qualifications that you can apply to all areas of your life, broadening your horizons, improving your fitness and helping to advance your career. On top of all that, you will also be paid!

• Enjoy new experiences
• Develop existing skills, learn new ones
• Advance your career
• Improve your fitness
• Experience unrivalled camaraderie
• Earn extra money

The key to the TA experience is the training you receive. From learning military techniques and procedures to enhancing your specialist skills, every hour you spend training will contribute to your personal development as a valuable member of the TA. Making it more than worth the time it takes. Indeed, most of our members enjoy it so much that they are happy to devote more than the minimum commitment required of them, which in the Specialists is only 19 days each year.

• Develop your existing specialist skills
• Train in areas that interests you
• Learn military techniques and procedures
• Overcome challenges, cope with pressure
• Improve your fitness
• Enjoy some serious fun

Administration and Office Work

Running an organisation as complex as the TA creates a lot of paperwork, so having HR and admin experts is vital.  If you have this experience, contact the Staff and Personnel Support branch of the Adjutant General's Corps.

Building and Construction/Civil Engineering/Engineering/Surveying

Engineering skills are in demand in the TA, especially in construction engineering, fuels and water infrastructure repair and maintenance, and railway design and construction.  The Royal Engineers recruits Volunteers to serve in its Specialist TA teams and apply their expertise throughout the whole construction process.

Business/Management/Sales/Mediation and Negotiation

The impact of civilian activity on military plans is assessed by project managers and liaison officers with business, management, sales, negotiation and mediation experience.  They work in the Civil Affairs Group which liaises with host countries and international organisations, recruiting only Volunteers with experience in the Territorial or Regular Army

Catering

You can train to be a TA chef in an Independent Unit, but opportunities also exist in the Specialists - an ideal option for those unable to meet the annual training requirement of 27 days in an Independent Unit.

Clergy

Ordained clergy are appointed with the support of the major denominations and are attached to the larger TA units, with whom they train.

Communications

If you have experience of communications systems as a TA specialist you could be designing and installing communications systems in the field or providing high-level managment and information system support.

Driving

TA Support vehicles face the challenge of tough terrain, often in extreme conditions, and training someone good enough to drive them is the task of the Royal Logistics Corps.

Electrical Engineering/Mechanical Engineering

From rifles to rocket launchers, motorcycles to tanks, TA equipment must be ready to work at any time.  Electricians and mechanics are vital personnel in Specialist Units of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Finance

With 24,000 members to pay monthly, the TA needs skilled finance accounting people for automated accounting, book-keeping and payroll administration.  TA accounting is looked after by the Staff and Personnel Support branch of the Adjutant General's Corps

Firearms and Artillery

You need previous Regular Army or TA experience to join the Royal Artillery as a Volunteer.  There are three Specialist sections: The Royal Artillery Specialist Pool (individual gunner reinforcements), All Arms Watchkeepers and Liaison Officers Pool (officers only) and the Land Command Staff Pool (trains TA Staff Officers in special projects)

Flying

There are opportunities to carry out liaison flying duties in the TA, both in the UK and on support of overseas exercises.  However, such opportunities are restricted to those with previous Regular Army experience in the Army Air Corps

IT and Computing

People with specialist computing knowledge are essential to help the TA keep abreast of IT developments.  IT specialists are actively recruited by the staff and Personnel Support branch of the Adjutant General's Corps

Languages

As the TA supports Regular Army operations all over the world, linguists are much soughtafter.  They work wherever their talents are needed - in the TA, there are opportunities for Volunteers in the Adjutant General's Corps

Laundry

There's nothing better for a soldier's marale than bathing and changing into clean clothes after a tough slog through jungle or desert.  The TA laundry and mobile showers units support both the Regular Army and TA wherever they serve in the world (meaning great opportunties for travel) and are always welcomed by troops

There are many more specialist jobs within the TA.  They are:

• Law
• Logistics
• Marine Engineer
• Marketing
• Media & PR/Photography/Psycology
• Policing
• Port and Maritime Operator
• Postal Service
• Rail
• Supply Specialist

For information about these careers, please contact me at the address found on the links page.