Where is the household cavalry based?

Question

i want to know because i plan to join the army, however im trying to decide between the royal anglians, the parachute regiment and the household cavalry, i live very close to colchester barracks which is where the anglians and the paras are based and id rather not move too far to get to the household cavalry

Answer 1

Your Ist training base will not be so close to home, you need to get used to that Idea or it's not really worth you joining up.

Not only that but if you did join most of your time would be spent far away in foreign parts.. home a distant memory

Answer 2

The Household Cavalry consists of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st The Royal Dragoons). They are the oldest and most senior regiments in the British Army and are split between two different units equipped to perform two quite different roles. The Household Cavalry Regiment has an operational role in armoured fighting vehicles which has seen them at the forefront of Britain's military operations including the Falklands (1982), the Gulf (1990) and, more recently, Bosnia and Kosovo. The regiments are Guards Regiments and, with the five Foot Guards Regiments, form the Household Division.

The second unit is the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment equipped with horses. It is their unique privilege to meet the requirement to carry out mounted and some dismounted ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions which include the provision of a Sovereign's Escort most commonly seen at the Queen's Birthday Parade in June each year. Other occasions include Sovereign's Escorts for Her Majesty The Queen during State Visits by visiting Heads of State, and as required by Her Majesty anywhere in the Kingdom. They maintain a world-famous tradition dating back to 1660.

The Household Cavalry provides the Queen's Life Guard daily and Sovereign's Escort on State occasions, mounted on horseback. They maintain their world-famous traditions dating back to 1660.

Having enlisted in the Household Cavalry to serve with either The Life Guards or The Blues and Royals, you will join the Guards Company in the Army Training Regiment at Pirbright for basic military training - training which is common to all recruits joining the Army. You are taught drill, physical fitness, how to handle and fire your personal weapon, map reading and elementary fieldcraft - and basic military skills, which, in an emergency, might save your life.

At the end of this 12 week period of basic military training, those not becoming Mounted Dutymen move to Bovington in Dorset to carry out specialist Royal Armoured Corps training as either an AFV (Armoured Fighting Vehicles) Driver or a Gunner. After this six-week course you join one of The Life Guards or The Blues and Royals squadrons of the Household Cavalry Regiment.

Those selected for Mounted Duty remain at Windsor to complete a further 16 weeks in Riding School. Here you will have your own horse which you must feed and look after at all times, to help you understand the animal and build up a working relationship.

By now you will have learned to think for yourself. On a horse you need to think for two, which requires patience and practice. The expert instruction in Riding School will build up your confidence and riding ability. Gradually you increase the amount of outdoor riding until you are ready to learn sword drill, jumping and cavalry foot drill.

A final four weeks are spent riding in ceremonial uniform before your Passing Out Parade in front of the Commanding Officer, as one of the most highly trained soldiers in the Army. You then join either The Life Guards or The Blues and Royals Squadron of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at Hyde Park Barracks in London.

When you form up for inspection before taking part in your first Queen's Life Guard Ceremony, it is a proud moment and the culmination of months of training. Each ceremonial parade demands care of your horse before during and afterwards, physical fitness and attention to detail. The successful mounted dutyman has all the qualities required in a first class crewman of armoured fighting vehicles; and after 2 years he will leave the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment to be retrained to take his place in the armoured reconnaissance role.

In London, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment selects and trains its own farriers, saddlers, tailors and riding instructors, all attractive trades which are beneficial for life. All ride on State and Royal occasions. Last but not least are the storemen who are personally responsible for the valuable state uniforms and equipment, much of which has been used by the Household Cavalry in the service of more than one Sovereign. They too have been trained in both ceremonial and operational duties.

No account of the Household Cavalry would be complete without a mention of its world famous musicians. If you are a musician you could find yourself playing in either of the two mounted State Bands: that of The Life Guards or of The Blues and Royals. Each Band consists of some 34 musicians under a Director of Music. In order to join, you must have Grade 5 theory and Grade 5 practical in any instrument. Each of the Bands has its own mounted drummer and the trumpeters wear gold coats to become State Trumpeters on State and Royal occasions. As a musician you will also have to learn to ride and you will be taught First Aid skills.

Much of your time will be spent looking after your horse, uniform and equipment; but if the Household Cavalry works hard, we also play hard. Riding and mounted sports naturally play an important part in the off-duty life of each Regiment, but other sports are not neglected and you'll be encouraged to make full use of all the facilities available for sport and recreation and adventure training expeditions wherever you serve.

Answer 3

During the reign of Charles II, The Life Guards

and Royal Horse Guards - along with some of the Foot Guards -

had accommodation provided in a number of the Royal Palaces,

or in the more important garrisons.

Notable ones were at the Tower Of London

(which was once a Royal Palace) in the late 1660s;

during the great plague in 1665; and temporary "barracks"

accommodation in Hyde Park.

Indeed, the word "barracks" - used to describe

accommodation for the military - seems to have been used

for the first time round about 1670, in describing the (then)

newly completed accommodation in the Tower Of London.

Prior to that, in 1664, there is evidence of Horse Guards

close to the Palace Of Westminster, St James' Palace,

Somerset House, Kensington Palace, Savoy Palace,

Tower Of London, and - some twenty years later - at Hampton Court.

At other times, as and when circumstances required,

extra troops were provided with billets in camps

in some of the Royal Parks.

Today, the Household Cavalry is accommodated at:

Combermere Barracks, Windsor

Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London

Horse Guards, Whitehall, London

Answer 4

If you feel that you do not want to move too far away, then do not join up.

A barracks where the regiment is stationed, is not where most of your duties take place, it is an organising and training location, you move away from your station  to take part in  army life.

And I would not recommend the Paras, as a nearby home posting, if you suffer from homesickness, you are likely to get short shrift from your oppos, for that one, are you sure you would not be better becoming a member of the Womens Institute, after all, much of the work they do is actually quite important, and so much less stressful ?