81st Signal Squadron (Volunteers)
81 Signal Squadron is a specialist Territorial Army unit that recruits trained telecommunications engineers from industry, gives them the required military skills and deploys world-wide in support of Army fixed operating bases.
Welcome to 81 Signal Squadron (Volunteers)
The unit can trace it's history to 1924 where it formed as a Kite Balloon Signal Section, through both World Wars in a variety of Air Formation Signals roles, into the Army Emergency Reserve (AER) of the 1950s and as 81 Signal Regiment in the 1960s.
Since 1971, the unit has been at Squadron strength and moved to it's current role in 2 Signal Brigade after the Defence Review of 1999.
Role
The Squadron forms part of Specialist Group Royal Signals (SGRS) and provides fixed telecoms expertise to the MoD at a variety of worldwide locations.
In recent years, this has included the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Brunei - as well as operational tours to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Squadron skill-set includes copper and fibre optic cabling, telephones and other terminal equipment, distribution
frames, automatic exchanges, Local Area Networking, transmission systems and communications network management.
All soldiers are recruited with the necessary trade skills, acquired through civilian employment (predominantly with BT and other large communications companies).
These skills are then supplemented with basic military training and often developed with additional training courses.
The Squadron also has a number of ex-Regular soldiers from a range of units and cap badges. Close links with industry are maintained through the post of Honorary Colonel, currently held by Larry Stone (President Group Public Affairs with BT).
Recruiting
The Squadron is currently recruiting and has vacancies for experienced telecommunications engineers in industry.
Unlike most Territorial Army units, the Squadron does not operate from a TA Centre, but is based at the Headquarters of 2 Signal Brigade.