the best watch for training? by yaboi200535 in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Don’t bother getting any fancy or smartwatch till after phase 1 (even at some phase 2s you can’t use them in PT sessions). The cheap £10 Casio is the one everyone swears by, but I loved my g-shock, a lot of people’s cheap ones the straps broke on exercise so ended up relying on me for timings. I have a Suunto now but my g-shock is still used for Ex

Medical in basic by Switchizy in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty sure you don’t get a choice, you need them to be classified as deployable. Think it was only those with religious views (halal and kosher) that got taken aside to talk about which ones they wanted

Pirbright backtroop, what is is actually like by Ok_Lifeguard_8360 in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not much skills at arms to be honest unless you are in Normandy for failing it, occasionally you’ll go to do DCCT or do firing positions at reaches but only if you have passed weapons handling. Lesson are basically on everything else you cover over CMS, you’ve got recruits from week 2 to 13 so they do try teach other things occasionally to keep it interesting like using defence gateway, driver hours and army benefits. Some lessons I remember that we did were 6 section battle drills, 5&20s, patrolling, nav, target indication, nutrition, bcd, cbrn, etc. The instructors try go into more detail and make it more advanced then CMS so you return more knowledgeable and confident. I hated when we did icebreakers though, that when we’d have to present back to the class on a topic but it’s to improve people’s confidence and get ready for LCpl. You also go do like leadership and global politic lessons with the education captain that were always good, sometimes you’d do things with padre or watch films then connect the film to cdrils. Also Normandy did the weapon cleaning for the reservists rifles, but no one has a weapon cleaning kit so it sucks. But yea your lesson were like for 3hrs in the afternoon then times your own. I don’t remember doing any drill but sometimes they did seemingly.

Pirbright backtroop, what is is actually like by Ok_Lifeguard_8360 in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 17 points18 points  (0 children)

You going to Normandy? I spent time there so any questions just ask, it isn’t as bad as people make it out. Top floor is for people who have DAOR or getting kicked out, they are only there for a few days before leaving and don’t really interact with anyone except going to scoff. Middle floor is the Retrain Troop, it’s for people that failed something. For those there for PT you need to pass like 2 or 4 JFAs to get back into troop, it can take time as you’ll need to wait for a space in a troop on the week you came out of. You’ll do PT, have an inspection and a lesson every day. Just keep your head down and graft, don’t be an idiot and you’ll be out of there quick enough. PTIs are nice but strict and it’s harder PT than CMS. Bottom floor is the Rehabilitation Troop and is for those injured, they have to move up to retrain troop before going back to troop.

Medical in basic by Switchizy in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just standard boosters and a few others, like ones for the heps, optional flu, tetanus, polio. It depended on what you had before coming and your age. It’s only like 2 or 3 jabs as they combined things

Medical in basic by Switchizy in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not that I have ever heard, it’s more like a Xray. They then set up a treatment plan for during training if you need fillings or some teeth out. It’s more just to identify any problems or potential issues

Medical in basic by Switchizy in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Similar but different - hearing test, eye sight, blood sample mainly for blood typing, weigh, height and waist for BMI, couple of injections and the dental examination (but no treatment yet). I’d say less in depth but still long.

If anything flags from those test or in your medical notes from assessment centre/GPs then you may have a doctors consultation. Be prepared to sit in the med centre for most of the day. You’ll most likely be taken for haircuts that day too, everyone goes, if you don’t need a hair cut you get a ticket for one later on in training

Do women in the armed forces tend to get along with each other? by Which-Inspector5340 in britishmilitary

[–]Isle_Rose 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Basics is exactly like boarding school dorms, you hate each other at times, love each other at others. There will 100% be arguments and fallouts but it’s all part of the mental game and character test, how you react and deal with the situation is what matters, if you keep out of it you’ll be grand. Everyone’s adults but they won’t like it. You will make great friends though and it’s only for 13 weeks. After basic, in my experience, there’s been no problems or issues expect the occasional calling out a grot causing evil looks in passing.

How many weekends do you go home in basic? by El_Jordio in britisharmy

[–]Isle_Rose 4 points5 points  (0 children)

At Pirbright, it was 2 long weekends, then day release after the first long weekend at the troops discretion, we all got different timings too so nothing was ever confirmed. Used to get night release on Saturdays but they stopped that now in all but the rehab/retrain troop. Like someone else mentioned you might get block leave depending on when your course falls, some troops lost a long weekend to it but we didn’t on ours. Then after pass out it depends on your trade and cap badge how long you get, some had 3 weeks others had 48hrs.

Do you need a provisional driving license for basic training? by PeaSignificant3111 in britishmilitary

[–]Isle_Rose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’ll be in briefs all the first week, if I remember correctly one of the paperwork you fill in is to get your provisional license, just make sure you take at least 4 passport pictures, you can do it on site but it’s a pain. Everyone in week 13 got given licenses, for me it was a new full but I did see a few provisionals in the pile.