Im now on day 17 and start my RAF Regiment phase on Monday, and Tuesday then i have 14 days off for Christmas and will work with the Regiment for the next 4 weeks. I will be put into the CS Chamber on Monday, apparently this will clear your cold, although it being discomforting.
The 3rd weekend is the first we were, and most people, are allowed off. On Friday we went to Hendon to the RAF Museam. A good day out, i don't normally like museams
but this was very interesting. On my flight(s) the majority are AMM(M) AMM(AV) and theres about 12 CIS OM's 2 medics.
Day 1: i arrived at 1130 on the wednesday and as soon as we got there we had our #2 haircuts and sat around in a classroom until about 2 until everyone got there.
Filled in some paper work chatted with the other lads and was given a lovely (not) packed lunch. On our flight there was 23 people and another flight starting the same day had 24 people. In the end they decided to combine them into one flight, now we've got 53 people as we have 6 reflighted people, they joined us due to failing certain parts, one was beacuse GDT training, few from injuries and illness and day 14 inspections. You then meet your flight staff and they chat to you saying
what to expect and your life starts now. You then go and get attested or say the oath.
Once every one was there we took our kit into our rooms, and formed up outside the barack block in our 3's and marched around the camp for a tour. Then collected our bed sheets a water proof jacket and a pair of denims or coveralls which you have to wear until you go to the kitting stores after about day 4. Were in bed till past 12 i think as we have to write a life story and put all your stuff away and label a few things.
My room has 14 people in it, the lads have a good laught but also get on with their work when they need to, so its quite relaxed. Make sure you do socialise with the group, you'll need to get to know everyone.
The food is pretty poor, mainly beacuse its cooked by civilian chefs (no offence to chefs) but when you been up since 4:45 and working all day you'll find it quite appetising.
You don't get alot of time to eat, so you just scoff it down and go. We got for brekkie at 6:00, back in the barrack block for 6:25ish, then you prepare your kit for inpection, or if you don't have one get your days items together.
At first, all you'll be doing is classroom stuff, 'General Service Knowledge' lessons, which you have normally 2 a day. Once youve got your kit, about day 4 i can't fully remember you then start to do sewing and ironing, and your inspections start. Some people were up till 2:30 am preparng kit, but as you get further into it you start getting to bed earlier.
You get a few knob heads, myself included running around with their long johns, camo jacket, respirator and helmet on pretending to shoot each other with dummy wooden guns or spray bottles.
Our first team building event was the low ropes course which is good beacuse you start to bond a little more. Getting away from the classroom is rare at the start.
My most enjoyable part so far is learning drill, you will learn how to march as a group, halt, turn and generally manoeuver about. Every where you got you will have to march, full arm swings, the lot. At first is difficult to remember the moves and the timings, but now i just know what to do on instinct. If you've been in the air cadets you will have an advantage.
PEd lessons are good as long as you do what your told, other wise you do pressups or extra running etc... you'll probably start off doing a bleep test where once you get to level 9.10 you have to stop, 13 press ups and 35 sit ups. quite easy, just a test to check what you need to work on. Some people are unbelieveably fit.
The second PEd lesson will be cross country running, where you will be streamed into 3 groups, faster runners, average runners and the slower runner. I got into the top 6 in group 1 so do make the effort to get into the top group. You will be running on grass and concrete for this. We did about 4 miles in 2 runs.
Swimming is enjoyable, you don't have to wear speedos, just incase you feel weird in them, i wear them but plain swiming shorts are ok, as long as the dont go as low as your knee.
And we were told we don't need to wear a swimming hat.
Other stuff you do is learing how to put fires out, which includes hose running, a fire drill which you will need to pass as a group, block jobs which you will be assigned after about day 5. Visit the doctors for loads of injections, dentist for xrays etc...
Day 14 is a big day, all the kit you have been shown how to prepare needs to be presented for inspection at 7:30 on your bed, it will need to be prefect. You have to stand next to your bed for about an hour, i was sweating like a ginger man in africa the whole time as its so hot in your rooms and your wearing your combats and boots etc...
Fail day 14 and you have another chance day 15, fail that then its start from day one again. One person from 53 failed both times but he was lazy, as long as you help each other out you'll pass fine. The corporal that inspected our room said it was the best room he'd seen in his 2.5 years there. It is a big worry off your mind when you pass that.
After that you have to put your drill skills into action where you will be tested the indoor hangar. This is a pass/fail as a group, pass it then you have your yellow disks (biff badges) removed from your beret. Fail it, then i think you just re do it the next day. Nothing really to worry about though. Just means you can march yourself around rather than the Corporals having to be there.
I could go an all day, there is literally too much to wite about, at first you may not enjoy it, but hang in there, it gets better and i enjoy it. If you have any more questions i will get back to you ASAP.
A few tips:
Take a CD Player, this will go down really well in the room, just make sure its not too big, or an IPod, and loads of CD's.
Buy a sticky roller. Like a paint roller but with sticky tape on it, they are very handy for getting rid of fluff from your bed, floor at the last minute etc...
I find using my mobile phone for an alarm clock is better that a bedside alarm clock.
Definitely take an ironing baord and iron, don't use their crap. There is enough to go around but i will highly reccommend your own.
Don't take too many civvie clothes, the less you take the easier it is to keep tidy. If you can, take your own trainers for outdoor running, this will save you alot of time cleaning their ones,
the silver shadows are not actually too bad for running, i use them, and most people do so you don't feel like a tw@.
Reebok classics are ok, as long as their mostly white and ARE designed for running.
Take your car, you can leave any crap you don't want in your car.
Take 2 tins of Kiwi or similar boot polish, one for your boots and one for your shoes you will need to start work on after about day 12. The one you use for your boots will scratch your #1 &
#2 shoes.
Cigarette lighter, even if you don't smoke, it can be handy to remove threads from your clothes. Or a couple of pairs of scissors.
2 toothbrushes, one for your teeth (obviously) and one for cleaning your boots/trainers etc...
Very small needles for sewing.
You can take a large suitcase, people has huge cases but you can also put cloths (clean) in there if need be.
Take 3/4 dusters, and a cloth for damp dusting.
If you have, take a couple of shoe boxes, or small boxes, to put your loose bits in, you will get given some when you get your kit issued i will highly advise keeping them.
Take a digital camera, you can lock this up, and it's nice to take a few pics to show your parent etc...
Take lots of sweets/chocolate. You find these handy at night to much on, just as long as you dont leave them on show in your locker, put them in civvi coat pocket or something.
I will be taking a camera when i go back on Sunday so ill post a few pics Wednesday.
Hope this helps
Alex
