Did my basic in 1972 at Woolwich. 6 weeks. Long weekend then back to Woolwich for gun training and firing (105 Howitzer) and comms. Posted to 94 Loc and straight out to Salala, on the job training as a sound ranger. Ended up joining 95 FOU after passing selection course. If you want something bad enough you will achieve it.
I'm an ex Royal Engineer. Our phase 2 trg is spilt into two parts. Phase 2a is the Combat Engineer phase which is at Gibraltar bks in Minley,Hampshire and was 10 wks. Covered everything from power tools water supply boat driving to demolition and bridge building. Part 2b is dependent on your trade some are held at the RSME in Chatham Kent or the Defence school of transport at Leconfield in Yorkshire. The biggest headache was holding troop while waiting for a space to do your car licence which you need before you can do your HGV.
Thanks for these videos! I'm currently awaiting response from army on my medical. I've applied for light gunner so this was really helpful. I had to join a hour long video call with other candidates explaining what to expect in typical training life. Seems so good and relaxed, but is it really? I'm not expecting an easy ride, but just wanted to ask, how was it? Do they mentally break you down in basic training? Just curious of what to expect.
In my time 1973 to 88 basic training is for breaking the civvie you down, in order to build the compliant combat soldier that you will become by the time of your passing out parade. Give it all you've got and then some more. It's the some more that they will be looking out for. And when you get to my age you can look back with pride in what you did with the best year's of your life 😊
This was my last posting of my military career as the provo bombardier , I can only say things seem to have changed drastically and I remember things being a lot more stricter the Royal Artillery is synonymous with being highly professional and elite . It saddens me to think that the Artillery has lost so much discipline in less than ten years . That’s the youth of today I guess and the world that we live in millennials have ruined everything
" elite " ....Well our Gunnery was good that's true & we had a couple of ex 29 guys in our Battery who weren't any better than anyone else. All I remember was the stupid Bullshit ' bulled boots & starched KF shirts.
@@KyleSmithFIT Ah I see man, must of been an experience and a half. Applied back when I was 18 but contracted Psoriasis shortly after and that ruined my plan. 25 now and still trying to get rid of it, hoping its gone before im 30 so I can at least apply for the reserves. Thanks for your service and sacrifices made.
You need to pass the All Arms Commando Course first. Get your airborne wings & maybe if you’re lucky you can get 148 bty. People that pass AACC don’t normally get 148 bty on their first few years in the regiment
Phase 2 training for me was worse than phase 1. Larkhilll is an awful place. At least in phase 1, you know where you stand. Phase 2, the goalposts were constantly moving
The application process is quite long so I would put your application in about 3 months before you finish college (as long as you don’t need your qualifications from college for your role). Be proactive with your application. Make sure your are fit and ready to pass the assessment centre when you get a date, failing this can put you back another 1-3 months
I was sent here on a punishment posting from Dortmund,jokes on them,I loved larkatraz ,amesbury nights,vodka vodka in Salisbury ,loved it and the RSM was going to batter me as when I got pished I’d walk the main drag turning the guns and thunderbirds etc 😂😂😂😂ubique ,ps i done my training in Woolwich,a man’s training
How is Comms not related to your job ? Comms is a basic skill required by ANY soldier regardless of your actual Role. I spent 6 years with RA, including 7 RHA as a Gunfitter. The Gun bunnies then spent every day on the Gun Park maintaIning their Guns or if their Gun sub was in LAD /WKsp for repair they'd be in there working working with the Fitter Sect. . Unless they were QM(T) QM(A) Regt Sigs What trade were you ?
If you listen to the video mate I said you didn’t really do anything related to your job ‘except comms’. I know you spend every day in the gun park, trust me I basically lived there for 6 years of my career, I was guns F Bty. I am talking about in Royal Artillery phase two training you don’t get hands on anything related to your role, expect the 4 weeks comms course.
@@KyleSmithFIT I was F Bty Gunfitter back in the day Paddy Kelly was BSM. I can't believe they send you out to a Unit without any training on the Guns. The BC's would be kicking up fcuk . ??
@@georgerobert4709 I think that was just before my time mate, I had Leon Aldridge (think that’s how you spell his name), Matt Yates and I think dean daley was just about to take over as I was leaving. Aye you don’t do nothing till you get to 7 then they normally do there own internal between F G and I bty
@@KyleSmithFIT Aye about 83/84 when they were converting to Light Gun from FH 70 and moving back to The 'Shot in the Para role. Great Regt, fitness mad , some real characters .
Hi have been told Infantry have one afternoon a week to do their own sports and generally go on more adventure trading etc than Artillery… is this true?
It can depend on your battalion and what cycle of training you're in. Generally, Wednesday afternoon was given over to Sports. But if you were gearing up for an exercise or tour, then no, it would be normal works. Adventure training was generally used after a tour or major exercise. Usually you will get some choice. Either the Army favourite Climbing, Hill walking and Canoeing. Or you might get something exciting like diving or Sailing.
Erm, I think I went 7 Rha , 47 RA and 29 RA. Got my choice of 7 cause they are a specialist unit. Most of the time if you pick a specialist unit for choice one, you will get it.
What you ask for and what you get are 2 different things. It can depend on numbers in units and gaps in trades. When asked what preferences we wanted. We had UK North,UK South or Germany.
Super informative and really giving a rare insight. Much appreciated!
Thanks mate 👊🏻
Did my basic in 1972 at Woolwich. 6 weeks. Long weekend then back to Woolwich for gun training and firing (105 Howitzer) and comms.
Posted to 94 Loc and straight out to Salala, on the job training as a sound ranger. Ended up joining 95 FOU after passing selection course. If you want something bad enough you will achieve it.
Most 94 Guys I met in Celle were Biffs 😂
I'm an ex Royal Engineer. Our phase 2 trg is spilt into two parts.
Phase 2a is the Combat Engineer phase which is at Gibraltar bks in Minley,Hampshire and was 10 wks. Covered everything from power tools water supply boat driving to demolition and bridge building.
Part 2b is dependent on your trade some are held at the RSME in Chatham Kent or the Defence school of transport at Leconfield in Yorkshire.
The biggest headache was holding troop while waiting for a space to do your car licence which you need before you can do your HGV.
Thanks for these videos! I'm currently awaiting response from army on my medical. I've applied for light gunner so this was really helpful. I had to join a hour long video call with other candidates explaining what to expect in typical training life. Seems so good and relaxed, but is it really? I'm not expecting an easy ride, but just wanted to ask, how was it? Do they mentally break you down in basic training? Just curious of what to expect.
In my time 1973 to 88 basic training is for breaking the civvie you down, in order to build the compliant combat soldier that you will become by the time of your passing out parade. Give it all you've got and then some more. It's the some more that they will be looking out for. And when you get to my age you can look back with pride in what you did with the best year's of your life 😊
So when you say "turn up for these couces/PT" so on.
Were you on base or housed around it to attend these? Silly question but making sure.
Don't know why youtube recommended this to me, I'm not joining the army, or in the army, but still interesting.
The algorithm at its finest, thanks for watching mate 👊🏻
Come on *pokes with stick* do Army.
Think it has changed, I got invited to go larkhill for a few days and saw them driving the new archer round
Oh nice mate love a bit of change.
I went to Larkhill in 98,sure the gun bunnies got to train on the light gun.
The only reason I would want to go into the Royal Artillary is to join the 29 Commando Regiment.
In Harrogate, it’s long as fuck. Can’t wait to get to unit.
This was my last posting of my military career as the provo bombardier , I can only say things seem to have changed drastically and I remember things being a lot more stricter the Royal Artillery is synonymous with being highly professional and elite . It saddens me to think that the Artillery has lost so much discipline in less than ten years . That’s the youth of today I guess and the world that we live in millennials have ruined everything
Millennials were born in the 80's....
" elite " ....Well our Gunnery was good that's true & we had a couple of ex 29 guys in our Battery who weren't any better than anyone else.
All I remember was the stupid Bullshit ' bulled boots & starched KF shirts.
Good luck on your journey.
Not serving anymore, left around 5 years ago now. Just sharing my experience for others.
@@KyleSmithFIT Ah I see man, must of been an experience and a half. Applied back when I was 18 but contracted Psoriasis shortly after and that ruined my plan. 25 now and still trying to get rid of it, hoping its gone before im 30 so I can at least apply for the reserves. Thanks for your service and sacrifices made.
@@x67th thanks mate, good luck!
How long would it take to get 148 battery 29 commando from phase 2?
You need to pass the All Arms Commando Course first. Get your airborne wings & maybe if you’re lucky you can get 148 bty. People that pass AACC don’t normally get 148 bty on their first few years in the regiment
How many exercises did you get in phase 2 ?
Phase 2 training for me was worse than phase 1. Larkhilll is an awful place. At least in phase 1, you know where you stand. Phase 2, the goalposts were constantly moving
It will be awful for you, if you’re the ones that stay in the block after courses and don’t go out and play a sport
I can't wait to join up after I finish college and do you have any advice
The application process is quite long so I would put your application in about 3 months before you finish college (as long as you don’t need your qualifications from college for your role).
Be proactive with your application.
Make sure your are fit and ready to pass the assessment centre when you get a date, failing this can put you back another 1-3 months
Thank you 👍☺
I was sent here on a punishment posting from Dortmund,jokes on them,I loved larkatraz ,amesbury nights,vodka vodka in Salisbury ,loved it and the RSM was going to batter me as when I got pished I’d walk the main drag turning the guns and thunderbirds etc 😂😂😂😂ubique ,ps i done my training in Woolwich,a man’s training
How is Comms not related to your job ? Comms is a basic skill required by ANY soldier regardless of your actual Role. I spent 6 years with RA, including 7 RHA as a Gunfitter. The Gun bunnies then spent every day on the Gun Park maintaIning their Guns or if their Gun sub was in LAD /WKsp for repair they'd be in there working working with the Fitter Sect. . Unless they were QM(T) QM(A) Regt Sigs What trade were you ?
If you listen to the video mate I said you didn’t really do anything related to your job ‘except comms’.
I know you spend every day in the gun park, trust me I basically lived there for 6 years of my career, I was guns F Bty. I am talking about in Royal Artillery phase two training you don’t get hands on anything related to your role, expect the 4 weeks comms course.
@@KyleSmithFIT I was F Bty Gunfitter back in the day Paddy Kelly was BSM. I can't believe they send you out to a Unit without any training on the Guns. The BC's would be kicking up fcuk . ??
@@georgerobert4709 I think that was just before my time mate, I had Leon Aldridge (think that’s how you spell his name), Matt Yates and I think dean daley was just about to take over as I was leaving.
Aye you don’t do nothing till you get to 7 then they normally do there own internal between F G and I bty
@@KyleSmithFIT Aye about 83/84 when they were converting to Light Gun from FH 70 and moving back to The 'Shot in the Para role. Great Regt, fitness mad , some real characters .
Are you able to transfer to infantry from artillery in phase 2 if you change your mind about the job / arent feeling it anymore
Yeah mate, might take a while but you definitely can.
Hi have been told Infantry have one afternoon a week to do their own sports and generally go on more adventure trading etc than Artillery… is this true?
It can depend on your battalion and what cycle of training you're in. Generally, Wednesday afternoon was given over to Sports. But if you were gearing up for an exercise or tour, then no, it would be normal works.
Adventure training was generally used after a tour or major exercise. Usually you will get some choice. Either the Army favourite Climbing, Hill walking and Canoeing. Or you might get something exciting like diving or Sailing.
Don't know about nowadays but back in the mid 80s we had a sports afternoon...just went on the piss😂
did you have your own room in accommodations or did you share?
Shared rooms, we had bunk beds when I was there.
@@KyleSmithFIT did you expirience any terrible snorers?
@@RickyHGV yeah mate, plenty 🤣
When do they show you how to shave these days.
Could you please us advice and show us things to pack for phase 1 .
You will get a packing list shortly before going, you Litterally need nothing more than what they put on that list expect a few personal items.
@@KyleSmithFIT ok thank you
What were your three options that you put down for potential units? Three light gun units?
Erm, I think I went 7 Rha , 47 RA and 29 RA. Got my choice of 7 cause they are a specialist unit. Most of the time if you pick a specialist unit for choice one, you will get it.
What you ask for and what you get are 2 different things. It can depend on numbers in units and gaps in trades. When asked what preferences we wanted. We had UK North,UK South or Germany.
Did I miss it but what trade were you?
I was guns mate, light gun to be specific.
@@KyleSmithFIT and you didn’t touch a gun in phase 2 - that’s crazy
@@michaelmulligan0 I know mate, you can see why I was disappointed.