This thread has been started in order that all comments and questions etc regarding RCB issues can be centrally located, rather than several threads being open at any one time.

Many of the questions raised are repeated on a weekly basis, so it is intended that this thread should be something of a FAQ post.

Any questions raised should be answered fairly and without too much stick being applied. Being responsible in the way we handle requests for help is clearly the best approach.

Anyone found posting requests for RCB info outside this thread should be politely directed here, so that we have any central repository.

Any problems with this, please feel free to PM me for any moderation....

Sorry if this is a stupid question that's answered somewhere else, but I'm trying to plan my summer and will most likely be called for main board (assuming I pass briefing first time of course) sometime in June/July. Is there a list of the main board dates anywhere so I know when not to book any holidays?

thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by smythst

Sorry if this is a stupid question that's answered somewhere else, but I'm trying to plan my summer and will most likely be called for main board (assuming I pass briefing first time of course) sometime in June/July. Is there a list of the main board dates anywhere so I know when not to book any holidays?

thanks in advance.

get it off your sponsor if nobody on here has it

Err, if you pass Pre RCB then they will give you provisional dates for the Main Board. What's yr hurry?
You would normally wait about a month to 6 weeks (?) between Pre RCB and Main Board anyway, plenty of time to book your hols Mr Eager Beaver.

Have you tried talking to Westbury?? I did when I needed a list of dates and they were very helpful.

Was looking at the same months myself;

June 7-10, 14-17, 21-24 and 28-1 Jul
July 5-8
August 2-5, 9-12,16-19 and 23-26.

Only the one July board due to the summer break.


Hope that helps.

I have a delay on attending RCB Main Board. It runs out in January, I however will be in a lovely sandy place. Is it possible to sit it early - ie a couple of months. (i fear my brain will be destroyed during iraq).

Did my briefing aged 17 and made a bit of a mess of it. 2-24.

what sort of questions am i likely to be asked to gauge my level of service knowledge?

(I have no mil background or experience - my knowledge is based on this site, the official army/mod site, papers/media, recruitment literature and the heyman pocket guide - will this do me right?)

From what I gather, service knowledge includes questions like:
"How many companies are in a typical infantry regiment?"
"What rank is typically a platoon comander?"
"Name the three teeth arms?"

I could be wrong, I havn't actually done RCB yet.

I did RCB with absolutely no military experience and got on fine. What they seem to look for is that you have taken some interest in your future career rather than expecting you to have a detailed knowledge. Know the rank structure, the names of the main bits of kit (i.e Challenger 2) and what the different arms do i.e. infantry and armour - the fighting troops; RLC - supplies the the fighting troops.

Oh and read the random bits of the broadsheets - I remember the current affairs questions being along the lines of "what's the name of Princess Anne's dog?"