I'm told it's called 'work', but I've checked the dictionary and the description doesn't fit...

Handy having family nearby. I've booked into one of the B&B's nearby, which HM has kindly offered to pay for.

You feel ready for it?

Originally Posted by moduk

I'm told it's called 'work', but I've checked the dictionary and the description doesn't fit...

Handy having family nearby. I've booked into one of the B&B's nearby, which HM has kindly offered to pay for.

You feel ready for it?

Ohhhhhh, you work for the MOD?

Well that certainly was nice of her, you cant go wrong with a freebie from the queen.

Been ready for it for a while now, its been a pain in the arrse getting it booked tho (long story). How are you feeling about it? what prep have you done?

I can neither confirm nor deny...!

I'd rather not call it a freebie - i like to think of it as more of a long term investment

I'm feeling pretty good about it all. I've had a few carefully selected individuals help with some of my weaker areas (arrse at maths!), and have had a bash at a few planning exercises. The usual bits of prep that most others seem to be doing - phys, current affairs etc.

Have you done any FAM visits yet? I'm guessing your looking at RA based on your username?

Done the same really, maths is ok but my spelling is horrendous (i got a red swiggly line under horrendous, go spell check!). I have some good planning exercise books i got of the intertwizzle which have helped.

I'm already in as a private soldier so phys is ok and i am getting a lot of help from the nig officers who have just been through it all, its took me a few years to get my qualls up to scratch tho.

what are you thinking of joining?

I went on the Signals FAM visit and got offered sponsorship with them, but tbh i'm not really decided yet.

I've just been bugging the crap out of the ETS guys here for help/advice. There's a fella floating around who actually came from Westbury as a posting, so going to hunt him down this week and extract info from him

Did you put yourself forward for Officership, or were you pushed?

Originally Posted by moduk

I went on the Signals FAM visit and got offered sponsorship with them, but tbh i'm not really decided yet.

I've just been bugging the crap out of the ETS guys here for help/advice. There's a fella floating around who actually came from Westbury as a posting, so going to hunt him down this week and extract info from him

Did you put yourself forward for Officership, or were you pushed?

Sigs is a good choice, you could end up anywhere, one of those jobs that everyone needs. well you will have time to choose later on anyway.

Its good to chat with the lads down there, just to get any tips.

It was a bit of both really, started off with a push, then i had a change of hierarchy who wernt keen on the idea (cavalry cultural thing) then i decided to push for it and here i am, its a bit of a ball ache doing it from this end tho plus i am i'm getting on a bit so if i dont sit the main board soon i'm screwed anyway. you can but try.

PM me your name so at least i know who you are when we tip up.

Hey Guys,

I just came back from the briefing. I got a Cat 2.

Here is some general advice from my experience.

You have to think of the briefing as a TUTORIAL for the main board. They will show you/explain all the tests that you have to do for main board and after you have a practice at them and they see how you do.

Also you get to experience a military environment, and see whether you like it, or fit in with other people who you could possibly end up at Sandhurst with. Personally I thought everyone was really down to earth and I could easily get along with them and talk to everyone.

As long as you are reasonably fit, have COMMON SENSE, an idea of what is happening in the world and can work with other people you will be fine.

Some specific advice:
* Personal Introduction - Be confident. You are talking about yourself. You should know who you are and should be able to comfortably 'Sell' yourself for 2 minutes.
* Group Discussions - Make sure you actually read in depth about current affairs rather then just the headlines. Especially if your topic gets chosen for the discussion and you don't know what your talking about, you will look like an idiot.
MAP Tests - Do the example ones they send you on the invitation email. The structure is the same. Also read the explanations for the example questions, so you understand how it works.
http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/gen...tion_Pages.pdf
* PlanEx - They show you the logic and method you should follow, So do it like they tell you. It's not important is you misread the information, as long as you follow the logic. I came up with the wrong solution, wrong timings, however they said I followed the logic and was still good.
* Physical and Command tasks - Just make sure you come prepared and listen to other people.

WHEN A TASK IS OVER, DONT KEEP COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW BAD YOU THINK YOU DID. JUST MOVE ON AND CONCENTRATE ON THE NEXT ONE. YOU CANT CHANGE THE OUTCOME AND YOU WILL PISS OFF YOUR TEAM MATES, SO FORGET ABOUT IT.

In the end I really enjoyed it, it felt like a break away from uni, met some really nice like-minded people and just had a nice experience. If you don't enjoy then maybe that should be a sign that maybe its not for you.

Just remember that the Briefing is just as important for you as it is for army. It's a chance for you to see what the army is like.

If anyone wants anymore info, PM me.

Thanks.

Dman.

Was on 705, got a Cat 1! :D

Originally Posted by zk227

Was on 705, got a Cat 1! :D

Well done mate, any tips?