ARmy Rumour SErvice

**soldier.a** · 05-06-2008, 22:19

Originally Posted by geordie_g

How many times have you been on the shooting ranges so far, and as for the best marksman, do you know how you are doing by each week, or would you know if you just find out at the end of the training?

A few. Not as many as you would think though. Probably about three times if I remember correctly. You won't even touch a live round until the end of week 4 as all your time is spent practising your drills for safe weapon handling. You can take a light hearted approach to most of your training but when it gets to weapons handling your head needs to be screwed right on. You do more range work during weeks 8-14. In fact for one whole week you go to range camp and spend the whole week there.

Before you move to live firing your also tested on something called the DCCT which is like a computer system. It tests your ability to fire the weapon and your weapon handling skills. You can't really assess how good a marksman you are until your weapon is properly zeroed, which mine isn't yet.

Originally Posted by Mike2008

Nice one, keep up the good work mate!

Yet another question, what's the food like?

Don't mean to sound like a fanatic or anything but is there enough protein in the diet, and do you just eat 3 set meals a day, in the canteen?

I'm taking it nobody goes hungry..? lol

I'm actually pretty sick of the food. The food is nice and plenty of it but there is little in the way of variation, so you tend to see the same stuff again and again. Bassingbourn is also said to have the worst cookhouse of all the ATR's. I can't say whether that's true or not as I have only seen Lichfield's and Bassingbourn's and Lichfield's beat it hands down though that ATR has gone now.

**geordie_g** · 05-06-2008, 22:27

One good thing about 110% consistent food, at least your shit will be consistant, and any change could be early warning signs!

**ash_p** · 05-06-2008, 22:35

Good to see you back, soldier.a :D

Sounds like you've had fun mate, I'm going off for selection next Wednesday - Can't wait!

**keep_it_simple** · 05-06-2008, 22:39

soldier.a im joining the house hold cavalry i start phase 1. 14 july i cant wait im going to bassingbourn only got one question though ;) is the medical the same as the one at selection because i was told we will have blood taken?

**Sc00by** · 05-06-2008, 22:39

im off to bassingbourn in september any chance of any tips/tricks ?

could you type me a quick list of things youv done in first few weeks so i know what to expect ?

and fitness wise how fit do you actually have to be ?

my mile n half time is 9:34 and i can quiet easily pull off a 4-5 mile run will i suffer ? iv been told i will when i get there ?

**geordie_g** · 05-06-2008, 22:44

Poor man is going to have a short weekend at this rate with all these questions!

Thanks for the answers though bud.

**soldier.a** · 05-06-2008, 23:10

Originally Posted by keep_it_simple

soldier.a im joining the house hold cavalry i start phase 1. 14 july i cant wait im going to bassingbourn only got one question though ;) is the medical the same as the one at selection because i was told we will have blood taken?

Blood samples will be taken so they can blood group you. I think the medical differs though depending on how long its been since you had your medical at selection as some people had a similar process, others didn't. One issue that can arise is if your medical documents don't arrive. Mine didn't and so I was prevented from doing PT for a few weeks. It's not a huge issue but it means you can't do PT or get beasted which kind of leaves you out of half the fun!

Originally Posted by Sc00by

im off to bassingbourn in september any chance of any tips/tricks ?

could you type me a quick list of things youv done in first few weeks so i know what to expect ?

and fitness wise how fit do you actually have to be ?

my mile n half time is 9:34 and i can quiet easily pull off a 4-5 mile run will i suffer ? iv been told i will when i get there ?

You should be fine with your physical abilities then, what I would suggest is you don't disregard your upper body strength exercises. It counts far more than you think. Do lots of press ups and heaves.

I can't really give you an idea of what to expect other than there will be drill, pt, rifle lessons and a lot of classroom lessons to begin with. You won't do much firing until around week 4 and you won't do a whole lot of live firing until week 8/9 onwards.

As for tips and tricks, give me some time to think about those and I'll post a list of them up.

**Sc00by** · 05-06-2008, 23:14

ok thancks pal :D my upper body strench is as good as its ever going to be i hit gym a lot :D so as far as i can see i should be fine

are you in engineers ?

**Claret_Scott7** · 05-06-2008, 23:29

Congratulations,
Your post is a big help, cheers. I dont start basic until sept at ATR Winchester. I was just wondering do you do alot of swimming? I can swim but Im definatley not the best of swimmers. In fact I swim about aswell as a one legged cat.

cheers