LAST WEEK OF Phase 1 BASIC TRAINING | Civilian To Soldier | British Army 

Back in my day the rain was wetter

In reply to djrxp’s comment. I am alway’s proud to see young people joining an ever shrinking British Army, they are expected to do some difficult and thankless jobs and I admire them for wanting to do it. I joined the Army in 1963 at 17 years old and I would join up again today if I could.

I went through training at 1TRRE, Cove Camp, Farnborough, Hants. In April 1964. Royal Engineers. Greetings from a retired Mech./Elec. engineer, NC, USA. For me the Royal Engineers was my first real family. God Bless y’all. I don’t believe Cove Camp exists today.

Congratulations to all of them . I did my basic training 32 years ago . Watching this video makes it seem like yesterday.

Congrats everyone ! Not long to push now 💪 and nice one boss 🤟🏻

Very Happy for them!

I remember getting my beret in 1983 and I'm sure if memory serves there were some stuff-ups and a few marched off to the guardhouse! Well done to the commonwealth troops so proud to serve and bula bula what a sacrifice.

In depo para we passed off the square and didn't get a maroon lid no chance. Drill test regimental history etc. There was only 22 of us at that point 7 of us passed out back in the 80s. I think about 60 odd started in our platoon. A lot of the blokes end up washing pans in the cook house till the platoon passes out just to rub it in. Or even worse then that went to a hat regiment haha

Well done team, you all should be very proud of yourselves reaching this big mile stone in training.

Excellent vid. In my day (yawn) it was called ‘passing of the square’, but was done individually. This at the 6 week stage. But of course times change which some of the old soldiers commenting must take heed. I joined in 74 and served the full monty. Well done lads.

Great video and good to see how proud they are. Much deserved time off for all!

Congratulations! Lots of love from Fiji. ❤🇫🇯

Congratulations to all! Inspiring me throughout my joining process

Well done to all recruits and the very best to each and everyone of them for their training and their Military Careers

US Army here. Always found the British army interesting. One team one fight.

In my day at Depot Queens Div, 1978 you passed off after 6 weeks to get your beret. Basic training was 18 weeks, then you were posted to Battalion.

This was so cool to see and follow their journey!

Enjoyed this series. My lad goes to ITC on Sunday. Good to see this video drop before he goes. Well done everyone. 👍🏻

Very well done to all our brave soldiers who have worked really hard for 11 weeks to make the grade. Each one of you is a hero in the making. God bless you all.

Hello, fantastic content, very inspiring. I have my assessment coming up in a couple weeks and these videos are a great motivation to pass and hopefully start my training as soon as possible. Keep up the good work brother

i feel like they do ,im so proud of them ,well done

Well done lads and have a wonderful career.

Takes me back. Thanks for the video.

Thank you for your service

Very proud moment to earn your beret and cap badge well done to all you fine gentleman of war your country salutes you!

I remember getting my beret back in 2013 what a wonderful day. Congratulations all those who will now have finished ITC.

I had a slightly longer program, but for Royal Marines the finish of Commando Selection over the bridge is the goal and becomes everything. For these chaps they really feel proud. Please just understand anyone wanting to be negative. The UK way is different but produces fearless, accomplished soldiers who over the last 25 years have been trusted partners to every military force except the Taliban or AlQ. I was never within the planning section when the defence review took away the infantry depots. As most were in really prime real estate says it all.

basic training was life changer for me, lots of challenges from injuries to eating by the clock. nothing faces me now even being out for a decade

Pl sgt from 1 lancs when I served. Good vid guys. All the best for the recruits and training staff for the future.

Proud day. Well done everyone.

Congratulations to everyone.

Hoofing effort all, the nation is proud of you.

Really inspiring and motivational to watch with keen interest in joining in the future thanks Sir for sharing yea

They all look so proud after getting the berets!

4:28 Rigid. I bet he smiled inside at the sound of that heel hitting the ground.

Did this myself back in 1987 and joined The First Battalion, The 22nd Cheshire Regiment and made life long friends. Not sure about the brown boots but hey ho that`s the modern army for you.

Hey! I'm so grateful for your videos as they give me an insight on what I should expect when I hopefully join the British Army in a few years. Would the training be different for a Combat Medical Technician?

I plan to apply this year good to know what lies in store for basic training

50 years ago That was me. Totally different nowadays. Wish the men and women a safe and enjoyable career.

Congrats to all! Ignore all the ‘back in my day’ posts. Everyone had it harder than the troop before.

-6:10 I used to hear since childhood army do such left right left right left right. Then I'm watching huge military Related contents on RU-vid. Never seen such thing in RU-vid. Today it becomes true!

This was week 5 at bassingboune in 97 and we stopped calling timings out for drill test well done to lads and ladies in platoon

Nice to see so many Royal Anglian berets there. Good luck to you all, have a fantastic and safe career.

When I left the army I never moaned about anything again , because I always remembered my army days and how lucky I was to be a civilian.

Looks like something I did in 1983. Well done.

I joined in 86 when Pirbright was the guards depot. It was hell on earth but at the end of it it turned out top class soldiers for those of us who could stick it. Back then the average pass rate was about 25% mainly due to all the drill and bullshit. It sets you in good stead for the rest of your career. 😊

Well done lads! It’s quite something when you get “badged” to your regiment.

Love this series, I'm starting basic training next month and it's been an enormous help to see everything before I go.

Salute u guys in security depths.One of the sectors I fear and honor respect

They should have done depot para in the eightees. 22 weeks of hell and a passout parade at the end of that. 75 started 30 passed out only 14 of the origionals made the full 22 weeks. Proudest day of my life earning my wings and wearing the maroon beret. Awesome

I love the training

Surprisingly the easiest thing I found in Royal Marine recruit training was drill although the inspections were a nightmare. After the inspection it was chill time compared to the other stuff. No drill test either why test a given.

Done my drill test 30 odd years ago, hasnt really changed that much...

I grew up Bulford. Dad was in the RA based at Larkhill.

This video makes me curious to see how far I would make it through your basic training. I myself am a U.S. Army veteran (Artileryman & Paratrooper). Congrats as well, cousin!

buzzing to start my training 💪🏻 roll on the 27th

Fantastic! It brings back great memories of Arborfield ( March '71 ) prior to joining SEE. Why the monotonous background 'music'?

Congrats lad wish you all the best in the future, am just waiting to see if I've passed my medical results.

Week 11 ? times have really slowed down. A long way to go yet ! good luck to them all.

Evening sir.. I love how your voice has started going.. you can tell the lads have been practicing there drill, just by your voice 😂🤣

hello well done! also I'm joining the army cadets so i will have an experience as well!

Changing step on the match - shall we, will we - yes we will....

Man, I wish I could go through British Army Basic Training

Oh ya...the beret...what unit does it represent base on the color and crest and what with the feather. It look different yet interesting.

one years worth of training at shorncliffe 1977,just one huge block of training complete with punches to the face if you got it wrong lol [at 16]

Another really useful video. Thank you. Also I start infantry basic training at cattrick on the 8th of November. Does anyone else have this date?

1:57 McNulty, the soldier I looked up to as a young crow

My son is on there well done lads 👍

For me this looks like the toughest part, my memory isn't always tip top. I suppose if it's all properly drilled in and practiced over and over it will stick but it's still a slight concern.

Ive got assesment centre on 14th october do you think they will cancel it due to where i live is in lockdown

I’m joining the Mercian regiment but 4th battalion, reserves

How come all the berets were pre-shaped, ours came fresh from the stores looking like heli pads, by the right from the advance position, should that be by the centre? Individual saluting from within three ranks? Dont remember any of that.

No cow kicking I see, a few wavy arms going on, on the about turn at the halt. Good aggression slamming there tabs in. Good effort

Like your Medal👏👏👏

THis is really Cool! What is that Instructor saying at 2:13?

The drills haven’t changed since when I joined in 98’ ha ha brilliant .....I can’t believe nobody was tick ticking though lol

So, an old American veteran here. Got a couple of questions, if I may. The 11 Week Drill Inspection. It obviously inspects the basic drill and deportment of the recruits. In the interview phase when the recruit is handed their beret, does this mean that they've been accepted by that regiment or just that they have the basic knowledge to proceed with a qualifying course? Also, I noticed that the berets weren't 'fresh' from the box, that they'd been formed and stiffened into shape. In the US, it is our custom for each man to do that himself. One of the marks of the New Guy is process to get his beanie into the proper 'crush'. It occurs to me that these new men might be getting a 'legacy' beret... that a veteran has offered a new soldier one of his caps to welcome the new trooper into the 'brotherhood' so to speak. Is that the case here? Thanks in advance. I hope that the Officers, Instructors, Men and Recruits of ITC Catterick will accept the respect and regards of an old American cavalry corporal who humped the ruck likely before many of you lad were born. Tip of the Stetson to you.

Well done lads start my Journey Sunday at ITC

If you can't answer the questions about different regiments, do you lose out on joining?

How are the females in the other platoon coping?

Do they teach you all the marching instructions In the phase 1 training?

That's what put me off joining the whole marching thing . Dont think I could do it training and suff would be fine.

Was this through lockdown? Or did they get their Beret after their test?

Our first 6 weeks were called CMSR (Common Military Syllabus Recruits), is it still known as that or just Phase 1. Then on Friday of week 6 we had our Drill test in morning (usual drill and Corp history and key Regt personnel quiz etc ftom the BC then OC). We'd have lunch then was the Gas Chamber tests (sorry respirator testing facility lol). Usual S6 then later S10 drills, and the questions name rank number home address number backwards, and DS then said repeat as never heard you lmao. We had plenty of time to get a quick shower then get the transport to the station for well deserved first weekend leave. Returning by Sunday. The last 4 weeks was taken up with a week adventure training at Sennybridge on the confidence course, milling etc. Then more in depth drill, and then weapons drill. Then 4 day exercise on week 8. Week 9 was test after test. Then disco on the sat. Week 10 Mon to Fri a.m was All day on the parade ground. Practising for passing out parade. I passed out as best recruit. I first joined as a Jnr Ldr Royal Artillery in June 88. Oct 88 Ruptured Achilles tendon, 5 months into the years course. So either backsquad or rejoin at 17.5yrs. My first choice was Royal Corps of Transport Maritime, so reinlisted. Did the 6 week drill test as a Jnr Recruit to then obtain RA Jnr Gnr rank and shoulder titles. Did the RCT drill test from Recruit to Dvr Rec with shoulder titles. They were little proud moments, cause you knew you were now on the way to being a trained recruit. I did 3 yrs on Army Landing Craft and Mexeflote rafts, and small fast ribs, patrol boats and tid tug/workboats etc. I arrived as a fully trained Seaman class 3 Dvr RCT the day we put on a war footing for the first Gulf. Served during Op Granby, but on standby as one half of Regt in Tent city Al juabai Saudi. Unloading the ships, and protection of the port. Whilst our half loaded 99% of the kit at 17 Port and Maritime Regt RCT (now RLC). Spent 19th birthday on QRF, then later in the week Air war started. We on every hour known from 100 hours down to 1 hours notice to ship out and back again. Had all the jabs that Gulf War Syndrome caused. One hour standby about to climb the coach, Sadaam surrendered. Regt spent next 2 years brining back kit from the Gulf via Cyprus. I served mainly at sea, but did 91 and 92 on the RA Ranges Benbecula and St Kilda for 2 x 1 month tours (best place I've ever been to. On Bucket list to return). I left in March 93, 4 weeks before RCT to RLC rebadge. I was going to do full 22yrs, as loved the trade. But step dad had said if I get out at 21, I can apply to join Southampton Container Berth at 22. I did in 94. Earning £300 to £800 plus a week as a Stevedore and Docker. After 4 yrs left to join Aircraft Industry. Took 11 grand pay cut to start at bottom. Was a Grade 1 Storekeeper to start then worked my way to Grade 3 fully qualified in 99% of the stores on site. Then got Grade 4 role (only 4 on whole site) as became Goods In Sheet Turner, and Conductivity tester for the metal and special materials arriving. Started various Night school City and Guilds. Got offered a Semi-Skilled Deburer (same pay as Grade 5 Stores). Split with my ex in Nov 01. So trained 18 months to join TA for A Troop 63 SAS Sigs Sqn. I had a back issue from April of 93 (think the 3 years on flat bottom landing craft caused it), but xrays found nothing, so plodded on. I was raising money for the company gym I was designing at work, plus company charity. The SSM of 63 Sqn was chatting with me on the first week of pre selection build up course. Cause I'm ex regular, and he lived at the Sgts Mess at 17 Port and Maritime Regt. He was good friends with all my old bosses and mates. They gave me a glowing recommendation. I wanted to try something new, and enjoyed Signals in RA, and at Sea. Typical sods law me lol, even trying something new, I still have a Sgt Maj who knows of me from my old comrades lol. He said why not do a charity parachute jump. I said that's a good idea, esp as I'm petrified of heights, but knew I had to overcome it, cause he wanted to fast track me after the Signals Selection onto internal P Coy course in Brecon. Two birds with one stone. Raise cash for charity and gym, and overcome fear of height. Broke my back 16th March 03. Didnt know I had til after 17yrs of fighting a negligent nhs 93 to 2010. I went on Selection with a broken back. Now my health is a very long ongoing 27yr ongoing multiple degenerative health nightmare. I wrote a letter to the OC of 63 Sqn in 2015. After finally getting my full official diagnosis after operations from 2011 to 2014. I mentioned how sorry I was for letting them down on my selection course in 03. I included my pain and life diary from 93 to that present. So they could see how much strength and determination I obtained from the 200 ish days I spent in the unit. How along with my upbringing, my military and athletical background. I have managed to keep getting back up after each fall. My mottos which are proudly tattooed next to my Army tattoos are: "Forward Forever - Backwards Never. Progress Not Perfection. Adapt and Overcome. Never Give Up Or In". Im 49 in January. Im disabled, no job or ever able to work again. My health issues are My degenerative spinal stenosis disease, severe Sciatica, OCD, PTSD, Aspergers, Anxiety, Depression, and Stress. I'm also dealing with: Right knee, and left hip needing to be replaced, possible Gallstones, new borderline thoirid issue with swelling gone but pain still extreme, boil and huge abscess under my jaw, causing the 4 teeth that needed fillings, now need to be removed whilst in surgery, cause my bones are rare, and stronger than my teeth, with intense ear, head, toothache. All of the above hurting at once whilst I type this comment. I won't ever let it beat me though. I wanted to share this small part of my huge ongoing multiple degenerative health nightmare. Cause if anyone reading this, is in basic training or wish to join. The Basic training and advanced skills I was taught. Really stood me in good step for life. I know 200% without my military background, and training in the best military in the world. I would not be typing this today. Im lucky to never have been in combat. I have no medals. I only made local acting Lance Jack unpaid lol. But the Army prepared me for the biggest war in my life. The war against those personal and external inner demons. Also the huge battle, against ourselves. Some if not all, are the toughest in overcoming. With almost impossible odds. In my day basics were very tough and the discipline harsh. Each generation claiming their basic training was ten times harder than the present recruits training. Which is no lie. I even noticed the difference in discipline in the small gap from jnr ldrs in 88, to RCT basics 14 months later. Let alone the 13 year gap to TA Sigs in 03. The Army may have removed the real harsh discipline down the years. Then replace it with different methods. It is still very clear, that the British Soldier is still moulded from the mangled mess from Civ Street. Then formed into a first class proud warrior. Total respect. Oh no not again lol. Please forgive long comment. My back tablets have kicked in big time and I'm floating on my sofa with a redy brek glow and loving the world again. I type and talk for England me OCD style lol.

Can we get paid holidays in phase 2 training???... Or if something urgent get happens.. Do we get holiday

Anyone heading to Catterick November 8th?

I know theres no British Army in Newcastle every time I see this British Army Training Centre near Tynemouth is it true that you can trainee into the British Army in Newcastle? Becuase im pretty sure that theres a British Army be the best next to tynemouth so if you could reply is it true it would be good.

Hi do u have to climb up 30foot I was told u have to in training

In 2000, (I was Pl Comd at ATR(W)) week 11 would be close to Phase 1 pass out. Drill test having been completed way before that, they’d have stopped calling out drill moves months ago. They’d have also passed APWT and other tests. Next step would be Phase 2 training. Initially I wondered if this was Harrogate, but the text suggests ITC Catterick. How come things appear to have changed so much? 11 weeks to get to drill test?

Not quite the standard of the Guards depot in 1986.

I thought the Mercians were Prince of Wales division? I recognise the badge being from Derbyshire and watching them parade for Freedom of the Town in Ripley.

how long will we get day off after phase 1 training?

Looks like the Sgt needs remedial stick drill let alone the recruits!!

The Sergeants pace stick drill needs be greatly improved and some of the recruits drill is way behind others in the squad. Timings seemed odd too?

Well done all hoofing effort...When I was in basic we did our drill/beret test at the end of week 7 has it changed for all these days?

Is drill hard to learn because I am starting basic training soon and that's what I'm most nervous about

Are recruits still allowed home during the pandemic?

Do yous not wear barrack dress on the square these days?

Shines shoes shines minds Bravo Zulu soldiers. 👍

Hey, this series has really helped me alot actually, I was wondering to join the army infantry do you need to be able to swim?