Post Basic blues

[CS Gass]

Hello all, A question for members of the PDF who have recently or not so recently completed their recruit and corps training.

Is there some sort of let down upon entering your first unit and leaving a full time training period? I ask this as many of my mates have gone permanent and whilst all were full of beans during their training never shutting up about how much fun it was and how glad they were to be in the army because of the cool stuff they get paid to do. However within a short period of entering their unit they all seem to have been transformed, they seem bored and pessimistic with many talking about wanting to get out, some even mentioned an interest in the British Army.

Is this common in the DF? surely with initial training being so difficult if you enjoyed that being out in your unit would be a dream no? is recruit training the best part of 5 years in the DF? I hardly think so but still it does give cause for second thoughts

Thanks

[HavocIRL]

Yeah there is a let down period. It just takes time to get used to the 9-5 routine after recruit training. You feel the same way after coming back from overseas. Just a change of pace throws you is all.

[RoyalGreenJacket]

i think i really only started having fun and experiencing life AFTER basic training.

yes basic was fun but feck it was hard work!

but when i got to battalion - it was there that we really had to raise our standards and switch on.

we increased our fitness massively and our training program for every week was always interesting and sparked a lot of enthusiasm among us and allowed some of us to specialise in other roles in the Infantry.

we did a lot more adventure training and did things i would probably never have done as a civvy.

we went on a lot of operations so the tempo was quite high and we were always kept busy.

the half day Wednesday and Friday and finished by 1630hrs every other day was good is morale too.

perhaps a look at the platoon training programs is in order or the platoon commanders need a re-think.

[Hello Alaska]

Being in the job 9-5 can be a **** sometimes when there's **** all happening courses or exercise wise.

It's all about keeping yourself busy. Personally, although there's times when I'll have a pain in my bollocks with things that may be happening in work, in general I love my job. The good times come along far more than the bad ones.

[DeV]

It probably depends on the unit & location ....

how many duties (including ATCP) you do
your chances of getting a course
your chances of getting promotion
overseas rotations
the number of exercises etc etc
of course this will also impact on the training programmes etc

[Truck Driver]

It probably depends on the unit & location ....

how many duties (including ATCP) you do
your chances of getting a course
your chances of getting promotion
overseas rotations
the number of exercises etc etc
of course this will also impact on the training programmes etc

... which funnily enough is just what RGJ has just said !!!

[whiskey6]

hi all.
this is not only a questioN that rises in the Df. I have seen this with the fire brigade where a friend was send to the uk for basic training and that is run like a military style method. when he came back to home station within a month he was talkin about gettin out.. but as stated when you get into the run of the new routine it gets better.

[Tango_Charlie]

I got seriously disillusioned with the army after recruit training. And if i'm honest i found it hard to keep myself motivated when my days consisted of sweeping the lines and trying to hide from the NCO's when i knew there was a dirty detail.

Its hard finding your feet in a unit after training and nigh on impossible to get a course etc when more senior guys are applying as well.

I'd say to any young soldier, look out for the good NCO's and get advice from them. Use every opportunity to get involved in unit activities. If there is a unit football team and even if you totally suck at football, put your name down for it.

Even get your name known by the admin staff in the unit. If there is an opening in sigs/orderly room/ Q staff etc, go after it. Some of those jobs might not seem like what you joined the army to do but its all experience and your getting your name known by people with pull and influence in the unit.

It takes a while to gain recognition in your unit when you are green around the gills and red around the arse but when your NCO's and officers see that you are a team player who wants to get involved and is dedicated to the unit you will reap the rewards.

The more you give to your unit, the more you will get.

[dahamster]

I got seriously disillusioned with the army after recruit training. And if i'm honest i found it hard to keep myself motivated when my days consisted of sweeping the lines and trying to hide from the NCO's when i knew there was a dirty detail.

Its hard finding your feet in a unit after training and nigh on impossible to get a course etc when more senior guys are applying as well.

I'd say to any young soldier, look out for the good NCO's and get advice from them. Use every opportunity to get involved in unit activities. If there is a unit football team and even if you totally suck at football, put your name down for it.

Even get your name known by the admin staff in the unit. If there is an opening in sigs/orderly room/ Q staff etc, go after it. Some of those jobs might not seem like what you joined the army to do but its all experience and your getting your name known by people with pull and influence in the unit.

It takes a while to gain recognition in your unit when you are green around the gills and red around the arse but when your NCO's and officers see that you are a team player who wants to get involved and is dedicated to the unit you will reap the rewards.

The more you give to your unit, the more you will get.

Thats the best piece of advice that a young soldier in any army could get.

[Tango_Charlie]

Thats the best piece of advice that a young soldier in any army could get.

Cheers, I have rare flashes of wisdom! In fact you were lucky to be around for it. Wont happen again for another few years probably!

P.S.
Up the Rebels.

[dahamster]

P.S.
Up the Rebels.

We'll see

[hptmurphy]

This is where navy was a little different..all the training in recruits put you in a frame of mind where you were invincible, you did your semanship and gunnery and went to a ship all piss and vinegar to discover you knew very little and the learning curve began all over again.

I can appreciate the let down after two to three star training the Army but thers always something going on..keep applying for everything even if you have no interest in what is being offered something will come your way.

Recruits is very intense and some of the bonds formed at this level will stay with you for life , the camraderie built here is the foundation stone for the rest of the carreer, Every job has its good and bad days just learning to live with them being the trick. If you are genuinely interested in the Df as a career the 9 -5 will never be a problem as dpending who you work with in your unit or on the unit itself theres always something going on.

Don't lose heart..Its job, pays the bills and christ knows they are in short supply at the moment, stick with it, there won't always be a recession.

[ZULU]

While still having elements of the 9-5 routine, the ARW have a higher training tempo than most for obvious reasons. Maybe a swim in the deep end is what would suit you?

[Craghopper]

While still having elements of the 9-5 routine, the ARW have a higher training tempo than most for obvious reasons. Maybe a swim in the deep end is what would suit you?

Yes!! Check you company office notice board for the next Selection!!

[Tango_Charlie]

There's one coming up in October. Prelims were on last week.