What a humanitarian and an 'absolute shower'.

Speaking as a current serving matelot, who's been stitched with Christmas duties, I'm sure he was just looking forward to a run ashore and some enjoyment at a time when he was away from his family. I seem to remember that it took some time for people ...

I realise though that although I am well below the official maximum age to join, I would be one of the oldest on any recruitment. In all honesty, its something that I feel a bit uncomfortable about but certainly is not going to stop me. So out of curiosity really, what is the age range of new ...

Lads, theres a reason why you didn't get to visit a sub on potential officers' course.

The pay works out to be around £620 a month after all your taxes, food, and accommodation charges are deducted. There's nothing quite as depressing as looking at that first payslip and seeing that they've taken a good £300 off you!

PAC Matelot

Sorry guys, doubt you'll be in the same entry. Artificers at Raleigh usually only join with other Artificers. They kind of keep themselves to themselves. Kind of a small place though, so chances are you will bump into each other.

Good luck to the pair of you.

PAC Matelot

Unless it's changed since I attended (April 04) there is no set fitness test for the AIB. I don't know what happens with the medical for successful applicants as I wasn't one of them, but as far as I know that all comes once you enter BRNC.

PAC Matelot

You have to do a hell of a lot of running in phase 1. No way round it mate. Stuff you have to do includes

-1.5m Royal Navy Fitness Test (you do this twice, once in week one and then again week 5. The idea is that you improve your time.)

-15 min, 30 min, and 45 min squad runs which are spread ...

Well I'm off to Raleigh this Sunday for 8 weeks of serious punishment, and in a perverse way I'm looking forward to it! Just want to say thanks to anyone who helped me out with last minute advice and stuff. Hopefully I'll see you all on the other side, and give some advice to potential nozzers in ...

Just trawl through the Telegraph for the next few days and see if you can get a copy of "The Week" if you don't already read it. I knew nothing about politics and current affairs before I started getting that and it's a real help. I expect you'll be getting questions about the hostage crisis in Iraq ...

I went to the AIB a few months back and (unfortunately) didn't make the grade. Just thought I'd give you some tips so you don't make the same mistakes as I did.

1: For the discussion and gym tasks, make sure you listen to EVERYTHING mentioned in the brief. Our group totally neglected one aspect of ...

Thanks guys, mucho appreciado! Hopefully the training will fly by and I'll be serving in one of Her Majesty's Submarines in no time. Good luck to anyone else who's leaving in the next few weeks by the way.

Andy

Personally I just want to get down there as soon as possible! Maybe I'll change my mind during the endurance run, I don't know, but a lot of it looks like good fun. Some of it does look like utter BS, but I suppose you have to take the rough with the smooth? BTW, has anyone on here failed the ...

Yeah, I had a shock when I realised that in my old age (19), I couldn't do half as many press ups as I could in school. Maybe I need to go back and get a beasting from my old PE teacher?! Second thoughts, maybe the PT instructors would do a better job. Third thoughts, I'm going to start working out ...

I know what you mean about the running mate. Bit to easy to slip back into the slobbish, Trisha-watching lifestyle after you do the PJFT :D .

I'll be up at Raleigh from October 3rd, so i'll be about halfway through by the time you've started. Just go along to the passing in parade in your fourth ...

I'm up on October 3rd, which is the Sunday after, so I'll be going into NE block just as you're on the way out. I do know a bloke called Dave Potter who's joining on the 27th though. Wants to be a CT, and is a bit of a whinger so be warned!!