Share This Page:

  

ADSC Lichfield - my experience

General discussions on joining & training in the British Army.
Post Reply
Fixer
New Member
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat 24 Jan, 2015 6:19 pm

ADSC Lichfield - my experience

Post by Fixer »

My ADSC experience – ADSC Lichfield, 2015

Day Zero

Caught the train to Hereford from my native South Wales, and changed to get to Birmingham New Street. On the Wales-Hereford stretch, the nerves really do kick in (naturally) and I’d recommend taking a paper or book with you to keep occupied. At the very least a decent pair of headphones, a fully charged phone with a well-stocked music library or on-demand subscription.

At Birmingham New Street a good chunk of the ADSC hopefuls were there, who I met and we all had a few laughs whilst waiting for our connection to Lichfield City. At this point I was trying to figure out how well I’d do amongst the lads I had met thus far, and felt severely unprepared as most of them were going to an Infantry regiment rather than my chosen Artillery.

Arriving at Birmingham New Street with a few minutes to spare before we were escorted to the coach, I got chummy with some of the smokers and pinched a cigarette to calm my nerves. Lining up opposite the station, we were all asked to produce our ID documents and GSCE results (if we had them). It’s essential you treat the “what to bring” lists like gospel, and follow them word for word. I took two more pieces of ID than was required and was actually noted for it.

A short drive later, we were taken into Lichfield camp and formed up in two ranks outside the reception area (where you’ll spend most of your time). You’ll be asked to go in and put your two bibs on to identify who you are. We met one of the staff (who actually never told us his name) and asked us to produce ID documents and check them off on forms that were under the seat. Once filled in, we were asked to sign it and place ALL (yes, all) valuables into a blue plastic wallet to be zipped up and stored in a very secure place (a locker behind the desk in the reception, which did not put me at ease). Don’t worry though, you’ll be reunited with your valuables for a few hours on your second evening.

After that, we were given a rundown of what was to be expected of us and what we can expect during our time at Lichfield. After that it was a short march around to our accommodation block, to make our beds, then to get shit, showered and shaved ready for lights out at 22.30.

Day One:
You’ll be woken up at 0530 by the DS. Don’t fanny around, get up and straight down to the ablutions and just give yourself a quick wash. There’s no point showering at this point as you’ll get a chance to in the evening, and the first day is always just admin.
Outside in two ranks and taken for scoff in the cookhouse, where you had the option of a full English or cereal, or both and then marched back into the reception area, we were explained what would happen during the medicals and asked to declare whether we wanted a chaperone in the medical exam with us – on an all lads selection, no one did, but lasses may want the option. It was also the day of the BARB (everyone has to do), Literacy and Numeracy (if you haven’t got any GSCE/equivalent certificates, forgot to bring them, or like me and are a complete moron and manage to lose them) and Technical Selection (if you are doing a technical trade, e.g. Royal Signals, REME, etc.) tests, which would be conducted throughout the day, along with our icebreakers.
I did my Literacy and Numeracy tests first and got entry level, which I assumed was a pass as I didn’t have to re-sit them. They aren’t that hard in all honesty; just spend an hour or two a few times a day on the GCSE Bitesize revision on the BBC Website and you can’t go far wrong.

The TSTs were also sat at the same time, which I didn’t do as I have applied for the Artillery. According to the guys who did, it was quite hard (GSCE set 1 Maths according to one guy), but a calculator IS permitted I believe.
After this it was icebreaker, with a DS who really could not have been any less bothered about listening to you. It was a case of who you were and what you know about your job.

I was then sat outside the ear and eye waiting rooms ready for the medical exams. Firstly, you’ll do an ear exam – consisted of being locked in this almost airtight room and massive headphones being put on, where they blast beeps at different frequencies into your head and you push down on a button every time you hear a beep.

Then an eye exam as you would have in an optician’s – sit down, cover your one eye, and sing out the letters on a board for as far down as you can see, then do it with the other.

Then into another examination room where your BMI is measured – I was a little tiny bit over, but they said providing I passed the 1.5 mile run, I wouldn’t get deferred (so loose the weight or pass the run). If you’re a little bit over they’ll measure your weight circumference – within about 95cm is a pass, and they see it a lot in “rugby player builds”. You’ll also be weighed on a scales and asked to do a lung capacity test (blow into a tube as hard as you can, I got a best of about 700 and low of 690, not bad for an ex-smoker).

After that it’s the ECG exam – where they look for heart murmurs and other potential heart problems, and this is where a few lads got deferred. You’ll be sat down on a bed and they’ll attach a few wires too you to check your heart (it’s like an ultrasound scan).
After this, you’ll be asked to wait before you see a doctor who will give you a full once over and ask you a few questions about your and your family’s health history. Then, providing you passed, you’ll get your “green card” which is an indication you’re fit – medically – for training.

After this then, we were asked to sit in reception and wait for lunch (a baguette and a pear). After that, those who passed were asked to wait for the medicals to finish and anyone who hadn’t sat exams or done their icebreaker yet to do so.
Done and dusted, a small few who had done everything were sat in reception and one of the DS put Lone Survivor on for us as more green-card holders trickled through with a pass.
After this, we were given an hour to ourselves and advised to shower if we wanted to, but to be back for the centre manager’s brief and further admin.

In a lecture hall, we had a “pep talk” from the centre manager, who, for me, put me at ease. I won’t say too much about this as experiences will differ. Shortly after, we were given back our personal documents to fill in a pre-employment check.
All done, it was back into the reception to give our blue wallets back and off to scoff. Then we were invited back for some down time in a rec room – a chance to check your phone, play pool or watch TV. Or for those who were worried about the interview tomorrow, we had a chance to revise our job choices ready for our interview. I scanned the job page for my chosen job for a good hour to make sure it stuck in my head.
About half 9, you have to hand your blue wallets back in with your valuables and go back to revise (or in our case, catch an early night).

Day Two:
The next morning, up at 0500, to get showered, shaved and the beds cleared. Make sure all of your sheets are folded properly, as some lads got a bollocking for “the tower of shit” that was their section’s bedding.
Out in two ranks and marched to the scoff house. I opted for two bowls of cereal as did not want to bog myself down for the physical exercises that came.

Marched back to the reception area for a quick swig of water and waiting on the PTI’s for a briefing. The PTI’s are very good guys and know their stuff, so take in what they have to say. They’ll give you a full briefing on the physical tasks and also an insight on what PT in Phase 1 is like and how to train for it, along with dietary and nutritional info.

Outside then for the warm up - which was VERY intensive. The staffs advise you then to strip down to shorts and tshirt (alright in the summer, even better in the middle of January after the warm up lap) and you do your strength tasks.
First was the 150m jerry can carry – consisted of holding two 20kg jerry cans and doing five lengths walking at a good pace - which I don’t believe anyone failed, and the power bag lift, - a half deadlift with a heavy bag - which a lot of lads struggled on. You start on 15kg and the weight increases all the way up to 40kg. A few lads struggled with the low weights, and only 5 (including myself) managed the 40kg easily.

Then came the moment of truth and the task that most fear: the 1.5 mile run. Consisting of an 800m warm-up, and then two laps around the camp (it always sounds further than it is), its best effort. The Lichfield route (subject possibly to change) has a decent decline and only a minor incline. You’ll also see one of those speedometers that tell drivers to slow down, which does light up and tells your speed when you run past (a good indication to speed up for some). You’ll form up in one rank when you finish, and be given your water bottle, but not told your time. Some light stretching and then onto team tasks.

You’ll be lined up outside the stores and given overalls and helmets (health and safety reasons) and given a briefing on the grenade throw (which is a surprising amount of fun) and your team tasks. For the grenade throw, you and another person get down on your bollocks and crawl your arses off to cover, grab a grenade, identify the bad guy and roar “GRENAAAAADE!” before you throw it.
After this, team task briefings – I won’t go into this as it’ll differ, but make sure you give it your all and don’t hold back. I got caught out on “not putting enough effort in” (I suffer from vertigo, and standing on 3 feet tall platforms seemed higher than it actually was). By the second and third tasks, I got over it and was noted for improvement. Make sure you’re not the quiet lad in the corner and get stuck in, volunteer for a few things as well. They mark you on effort and self-involvement, but if you can pass the tasks, then all the better.

After this, you hand your equipment back in and it’s a shower and into your Sunday best for your interview. We were handed back our blue wallets to check it was intact and then emptied into our bags.

In two ranks, I was informed I failed my BARB for my reserve choice (which I wasn’t bothered about) and was asked to resit the BARB. I declined the offer and had to explain this in the interview, so make sure you’re prepared for this. Back in the lecture room, one of the PTI’s stuck the Inbetweener’s film on for us, and we were pissing ourselves by the time Jay was first seen on screen.
I was called into my interview, and was first and foremost asked to relax. They’ll ask you all sorts of questions to assess your character, family background, et cetera. They’ll then ask you to wait outside while they see how you did. I came away with a pass, but was advised to “not hold back” – in regards to my performance in the team tasks. The interviewer noted I had potential and performed well for the most part. For those interested I got 42 on the BARB, Entry Level 3 on my literacy and numeracy tests, and a run time of 10.45 (a personal best).

After this, it was a shuttle back to Lichfield City station and back home for a monumental celebration.

Advice and thoughts:
• You’ll thoroughly enjoy yourself at ADSC, as it’s a good experience. Make sure you go with an open mind and give 200% effort. On the run time you may find you beat your previous best (I was usually clocking in with about 12 minutes).
• Try not to worry so much about it, as you can always go back if you don’t pass.
• Be prepared for the immense feeling of accomplishment and achievement on the train home, as you’ll end up smiling all the way home.
• You’ll find some of the staff there really aren’t bothered about you, so go expecting that and don’t take it personally
• Take every opportunity to pick the staff’s brain about any questions or queries you may have; they have about 12+ years’ experience per staff and are more than happy to answer your questions
• Get the ArmyFit app for your phone and follow it exactly – the sprints and intervals definitely help if your fitness needs improving.
• Know your icebreaker backwards – the staff can tell if you are winging it
• Get involved with the banter between the other hopefuls, you’ll find it a bonding experience and the staff will be monitoring you at all times to see how well you get on with other people
• Try and be the grey man but get involved where you can
• You’re always being watched, so don’t act like a twat
• Grab some grub on the journey as you won’t get fed until the following morning
• Do what they say, when they say – don’t try and hold on to your valuables as they’ll defer you for it, and you’ll be sent home
• Don’t worry about the icebreaker; just speak confidently as if no one was in the room. Know yourself and your job, but more importantly be professional
• Make sure you bring your glasses, and grab them before the medical. I forgot to grab them and looked like a twat when I had to get them
• For the BMI measurement, don’t have a full breakfast unless you are well in the limit.
• Shave your chest before the ECG
• Don’t lie to the doctors about health history, they request your full history from your doctor after ADSC

I thoroughly enjoyed ADSC and met some fantastic lads who I wish all the best for in their career, hopefully you’ll come back with the same mind-set. It’s gonna be tough, but if you want it badly, you’ll give it your all.
My experience won’t be the same as yours as it all differs; this is just to give you an idea of what it’s really like. I tried to look for as much information as I could on Lichfield but couldn’t find much. Hopefully this answers some of your questions.
Most importantly of all though, give it your all and enjoy yourselves!

Good luck!
User avatar
Tab
Member
Member
Posts: 7275
Joined: Wed 16 Apr, 2003 7:09 pm
Location: Southern England
Contact:

Re: ADSC Lichfield - my experience

Post by Tab »

Nice post
Post Reply