Dont spend a lot!

[Dawnie]

Hi there, I went through Halton back in 2003 and unless they have updated the kitting list with the AFCO's a lot of the stuff you have on the list is rubbish. A few hints and tips for you:

Dont buy Ron Hill track suit bottoms, They are on the list but the PT instructors wont let you wear them.

Locker space: Double wardrobe size for military kit and single size for personel clothing. Enough space for a few going out outfits and some casual gear. Because you will have most weekends free (so long as you are not a complete nugget and get them taken off you).

Best Tip of All: If I had my time again I would have taken a sleeping bag with me. Keep it hidden from your flight staff (not in your lockers, perhaps in the storage room in your bag/suitcase) and use it when you know you have an inspection the following moring. This will allow you to make your bed pack the night before and leave it all neat and tidy. Im not a morning person and making a bed pack first thing was not my idea of fun. A spare pillowcase would also be an advantage for this purpose as they want you to iron the ones you get issued each morning.

If you need any more advice or have any questions (even ones that seem stupid, believe me I had loads of those before I joined) I will keep my eye
open for you.

[Tab]

Good god they beds as well, and lockers my what luxury

[Dawnie]

I apologise for the random starting of this thread it was meant to be a reply to a recruitment question.

And yes Tab we were really spoilt at Halton. Not very Military to be honest and some of the people I stood with on my passout parade could quite honestly not be trusted at a frying station in McDonalds.

Girls tend to be treated a lot better than the blokies, especially during the GDT phase with the Regiment (Funny that, eh?)

It makes me laugh when listening to the Sgts I work with when they talk about the good old days and the things they had to endure from their flight staff. They just wouldn't get away with it these days with the Polital Correctness gone mad. Think a lot of it has to do with the Deepcut incidents. Everything has gone very pink and fluffy.

If I have read rightly, your flight staff at basic do not have the ability to take away your weekends as a punishment???? Whats all that about????

[RAF Reginald]

Girls tend to be treated a lot better than the blokies, especially during the GDT phase with the Regiment (Funny that, eh?)

That's because if we dare raise our voices to them, they colapse in floods of tears! Wrong isn't it? And they wonder why they're not allowed to join the RAF Regt!!

Some good advice there, mate. Just don't get caught sleeping on the floor next to your prepped' bed! Most important thing; take your own iron, and a decent one, that way although you'll let people borrow it, you'll always have first call.

[Hyperlithe]

Cranwell is another weird one, they aren't allowed to shout at the officer cadets, but our kit can be thrown out of the windows. We get all the change parades as well, out on the parade square in different dress every hour on the hour until 2am or later. Not fun at 1am in your pt kit! And it all has to be back in your locker at inspection standard for 0630. Our course is much better than the IOT course!