ALL ARMS COMMANDO COURSE

[rc951]

i`m thinking of taking it need some info on how to prepare for it and what it involves. all i know is that it is 16 weeks of hell. any indepth info would be appreciated

[Alfa]

Hi mate, good luck if you get on the course. I can't really give any advice on how to prepare or what it involves although I can point out it's only 6 weeks and not 16 so there you go I've more than halved your workload already

[GreyWing]

you'll probably be able to start with a new RM training troop and do the first 4-5 weeks phys with them to get you up to speed if you want to and then jump to the all arms course.

When I was in training we had a doctor do that, might be an idea if you are thinking about it.

[rc951]

i feel so much better knowing its 6 weeks!!!!!!!!! I`m keen to do it. just curious to know what it entails and how many attempts you get.

[Beowulf]

Hello mate, this may be of some use. I am not sure how old it is though, it looks about right to me! Hope it helps.

http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/R ... T/1303.pdf

[rc951]

thanks mate. that was just what i was looking for.

[druadan]

Normally 'beat-up' courses are run to prepare other service ranks for AACC, especially for those looking to serve in Cdo attatched units (59 RE, 29 Arty etc). Whereabouts/who with are you based?

[Foxtricks]

used to be 9 weeks that has only changed to 6 weeks recently...

Foxtricks...

[Shrek The Royal]

I used to be on the AACC, i can tell you it is 7 weeks long. When i left we were looking at running the beat ups due to 59 in particular sending a load of broken blokes.

On the course it self you will have three strikes then your out. Depending on what and when you fail, will determin where you come back and if you are invited back. The course is cheeky as there is very little recovery time. The course is to short and needs to be extended.

[Artist]

Shrek

My main drip when taking the pre AACC and the AACC proper was the at times poor quality of soldiering we encountered from blokes who had not long been out of basic training with whatever Regiment or Corp they came from within the Army. This was back in the late seventies/early eighties so I dare say it's improved since.

Far to much time was taken up with the training teams having to re-teach basic infantry skills to quite a few of the course members. Jolly Jack we knew was going to be a problem so they always attended an extended pre AACC at in my days Seaton Bks where Log Regt had a dedicated training team headed up by a WO2 (PW).

Artist

[druadan]

I believe there is still an infantry skills course prior to AACC for those who need it (Jack and non-infantry Army regts I suppose), but I don't know where or by who it's run...

[Littlegreen]

In terms of raising military skills, the Medical Assistant Military Awareness Course (MAMAC) is run at CTC. I think it's run by the Reserve Forces Training Team (RFTT), but I'm not sure. From memory, it's two weeks long and is intended as a military skills beat up, not a physical prep. The Corps will be quite good at getting you physically prepared, but you may already be appointed to a unit, so for you to spend six weeks with a recruit troop would mean an extra six weeks without a doc. Not all COs would be prepared to counternance that length of gap.

[Artist]

From what you have said Littlegreen I take it that soldiering skills are still a problem then?

I always found that the young RA lads who joined the AACC were Ok. The RE blokes however were not as switched on. Then we had the various blokes from REME, RAOC, RCT, ACC, RS, AAC, APC and so on. The APC (Army Pay Corp) bods had no idea what so ever. One told me that during his basic training they only spent one night in the field during their entire training and only learnt how to fire the SMG!

Most of the REME, RAOC, RCT did their beat up at Logs as that was the unit they would mostly be drafted to. At one stage in the middle eighties Logs took all ranks for the pre AACC at Seaton Bks.

I can remember Jonny Mathieson the Sgt Major PW in charge of the pre AACC training team telling me that this was done because 59 and 29 seemed to have far to many being RTUed with injuries whilst doing the Pre AACC at their parent units so Cdo Forces told everone to send em to Logs. Both 29 and 59 sent some NCO's to join the team and were soon found to be far to keen on beasting the blokes for no reason what so ever.

After the first course Jonny had all 29 and 59 NCO's sent back to their units or he would have "Lost it and punched there lights out!" his words not mine. So what did 29 and 59 do? Started a pre Pre AACC!?!?! It seemed that 29's and 59's respective CO's didn't like Royal telling them that their training teams methods were quite frankly shite!!

Artist

[Littlegreen]

I'm not connected to the AACC, nor have I worked at CTC but I recall a Dento, and a couple of MAs being sent on it to improve their skills prior to J week. It's a fairly new course (three years?) but I understand that it's of value to those who have very little infantry experience. It does appear to be catching though. There are also military awareness courses for selection candidates who have a low level of infantry skills.

[Artist]

Poor old Jolly Jack was always At Sea when it came to the AACC. Most were MA's, Schoolie Lt's RN, the odd Padre RN plus the odd RO who was bound for 148 bty as a FOO operator. So they got an abrievated infantry skills course at Logs.

Most to be fair hacked it with minimum fuss. The Padres carried a "Shepherds Crook' that weighed the same as an SLR/SA80. And it always made me Laff to see some erstwhile Padre with basically a six foot lead filled steel pipe bent at the end speedmarching or yomping along with all the other members of the course bristling with weapons.

Artist