I'm starting to collect the essential items ready for recruit training. I have all the items listed under essential items in the booklet provided to me at RSC, I just need to get a decent iron, boot polish and a few other items. I'm really looking for advice, tips and a suitable army surplus dealer where I can buy some of the military related items.
I've found one surplus site which offers a boot care kit complete with kiwi boot polish and parade gloss (which I understand is the best for boot care) for £13.99. It also offers various other items, such as spare laces, thick socks and bungees.
Would any of you in the know recommend buying from army surplus sites, or would it be best to purchase those items at the training establishment?
Last question, which I think may actually tick off a few of those already in, is what type of locker space do you get at ATR Lichfield and would it be worthwhile taking a laptop? The reason being, I run a few online businesses, which require about an hour or two a week. It'd be nice to keep these going through training, although my top priority is my army career and will temporarily shut them down if need be. Also, a laptop would be nice for the train journey and those boring times, which no doubt will plague training now and again.
Cheers lads
PS: Would it be necessary for me to take down my own ironing board, or have those issues been resolved now?
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Recruit Training Kit
This is the extra stuff i took to ITC Catterick for my para training....
-A roll of black cloth tape.
-Wash kit for your locker, never to be touched, for inspection use only…cheap toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving foam and a shaver (not disposable).
-Kiwi boot polish and 2 brushes. And another toothbrush for bottom of your boots.
-Get a hard bristled cleaning brush for the bottom of your boots and for cleaning your kit etc.
-scotch-brite pads for your weapon cleaning.
-Brillo pads for cleaning mess tins to a highly polished state
-Zinc oxide plaster tape for your feet.
-blister plasters
-vaseline To put round your balls n crotch on tabs and on exercise to stop chaffing.
-foot talc
-scissors
-black permenant marker pen
-very small sewing kit. Black and green thread
-nail brush, and nail clippers
-don’t bring many civvy clothes. You wont need them. 1 set is enough.
-Bring your I-Pod/CD player/tape player/radio for listening to whenever you get the chance, for a bit of morale. It always got me feeling good when the going got tough. Your laptop will be fine. i took one towards the end of training. (dont tell your staff if you have any porn...it will dissapear into their personal collection very rapidly!!!)
-A4 pad of paper, Black plain A4 folder, and plastic A4 wallets.
-Small notebook and pen and pencil in a waterproof bag. To be carried at all times in uniform. Apart from PT obviously.
-locks. You will need atleast 4. Get the highest quality locks you can afford. You don’t want any f*cker stealing your kit. Don’t get combination locks either, get lock and key. And the bigger and stronger, the better.
-Get a penknife. Something like a Swiss army knife is fine. Make sure it has a little loop on it to put some cord through. It has to be attached to your combat jacket in the field.
-small maglight torch. You will need it the first few exercises in the field.
-atleast 10 wooden coathangers. They all have to be the same. And they have to be strong, because your body armour etc have to go on them.
Anything else, just give me a PM.
P.S. Some of that stuff wont be necissary for your course, but take from it what you want.
-A roll of black cloth tape.
-Wash kit for your locker, never to be touched, for inspection use only…cheap toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving foam and a shaver (not disposable).
-Kiwi boot polish and 2 brushes. And another toothbrush for bottom of your boots.
-Get a hard bristled cleaning brush for the bottom of your boots and for cleaning your kit etc.
-scotch-brite pads for your weapon cleaning.
-Brillo pads for cleaning mess tins to a highly polished state
-Zinc oxide plaster tape for your feet.
-blister plasters
-vaseline To put round your balls n crotch on tabs and on exercise to stop chaffing.
-foot talc
-scissors
-black permenant marker pen
-very small sewing kit. Black and green thread
-nail brush, and nail clippers
-don’t bring many civvy clothes. You wont need them. 1 set is enough.
-Bring your I-Pod/CD player/tape player/radio for listening to whenever you get the chance, for a bit of morale. It always got me feeling good when the going got tough. Your laptop will be fine. i took one towards the end of training. (dont tell your staff if you have any porn...it will dissapear into their personal collection very rapidly!!!)
-A4 pad of paper, Black plain A4 folder, and plastic A4 wallets.
-Small notebook and pen and pencil in a waterproof bag. To be carried at all times in uniform. Apart from PT obviously.
-locks. You will need atleast 4. Get the highest quality locks you can afford. You don’t want any f*cker stealing your kit. Don’t get combination locks either, get lock and key. And the bigger and stronger, the better.
-Get a penknife. Something like a Swiss army knife is fine. Make sure it has a little loop on it to put some cord through. It has to be attached to your combat jacket in the field.
-small maglight torch. You will need it the first few exercises in the field.
-atleast 10 wooden coathangers. They all have to be the same. And they have to be strong, because your body armour etc have to go on them.
Anything else, just give me a PM.
P.S. Some of that stuff wont be necissary for your course, but take from it what you want.
TBH, I've never had a problem with chaffing either, but that tip will still come in handy, just incase 
Anyway, I've gone and twisted my ankle, so I'm unable to run. Does anyone know what type of fitness I need to be at for basic training, or will they build me back up?
EDIT: Sorry, I meant basic training, not RSC
Anyway, I've gone and twisted my ankle, so I'm unable to run. Does anyone know what type of fitness I need to be at for basic training, or will they build me back up?
EDIT: Sorry, I meant basic training, not RSC
Last edited by Ayrey on Tue 25 Oct, 2005 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
