The camp is relatively small, its daunting at first but you eventually get to know faces from other troops and have a bit crack in the wrvs at night (when time permits)..your first week is a doss, you do no phys just admin, kit issue, haircut, medical (including tetanus, diptheria, polio & meningitis c injections and a blood test!)
you pay a lot of money for a tracksuit which is always the wrong size (you HAVE to wear this when not in 95s)....mine was a medium and im large, imagine how silly i look....
on the kitlist you will pack everything on it, but if you want to travel lighter id suggest leaving boot polishing kit, stationery kit and the iron at home...the shop sells all the kit you need in that respect and in the first week theres plenty time to go and get yourself sorted, in particular your first weekend which you will mostly spend ironing your new kit and giving your toecaps there first few coats of polish..just take your smart civilian kit (tie, jersey etc) and no more than 7 days worth of civvy clothes....no way will u wear 12 weeks like they say, when your issued your kit your civvy stuff has to be put in your civvy bag at the top under your bed..
theres plenty irons left over off previous recruits, so id only take yr iron if it has sentimental value...if your in the new blocks then you may have to take one but there £20 in the shop anyhow....
you march EVERYWHERE excluding indoors unless your visiting one of the officers at your bty/sqd/plt hq, remember arms locked out nice full swing shoulder height, you wont have been taught how to salute yet so you just drop your arms to them old 'tenshun! position by your sides...officers dont march so drop your arms to ANYONE who isnt marching (unless there on medical orders then u feel a tit!)...also if your a smoker and at the smoking area if any officer/nco walks past get the tab out of yr gob and stand to until he/she says relax..
get yourself 2 pairs of standard issue black woolly socks, dont ever wear them just keep them in your sock tray for locker inspections, the staff dont like missing kit even if you have your laundry card to prove it.. also get yourself a totthbrush, toothpaste, SMALL shaving oil, ravor, nailbrush, soapdish & soap for the washkit section of yr locker, then obviously have yr seperate kit what u use..
in locker inspections everything has to be the same, dont buy your coat hangers till u get down there because if youve gone to the expense of buying some lovely wooden coathangers and the room decides on blue plastic its a waste of cash...all lockers must be identical and that includes the colour and type of hanger and the way they hang!
always button up and zip up any item of clothing or it will smell the grass outside.
I can't think of much else at the mo, but I will when I remember, sorry about the grammar but I'm a lazy typer!
