What is the training course like at Catterick?

Do you mean the Combat Infantrypersons Course?

Fixed that for you.

Do you mean the Combat Infantrymans Course?

Uh yeah the training course, barracks at Catterick

CIC isn't a hard course, 11 years ago when I did it, it was male only and still quite a harsh environment as all instructors were freshly off tour so they were quite harsh but it was based off recent operational experience so based on experience under fire, it's changed a bit since then.

It's progressive as well, just do what you're told, do your best and it should be fine. I've just left the Army for the second time and I was based up north so I was recently in that barracks to visit an office that's on there, hasn't changed much!

Personally, as an ex-squaddie who's been Infantry and Armoured Reconnaissance, I'd really suggest going for a trade, there's no war on combat arm is the last place the Army spends money during peacetime. Just my two cents take it or leave it.

Quick question pal, when you signed off does your last 12 months begin the day you put the clicks in or when the interviews finish? Also any tips on getting through the interviews and how to retain your sanity in the last 12 months? Only asking as I'm considering it in the not too distant future

OP, also I echo this posters views about going for a trade as opposed to combat arms. I know they advertise apprenticeships in the infantry etc but in all honesty it appears to count diddly squat in civvy street.

Quick question pal, when you signed off does your last 12 months begin the day you put the clicks in or when the interviews finish? Also any tips on getting through the interviews and how to retain your sanity in the last 12 months? Only asking as I'm considering it in the not too distant future

OP, also I echo this posters views about going for a trade as opposed to combat arms. I know they advertise apprenticeships in the infantry etc but in all honesty it appears to count diddly squat in civvy street.

Day you do it on the system, the chain was definitely not fussed about hurrying up the interviews when Army wide they're struggling to keep people in, so be prepared to be told not to do it, over and over and over!

If you go for another gov role like I had a job offer for armed police, that fell through after 9 months of passing it all and having that offer in writing before I left, so have a backup even if that means taking more than one job offer, anything can happen, as it did to me.

As for sanity, haven't you lost that already? If not, go sit in a shell scrape under a poncho in the middle of a random field for a couple days getting piss wrapped then repeat the question...

Now, I’ve been out for a while, but what would an apprenticeship in the infantry actually involve? Irresponsible amounts of drinking, fighting each other and complaining “this is shit” every time you’re expected to do your job?

In hindsight I lost it the day I signed on the dotted line pal 😂

In RE so I'm hopefully all good for trade. Hopefully find something related to that but I'm also looking at privately funding my CPC and Tanker ADR so I have something half decent to fall back on when I do bail. In the meantime I suppose its save as much money as possible.

Brilliant, only asked as i've heard rumours that it can be rejected if they don't agree with your plan or something, but that and mates who've done it are saying thats a load of BS. Plus apparently the CoC can supposedly get a right sad on about it if you do the clicks before you have the interviews

So cliche, leave army become a truck driver haha to be fair one of our SSM's left to do refrigerated ones and working half a week he can equal his wage as an SSM, ridiculous that!

They can't stop you clicking, they can't really reject it unless it's for war etc for army manning if you're pinch point etc and even then it's just likely to delay it until they can replace you....

As for sad on, yes they do, and what? hahaha, they delay interviews i know blokes adding 3-4months onto their 12month leaving by interviewing first, my chain went off to all sorts of places so i couldn't do interviews for ages but i was wise to it so it was still counting from my clicks.

They brought apprenticeships in for us as well in mechanical engineering, literally not a single employer has been bothered by it, the only one it was relevant for was jaguar as a technician and even then their ex forces programme will hook you in regardless of having it so again, pointless.

To be honest what helped me most was the experience I gained inbetween the times I was in the army, after I left last time I did all sorts like security, banking, construction projects, it's that experience that has companies wanting to talk to me, Honda today, a bank just called me earlier, Amazon just offered me something quite good, a local airport offered me something. I honestly can't say any of them were like oh you were in the army that's so amazing, it's the private sector experience they're leaning on, it's a shame the Army has so much potential to turn somebody into something great but the people at the regiments are so bent on you just doing as you're told.

It's a weird one, don't regret being in the Army but I also stopped an online business and sold out my stock market investments to go run around in the mud so...apples and oranges isn't it haha

From what I've read that's where most people come unstuck. They basically say 'was in for 12 years, was a sergeant in a Recce troop etc etc, give me a job!'. The trick is to convert what you've done in the army into civvy speak so they're more likely to understand where you're coming from. So using the above example they could say 'led and motivated a team of 20 individuals to achieve a common goal under testing circumstances' or something along those lines.

I know the feeling, at a point now where family and friends and my life is becoming more important than being green and I just want something that allows me to focus on that more than chasing an SJAR. Plus I am getting tired of being treated like a brainless child and blanket punished because some yokel smashed his part of the block up when drunk.

Exactly, thats what they will tell you in resettlement, so you've basically finished resettlement already!

"Plus I am getting tired of being treated like a brainless child and blanket punished because some yokel smashed his part of the block up when drunk."

That was my number 1 motivation really, civvy streets treating me like an adult, valuing what I say, pay me more and I'm at home. Yea you travel around the world great, ok I went skiing and stuff but those are odd weeks, 3months I was in canada I was freezing my nuts off at -17c or in a hole somewhere, not exactly seeing the sights haha, plus the skiing was a lucky chance wasn't even our regiments slot, some good times in germany again i had to push, get onto shooting team to get those good times so again lucky rather than the norm.

I've found it weird coming from an all male regiment and every interview I had after leaving appears to be(so far), two women grilling me in a room, it's different...

We've hijacked this thread massively haha....standard.

Best time to leave is early on or late, there's no middle, early on you've got that experience out the way and not lost much time but blokes in the middle, too much invested to leave but not enough quals to justify going just yet, those leave late again no point if you've done 18 years to your 22 might as well do last 4 to pension...

Have you heard new comers rumors? They might have to do 6 minimum! Guess if you can't get the staff lock the gate for a bit longer eh? I mean why make it a place people want to be in when you can put the lock on....