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Boyfriend in the army
Hi, my boyfriend of 2 years should be starting basic training in october if all goes well (for him...) down in Dorset, aiming to be one of the Royal Signals.
Can anyone tell me how often I'm likely to be able to speak to him on the phone, and how often I'm going to be seeing him whilst he's still in training?
It's not going to be easy going from every day/every other day to not very often at all...
Also, any other details about Royal Signals such as how at risk they are would be very greatly received.
Can anyone tell me how often I'm likely to be able to speak to him on the phone, and how often I'm going to be seeing him whilst he's still in training?
It's not going to be easy going from every day/every other day to not very often at all...
Also, any other details about Royal Signals such as how at risk they are would be very greatly received.
Scroll to see replies
Once he's out of phase 1 and onto phase 2 at Blandford you should be able to see and speak to him a lot more. Which ATR is he going to for phase 1?
Lady Venom
Once he's out of phase 1 and onto phase 2 at Blandford you should be able to see and speak to him a lot more. Which ATR is he going to for phase 1?
Okay...just talked to him on the phone and he's going to ATR Lichfield for phase one and then Dorset afterwards. Wish he'd tell me these things, lol.
Google ARRSE, there's loads of basic training under the 'Joining Up' bit and there's a WAGs bit as well. I don't know enough about how the ATR's operate to give you any definitive answers I'm afraid.
Thanks okay, thanks a lot 
I have a friend who is in the Royal Signals and apart from when he is out of the country he gets most weekends off. His job is like Mon-Fri. I'm not too familiar with the Signals though, he lays some sort of cables (sorry I don't know the technical term!! 
), I don't know if this is what your boyfriend will be doing? It might be a bit more difficult to contact him during the Basic Training though. He will be very busy - but thats only for 14 weeks.
), I don't know if this is what your boyfriend will be doing? It might be a bit more difficult to contact him during the Basic Training though. He will be very busy - but thats only for 14 weeks.NurseKel6
I have a friend who is in the Royal Signals and apart from when he is out of the country he gets most weekends off. His job is like Mon-Fri. I'm not too familiar with the Signals though, he lays some sort of cables (sorry I don't know the technical term!! ), I don't know if this is what your boyfriend will be doing? It might be a bit more difficult to contact him during the Basic Training though. He will be very busy - but thats only for 14 weeks.
), I don't know if this is what your boyfriend will be doing? It might be a bit more difficult to contact him during the Basic Training though. He will be very busy - but thats only for 14 weeks.Heh...'only'
Yeah the Royal Signals is the IT and Communications combat support part of the army.
How many weekends would you say are most weekends? And where/how often is he out of the country?
Thanks loads.
Well he is actually my friends boyfriend. He lives in England and we're in Scotland. He comes up every weekend as far as I know but that may just be the working hours for his job. He was in Canada for about a month or two and he has just gone to Germany. Don't know how long he will be there for but I can find out 
NurseKel6
Well he is actually my friends boyfriend. He lives in England and we're in Scotland. He comes up every weekend as far as I know but that may just be the working hours for his job. He was in Canada for about a month or two and he has just gone to Germany. Don't know how long he will be there for but I can find out
Thanks doll.
A month or two??
Missaphrodite - there could/will be times in his career when you might not see him for 6 months. The forces isn't the most relationship friendly career, however the majority of people manage to get along fine with it eventually. You just have to understand that it's part of the job, and try to relax knowing that he is always looking forward to seeing you. I'm going into the RAF, and have a girlfriend, who I have been with 2 years too - but in all honesty, I think it will be a good test on our relationship. If she gives me a hard time, as much as I adore her, I would have to call it off. If she is happy to stay with me, because in her eyes, it's worth the wait, then great Once your boyfriend goes in though, the ball really is in your court.
Once your boyfriend goes in though, the ball really is in your court.When he is in recruit training he wont have much time off at all. He will be working most weekends. He is however allowed to have a mobile phone and will be able to use it most evenings for an hour or so.
During recruit training soldiers are extremely busy and really wont have much time to chat.
If you have a look though the Army recruiting web site you will be able of find plenty of information about recruit training and about ATR Lichfield specifically.
He will get a couple of weekends off towards the end of the course. He will also be able to invite a number of guests to his passing out parade - which will be really worth going to if you can.
When he gets to phase 2 training at Blandford he will have more spare time. Generally most weekends are going to be free time from Friday afternoon unitl Sunday night- so he should be able to get away and see you. He will certainly be able to use his mobile phone in the evening . He will also have access to internet cafes on camp etc so should be able to chat on line fairly often.
During recruit training soldiers are extremely busy and really wont have much time to chat.
If you have a look though the Army recruiting web site you will be able of find plenty of information about recruit training and about ATR Lichfield specifically.
He will get a couple of weekends off towards the end of the course. He will also be able to invite a number of guests to his passing out parade - which will be really worth going to if you can.
When he gets to phase 2 training at Blandford he will have more spare time. Generally most weekends are going to be free time from Friday afternoon unitl Sunday night- so he should be able to get away and see you. He will certainly be able to use his mobile phone in the evening . He will also have access to internet cafes on camp etc so should be able to chat on line fairly often.
I can't cope with not seeing him at all for 6 months. The longest I've spent without him in over 2 years is a month. I don't know what I'm going to do. How on earth do they cope??
Do you know what he's doing there by the way?
Sorry for so many questions, you're a massive help.
Do you know what he's doing there by the way?
Sorry for so many questions, you're a massive help.
Welcome to live as a military "other half!"
It's far from easy. One big issue though is what you're doing. If you're working, then you could consider, once he's out of training, moving to wherever he'll be posted, renting somewhere and working there. Likewise, if you've been together long enough to consider getting married, you can then apply for a quarter to live it. Those things might be a bit down the line time-wise, but they're worth bearing in mind; it does get better.
Other than that, without wanting to sound harsh, you'll need to be quite independent. If you're in a "clingy" relationship it will be extremely hard. When he's been working himself half to death through basic training, the last thing he wants to do is spend his one free hour in the day listening to his girlfriend in floods of tears. You need to be strong for him, otherwise he'll just resent you in the end. I saw it happen quite a lot to mates through training and students I've worked with; the girlfriend is constantly angry or upset that he can't get a weekend off, or that there's some other draw on his time, or that he can't ring for more than 20 minutes. After a while, he stops ringing the girlfriend as much because frankly, with so little spare time, she's just a hassle. It then doesn't take long for him to get fed up of all the moaning when he does see her, and they go their separate ways.
So, you'll have to be a bit resilient, as you're definitely going to have to face big chunks of time without him in the future, and when he does get ahold of you, you need to be careful not to just complain about how long until you see him! You will need to be independent and you'll need your own life; your own job, education, your own mates, your own hobbies, etc etc. And when you're a bit older, and he's a bit more settled, things are a lot easier unless he's spending 5 months in Afghanistan or something.
It's far from easy. One big issue though is what you're doing. If you're working, then you could consider, once he's out of training, moving to wherever he'll be posted, renting somewhere and working there. Likewise, if you've been together long enough to consider getting married, you can then apply for a quarter to live it. Those things might be a bit down the line time-wise, but they're worth bearing in mind; it does get better.
Other than that, without wanting to sound harsh, you'll need to be quite independent. If you're in a "clingy" relationship it will be extremely hard. When he's been working himself half to death through basic training, the last thing he wants to do is spend his one free hour in the day listening to his girlfriend in floods of tears. You need to be strong for him, otherwise he'll just resent you in the end. I saw it happen quite a lot to mates through training and students I've worked with; the girlfriend is constantly angry or upset that he can't get a weekend off, or that there's some other draw on his time, or that he can't ring for more than 20 minutes. After a while, he stops ringing the girlfriend as much because frankly, with so little spare time, she's just a hassle. It then doesn't take long for him to get fed up of all the moaning when he does see her, and they go their separate ways.
So, you'll have to be a bit resilient, as you're definitely going to have to face big chunks of time without him in the future, and when he does get ahold of you, you need to be careful not to just complain about how long until you see him! You will need to be independent and you'll need your own life; your own job, education, your own mates, your own hobbies, etc etc. And when you're a bit older, and he's a bit more settled, things are a lot easier unless he's spending 5 months in Afghanistan or something.
missaphrodite
I can't cope with not seeing him at all for 6 months. The longest I've spent without him in over 2 years is a month. I don't know what I'm going to do. How on earth do they cope??
Do you know what he's doing there by the way?
Sorry for so many questions, you're a massive help.
Do you know what he's doing there by the way?
Sorry for so many questions, you're a massive help.
Ok this is what he wrote back to me:
"Hi im doing in germany just the same as what i did in catterick, the job you do on tour varies, depending on what job u do normally n if there is a need for that job on tour or u might do something else, i dont supose you kno what job hes joining as do you ?"
Hope this helps a bit. And if you know what job he's joining I might be able to get some more info for you.
Army life can be unpredictable. For example, a good mate of mine was supposed to be off to Canada for 4 months on Ex. but was told last week he will be sent to Afghan for 6 months as of Oct this year.
As has been said though, after basic he will get more weekends off and can get rail warrents and the like so you can meet-up most weekends. Of course he also has his annual leave which most units like to take at one time (for example, my mate has had the whole summer off along with the rest of his btn).
If you have a strong relationship and are prepared to wait for him, it will work out fine.
I recommend you have a look on www.rearparty.co.uk
This is a forum specialy set up for parents, partners, kids etc of people in the military and has lots of useful info on it. They will also be able to answer any questions you have (several people on the site have been married to service personnel for 30+ years and so know all the ins and outs of service life).
As has been said though, after basic he will get more weekends off and can get rail warrents and the like so you can meet-up most weekends. Of course he also has his annual leave which most units like to take at one time (for example, my mate has had the whole summer off along with the rest of his btn).
If you have a strong relationship and are prepared to wait for him, it will work out fine.
I recommend you have a look on www.rearparty.co.uk
This is a forum specialy set up for parents, partners, kids etc of people in the military and has lots of useful info on it. They will also be able to answer any questions you have (several people on the site have been married to service personnel for 30+ years and so know all the ins and outs of service life).
Original post by missaphrodite
Hi, my boyfriend of 2 years should be starting basic training in october if all goes well (for him...) down in Dorset, aiming to be one of the Royal Signals.
Can anyone tell me how often I'm likely to be able to speak to him on the phone, and how often I'm going to be seeing him whilst he's still in training?
It's not going to be easy going from every day/every other day to not very often at all...
Also, any other details about Royal Signals such as how at risk they are would be very greatly received.
Can anyone tell me how often I'm likely to be able to speak to him on the phone, and how often I'm going to be seeing him whilst he's still in training?
It's not going to be easy going from every day/every other day to not very often at all...
Also, any other details about Royal Signals such as how at risk they are would be very greatly received.
hey, my boyfriend is in the army, and i do see him often, well mostly ever weekend, unless they are asked to work on the weekend, you can speak to them mostly all through the day by text, unless they are on exercise or actually working lol, but they normally finish around 5ish, so you have the rest of the night to talk and stuff, its not as hard as it seems. the only time its hard for me, is when he has leave for like 3 weeks & i get used to having him around and then when he goes back to work and everything goes back to normal its horrible and i miss him like mad, but other than that you should find it easy. x
Original post by bridie_x
x
Thread posted August 2009.
Think OP probably knows whats what by now.
Original post by missaphrodite
I can't cope with not seeing him at all for 6 months. The longest I've spent without him in over 2 years is a month. I don't know what I'm going to do. How on earth do they cope??
Do you know what he's doing there by the way?
Sorry for so many questions, you're a massive help.
Do you know what he's doing there by the way?
Sorry for so many questions, you're a massive help.
(wo)man the freak up ? or end the relationship
do not ruin your life and your boyfriends career by creating an admin s***storm.
Original post by Lady Venom
Google ARRSE
lol
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