The Student Room Group

Trade Training Living Conditions

After my initial training, I'm off to St Athan for my trade training for 16months.

I was just wandering, what type of accomodation will I be moving into?, I'm assuming its like uni-halls where you have a small room and a communal lounge and kitchen, but could someone please let me know so I can work out how much stuff to prepare.

Also, what will the rules be for having my girlfriend stay over at weekends? As she lives far from the base, will this be a problem her staying say two weekends per month providing I let them know?

Many Thanks In advance for all help.
Reply 1
At St Athan you will be in accomodation blocks with communal sleepind rooms with around 14 to 16 people in them. You will not be able to let girlfriend to stay in the block overnight unfortunately. However, St Athan has a flat that you can rent for a ridiculously cheap rate. It is kitted out with all the mod cons and is far better that having her stop in a pongy blokes block containing ridiculous levels of testosterone. The local area is very nice with the beach only a few miles away.

Hope this helps
Reply 2
Cheers mate - much appreciated
Reply 3
On a similar note, whats the accom like at Cosford? I've seen a few pics of a room down there which was fairly small with en suite shower etc. I doubt everyone will get this so what type of accom should I expect?
Reply 4
I think you are still in communal rooms at Cosford whlst on basic trade training . The en-suite rooms are usually for the permanent staff.
Whilst this may seem grim, sharing a big room is actually great fun and really is part of the game.
Thor2007
On a similar note, whats the accom like at Cosford? I've seen a few pics of a room down there which was fairly small with en suite shower etc. I doubt everyone will get this so what type of accom should I expect?


TonyL is correct, the 'super blocks' (Op Grand Slam) are for perminate staff. The trainees are in barrack block type accomadation with 6 beds to a rooms. The toilets/showers down the corridor with a kitchen area there to. The blocks are not to bad at Cosford, not as old as Halton's! You'll have a great time at Cosford and 'Pegs burger van' is a delight!
Regards:wink:
Reply 6
What are you going in for if your being posted to St Athan for your training, i wouldnt mind that as its pretty close to home and could get back home for the weekends alot easier if i wanted to :biggrin: .
Reply 7
Hi

I was just wondering along the same note what is the mover accom like at Brize ill be there for 6 months of training?
Reply 8
St Athan - Going as Gen Tech E as its the main Engineering college for the MOD, looking forward to going as I've lived in London all my life - gonna be a big culture shock but an exciting on. And on a plus, even though St Athan is a nice little town, I have the knowledge that Cardiff is only about 17miles away if I want big shops, clubs, etc etc etc which should ease me into the move
Here to help
TonyL is correct, the 'super blocks' (Op Grand Slam) are for perminate staff. The trainees are in barrack block type accomadation with 6 beds to a rooms. The toilets/showers down the corridor with a kitchen area there to. The blocks are not to bad at Cosford, not as old as Halton's! You'll have a great time at Cosford and 'Pegs burger van' is a delight!
Regards:wink:



There's a Peg's at Halton, too !
Reply 10
Darren Marc
St Athan - Going as Gen Tech E as its the main Engineering college for the MOD, looking forward to going as I've lived in London all my life - gonna be a big culture shock but an exciting on. And on a plus, even though St Athan is a nice little town, I have the knowledge that Cardiff is only about 17miles away if I want big shops, clubs, etc etc etc which should ease me into the move

Ah right, DARA is it? or the proper R.A.F side of engineering. I went on work experience there with DARA about 3 and a half years ago it was fun, got to go in tornados do cockpit tests, harriers etc it was a laugh. We in Cardiff are only a 20-30 minutes drive away and theres plenty to do here but around St Athan there isnt a huge ammount of things but there is alot of housing there which is mainly for armed forces personnel (my bro lived there until last year) you get all the local shops to but the surroundings are generally a nice rural type of area if you got any questions about the area i can try to answer them. Good luck.
Rizza Razzu
There's a Peg's at Halton, too !


Crikey Rizza, I'm a doughnut! It was Halton I was thinking about....:eek:
Reply 12
schutz
Ah right, DARA is it?



Nope. DARA is DEAD!! I believe it officially closed in Apr this year. Currently MOD St Athan (as it is now known) is the home of the ground engineering trades with DCAE Cosford still being the place for all of the aeronautical engineering. A decision to co-locate all of the engineering trades (air and ground - plus others) at MOD St Athan has been made but, if history is anything to go by, the people joining now will probably be Sergeants by the time this actually comes to fruition.

I think the formula is something like: Double the lead time and treble the budget.
Reply 13
sally_946
Hi

I was just wondering along the same note what is the mover accom like at Brize ill be there for 6 months of training?


Because accommodation and brize is quite tight, the movers on their training stay in the officers mess this is because the school is right next to the officers mess!

You will ge a large room with two single beds in it, obviously sharing with someone else! The accommdation is fine! Inspection once a week, parade once a week! Easy!! :-p
Reply 14
Ryan86
Because accommodation and brize is quite tight, the movers on their training stay in the officers mess this is because the school is right next to the officers mess!

You will ge a large room with two single beds in it, obviously sharing with someone else! The accommdation is fine! Inspection once a week, parade once a week! Easy!! :-p



But you can't use their bar!!!!!
Reply 15
shhhhhhhh! :-p
Reply 16
oooh my go u r joking me right ???? **** the bed now im scared i got a call this morning to inform me that i ill no longer be going to Halton on 14th November but 8th August hmmmm im soo excited scared and happy all in one go how im managing to sit still long enough to type this is a mystery
Reply 17
sally_946
oooh my go u r joking me right ???? **** the bed now im scared i got a call this morning to inform me that i ill no longer be going to Halton on 14th November but 8th August hmmmm im soo excited scared and happy all in one go how im managing to sit still long enough to type this is a mystery


Is this for your 2 day familiarisation visit? New initiative.... Mmmmmm!
Reply 18
Whats that no im going 8th august to start my basic training ?