An officer or soldier will spend as much as one third of their career
attending training courses. Following basic Phase 1 and Phase 2
training soldiers are posted to their units and progressive training
is carried out on a continual basis. Training is geared to
individuals, sub-unit or formation level and units regularly train
outside of the UK and Germany. As would be expected, there are
specialist unit training packages for specific operational commitments
such as Afghanistan.
For example the
training package for personnel warned off for deployment to
Afghanistan included a special-to-mission package. The training is
carried out by specialist training advisory teams at in the UK and
in Germany.
Phase 3 Training
facilities are the same as those listed under Phase 2, and also
includes the Defence Academy located mainly at Shrivenham. Defence
Academy training and education facilities incorporate the Joint
Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham. The Defence Academy
College of Management and Technology (previously known as the Royal
Military College of Science, Shrivenham), the Royal College of Defence Studies,
the Defence Leadership Centre, and Defence School of Finance and
Management.
The Joint Doctrine and Concepts Centre is co-located at Shrivenham. A
joint Services Warrant Officer's School is part of the Joint Service
Command and Staff College at Shrivenham.
OVERSEAS STUDENTS During
any one year, about 4,000 students from over 90 different countries
take part in training in the United Kingdom. The charges for training
depend on the length of the course, its syllabus and the number taking
part. Receipts from overseas governments for this training are
believed to be in the region of £30-40 million. TRAINING
AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE UK AND EUROPE
The British Army's main training areas outside of Europe are:
Canada - Suffield
British Army Training Unit (BATUS) has the responsibility to train
battlegroups in the planning and execution of armoured operations
through the medium of live firing and tactical test exercises. There
are six x 'Medicine Man' battlegroup exercises each year in a training
season that lasts from March to November.
Canada - Wainwright
The British Army Training Support Unit at Wainwright (BATSU(W))
provides the logistic and administrative support for Infantry units
at the Canadian Forces' training base in Western Canada.
Kenya
British
Army Training and Liaison Staff Kenya (BATLSK) is responsible for supporting
Infantry battalion group exercises and approximately 3,000 British
troops train in Kenya each year in a harsh unforgiving terrain ranging
in altitude from 8,000 feet down to 2,300 feet. BATLSK has been based
at its present site in Kahawa Barracks since Kenya's Independence in
1963.
Belize
The
British Army Training Support unit Belize (BATSUB) was formed 1
October 1994. Its role is to give training and logistic support to
Land Command units training in a tropical jungle environment. In
general terms BATSUB costs around £3 million per year.
Jungle Warfare School The
Jungle Warfare Wing (JWW) is located on the island of Borneo, close to
the border with Sarawak (Malaysia) and is supported by the British
Army's Brunei Garrison. JWW exists to provide a jungle training
facility to meet the requirement to train jungle warfare instructors
for the Field Army of the United Kingdom's Land Forces. BASIC
FITNESS TEST All
recruits and soldiers of all ranks and ages are required to take a
basic fitness test. At the Recruiting Selection Centres, potential
recruits undergo a series of tests known as Physical Standards
Selection for Recruits (PSSR). These are 'best effort' tests that take
place in the gymnasium. Recruits are required to complete the 1.5 mile
(2.4km) run.
Adult entry candidates
have to complete the run within 14 minutes or less. All Junior
Entrants - Army Foundation College, Army Technical Foundation College
or the School Leavers Scheme, are required to complete the run in 14
minutes 30 seconds or less. Officer candidates at RCB have to
undertake a multi stage fitness test (known as the Beep Test) and aim
to achieve a standard of 10.2 for males and 8.1 for females, as well
as a number of sit-ups and press-ups.
In-service fitness
requirements seek to maintain these standards. Tests typically require
a 2.4km run on level ground and in training shoes, in 10.5 minutes for
those under 30. There are gradually rising time limits for the older
personnel. For women the requirement for the 2.4km run is 13 minutes.
Standard
Fitness Tests currently applied for Infantry personnel include:
-
BFPA Basic
Personal Fitness Assessment - Sit ups, press-ups
and a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) run, all carried out against the clock.
This tests individual fitness generally. The minimum fitness goals
are: 54 continuous sit ups (with feet supported) and a 1.5 mile
(2.4 km) run in 11 minutes 45 seconds. -
ICFT Infantry
Combat Fitness Test - A distance of three miles as a
squad carrying 56 pounds of kit each, including their personal
weapon. Timed to be completed in one hour, individuals must stay
with the squad, or be failed.
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