About HM Armed Forces
The United kingdom’s Armed Forces are made up of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Each of the tri services have their own individual Regiments and Corps with storied histories.
There are a wide range of jobs roles from infantryman to Chef to Engineer. The one similarity every role has which is that no matter what your role – you’re are a soldier first, your trade comes second. For this reason, every person that joins the military undergoes basic training to learn the skills required of a soldier.
There is no way to sugar-coat it, basic training is hard! To reach the required level of physical fitness and discipline you will be pushed harder than you have before.
However, the sense of achievement you will get when you pass and join your Regiment, Unit or Battalion will be like no other.
What is Training Like?
As previously covered, every person who joins the UK Forces will undertake basic training. Basic training is there to ensure each person can look after themselves independently, reach the required physical fitness standard required of a soldier and work as a team.
Some of the tasks may seem mundane such as learning to iron and fold your clothes, keep your living space clean and tidy and to be punctual. The theory behind this is that if you can’t look after yourself in the relative comfort of a military base, you will have zero chance of remaining operationally capable in the harsher environments you will be expected to work.
You will learn the basics of fieldcraft. This is the real soldiering part where you learn to live and work in the outdoors. You will be cold, wet, dirty, and tired but the sense of achievement you get will be worth it.
Once that has been covered each person will undertake their ‘Phase 2’ training which is focussed on their trade. For example, an engineer will go on to learn their engineering specialisation. An infantryman will learn advanced soldiering skills. This is where the training differentiates because advanced soldiering requires a higher level of physical fitness than engineering or being a chef. So, the training for an infantryman will be much more centred on building physical fitness.
How long is Infantry Training?
For a basic infantryman the length of training from joining to passing out 28 weeks. There are other branches of the military which have elite infantry units with their own specialised infantry training.
The Royal Marines. The Royal Navy’s elite amphibious force are the Royal Marines Commandos. Their training takes place at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Devon and lasts 32 weeks making it not only the longest basic training course in the UK but also NATO. Training culminates in the notorious commando tests after which those who pass are presented with their Green Berets.
The Parachute Regiment. The British Army’s airborne force is the Parachute Regiment. The training to become a paratrooper is 30 weeks long and culminates in the renowned P Company tests which are a set of physical tests designed to ensure those who pass truly have the right to wear the Maroon Beret.
The RAF Regiment. Providing force protection for the Royal Air Force is the RAF Regiment. Their training is 30 weeks and is conducted by the RAF where on completion they are presented with their RAF Regiment ‘mud guards’.
Preparation for Joining the Military
Passing out of training as an elite infantry trained soldier may seem like a daunting prospect. But with the correct preparation and conditioning we can help you to pass the entrance fitness tests to start your basic training in the best possible shape.
The Gravelbelly Conditioning Program has been designed by former Royal Marines Commandos to develop the functional fitness required of Infantrymen. You will be able to download a 12-week training plan which will build your strength and stamina. When you pass the entry tests to join your preferred branch of service you will feel confident in your abilities to take anything the training team puts in front of you.
Nutrition will also form an important aspect of your training. You need to ensure you are getting the correct nutrients to fuel your workouts and allow for muscle growth. When undertaking the Gravelbelly Conditioning Program you will be burning approximately 3,000 kcals per day. If you are using a different preparation program it would be advisable to account for the same calorific burn per day. The Macronutrient breakdown should be 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat. Meaning each day, you should look to take in 1,200 kcals of carbohydrates, 900 Kcals protein and 900 kcals fat. You should try to get as much of this through wholefoods such as meat, dairy, grains, and pulses. We have an article about training supplements which will be helpful of you need to supplement you food to hit the macros. The last and probably most important part of preparation to joining the military is mindset. You need to have a positive mindset to every task you undertake. This is the reason following a training plan is helpful as it gives structure. When you do a workout, you should be pushing yourself to do the best you can each time. This is how you see big improvements in your ability. You will also gain confidence by this which helps enforce the positive mindset. It all comes down to conditioning. Your mind can be conditioned just like the rest of your body.
What Next….
Firstly, if you have made the decision to join the military, congratulations. You will be embarking on a life-changing process which (in our humble opinion) will change you for the better. You will be serving your country and will forge friendships that will last a lifetime.
What you should do is start training and conditioning yourself to join. You can download our training program here or undertake another. Whatever you choose we wish you the best of luck!
