|
THE NEXT STEP. . . . .
Once
you have been interviewed by the Army Careers staff, they
will arrange for you to attend the Recruit Selection Centre.
The
staff at the Recruit Selection Centre will decide whether
you are ready to go straight into training or whether you
require some fitness training before you start.
·
The Hard
Bit! BASIC TRAINING
Once
you have passed Recruit Selection you will be ready for
Basic (Phase One) Training. If you are between the ages of
16 and  171/2 you could attend the Army Foundation College at
Harrogate, entry will depend on your results at Recruit
Selection.
Those aged over 16 years and 9 months will go straight to
the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) at Catterick. This is
where Phase 1 training is conducted for those wishing to
become Guardsmen. The course which lasts 14 weeks, is
demanding, challenging and very hard work, but it does equip
you with all the necessary basic military skills that we
require of all our soldiers. The instructors in Guards
Company are all Guardsmen who have been through the training
themselves, by the end of this phase, you will be able to
handle a weapon with confidence and be very fit!!! However,
the training is progressive, building steadily on your
confidence, ability and fitness as we don't expect you to
know everything or be super fit at the start of the course.
For
those under 16 years and 9 months there are other options
like the Army Foundation College (AFC) at Harrogate.
To look at a Generic
Training Programme for the Guards Division Click Here
·
COMBAT
INFANTRYMAN's COURSE
Once you have successfully completed your Phase One Training
you will have some leave (paid of course!) and then start
your specialist training as a Combat Infantryman. This is a
physically challenging course which lasts 16 weeks, however,
like Pirbright, the training is still progressive. You are
too valuable, as a Coldstream Guardsman, to damage! Like
Pirbright, the training for Guardsmen is conducted by
Guardsmen who have been through it themselves.
After
successfully passing the 16 week course at Catterick you
will be ready to take your place in the Regimental family as
a fully trained Coldstreamer.
·
JOINING
THE BATTALION
 Once
you join the Battalion, you take your place as a Guardsman
in a Rifle Company.
But the training isn't over! Here we
will give more skills and build you up as a professional
soldier. We will train you to drive (FREE!), how to use and
maintain communications equipment and other specialist
equipment.
You
will now have the opportunity to play a full part in the
life of the Battalion, which includes Overseas Exercises,
Operational Tours, improving your military skills and, of
course taking part in a wide variety of Sports and even
adventurous training.
·
THE BEST BIT!!! PAY AND CONDITIONS OF
SERVICE
Once you join the Battalion you will
undergo training to upgrade you from Class III to Class I
Soldier, with each progression carrying an increase in pay.
You will now be classed as a senior Soldier and will be
eligible for promotion to Lance Corporal. This promotion
will not only give you greater responsibilities but more pay as well.
[link to pay grades will
be added very soon]
·
PROMOTION
Being a Coldstream Guard will often require you to show
leadership skills of that beyond your rank. It is when these
leadership skills become noticed by your commanders that
your ascent up the promotion ladder can begin. To become a
Lance Corporal you will be required to have good reports
from your commanders, whereupon you will be selected to
attend a Lance Corporals Course. The course is 6 weeks long
and is run at our own school of excellence called Household
Division and parachute regiment centralised courses HDPRCC
in Pirbright. On the course you will be taught how to
command small groups of men in battle and barracks.
Additionally, as we have 2 roles, (war fighting and
ceremonial), you will also learn how to carry out aspects
the ceremonial of London duties.
There are various roles in Battalion, read about some of
them here ....
After you have held Lance Corporal for around 2 years and
providing you have good reports from your Commanders, you
will be selected to attend a 12 week course called the
Section Commanders Battle Course in Brecon, Wales to learn
how to look after a section of 8 men in battle and supervise
live firing. It is not an easy course to pass, but with the
right preparation and a good mental attitude, all the signs
are there for you to move yet another step up the promotion
ladder. On passing this course you will be promoted to Lance
Sergeant and will therefore become a member of The Sergeants
Mess, Coldstream Guards.
|
