Hi there,

I will touch on Basic Ph1 training at Winchester or Pirbiright, which has a duration of 14 weeks. If you are going to Catterick or Harrogate, the answer will be different.

First and foremost, basic training is intense, with long days and working weekends, especially during the first 7 weeks. However, after week 7 (this is normally where you receive a long weekend to go home, normally Thursday-Sunday), there may be opportunities to leave camp at the weekend, depending on how the training is going for your intake. However, it is not a guarantee nor to be expected, and will only be a privilege if you have earned it.

For example, when I went through Ph1 in 2017, our intake were able to visit a nearby town for 5-6 hours on two different Saturdays (week 10 and 12 from memory). It was a good opportunity to spend time with your new friends from training, in an environment away from the military establishment. It was also beneficial, as we were able to purchase extra warm kit and snacks for an upcoming exercise!

Good luck with the training. It is an exciting, difficult, enjoyable and arduous 14 weeks that flies by, and you create friendships that last throughout your army career.

Hope that helps,
A

02 February, 2022 11:08

Adding to Amie's comment above, after phase 1 training (basic trg) and whilst on Phase 2 (trade training) unless you are on duty or exercise your weekends tend to be your own. Once out of Phase 2, unless you're on ops, ex or duty what you do at weekends and evenings (out of working hours ) is very much up to you - exactly the same as if you had a civilian job.

03 February, 2022 12:29