Two Weeks @ Chilwell, Regular Army

I recently spent two weeks at Chilwell in Nottinghamshire, we were there to pass all the MATTs, shooting, map reading, fitness etc. Chilwell is where the reserves go to get accepted into full time service before going on deployments etc, we got to Chilwell around 4pm, we got booked into our rooms, the accommodation was quite good, small eight man rooms, i was to share with with only another four people, three from my unit and one lad from a London unit who was going to Afghanistan.

The food at Chilwell was very good it was also free, next to the scoff house was a small bar, the drinks were very expensive, also there were several computers, TV`s, pool table etc.

The first few days were very chilled, we completed lots of paper work, medicals etc. After that things got a bit more interesting, we were issued several items of kit, went to do our shooting etc, while on the ranges a few lads got quite bad sun burn it was that hot.

At the end of the first week we had to do the 1.5mile run, i completed that and passed, i knocked 50 seconds off my last time, i got ten minutes, while at Nesscliffe i got a time of 10.50, i was very happy with this and will try and better it the next time. Being 37 i only have to get within 11 mins 30 secs so I'm well within my time scale.

We had the weekend off so we explored the local area, its a decent place from the looks of it, right outside the camp there is a huge Tesco so that was very handy.

The second week was much of the same, the staff at Chilwell were excellent, they were always ready to listen and help. At the end of the second week was the CFT yet another CFT i thought, Ive done countless cfts`s this year and here i am about to do another, but this one is not anything like any of the other ones I've done before, at Chilwell the CFT route involves at least 5 steep hills and they suck the energy out of you, now after my last CFT at Grantham i vowed never to use issue boots again and brought myself a pair or Grafters Combat Boots from COPSHOP.CO.UK these boots are light as a feather, they have no metal in them at all, they feel like you are wearing a pair of expensive trainers and for only £44 they are a bargain and what a difference they made, absolutely no calf muscle pain, absolutely no blisters and no hot spots, now knowing what issue boots do to my feet i am so very glad i brought the new boots as i hate to think how much pain i would have been in if i didn't.

After the CFT we had enough time to chill out and get our kit packed as we were going straight to Bicester, i had passed everything at Chilwell and was now part of the Regular Army for the next 9 Months.