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Training for the Royal Air Force Reserve

Some reservists have ended up at Kandahar Airport - expect the unexpected.

Basic Training

The basic training at the RAuxAF is known as the Basic Recruit Course (BRC) and it’s both physically and mentally demanding. It’s designed to ensure you can successfully work as part of a fighting team and is normally taken over evenings and weekends together with a residential period.

The recruit fitness assessment is taken within the first few days and involves of press-ups, sit-ups and a multi-stage shuttle run (Bleep Test) over a twenty metre course. The performance on these tests is measured according to your age and gender and all applicants must pass to progress on the BRC.

The rest of the BRC covers general service life and discipline, first aid, fire fighting, weapon handling, field craft and nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.

The course is not designed to be easy, but by passing it you demonstrate that you have the ability to succeed in a wide variety of tasks. This gives the RAuxAF confidence that they can train in you in completely new areas if need be. You will have also developed a strong sense of team spirit.

Trade Training

Of course basic training is just the start. When you have the necessary skills to function efficiently within the RAF you need to learn your trade. The choice of your trade is down to the requirements of your squadron and your own skills and preferences. This might be something that utilises your existing skills or you might decide to learn completely new skills and the training time will depend on the particular trade.

Adventurous Training

You’re not likely to join the RAuxAF so you can sit around and read books! Sport and adventure is an important part of life in both the RAF and RAuxAF as it improves fitness, team skills and confidence as well as being good fun. Activities such as canoeing, climbing, skiing, football and abseiling can take place either in the UK or abroad.

Army, Air Force, Navy, the Royal Marines or even the Special Forces? Read the information and take your pick. What will you be doing with your weekends in future?

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