Hi All,
I tried searching the archive but couldn’t find it anywhere, so does anyone have a report on what the D1 course at Leconfield is like please?
I’m due there next year and would like a bit of knowledge before I go!
Humm, it’s there in the search but the thread is missing…
What would you like to know?
Any general advice?
Accomodation - what’s it like? How formal is the mess clothing wise?
Food - PAYD or not?
Format of the course?
How much grief (if any) did you get from the regular staff there thinking you were a regular?
That sort of stuff…
That all depends what mess you are in me mucker.
Off Mess - formal for dinner (tie and jacket), but that’s the Army for you. Room was OK, but i had to change due to the window falling out of the frame. Mess was dead, so take some DVDs. You are on a driving course, so not supposed to drink. Otherwise tidy and OK. Easier to talk to the training area RVP, so plan a 10-15 min walk into your times. Don’t worry about brekfast, you can get something at the greasy spoon outside the hangar, or on your first break of the day (approx 10am).
Food - Mess bill
Format:
Turn up Sunday. Time says not before X, but you will miss evening meal if you do that. You can arrive earlier and book into the mess if you wish. Ring up before hand to book a meal if that’s the case as all evening meals have to be pre-arranged. Due to the start time on the Monday you will miss brekfast times, so better to get a proper meal the night before. On Sunday, need to do a bit of Admin with all the others in the registration building. They will get confused if you are an officer, but are OK and polite about it.
Monday, quick eye sight and license check, again in the registration building. Then off to the hangar. Generally mill about until someone finds you. You aren’t classed a P1 training, so they let you off a bit and you don’t have to fall in on parade. Quick brief by your DS, vehicle intro and checks, then off driving. Repeat until test day.
I need to find that thread, it was all in there…
Format of the course?
How much grief (if any) did you get from the regular staff there thinking you were a regular?
If you feel confident on the Tuesday ask your DS to book the test early. I hit mine on the Thursday morning and was home Thursday evening saving a day of driving around
^ and sacrificing a day of pay if you are able to claim
Below is a conversation i had with a SNCO i bumped into at a course, it was only afterwards i found out he was D1 qualified and so started a conversation via email, the conversation is as below:
Q: I have heard rumour that Monday – Tuesday is theory/classroom based and practice followed by D1 test on Wednesday. Upon passing the rest of the week looks at category E (towing) with test on Friday. And if a student doesn’t pass on Wednesday takes a retest on Friday – how much truth is in that?
A:Ok, there is no theory at leaconfield…I don’t know where that has come from…When I went…monday, tuesday and wednessday was all practical driver training in the minibus and if you were ready a test on thurs and if needed a re-test on friday…The trailer (Cat E) was not available when I when, which annoyed me. I don’t know if that has changed.
Q: Like I say I am going through the process of setting up all the paperwork for my application to go myself but know nothing other than rumour (see above) and what I read in CROs.
A:
Something which is not mentioned in CROs about this course is…if you fail on the first week you are expected to stay another week to complete the course. In fact IT IS A 2 WEEK COURSE.
It’s funny because when the Instructors told me this, my response was…“I wasn’t told this and I can’t stay for 2 weeks”…there response was…“you will stay for two weeks if necessary”…my response was…“I’m a Civvie and no I’m not”…there responses was…“you better pass in the first week then because if you fail and leave you are not coming back”
Q: do you have any general thoughts on the week?
A: The base is an Old RAF station and its now a TRI severice phase 2 training facility…so don’t walk on the grass, use your phone when on duty ect ect…
not sure how much that helps…
It’s a two week course for plebs, (those grunts who have got little driving experience). For anyone else it’s just one week (inc regulars who join you on the course)