Hi all, has anyone recently been on a D1 course at Leconfield? Looking for a little info on whats its like, what to expect, what uniform is needed, etc… All replies much appreciated!
Also, JIs say Blue uniform. Everyone wears greens. I suggest you follow the instructions from HQAC on Day 1, and ask the DS for their suggestions (taking appropriate greens for the response…!) 
I went in January.
It was mentioned that you should wear blues, the DS said we should have and the regular RAF guys said they should have too.
It’s a fairly good course, but you’re at the mercy of the Army and their ways of working. If you are a CI be prepared for them to not understand you, but equally it will save you some of the crap that NCOs and Officers get because of the uniform.
Bring DVD and books to keep you busy - as an officer there was hardly anyone else in the tiny officer’s mess, and even then no one to really socialise with!
Take money for lunch. You will be provided a horror bag from the JRM, but I didn’t bother and got lunch when out and about.
The amount of people on the course will vary, and when not driving it can be a bit boring. They will be watching you from the start though, so don’t be fooled into thinking they don’t care. My instructor watched us all drive for a day and a half before letting us know every single mistake we’d made.
On the first morning, after having your licences checked and an eye test they send you for a long walk to the main hangar. Don’t take your beret/hat off if you’re an officer/NCO, they don’t like that. Ignore the military office and go straight to the civvy office to ask where to go - it was a portacabin behind the hangar itself. Contrary to what the army guys say, you don’t form part of the large main roll call in the mornings, but you do have a small separate side roll call, on the hangar’s side entrance (by the café).
Ask any questions you have and don’t be afraid to ask to practice things if you need to. The test isn’t that daunting, and the instructors mainly seem to be ex-military so are up for a laugh.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!
Oh one more thing - they expect you to be there for 2 weeks. As soon as you can, find a member of the mess staff and tell them you’ll be leaving after a week at the latest (but hopefully sooner) so they can prepare your bill.
My JIs said the mess was PAYD but it wasn’t. Not sure about the Sgt’s Mess, but officer’s definitely wasn’t (although it is possible to, but much easier to add it on to your mess bill!).
Thanks for the info, I’ll be there as a VR(T) so will be sure to be in blues. Ive read all sorts of horror stories on the net about Leconfield but glad to know it isn’t that bad. The bad-mouthing probably comes from the phase 2/3 students!
I’ve applied for the course as well.
Does anybody know what the final test involves? I’ve heard that you have to be able to pull into bus stops properly etc.
Yes you do. General driving around, hill starts, reversing exercise, pulling up to stops etc.
[quote=“jacques” post=7807]I’ve applied for the course as well.
Does anybody know what the final test involves? I’ve heard that you have to be able to pull into bus stops properly etc.[/quote]
The test is around 50 minutes IIRC and does include pulling into bus stops. The D1 is classed as a small bus, so what you end up using for is irrelevant. Leconfield follow the DSA rules of testing.
There’s the usual vehicle knowledge
Some theory questions on "what if"
Vehicle handling for size/dimensions
Reversing exercise on the main manoeuvring area (you can look this up on the net, but it will only confuse you. Save it until you get there and they will show you EXACTLY how to do it)
Stopping in bus stops.
Rural and urban driving (inc Dual Carriageway)
Stopping on up and down gradients
Independent drive (where they tell you to follow signs for XXX town for 10 mins without directing you)
Tip: Watch out for the cows. They have right of way in one of the towns! One charged us during the training. The instructor muttered something about wishing he had his old rifle and a month worth of burgers…
Why would you be there anymore than 2/3 days? It’s only to drive a minibus, I could understand it for larger vehicles. Why you would need to be there for 2 weeks is anyone’s guess, or is this the MoD overdoing things for the sake of overdoing things.
I feel genuinely sorry for those who have to go through this as described, thank God I’m old enough not to have to bother.
Because that’s how long they book you in for, it’s in case you fail in the first week so you can resit.
The bad mouthing is from people who have to spend a longer time there, although it’s easy to see why. The place is a dump and everyone is treated like a child!
Why would you be there anymore than 2/3 days? It’s only to drive a minibus, I could understand it for larger vehicles. Why you would need to be there for 2 weeks is anyone’s guess, or is this the MoD overdoing things for the sake of overdoing things.
I feel genuinely sorry for those who have to go through this as described, thank God I’m old enough not to have to bother.[/quote]
It’s to account for squaddies with hardly any driving experience. The JIs do mention this and advise its easier to sort on arrival after a quick chat. Everyone is cool about it.
The courses at Leccie are written so that someone with no knowledge at the start isn’t at a disadvantage, and will be told ‘all they need to know’. On the flip side, they did insist on teaching a course entirely of REME vehicle mechanics how to change a truck wheel and how the new MAN trucks should be maintained on their HGV course. The students were chastised fore not paying full attention.
Remember, smile, wave, and the phrase ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise the army did that’ might be useful. :lol:
Oh, and the instructor has a thing for the girls at the farm shop. Luckily he doesn’t get it out in front of them, so you are safe to buy lunch there, and very nice it is too.
We must have had the same instructor
[quote=“glass half empty 2” post=7812]
Why would you be there anymore than 2/3 days? It’s only to drive a minibus, I could understand it for larger vehicles. [/quote]
The cynic says it’s all part of the defence MT revolution (for defence of course, read Army) - an MT revolution that has happened smack in the middle of the largest MOD redundancy programme since the early 90s (job creation/protection by the Army?).
Issue of an MOD MT licence can now take up to two days (ie, for a bog standard car) depending on driving experience, and even those who’ve been driving for years now are advised to allow a whole day for the initial issue of a licence. No longer can you just pitch up at MT Licencing and get a licence there and then having read MT orders - at my home station the waiting time is now several weeks for an initial issue.
Land Rover “thankfully” is still the same IIRC at 5 days!
Personally, I could really do with going to Leconfield to do the D1 cse, but with all the hoops (medical - yes, despite having a full aircrew medical I still need to get the full DVLA medical!), up to a week or more to do what should be done in a day or two, can anyone really get motivated to do it?
[quote=“chaz” post=7853][quote=“glass half empty 2” post=7812]
Why would you be there anymore than 2/3 days? It’s only to drive a minibus, I could understand it for larger vehicles. [/quote]
The cynic says it’s all part of the defence MT revolution (for defence of course, read Army) - an MT revolution that has happened smack in the middle of the largest MOD redundancy programme since the early 90s (job creation/protection by the Army?).
Issue of an MOD MT licence can now take up to two days (ie, for a bog standard car) depending on driving experience, and even those who’ve been driving for years now are advised to allow a whole day for the initial issue of a licence. No longer can you just pitch up at MT Licencing and get a licence there and then having read MT orders - at my home station the waiting time is now several weeks for an initial issue.
Land Rover “thankfully” is still the same IIRC at 5 days!
Personally, I could really do with going to Leconfield to do the D1 cse, but with all the hoops (medical - yes, despite having a full aircrew medical I still need to get the full DVLA medical!), up to a week or more to do what should be done in a day or two, can anyone really get motivated to do it?[/quote]
Chaz, you’re a man in the know…
I’ve been given the impression in my neck of the woods that this is being reversed* to some extent…does that only apply to Cat C training?
*Hahaha!
[quote=“chaz” post=7853]
Land Rover “thankfully” is still the same IIRC at 5 days!
Personally, I could really do with going to Leconfield to do the D1 cse, but with all the hoops (medical - yes, despite having a full aircrew medical I still need to get the full DVLA medical!), up to a week or more to do what should be done in a day or two, can anyone really get motivated to do it?[/quote]
There was talk of more ‘regional’ courses, I knew of plans for one at Okehampton but this never came to anything.
As for LR, our Parent station MT section quite happily signed off after a bondu bash around the airfield…!
[quote=“chaz” post=7853][quote=“glass half empty 2” post=7812]
Why would you be there anymore than 2/3 days? It’s only to drive a minibus, I could understand it for larger vehicles. [/quote]
The cynic says it’s all part of the defence MT revolution (for defence of course, read Army) - an MT revolution that has happened smack in the middle of the largest MOD redundancy programme since the early 90s (job creation/protection by the Army?).
Issue of an MOD MT licence can now take up to two days (ie, for a bog standard car) depending on driving experience, and even those who’ve been driving for years now are advised to allow a whole day for the initial issue of a licence. No longer can you just pitch up at MT Licencing and get a licence there and then having read MT orders - at my home station the waiting time is now several weeks for an initial issue.
Land Rover “thankfully” is still the same IIRC at 5 days!
Personally, I could really do with going to Leconfield to do the D1 cse, but with all the hoops (medical - yes, despite having a full aircrew medical I still need to get the full DVLA medical!), up to a week or more to do what should be done in a day or two, can anyone really get motivated to do it?[/quote]
A day or two learning how to drive a minibus? Possibly if you are the only student on the course. Anyone thinking they can just pitch up and “have a go” ending in a pass is sadly mistaken. I’ve been driving minibuses for years on the Permit 19 (inc White fleet “back in the days”) and after completing the course thought it was very worthwhile. I certainly learnt a few points, and had it gone wrong, well, i wouldn’t have stood the “competency” test at all.