No experience of service lifestyle...advice please

[cheeseandwino]

DS1 has just passed his entrance interview for the RN. We are very proud of him and want to support him the best we can. He is the 1st person from out family to join the services and we don't know what to expect or advice. He is 17.

Congratulations to your DS he is about to join the Senior Service
Does he know which trade ?
Has he been given an idea of date to join his Phase 1 New Entry training?
Happy to give whatever advice you want I have been in the RN for 20 years and joined as a rating at HMS Raleigh as well

Thanks for replying Mrs S. He's joining as a trainee engineer. No start datę yet. He has been told that it could be upto a year before he starts his training. I have so many questions but I don't want to ring up the Navy careers office...not sure I should as he is nearly 18.

Ask your questions here and I will try and answer
As an engineer he will do his basic training at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint for 8 weeks then move onto phase 2 training at either HMS Sultan or collingwood - both in Hampshire

Raleigh is hard work but ultimately fun.
Make sure he stays fit, regular running and press ups and sit ups as it is a physically demanding course
He would be at an advantage if he could iron before he goes and also know how to wash clothes including by hand if necessary
Polishing shoes is also good to know before - if he is in cadets or knows anyone who is ask them how to "bull" shoes
Take everything on the kit list and make sure he has some access to cash in a bank account and mobile credit until he gets his first payday
Attitude is the most important and will last him his whole career - a good one is the best to have. Remember it is the instructors job in phase 1 to shout you have to learn to obey your senior staff pretty much without question but if you keep a good attitude and do as you are told you will be ok. Phase 1 is only 8 weeks and you only do it once
They do all sorts during this element of training from basic skills to firefighting to overnight exercises on Dartmoor which includes a very long walk
A good iron is useful but they provide ironing boards
He won't get weekend leave for this part of training and he probably won't have time to phone every night as it is a busy time.
Once in Phase 2 training he will regularly get weekends off
Anything else just ask