Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - Basic Training?
 

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if joining the REME involves basic training? Not sure what the American equivalent is. :)

I believe the American equivalent would be ACE or Army Core of Engineers. They don't require basic training here.

Everyone does basic training. (To weed out the fat lazy useless idiots like me)
Once you have done that, you can specialise in different fields (mechanical, electrical etc..).

thinking of signing up Simon?

you will find this link useful: http://www.army.mod.uk/reme/3203.aspx

There are two routes into joining REME.

You can either take the Standard Entry Soldier path and join between 17 and 33 years, or join as a Junior Entry Soldier between the ages of 16 and 17 years and one month.

The latter enables you to join the Army at 16, giving you a head start in your military career.

Standard Entry Soldier

Like all soldiers, you will complete 14 weeks basic training to learn the fundamental soldiering skills, and for REME soldiers this is undertaken at Army Training Regiment (ATR) at Bassingbourne in Cambridgshire. This will teach you basic soldiering skills such as drill, weapons handling, fieldcraft, first aid and map reading.

You will also work on physical fitness and personal development. Following this, having selected the trade you wish to persue, you will go to one or REME's engineering schools where you will become a REME craftsman and learn your trade. Training can last up to two years depending upon your specialist area and following this you will be posted in the field.

Junior Entry Soldier

You will attend a 42-week course at the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. This will include a period of basic military training where you will learn skills such as weapons training, drill and fieldcraft. You will also receive excellent leadership and initiative training and have the opportunity to go on adventurous training activities.

As part of the 'Technical Stream', you will complete a Common Foundation module of training which, as well as being a part of the Foundation Modern Apprenticeship (FMA) in Engineering (completed at Phase 2) will also be in preparation for your specialist trade training.

On completion of your course at AFC you will move on to trade training (Phase 2 training) at one of the REME's specialist schools and become a REME Craftsman. The duration of this training course depends on what trade you choose. At the end of trade training you will be posted to your first unit in the field Army.

Im considering it to be honest. First thing i need to work on though is my fitness and diet because its horrendous at the moment. I'de like to go in for the armoury, and just the chance to get away and do something different.

And i would have to go for the first option because i was 19 in October ;P