Armoured Cavalry Crew

Being part of an armoured vehicle crew and eventually a vehicle commander was the best time I’ve had in the Army… If I were a younger person joining all over again I would go for the same job role.

As an Armoured Cavalry Crew member, you operate ahead of other forces, gathering information and working as part of a tight-knit team in high-pressure environments where awareness and teamwork are critical.

As an RAC soldier your days in barracks will be spent maintaining your vehicle platform, staying fit with your colleagues and preparing for training exercises or overseas deployments. When not in camp you could find yourself on live fire ranges or on exercise in the UK or abroad.

Life in the Royal Armoured Corps combines technical skill with soldiering, where your role centres on mastering armoured vehicles, working as a crew and preparing for operations through constant training, physical fitness and exercises.

Anybody who has a good general level of fitness will be absolutely fine. Basic training is about taking you from being fit to being Army fit.

You don’t need to arrive as a finished athlete. If you’re reasonably active and willing to put the effort in, you’ll improve quickly with training and support.

Phase 1 training will gradually push your limits, both physically and mentally, and you learn a lot about what you’re capable of.

Basic training is where you learn the fundamentals of Army life, from fitness and discipline to teamwork and core soldiering skills. It’s challenging, but you’re supported every step of the way as you build confidence and resilience.

Every day is different day in the Army, your not going to be doing the repetition of doing the same thing all the time because end of the day we have to adapt, we have to learn.

You could be on exercise for one whole week and the next week you could then be flying to somewhere else to do AT (Adventure Training), ski, snowboard.

Your day will usually follow a routine, with time for training, learning new skills and staying fit. There’s structure to help you progress, but every day brings something a bit different.