An officer or soldier will spend as much as one third of their career attending training courses. Following basic Phase 1 and Phase 2 training soldiers are posted to their units and progressive training is carried out on a continual basis. Training is geared to individuals, sub-unit or formation level and units regularly train outside of the UK and Germany. As would be expected, there are specialist unit training packages for specific operational commitments such as Northern Ireland, Former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

For example, the training package for personnel warned off for deployment to the former Yugoslavia consists of a 12 day special-to-mission package. The training is carried out by specialist training advisory teams at the Army's Combined Training Centre at Warminster and for Germany-based units at the Sennelager Training Centre.

Phase 3 Training facilities are the same as those listed under Phase 2, and also includes the Defence Academy located mainly at Shrivenham. Defence Academy training and education facilities incorporate the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham. The Defence Academy College of Management and Technology (previously known as the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham), the Royal College of Defence Studies, the Defence Leadership Centre, and Defence School of Finance and Management.

The Joint Doctrine and Concepts Centre is co-located at Shrivenham. A joint Services Warrant Officer's School is part of the Joint Service Command and Staff College at Shrivenham.

OVERSEAS STUDENTS

During any one year, about 4,000 students from over 90 different countries take part in training in the United Kingdom. The charges for training depend on the length of the course, its syllabus and the number taking part. Receipts from overseas governments for this training are believed to be in the region of £30-40 million.

TRAINING AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE UK AND EUROPE

The British Army's main training areas outside of Europe are:

Canada - Suffield

British Army Training Unit (BATUS) has the responsibility to train battlegroups in the planning and execution of armoured operations through the medium of live firing and tactical test exercises. There are six x 'Medicine Man' battlegroup exercises each year in a training season that lasts from March to November.

Canada - Wainwright

The British Army Training Support Unit at Wainwright (BATSU(W)) provides the logistic and administrative support for Infantry units at the Canadian Forces' training base in Western Canada. During the winter months the unit moves in its entirety to Fort Lewis in the USA where it carries out a similar function. There are usually three battalion group exercises at Wainwright and two at Fort Lewis during the course of each training year.

Kenya

British Army Training and Liaison Staff Kenya (BATLSK) is responsible for supporting Infantry battalion group exercises and approximately 3,000 British troops train in Kenya each year in a harsh unforgiving terrain ranging in altitude from 8,000 feet down to 2,300 feet. BATLSK has been based at its present site in Kahawa Barracks since Kenya's Independence in 1963.

Belize

The British Army Training Support unit Belize (BATSUB) was formed 1 October 1994. Its role is to give training and logistic support to Land Command units training in a tropical jungle environment. In general terms BATSUB costs around £3 million per year.

Jungle Warfare School

The Jungle Warfare Wing (JWW) is located on the island of Borneo, close to the border with Sarawak (Malaysia) and is supported by the British Army's Brunei Garrison. JWW exists to provide a jungle training facility to meet the requirement to train jungle warfare instructors for the Field Army of the United Kingdom's Land Forces.

BASIC FITNESS TEST

All recruits and soldiers of all ranks and ages are required to take a basic fitness test. At the Recruiting Selection Centres, potential recruits undergo a series of tests known as Physical Standards Selection for Recruits (PSSR). These are 'best effort' tests that take place in the gymnasium. Recruits are required to complete the 1.5 mile (2.4km) run.

Adult entry candidates have to complete the run within 14 minutes or less. All Junior Entrants - Army Foundation College, Army Technical Foundation College or the School Leavers Scheme, are required to complete the run in 14 minutes 30 seconds or less. Officer candidates at RCB have to undertake a multi stage fitness test (known as the Beep Test) and aim to achieve a standard of 10.2 for males and 8.1 for females, as well as a number of sit-ups and press-ups.

In-service fitness requirements seek to maintain these standards. Tests typically require a 2.4km run on level ground and in training shoes, in 10.5 minutes for those under 30. There are gradually rising time limits for the older personnel. For women the requirement for the 2.4km run is 13 minutes.

Standard Fitness Tests currently applied for Infantry personnel include:

• BFPA Basic Personal Fitness Assessment  -  Sit ups, press-ups and a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) run, all carried out against the clock. This tests individual fitness generally. The minimum fitness goals are: 54 continuous sit ups (with feet supported) and a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) run in 11 minutes 45 seconds.

• ICFT Infantry Combat Fitness Test  - A distance of three miles as a squad carrying 56 pounds of kit each, including their personal weapon. Timed to be completed in one hour, individuals must stay with the squad, or be failed.