Holy crap, a post that I can actually give input on (to a degree) from my past experience!!
I did my BMQ and QL3 at Aldershot (well, until I ripped the snot out of my leg and was forced into a Med RTU).
Here's my tips for your course and for Aldershot :
1 - Go in with eyes and ears open, do not have any preconcieved notions. Just be ready to do exercise and learn.
2 - Aldershot is nothing but sand and swamp, with some woods here and there and the occasional road that *may* have shale on it. It can be very rough if your not used to walking on loose soil type areas. If your ankles roll alot or you easily get sprained I'd look for some way to strengthen them.
3 - Aldershot gets hot. Be prepared to drink your water and ask for more. Aldershot can skyrocket in temperature through the afternoon. On my QL3 a W/O who had been to the middle east said they were similar. We've had several occasions that training was suspended because it got too hot out. I've also
seen cans of pop and open canteens dissipate in the matter of an afternoon there, and a pop machine had to be replaced because it's refrigeration unit kept dying.
4 - If it rains get ready for black flies and mud. Enjoy!
5 - People won't like me saying this, but if you're a West Novie and your instructors are PLF from Halifax, be prepared to have the screws put to you on course. There's a LOT of "competitiveness" between the 2 units and some take it to hostility. I know that on several occasions that PLF on course were given preferential treatment and West Novies were given the shit end, it was reported and investigated on several occasions and some of the staff were given an ultimatum (we were told this by a WNSR staff member). After this happened things were a bit better for a while. ( I am saying this but at the same time will say that many PLF are amazing soldiers and people, but as with any group they feel that being hostile is the way things should be. Some PLF recruits also carry this attitude and it is seen by the instructors.)
6 - Ignore the asshole 'super solder' wannabe's, the lazy douchebags that will push their work off onto you and so on. These people will usually be seen by the instructors for who they are. Just make sure that once in a while you play dumb or let things slip around instructors. (On my course, alot of the city boys were lazy and if partnered with a hard worker would "allow" them to do their jobs for them. It was as easy as going up to the instructors and asking them if they've seen so-and-so because they still have to do their half, or telling them you need to go to the bathroom and have you seen so-and-so because they took off X minutes ago). This, of course, can be applied anywhere really
7 - DO NOT EAT AT THE GRECO PIZZA NEAR THE BASE UNLESS YOU WANT THE SHITS. IF YOU HAVE CONSTIPATION THE MEDICS
WILL RECOMMEND YOU ORDER FROM HERE.
There was some more things I was going to say but they've pretty well become a moot point because the base has changed quite a bit. I have alot of fond memories from there, I just wish that at the time I was fully aware of what I was getting into, and I wish that at the time my attitude was different, but it was a learning experience and now that I look back and really can't wait till my re-enlistment into basic training for the reg force.
