Give me a day or so and I'll give you a proper write up, currently on mobile
Internet and I don't fancy writing an essay on my
phone
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Right, sorry for the wait but it's taken me a bit of time to get some Internet on the go.
Career paths
There are 4 disciplines you can choose. Track, Signalling, Electrification and Plant, and Telecoms. I did Track, and as such it's the one I know most about. Each one has it's own learning path, and will determine what subjects you study in Year 1, and your learning objectives for Years 2 and 3. Track will have you studying mechanical engineering and principles, Signalling and E&P will be electrical engineering and associated theory, and Christ knows what Telecoms do, as they never had that when I was there.
Some subjects in Year 1 are unique to that discipline, some are common to all, and some are common in varying intensity and differing subject matter.
Examples:
Maths is common to all. Broadly A-level mathematics.
Mechanical Principles is unique to Track students (Signalling and E&P students will do an equivalent).
Technical Drawing is common to all, but Electrical based students will concentrate on circuit diagrams, and Track learn third and first angle projections of components.
Bench fitting is common to all, but Electrical based students will only do two weeks, whilst Track do six (and it's a lot harder).
Year 2 and 3 sees you issued with a book with about 30 subjects in. You will have to do about 3,000 words on each subject, which you will learn about on your depot placements. Track students will have such things like patrolling, rail stressing, rail replacement, broken and damaged rails, rail renewals, track geometry etc. S&T have subjects on TPWS, level crossings, track circuits, methods of signalling, and E&P have high and low voltage plant and supply "stuff". Telecoms will have stuff on CSR, NRN and GSM-R I presume.
Facilities
...are awesome. Top notch. You can use everything the Navy can. That includes the gyms, swimming pools, shops, bars, all the sports facilities (very strongly encouraged, a "House system" operates and there are LOTS of inter-house events, all competing for the prize at the end of the year. The food is OK, lots of people used to Mum's cooking didn't like it so much, but as service food goes, I thought it was good. All free and paid for.
The dorms are of mixed quality. You stay at HMS Collingwood in year 1, and HMS Sultan for courses in year 2 and 3. All training is done at Sultan. There are two buildings available, Electra and Redlands at Collingwood. Electra is bigger and the primary building, most of the younger Apprentices, and all the females are installed here as it has constant supervision. It's nearest to the canteen ("the Hub") too. It has a mix of six man, four man, two man and single occupancy rooms. It's not too bad, has the most consistent hot water I believe. The rooms aren't too shabby, it's more the occupants that make the atmosphere pleasant or not. Redlands is a bit further away, isn't constantly manned, but is nearer the bar and shop. Only four and two man rooms here. Mainly the older males are exhibited here. More modern facilities in terms of showers and toilets. Generally quieter than the zoo that Electra could be. I stayed in Redlands and thought it was great. If you don't like where you are, or who you're with, the staff are fairly accommodating at moving you.
It's worth noting that in Years 2 and 3 you come back for two week courses, and you stay at Sultan itself in a place called Evenden House. It's not as good as the accommodation at Collingwood. Only single glazed building on the camp, and has a ******* of a condensation problem in winter. However, it has six man rooms or single occupancy rooms, the chances of privacy are higher here. I shared a room twice out of many trips down there.
The military ethos isn't so much short hair, shoulders back and "I'm going shove my pace stick through your ears and ride you around the parade ground like a f*cking motorbike", it's more team player orientated and self discipline. The whole system for you is run by civilians. The Navy seem to be there as a background activity, from your perspective. Getting up early and on time, being places five minutes before, taking part in team events, that sort of thing. You will be expected to study in your own time, and submit projects on time. You can wear your NR gear as you like and have as long hair as you want.