Army training regiment (United Kingdom)

An Army Training Regiment (ATR) is a unit of the British Army which conducts basic training for all new recruits, less adult Infantry recruits who are trained at the ITC (Infantry Training Centre) at Catterick North Yorkshire, and some non-infantry TA units (see below). Junior (under 17.5 years) Infantry recruits are trained first in an ATR before going to the ITC to complete training as a combat infantryman.

All new recruits, whether Regular or Territorial Army, are required to pass the Common Military Syllabus (Recruits) (CMS(R)), commonly known as Phase 1. For regular, standard entry (17.5 years-33 years) recruits this is 14 weeks, for TA recruits this initial training is carried out over weekends at a Regional training centre followed by 2 weeks at an ATR. Not all TA recruits are trained at an ATR; for example, recruits for TA units of the Royal Military Police complete their CMS(R) at Worthy Down, near Winchester and recruits to UKSF(R) and the Honourable Artillery Company complete CMS(R) with their own units.

Objectives

Phase 1 is a 14 week course, Recruits are expected to pass training objectives (TOs) in the following subjects:

• TO 1: Fire the 5.56mm rifle
• TO 2: Demonstrate aerobic fitness and muscular endurance
• TO 3: Treat battlefield casualties
• TO 4: Operate in a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical environment
• TO 5: Employ basic fieldcraft skills
• TO 6: Navigate across country
• TO 7: Employ security measures
• TO 8: Maintain personal health, hygiene and welfare
• TO 9: Develop personal attributes vital to operations
• TO 10: Display qualities of a British soldier
• TO 11: Maintain personal finances
• TO 12: Recognise the structure of the British Army
• TO 13: Perform drill

Each of the TOs is of equal importance in terms of preparing the recruit for phase 2 training and future employment in the field army, but the overriding factor is TO 10, as, without these qualities, all else is irrelevant. All Phase 1 training establishments, whether they be ATRs or the ITC, aim to imbue recruits with the "core values" of the British Army:

• Courage
• Discipline
• Respect for others
• Integrity
• Loyalty
• Selfless Commitment

Common Military Syllabus (Recruits)

Military skills

• Weapon handling and Application of Fire
• Physical Fitness
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defence
• Fieldcraft
• Battlefield Casualty Drills
• Navigation and Map reading
• Education

Adventure training

• Climbing
• Caving
• Hillwalking
• Kayaking

Locations

ATR Bassingbourn

• Household Cavalry
• Royal Armoured Corps
• Corps of Royal Engineers
• Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

ATR Lichfield

(closed and amalgamated into the new Army Training Centre Pirbright).

Army Training Centre (ATC) Pirbright

This establishment comprises two balanced training regiments (1 and 2 ATRs) plus a support unit and was formed on 1 June 2008. It trains all adult female recruits and all males destined for the following Corps and Arms.

• Royal Artillery
• Royal Corps of Signals
• Royal Logistic Corps
• Army Air Corps
• Adjutant General's Corps
• Intelligence Corps
• Army Medical Services
• Corps of Army Music

ATR Winchester

Junior soldiers of all Corps and Arms (including Infantry), male and female, who undertake a lengthened version of the CMS(R) of 23 weeks.

Army Foundation College (AFC) Harrogate

Junior soldiers of all Corps and Arms (including Infantry), male and female, who undertake a 42 week course of education, leadership development and military instruction.

References

The Worst Soldier of all time is Junior Soldier Thompson