Coming to the Army Foundation College - the first step of a soldier's Army career - can be a daunting prospect.

Making sure that Junior Soldiers are as prepared as possible makes a big difference and gets them started on the best possible footing. To help recruits prepare for their Phase 1 training there is a set of general pre-arrival instructions which can be downloaded using the link on the right of this page.

Those due to arrive at the College will receive a detailed set of instructions with appropriate dates and timings according to their particular course intake - but the instructions on the right should be enough to get everyone started.

Recruits should use the notes and checklists to help them with the things they may need to locate, buy and pack. They should pay particular attention to the section on personal documents they need to bring, and ensure that all items are available on arrival.

As part of your preparation, I urge you and your families to visit the Army Families Federation (AFF) website at www.aff.org.uk.  The AFF is the independent voice of Army families (including Parents, guardians, partners and extended family members) and works hard to improve the quality of life for Army families around the world - on any aspect that is affected by the Army lifestyle. AFF have been instrumental in achieving positive improvements to Government and MOD policy, resulting in improved delivery of services to our families. They also provide a useful signposting service to help you find the right person to speak to, as well as being a source of valuable information for you and your families through its website and magazine, the AFF Families Journal (to which your parents can subscribe through the AFF website).