JJJ
A Medley of advice for BRNC:
Have the cleats put on your shoes ASAP
and start bulling your shoes as soon as you get them back.
Use the back of your note book to write down daily orders in the morning and memorize them in your spare time (spare time!?).
Get a cap from Gieves- they're much more comfortable than the Navy issue.
Get a good quality iron and a spray bottle( SB should be available in the BRNC store)!!
When ironing your clothes use a handkerchief so the iron doesn't blow crap all over your shirt at the last moment (The iron does know when you've almost finished).
Soak your beret and start moulding it to your head on the first night, so you lose the Frank Spencer look as soon as possible.
Buy "Rule of the Road" from a sailing store, a book second only in loathsomeness to Mein Kampf, and memorize the whole thing verbatim.
When you come to the speech module, choose topics to lecture on that you know thoroughly! and do not choose "The importance of fixed wing naval aviation", because there's nothing in the library on it(no wonder the RAF have been able to bash the FAA with near impunity!)
Start washing your kit as often as possible to remove the fire retardant rubbish that covers it. Until its gone, it feels like someone starched it with a firehose!
Just keep one days kit in you're lockers and standardise the arrangement of kit between everone in the cabin.
Also, make sure all the beds are made the same i.e. with the same foldback etc.
During rounds, keep cleaning right up to you here "Cabin Ho"s, for some reason the dust can reacumulate within five minutes of being wiped.
Don't moan (too much) Don't pretend you know it all (because you can't) and help other guys that are struggling, even if they are not trying, as their mistakes will be everyone else's problem.
Make sure you know what is, where is, and when is EVERY EVOLUTION and make sure everyone else in your division knows!
Do not, I repeat do not, shout at, or say anything that could be mis-construed as slanderous to any other cadets, but especially arabs (no matter how much they mince, or how much you are getting a beastying for them mincing!)
Senior officers are always right about everything even if they are patently wrong.
Don't ask questions during lectures.
but the best advice of all. . . be the grey man and shine only in your perfomance.
JJJ, there's to much to much to list, but anyway best of luck shipmate, enjoy it (it's only rough for two months) and look forward to launching of a pitching and rolling deck!