Active 1995-Present Branch British Army Role Infantry Training | Country United Kingdom Type Training Size Three battalions | |
The Infantry Training Centre (ITC) is a unit of the British Army administered by HQ School of Infantry responsible for both basic and advanced training of Soldiers and Officers joining the infantry.
Contents
History
ITC Catterick assumed overall responsibility for all infantry phase 2 training from the three Infantry Training Battalion sites at Catterick, Strensall and Ouston on 1 May 1995. As of May 2002 the ITC assumed full control of all infantry phase 1 and 2 training for the Regular Army in a single Combat Infantryman's Course (CIC). ITC Catterick is also responsible for the Infantry Battle School (Brecon), and the Support Weapons School (Warminster). ITC Catterick is the predominant user of the Warcop Training Area.
Training regime
The Infantry Training Centre (ITC) Catterick is the primary training location for all recruits who want to join the infantry and is where the Combat Infantryman's Course (CIC) is conducted. The CIC combines Phase 1 and Phase 2 infantry training (junior soldiers destined for the infantry continue to receive Phase 1 training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate). ITC Catterick is divided into three Battalions of which two are Infantry Training Battalions (ITB) and one is a support Battalion (ITC).
Combat Infantryman's Course
The Combat Infantryman's Course (CIC) is the standard framework course on which all infantry training in the British Army is based. The standard course lasts 26 weeks, in which the basics of infantry soldiering are taught:
Both the Guards and Parachute Regiment have extended versions of the CIC that last an additional two weeks; new recruits to the Foot Guards undertake an extended Drill program as a consequence of the required standards necessary for them to undertake regular public duties, while the Parachute Regiment course has two weeks of additional fitness work. The course for new Gurkha recruits lasts for 37 weeks, and follows not only the CIC program, but also has elements of English language training and cultural orientation for new recruits to living and working in the United Kingdom.