Hello everybody this is my first post on this group. Myself and
some friends have been enjoy Imperium for sometime now and now we
find ouselves coming across generating a Space Marine and a query
has now been raised amongst us and if possible we seek clarification
its all to do when a character is generated when they are 16 years
old and younger its the following passage from the rulebook that has
me confused:

For every full year below the age of 16, the character suffers –5
WS, BS, Strength and Toughness. However, the character also gets 1
free advance each year for these characteristics, which occurs
automatically, without Experience points needing to be spent.

now the first part I undertsand but its the part where it states the
the char gets 1 free advance each year. now the crux of the matter
is this. Is it an advance that takes up one of the advances taken
boxes or is it a totally free advance that does not take up any of
the advances taken boxes?

does that make sense?

thanks in advance