Paras or RAC?

[Bootie]

Hey all.
I applied for the army in september 2002. Due to a medical problem when i was young ive had to have quite a few tests to prove im good for the army and ive passed them all. The problem is that it has taken a full year to get this done.

Im due to go to the recruite seclection center in the next couple of weeks and at the moment im stuck between going for the paras or going for a tank crewman. Until i read some of your posts, i thought i was in ok shape for the paras but it clearly looks like im gona need another few months. However i believe im fit enough to get into the RAC now.

I want to serve my country, and hopefully win a few medals doing so, so i want to be where the action is. The paras are part of 16th air assult brigade so theres a good chance of action there, but then again if theres another conflict like iraq, theres going to be actoin with the RAC.

Im almost 18 and i intend to do 5-6 years service then leave the army and become a copper.

So basicly im stuck on which to go for, do i join up now with the RAC or do you think it will be worth waiting another couple of months and training like hell for the paras?

Any help or ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Bootie

[gunner75]

Go with what you feel. But I will say if you intend to go for the paras,you dont HAVE to be super-fit before you join just have a sound fitness base. Dont forget when you get to recruits you are all treated the same fitness wise from the start therefore the staff will start from scratch and build you up over the duration of the course.The intention being that by the time you get to P-coy your fitness should be at their required level to pass and then go forward to a jumps course at Brize.
Im not suggesting dont train before joining , what I am saying is that the more prepared you are fitness wise the better position you will be in for what is to come. However, to think on the lines that you have to be impossibly fit from day one is wide of the mark they build you up to that through beasting you till your eyeballs bleed! I can also say that mental attitude,guts and determination sometimes far outweigh physical performance! So to sumarize go for your career choice but dont be put off or hold back thinking that you have to pass P-coy from day 1 !!

[Bootie]

Cheers for the reply gunner. Thanks to the info i got from this site i got a simple training timetable to follow, I heard the next para intake is in febuary, so i should be in good shape by then.

Cheers geeze

[Tab]

You can always put in for a P Course any time you feel like it, but in doing this will give you a chance to get further fit for the course

[pezmod]

Why don't you join The Household Cavalry. There a Armoured Recce Regiment who always have a squadron in 16 Air Assult Brigade. And have many members who are Para trained as the Regiment encourages it's soliders to do P Coy.
And you might even get the chance to look very smart on a hourse in London. If that tickels your fancy.

[Bootie]

The Household cavary sounds like a good idea, but i dont think id do too well wid a horse. Still il keep it in mind though, if i dont get in the paras i guess il go for them.

Cheers pezmod m8

[RobInDaUK]

Bootie please speak in plain old English, thank you!!

uz kan all speek lik dis innit

[lew]

Bootie, household cavalry and Para’s are two different worlds, as is the rac, join which ever one you want but have a long think and deep down you'll realise that a few extra months wont hurt in the long run...


And about the spelling, guys he’s not as bad as some of the idiots we’ve had on here, most words are spelt correctly and there's a basic level of punctuation, so cut him a little slack and I’ sure he'll sort it out...

On a further point, bootie is a name given to rm, not one that a future Para, house hold cav or rac man would go by, suggest you change it as I think Wilson pointed out in another thread, good luck with what ever one you choose...


lew

[always go commando]

Not one person has come up with the obvious joke yet. I bet your all thinking it though......... come on lads I'm disappointed

[davo141]

come on then always (not meant when how you normally hear it in middlesbrough....shortly followed by a fist!) whats this joke, its baffeled me.

And to the orginal post, do you like tanks, horses or jumping out of an aircraft which is safer letting it land The bigger the interest the more enjoyable career!

Cheers, Dave

[always go commando]

Hardly a joke but here we go... the antisipation ruined it

Why anyone would want to join the The Royal Automobile Club over the paras I'll never know, even though they do providing more than just breakdown cover.


I'll get me coat.

come on then always (not meant when how you normally hear it in middlesbrough....shortly followed by a fist!)

my personal favourite is (I'll do this phonetically) "ow ee then ya daf cun, do you know who I am?"

[davo141]

my favorite is the..ere mate, me mate sed his mate said that his mate sed that you been lookin at his mates baird...mate, now what the fuk dya fink ya lookin at you ya scruffy little s**t ...mate! Now why you been lookin at some lad i dunno like me mate but seen as where ere lets go yeah mate? want some do ya...yeah fukin rite u do dont ya mate!

eee good old scumbags! and good joke aswel AGC....build up was not wothy of the final product!

cheers, dave

[Bootie]

Ok, after carefull thinking Ive decided to go for the paras. If your going to join up you might aswell be the best right? Even though the marines are probably just as good as the paras, I dont think Id be comfitable going around saying I was a navy boy.

Thanks for all your replys and comments lads.

Cheers
Bootie

[always go commando]

so.... is your last name/nickname bootie/booty
If it aint your a minor walter, so get it sorted mate.

eee good old scumbags! and good joke aswel AGC....build up was not wothy of the final product! eee good old scumbags! and good joke aswel AGC....build up was not wothy of the final product!

never is mate

[Bootie]

Yeah its a nickname. Ive got quite a long surname. Im not going to say it here but the first syllable of it is pronouced 'boot' ,so my mates call me bootie.