Distances

[letsrole]

Afternoon, I am currently in the process of an RM officer application for the regulars. If I fail this for whatever reason then I will go to university and would love to get involved in the RMR. My understanding is that the RM(R) pays for travel for up to 40 miles away, right? Well I have already applied to Coventry university (Birmingham detachment) and Northumbria university (Tyne detachment), does anybody know if the RMR units are anywhere near these universities? Do people usually travel this far (if it is far) to their detachment? I have also gone for Brighton and was thinking Portsmouth detachment, or is that too far? Thank you in advance

[Chappy]

RMR Tyne is about is on the Quayside on the Gateshead side about 15metres from the Millenium Bridge, and Nortumbria Uni is in the centre of Newcastle - all in all, just under 1 mile away from each other and a 10 minute walk.

I`d really go to Northumbria - hate to say it but Newcastle is a really cultured and party city.

[Rugby lad]

Hi there mate.

A quick check on www.map24.co.uk says that Coventry is about 22miles, or 25 mins from Birmingham.

I'm currently in phase 1 Alpha at RMR Birmingham, and i'm at uni at Nottingham Trent. This is 53 miles away, and i get about £22 travel expenses each time i go (incidently more than i get paid for the evening, but hey, it's not done for the money is it?)

There are plenty of people who come from far and wide, like 2 guys in our troop from derby (45 miles), and one of the marines who comes from newark (65 miles).

It is a pain in the arse getting there, but if you want it bad enough it's just another little hurdle to overcome. It was easier when i was in the RNR, only 3 miles from my house, but then again that was very dull. Why be in a classroom doing a lecture on ship recognition for the 8th time when you can be doing weapons training, map reading and then get thrashed by a PTI all in one 2 hour evening?

Hope this helps mate.

Chris

[borisimo]

if you did go to brighton then you wouldnt be far from the city of london detatchment by train either

rugby lad what does the average training night in phase 1a consist of?

cheers

[letsrole]

Hey guys thanks for the answers. Chappy I agree with you on Newcastle there, but I would happily give up night life for a chance with the RMR. Even though Oxford Brookes is my first choice because it does the best course that I'm after as well as one of the best detachements for OTC. But now I'm thinking I would happily give that up for a chance with the RMR! lol

I also agree with you Chris, where you said about doing weapons training (than probably fitting in lectures in an already packed lectured day at Uni.) I already have a conditional offer from Coventry Uni. and I need 220 UCAS points which I should get, and if my other Unis. don't want me I may well see you down at Birmingham detachement when I start
Uni!

[Rugby lad]

Hi Borisimo.

So far the vast majority of the training evenings consist of weapons training (pretty much every week), a phys session (either a thrashing or a circuit on the ropes) and map reading (which makes much more sense when you are out in a field and can see what's what. There are other bits and bobs, but they are the big 3.

I suppose it's quite similar week in week out, but you are always progressing, and they're teaching you the fundamentals for when you do the confirmation course down at CTC.

We've got our first live firing weekend when we get back after christmas, so obviously they've been hammering home the importance of weapon safety drills. Must say, i'm really looking forward to it.

Any other questions just give me a shout.

Chris

[letsrole]

Oh right thanks for the info. I havent got a clue which one to go to! Northumbria is 8 hours away from my house but right next to a RMR unit, offers a good course and is a nice place. Accents would drive me loopey though (sorry jordies)

Oxford however is close to home, offers a good course but RMR unit is a train way away.

I think it will come down to picking out of a hat! How did you guys choose?

[borisimo]

Bermondesy and Chatham are about the same distance for me (im in between the 2) but Bermondesy is the HQ and i can drop in to see my girlfriend on the way home Plus it's where the selection weekend is so at least you get used to your surroundings.

Im sure you won't be dissapointed whichever one you choose.

And Rugby Lad, if you wouldnt mind;

What results did you get for the selection weekend? So far im on 35 press ups, 50 sit ups and 3 chin ups had the 300m sprints cracked though.

[letsrole]

Letsrole: there is a detachment at Henley of the London RMR which is not far from Oxford Brookes at all (I know, I went there!). We frequently had to pick up guys from Henley on the way to our weekend exercises (which gives a good opportunity to get off the bus and let it to the fish and chip shop!).

"Not far from Oxford Brookes" it's about an hour away by car isn't it?Did you have your own car and did you do RMR and Uni. at the same time? What do you mean you had to pick people up from Henly, don't you mean they had to pick you up because Henly is where the detachement is (if you were at Oxford Brookes?)!

[Rugby lad]

Hi Borisimo,

I got 56/60 press ups, 81/85 sit ups, 31/41 burpees and 11/18 pull ups.

I was really happy with my scores on the day, as never in training had i gotten 11 pull ups, or 81 sit ups in anywhere close to 2 mins.

Definately incorporate burpees into your training as they took me by suprise. All i can say is to train for volume, e.g don't do 3 sets of 30 press ups, do say 5 or 6 sets of 20, that way you do a total of 100-120 over 90.

Mix your training up, and really crack on with the pull ups, as when you come to do rope climbing, its a hell of a lot easier.

One thing you have to bare in mind, before our fitness test we had a 20-25min warm up with lots of sprinting going on, so we we breathing rather rapidly before the tests even began. Always run on the spot when you're not performing an exercise, as I for one found this a shock to the system, especially as we had to do it for about 10mins while everyone did their pull ups.

My 1.5 mile run time was one of the slowest there, but i managed 11.8 on the bleep test, that combined with my good USMC test scores got me through the selection.

Chris

*This as an end note, anyone trying to make up their mind which uni they want to go to, based on the RMR units in the vicinity, i reckon are making the wrong choice. Uni should be your first priority, afterall, if there's a unit close to your home, you can always transfer after you've finished your studies. It doesn't matter to the RMR, they've still got a deployable man just in another part of the country. If you've also been trained in a specialisation by then, you will become a precious commodity to your new unit.

[letsrole]

*This as an end note, anyone trying to make up their mind which uni they want to go to, based on the RMR units in the vicinity, i reckon are making the wrong choice. Uni should be your first priority, afterall, if there's a unit close to your home, you can always transfer after you've finished your studies. It doesn't matter to the RMR, they've still got a deployable man just in another part of the country. If you've also been trained in a specialisation by then, you will become a precious commodity to your new unit.

I know that, that's why I'm thinking Oxford Brookes or Sheffield is probably a better idea along with UOTC (no RMR units around) because it offers the modules that appeal to me the most and a little closer to home.

[letsrole]

Just thought I should make a correction to Chappys post, what is pointed out is rNr not rMr on his map. The rMr building is about 1 mile east of that.

I was at a Newcaslte open day yesterday then went to the RNR building thinking it was the RMR one and they kinda looked blankly at me when I said I was here too see a Sergeant from the RMR! So had to trek the mile, but hey it was good, Tyne is a really nice place never been before and the RMR unit building is well kept.