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Hello
I have been a long time lurker on this site and have come to value all the comments left by all you very helpful folk.

Until recently I was extremely overweight, over the last 18 months I have managed to lose around 4 1/2 - 5 stone and become quite fit in the process, I ran the recent great north run (10k) in around 48 mins, not bad for my first race I thought.
I am 26 years old/young and have recently started to weigh up my career options (or lack of) and have realised that a desire to join up is still with me. when I was 16 i attempted to join the Air Force but was rejected after the written test because of a distinct lack of maturity, upon later reflection turning up to the test with a bunch of rowdy mates probably didn't give the best impression.
Sorry, back to my point (I assure you there is one) so I have worked really hard to get fit and stay healthy and don't want it to go to waste. however I recently picked up a common runners knee injury and have been to see my GP about it 'twice', she has referred me to a knee specialist and I'm now waiting for an appointment, at the time (about a month ago) I was in agony and agreed to the referral, but in the mean time I have researched knee strengthening programs which have been amazing, my knee pain has cleared up and feels sronger than ever. OK, finally my question, given my age and my most recent medical past should I even bother joining up? i realise I'm probably too old for infantry so I thought about joining the RLC or RTR. Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give.

Matthew

Good effort on getting yourself fit and trim, it's not easy!

Your not too old, and as for your knee injury, i'm no medical expert but I would think that most people who run often enough have these type's of problems. Even more so if you used to carry a lot of excess weight.

If your not sure about infantry then there's lot's of other intresting career's out there in the Army for you. You might be supprised of what you may find!

Good luck.

Just remember when you sign-up to use a capital letter at the start of each sentance .

Well done Matt.

It's sounds like you have put in some hard work.

Isn't the cut off age for infantry 32-33 now ?

If joining the Army is what you want, you have nothing to lose by trying.

Good luck !!!

Rich.

Stinky wrote:Just remember when you sign-up to use a capital letter at the start of each sentance .

And learn how to spell 'sentence' if you're going to start correcting people... Double wink.

(even though you want to join the army). there was a guy at my PRMC who was 26 so ur not too old. i wouldnt see any more doctors about your knee if i was you, since this can jepodise ur entry into any of the forces. if theres a problem. just crack on with it and try to ignor it, just like what alot of recruits do!

Stinky wrote:Just remember when you sign-up to use a capital letter at the start of each sentance .

Nice try.

Brian- wrote:

Stinky wrote:Just remember when you sign-up to use a capital letter at the start of each sentance .

And learn how to spell 'sentence' if you're going to start correcting people... Double wink.

Well spotted,

Thanks very much to you all for your positive replies. Joining the army is definately something i want to do now more than ever. Obviously i would prefer to join one of the infantry regiments (namely the Scots Guards, family tradition) and i am encouraged that my age shouldn't be a problem.
So once again thank you all, i'll keep you posted.

Matthew

1. 26 not too old for the infantry. You'll be older than most joes at Catterick, but as long as you can hack that, you are well under the cutoff.

2. Running 7.5 minute miles over 10k is a good time for your first race, especially considering you've only been doing it for a year, and is a good base of fitness for the infantry.

3. If you can, go to physios for your knee instead of doctors, like marine101 said - physios don't go on your medical records unless referred by NHS. But DO NOT ignore it. You can grit through an injury for something short like P-Coy or AACC, but if you try doing it over months of basic, you are just going to mess yourself up more and get a med RTU.

Go for it, and keep at the phys.

Haha stinky

There was a guy at my prmc who was 32 and passed, I think the maximum age is 33 im quite sure.

I had a feeling this would happen but I still can't see what I spelt wrong! Is it 'sentance'?
At least I can spell 'a lot' correctly!

Hello to you all, again.

So here's the latest, as I mentioned in my first post I had been referred to an Orthopaedic specialist by my G.P. Well I attended the consultation where we ran through some range of motion stretches and other stretches to determine ligament and tendon strength (he said all the ligaments surrounding the knee felt very strong and my quads looked fairly solid! I was silently chuffed).

To be honest I felt like a bit of a fruad, I have no 'pain' in my knees and he prodded, poked and manipulated them every which way to get a reaction, to no avail. He (the specialist) reckons that the initial pain, all those months ago, could have been caused by a small tear in one of the meniscus!! Sounds worse than it actually is, apparently the outer aspects of the meniscus have a blood supply which can facilitate repair. So in light of this new information do you still think I should bother?

P.S A couple of weeks ago at my local gym I ran a 9min 20sec mile and a half (I was a little louder in my delight, which must have looked odd!)

Matt, at that sort of speed, you've got the fitness and ability to go for the Para's or Royal Marines. I'd be chuffed too if I could run at that pace.

My whole family are runners and I'm the black sheet, they are 7 mile 1.5 milers and Im a 10 minute 1.5 miler

Saying that, I didnt have a Royal Marine for a dad who would get annoyed if I took longer than 5 minutes to get anywhere lol.

Well Done!

You have put in the effort and alot of it, it seems

Ring your local afco and have a chat there

I wish you the very best of luck


PS. DAVE HUMP (SBS) I AM SORRY!

Illustrious wrote:Im the black sheet,

You don't say
Hope yours are satin

Best.

Shawn.