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A pint of Guinness please! *Updated* PRMC Date!

Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2007 12:21 pm
by Darren82
Well apparently all good things come to those who wait and have I bloody waited!

After months of medical dramas and AFCO shenannigans I finally have a PJFT booked for the 19th Nov!

It is going to get smashed, followed by PRMC around the end of January if I'm a good boy and keep my nose clean. That is also going to get smashed.

It well then be onwards and upwards to training around the end of March if I'm exceptionally good and keep my nose bleached.

It's all positive for me now, training is flying along at a rate of knots and I'm feeling fitter and stronger daily. 3.5 years of messing around in the real world has done me no good, 'bout time I got back amongst it.

Duvets there now too, who would have thought it :D

Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2007 12:45 pm
by Dave_1987
It is going to get smashed, followed by PRMC around the end of January if I'm a good boy and keep my nose clean. That is also going to get smashed.
haha fair play, what was the medical worry in the first place?

Re: A pint of Guinness please!

Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2007 1:27 pm
by Hughser
Darren82 wrote:Well apparently all good things come to those who wait and have I bloody waited!

After months of medical dramas and AFCO shenannigans I finally have a PJFT booked for the 19th Nov!

It is going to get smashed, followed by PRMC around the end of January if I'm a good boy and keep my nose clean. That is also going to get smashed.

It well then be onwards and upwards to training around the end of March if I'm exceptionally good and keep my nose bleached.

It's all positive for me now, training is flying along at a rate of knots and I'm feeling fitter and stronger daily. 3.5 years of messing around in the real world has done me no good, 'bout time I got back amongst it.

Duvets there now too, who would have thought it :D
Good Job mate, Its hard to keep motivated when you have to wait so long, but its worth it in the end!

I can echo your sentiments. As its taken me about 2 years in the recruiting process after various injuries and setbacks.. now finally a RMAD on the 20th of november and a PRMC on the 4th of december.

Chin up and crack that feckin treadmill!!!

Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2007 1:38 pm
by Darren82
I'll be a re-join

Made it to, well lets just say the very late stages of training last time around so PRMC holds not much in the way of fear for me. Physically I'm surpassing all the basics quite easily at the moment as my whole training is based around the mid point of RT

Injury wise it was a gammy knee that took some begging with the orthopaedic specialist to pass my fit for service again. A couple letters via the AFCO and it's all good.

Was nearly at the buying hob-nobs stage so it was getting hairy :D

Posted: Tue 06 Nov, 2007 3:47 pm
by mattmcd01
Hello all, Darren82 how did you manage to get your orth specialist to sign you off as fit? I too had a gammy knee about 6 months ago, but you know how it is, by the time I got an appointment it had gone!

While I was waiting I did research on knee injuries and how to strengthen them which helped a lot. At my consultation I kept telling the Doc that I was in no pain as he twisted my knees in every direction possible, he admitted himself that he couldn't detect anything and that all the ligaments around my knees are really strong and the muscles above and below look supportive, whatever that means!

As you can probably imagine I'm really wary of applying for the RM because of this issue being flagged up in my medical/GP letter.
In the last 6 months, since the injury my running has literally come on leaps and bounds! I recently got my mile and half down to 9mins 20sec quite comfortably, no problems to speak of my knees feel great, considering.

So anyhow, let me know what you had to say/do to get the ok, cheers

matthew.

Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2007 11:40 am
by Darren82
Was nothing special to be fair mate

Went for initial medical and was told that I probably wouldn't be allowed to re-join coming out of training with a knee injury. I took it on the chin half expecting a phone call saying to not bother with the rest of the application.

I passed that first medical but was called back to have another one and to go over the circumstances relating to leaving and how I felt when I yomped or speed marched. This didn't really go very well and it was only through sheer persistance that I think I got him to refer it to an orthopaedic specialist.

I was told I'd probably have to go to London for the bloke to have a good twist and tug with my knee and see what happened. Flapping a lot by this point as I was seeing my dreams getting dashed before my eyes I wrote a very long letter asking for things to be taken into consideration such as current physical ability, leg strength, motivation and basically a lot of pussers bollocks to see what I could get from it.

I also took videos of plyometric sessions from the gym and a lot of squatting and running videos. At the time I was squatting twice my bodyweight for reps so that all got included. This life story was then taken to the AFCO where I asked it to be included with the notes that got sent down to the specialist.

Never heard anything for weeks then it was only the other day I got a letter with my PJFT candidate number and booking form.

Cue one very happy Darren who is going to run his little socks off in 2 weeks time

Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2007 12:04 pm
by mattmcd01
Mate that shows severe determination! Fair play to you, you persevered where others would have quit! that to me is the Royal Marine spirit. Well done and good luck to you.

Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2007 4:28 pm
by fodd
Darren good effort mate im in the same situation just remember our goal at the end the GREEN BERET

Most will never attain it, others will bust gut and limb to wear it;
In money terms, it is inexpensive,
Six or seven pounds at most,
But to the wearer it is a crown of gold,
A cherished garland,
His degree for life,
The Green Beret of the Royal Marines Commando.

Posted: Thu 08 Nov, 2007 1:47 am
by Darren82
Personally I think you should get your lid at week 13 about 5 seconds after running out of that Gas Chamber! :D

Cheers for the words lads, can honestly say I'm looking forward to training which is fairly twisted when I know pretty much everything to expect!

Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2007 12:45 pm
by Darren82
Well PJFT was passed this morning

9:29 which is fairly gash but I HATE treadmills, would much prefer it done on a track or a field or some outdoors type environment but beggars can't be choosers

2 barriers in the way of RT now

1. PRMC - The criteria parts are all being achieved easily currently so not too worries. The rest is just up to me, dig out and put the work in.

2. Financial Security Check - Had a bit of an epic a couple years ago with money so they'll be looking into that but not too worried at the moment as I've been spot on with the pennies since.

Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2007 12:50 pm
by davidemmerson
Well done Darren, why do they look at your financial history? Sure theres a valid reason, but just wondered what it is.

Well done on passing the PJFT. Now get through the PRMC!

David

Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2007 4:26 pm
by Darren82
Went bankrupt 2 years ago, wasn't my greatest moment I can tell you but it's done and I'm just praying I can still get into training because of it.

The form I filled in didn't cover it much and was mainly concerned with current debt which I have zero of.

Fingers crossed

Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2007 4:58 pm
by hemmingwayIII
Why do they need to know about your past financial problems? And, Why does could it affect joining?

Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2007 5:07 pm
by Tartan_Terrier
hemmingwayIII wrote:Why do they need to know about your past financial problems? And, Why does could it affect joining?
Having a lot of debt could make you a security risk (i.e. easily blackmailed).

Posted: Mon 19 Nov, 2007 7:10 pm
by davidemmerson
. . .