POC Early 2003

[Mathew]

Jacko,
To tell you the truth, the things I am most interested in are infantry related. Ideally, I would spend some time in one of the Commandos, and then go on to the BPT, but I wouldn't mind any infantry section or company command. No para aspirations?

[Butch]

With regards to doing the RMFA in time with bleeps, are the exercises done in time with the bleep test tape i.e. as the time goes on the reps get faster or is it a completely different format altogether?

[Jacko]

Just had the Bleep Test cutoff confirmed at level 11.

Jacko

[Jacko]

With regards to doing the RMFA in time with bleeps, are the exercises done in time with the bleep test tape i.e. as the time goes on the reps get faster or is it a completely different format altogether?

The beeps that you do the exercises to are regular - i.e. not progressive, like the bleep test.

Jacko

[Jacko]

Jacko, No para aspirations?

Yep. Commando aspirations too. I am interested in the Air Assault Brigade and the Commando Brigade. The RA have regs and squads in both, hence i'm heading for the RA. I am keeping my options open until i'm in. Once on the inside, I should be able to get a better idea of where I want to be.

You have to do the mountain leader to get in the BPT, dont you?

Jacko

[Mathew]

Jacko,
Yes, it is my understanding that you do. I love rock climbing and backpacking. I haven't done any serious mountaineering though, but I 've been dieing to learn. It's just so expensive! I'm sure you'll have a blast at Sandhurst. From what I've read it seems like a good program. What did you study at university?
Mathew

[Jacko]

Marine Biology. As in sharks and dolpins, as opposed to cutting up Royal Marines....

Jacko

[voodoo sprout]

You do have to be an ML to be in the BPT, although you can work in the recce force as a regular marine (after extra training but not up to ML standard). I'm hoping to be an ML as well, then BPT. It certainly seems to be quite popular .

[BenP]

If you want to know about the Moutain Leaders, I have just read "Unscathed: Escape form Sierra Leone, by Major Phil Ashby" The first half of the book details the type of lunacy they get up to and leaves no illusion of what it takes. Good read.

Thanks again for your help Jacko, turns out it he has the same dates as me.

[Mathew]

Good luck Ben!
Mathew

[voodoo sprout]

Thanks for the tip Ben, I will most certainly be picking up a copy ASAP .

[BenP]

Well, that was a shock! Unfortunately did not pass the POC despite finishing the course. Got a good final brief but was not prepared for the Endurance course. I put too much emphasis on the RMFA and spent too much time getting big and strong rather than endurance fit and was off the pace. Not all bad news though, got an encouraging report and have been given another POC in 3 months (19/05/2003) which I will nail as there are no surprises now. Great experience and affirmed my aspirations.
Anyone with any questions about the Course, I will be happy to fill you in.

[El Prez]

Good attitude Ben, glad to see you are not binning it all. Well done. The endurance course is an eye opener isn't it!

[dan]

What were your scores for the RMFA? How close were they to your practice scores? And... ...how did you improve your press-up score?

[BenP]

Dan - I got 12 on the bleep test, 60 on the press-ups, 63 on the sit-ups and 10 on the pull-ups. The bleep test was a bit under what I expected but the press-ups and situps were about the same. Incidentally, the order I wrote them in is the order you do them. I can't stress enough how much you need to have your CV and endurance style work at or beyond the mark. My ACLO placed most of the emphasis on the gym work but the bottom field and the endurance course were a real shock as Rob said (with a wry and knowing smile I would wager)