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PASSED POC-PIECE OF CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

General discussions on joining & training in the Royal Marines.
Simon
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PASSED POC-PIECE OF CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by Simon »

Hello all you POC candidates, I have just got back to uni after passing my Potential Officers Course. Anyone who wants any honest info on what to expect get in touch. The three days are definately managable if you prepare with some serious training that really pushes you both physically and mentally. My AIB is 24th to 25th March, but I want to put it back a few extra weeks so I can prepare myself better.
Get in touch lads,
Si :laola:
england_4_ever
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Post by england_4_ever »

Hi, i am only 16 and i am taking my POC in the near future? Any information will be very welcome.Steve
Its only pain
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Butch
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Post by Butch »

well done simon,
can u post some info on what you did to prepare yourself physically i.e. did you stick to the recommended fitness programme they gave you or did you make it up yourself. Also, since I got injured fairly early on in the course, can you detail what actually was involved in the endurance course as i've heard a few diferent accounts of it.

Butch
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Post by will »

Well Done :D
I am 16 as well and would also like it if you could tell us about it.
Will
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Post by El Prez »

Hi, I'm 50 and recruiting for my elite new unit to help maintain law and order when I remove Blur and his cohorts from power, once Cornwall is freed of the yoke of tyranny. All applications on a £20 note to the usual address, there is only one rule; No Pooftahs! In fact I lied, rule 2 states No Pooftahs!
His munificant, El Prez 8)
You should talk to somebody who gives a f**k.
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Post by Simon »

Hi guys, Right listed below is the training I endured to get fit:
*Monday- Press-ups
-weights
-Situps
2 circuits on each, increase
by one rep on each every week.

-Run straight after the 2 circuits. Say 3mile, increase by half a mile a week. In trainers lads.

*Tuesday- Complete rest!
*Wednesday- Mondays upperbody Circuit then,
Sprint run laps of footy pitch with 1minute between each lap.
Then do a 3mile run, for example.(Depends how fit you feel)(Keep the distance the same as mondays run though!!)

*Thursday-Complete rest!
*Friday-Mondays upperbody circuit, then wednesdays running session. After the laps of the footy pitch though, do sprint reps of 2 lengths of the pitch at a time. 1minute break between each. Increase by 1 more rep each week, keeping at 2 sprint lengths of the pitch at a time.
Finish session off with a run of 3 miles, for example.

*Saturday- Long run, say 5 miles to begin with, increase each week by half a mile.

*Sunday- Find a hill with a steepish gradient and attack it with aggression for a certain amount of reps to your choosing depending on how long the hill lasts for.

And thats it lads, SUPER FIT. Im having 6 weeks off with no hard training to reward myself.
The endurance course is simply mind over matter, just keep going, especially after the draining your body has took after the bottom field in the morning. The endurance course is run at a moderate pace, not sprinting, but once the extra weight of wetness has took effect on your clothing it does wear you down. The front two lads leading on the endurance course have to carry a spade and pick fork increase of a tunnel collapsing, but they are really light. The hare and hounds is literally a sprint of about 750metres, so you really have to dig deep. The run back is a nice relaxed, gental pace but you must remain mentally strong for this to be the case.
On the RMFA I got:

*14.5 for the bleep test *60 press ups *63 situps(getting tired by now) *2 pullups (Absolutly shattered by now)
My RMFA score was 268.
In my initial interview it was really relaxed and I basically got asked to talk about who I am and my background. Got asked about the commando units and why I want to be an officer. Also got asked on world events such as Korea etc.
Hope this has helped, anymore questions?, just fire away!
A tip: Put your materess on the floor in the accomadation you stay in and sleep on it on the floor! The bunks are so noisey and annoying!
Bye for now, si :laola:
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Butch
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Post by Butch »

cheers si
that's just what i was looking for. Since i never got onto the endurance course last time I was a bit aprehensive about what was involved but, from your account, it seems to be not quite the horror i imagined. One thing you never mentioned, how long did you actually spend training prior to going to POC as I've got about 3 months and am gonna start really going for it soon.

Butch
will
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Post by will »

Could you possiblly explain the endurence course is it just a run with tunnels?
Steve when are you thinging of doing your POC. I am seeing the Royal Navy liason officer next Wednesday.
Thanks
Will :)
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El Prez
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Post by El Prez »

The endurance course is approx 2.5 miles of tunnels of varying length and diameter, from 1 metre to just over shoulder width, and up to 20 metres long, with bends. Often the tunnels are deep in standing water. there's also the water tunnel, a 1.5 metre pipe submerged, through which the team of three push/pull each other in turn, there's also Peters Pool a chest deep bog to stride through, and then a quiet gallop back to CTC over about 4.5 miles! Enjoy. 8) It's great fun if taken the right way, and also stuffing hard work. When you do it, bear in mind that ultimately you will be doing it with all your fighting order and your weapons. All to be done in 70 minutes. Did you just gulp? 8)
You should talk to somebody who gives a f**k.
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Post by K24io »

'A run with tunnels' :o
Everyone iv'e spoke to said this or the 9 mile speedmarch was the hardest commando tests.

You can have a go at it for charity, suggest if you are going for POC (and I might be as well) that you have attempt before it. Can't do you any harm.

Good effort mate,

kev
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Post by england_4_ever »

hi will, i had another interview today, i want direct entry in sept 2004 after i have completed my A levels. I have been recomended to do my POC late this yr or early next year. How about you?
Cheers simon, you have been a great help. I have been told that the POC warm up excercises are very harsh, just what do they involve and how long do they last? Steve
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Post by cglees »

you to 16 year olds, should atleast wait until you've got the qualifications.
A levels is the min, but you'd have to be pretty good!!!!!!!
ideally they like you to have a degree, or atleast be at uni.
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Post by Wannabe »

Cheers Si, exactly the kind of info im looking for. How hard was the warm up before you got stuck into the RMFA? What were your essay topics and how much did you have to write.
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Butch
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Post by Butch »

WANNABE,
I'M SURE U ASKED ME BEFORE BUT I NEVER FOUND OUT ABOUT YOU, WHERE R U FROM IN SCOTLAND?
BUTCH,
Simon
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Post by Simon »

Alright lads, just woke up after a heavy night on the town celebrating!!
The warm ups you do really do get the blood circulating and can leave you gasping for breath, but an idea I had before my POC was to build a thorough warm up into your training. Do like a minute of knees up or 5 sec sprints into the ground for example.
I started basic training initial 5months before poc but that just involved short runs of about 2 mile a couple times a week to break me into the training. This lasted for about two months before three months of my fitness schedule laid out above, so I was in fighting shape for the POC.
Hope this helps? Any other ??
Five months did take its toll on my motivation to get out and keep training, but I kept reminding myself of what I was aiming for and I can relax as much as I like after it is over.
Si. :2gunfire:
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