any help appreciated

[Tilly]

Hi

First post so take it easy on me lads.

I'm going on the insight course in January and hopefully joining up around April but I've got a few questions which I would really appreciate anyones help with.

1. Are you allowed to provide your own kit or do you have to use army issue. I suppose I'm thinking specifically about boots (any ideas about a good pair?) which I could buy now and break in ready but any other suggestions about kit would be appreciated.

2. I've heard that the bpfa consists of pull ups and the 1.5 mile run but I thought it was the run, 2 mins press ups and 2 mins push ups.
Has anyone been through it recently that could help.

3. What is a 'pass' for these tests. Do you have to achieve 9.5 mins and 70 press and push ups to get through or is there credit for effort.

4. I have to be honest and say that I'm cr@@@ing myself at the thought of jumping out of a plane at a few thousand feet so if you've got any calming anecdotes or suggestions they would be appreciated.

thanks for any help.

[old scaly back]

Welcome Tilly,
You are not going to swing the lamp are you.
Well i thought id be the first to get that one in.
Im not much use on your questions as i done my training years ago when we had muskets and red tunics.
But i can give some helpfull advice.
everyone will be in the same boat as you,so dont worry.
You always get in the group,the cocky know it all, the silent one,the one thats useless,the run of the mill one.
Just do your best,they are looking for people who wont give up.
Dosnt matter if you are not the best just look as though you are trying.
The fitter you are the better,but they will get you fit.
They will shout at you a lot,dont take this personaly,they just hate everyone.
good luck,there will be someone along in a min to give you the info you want.

[gasrod]

Boots > I know the Royal Marines were allowing people to keep the boots they were issued on their Potential Recruits Course. It is a good idea so hopefully someone will have put two and two together. Once you get to Battalion (c'mon! Think positive) I think you will have lots of people to ask about what the best ones are. We all got Danner boots or Lundhags.

The best tip I could give you - apparently everyone on these boards is an obsessive tip-giver:- Do some exercises to strenghten your shin muscles - look up Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome and do the exercises to counter it. No one ever tells anyone this - We've all (most of us anyway)got shin splints of one kind or another now so it is probably the best advice you can get, besides never trying to sweep leaves up when it is windy

Obviously get as fit as possible but don't get hung up running around in boots or with a bergen on as you will get planty of chance for that when you have no choice. Intervals between lamp-posts is good training too. Sprint then jog - you want to build a good recovery rate not just be a racing snake.

chow

[gasrod]

As far as the new format of the BFT, known as BPFA goes, this is what our book says (I think this is pretty exact, Im working off memory)....

Muscular Tests:
Exercise Time Number for Green (pass)
Press ups (Hands under shoulders) 2min 44
Sit ups (Preacher) 2min 50

CV Test:
800m squaded jog 5min
directly followed by
2.4km best effort individual run

Times, male:
under 9.30 for para at RSC
under 11.30 for all others at RSC
under 10.30 for infantry at end of phase 1
under 11.00 (I think) for corp at end of phase 1

Its worked out in points now 100 per test, max 300.

Around about:
100 points for something like 60 odd for pressups and situps
100 points for 9mins on the run

I just copied this off another post - thanks to Tabber for the original info....oooh its all changed since my day!

[gasrod]

Good point well made SB!

[ED]

Tilly, don't stress mate. Too many people stress themselves out about the initial selection courses. My selection course for the Paras was in 1994(PRAC) and it wasn't too bad. As long as you made a timing of around 9.30 for the run then that was acceptible. They weren't overly fussy if you didn't quite acheive the strength tests requirements as long as you give it everything. Show good mental strength.
As for jumping, I hated it and used to shit myself from before I joined untill my last day in the regiment. It's worth it to become a Paratrooper.

[Chapps]

My selection course for the Paras was in 1994(PRAC)

Was the PRAC at depot (Aldershot) in 94?

I remember coming up to AB day weekend in 94 that was held on the field by depot, really warm summer that year, and the depot was closed due to the f@#k accountants. It broke my heart seeing it like that.

In the 80s it use to be regular army pre recruits up to Sutton Coldfield and Potential Para Reg recruits to Aldershot for PRAC. Now its all mixed togeather with chicks and fat cooks for the first few weeks. Depot had history and a sence that you had arrived when you walked through the gates passed that Dakota - that plane is in all my passing out / company / misc pictures.

Bloody accountants.

[ED]

Chapps, my PRAC was held in Lichfield. It was a four day course which you had to pass before starting depot. We did the first 10 weeks of depot in Lichfield and then the rest at Catterick. At Lichfield it was basically a hat camp, although all training was done under the Parachute Regiment instructors. Catterick was better because at least we had an entire section of the camp for designated for us with no other regiments allowed on it.
I know what you mean about Aldershot though. I was based there for all my time and the history of the place and old depot really hits you. Still miss the place even though I used to moan about it being a shithole.
Cheers,
ED.

[Chapps]

know what you mean about Aldershot though. I was based there for all my time and the history of the place and old depot really hits you

Ed, there will be blokes in a few years saying " Aldershot? I've heard of it, didn't the Reg use to be based there?"


I often wonder what Hospital Hill is like on a friday night now. If you walked down there at midnight you would see blokes coming back up with no clothes on, some being wheeled in supermarket trolleys, others covered in blood and glass in thier hair and all carrying a Tony's scoff.

I've heard civvy crime is now well up since the Reg moved to Colly.

Still, you can't stop progress, if thats what it is. ...chunter chunter..

All the best.

[goldie ex rmp]

ahhhhhhhhhh Aldershot.........i remember it well, i received my first kicking in that beautiful town and my ribs are still sore now

[ED]

Good old Tony's fish and chips. Nice and soggy. Never had one sober though.
ED.

[df2inaus]

So where are all the Parachute Regiment battalions now? Dover and Colchester, right? Rumour had it at RMAS that all Para Reg left Aldershot because of too much fighting with the locals. I have no idea. Would the MOD do something that drastic after such a long history with the area? Canada lost its parachute regiment in '95 because some discipline issues were made public.

[ED]

Aldershot has always been lively, even more so in past years. I went back there recently to visit a mate and found that as soon as Para Reg had left the pubs and town had been given a bit of a makeover. They even had a couple of fancy wine bar type pubs. That would never have been risked a couple of years back.
ED.

[Tab]

Hey mate you said you would be nervous about jumping out off a plane at a few thousand feet, well forget it they normally push you out at 800 feet so that you don't have so far to fall. that screaming does not go on for so long before you hit the ground.