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POC

General discussions on joining & training in the Royal Marines.
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Wkdgav
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POC

Post by Wkdgav »

Hi all, im new to posting on the site but i've been scanning over the topics relating to the POC for quite a while now. I've had my initial interview with the careers liason officer and should hopefully be booked on to a POC in either February or April. Im fairly fit strength wise, but really need to work on the running and endurance part of my training, from what i've been reading i should be running around 6-7 miles at a pace of 6 or 7 minutes per mile - to meet standards for not only the 1st day of the POC but also the second. Sorry for asking questions related to fitness, theres just so many different answers. Thanks in advance Gav.
JCAP3
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Post by JCAP3 »

More than anything else your cardio fitness is the most important thing you need to worry about on the POC. I certainly thought i was fit but when it came to the endurance course i was completely out of my depth.
Wkdgav
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Post by Wkdgav »

Cheers i'll kepp that in mind, im trying to make it so i go straight from a run to press-ups and to the pull-ups. Im just concerned that my running pace will not be quick enough and the length of time i run over. I've never really run that much, but i ran 5 miles the other day and hit a time just under 40mins. I know i really need to improve on this time i was just wondering by how much!
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Post by JCAP3 »

I think (from personal experience) that a short but high intensity 3 miler is better than a 6 mile jog. For POC i'd recommend that you can easily complete a 3 mile run in 19 minutes or under. This should give you a good idea of what fitness requirements are needed to pass comfortably(ish).

There were 2 guys on my POC who got 10.5 on their bleep test (i got 11.5) but as it was hot they were given a second chance (because they achived high scores on their pressups, situps and chinups) however, they turned out to be fitter than i was.

in my opinion, if you can run for 3 miles at that kind of pace then you should be set. The endurance course is hardwork but a big chunk of it is spent waiting for slower candidates and explaining how each obstacle is completed (about 20 secs rest). The last 3 miles back to Lympstone is run at about a 14 km/h pace the whole way back, plus with water-logged clothing/boots and you are completely exhausted. Build the strength in your legs up and get running.
Wkdgav
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Post by Wkdgav »

Thanks for the tips JCAP3, im abit unsure to what im going to do at the moment about the POC. I'm currently 17 year old and in my last year of 6th form, i was hoping to go straight into the Royal Marines but i'm not so sure about that anymore - as i'm not sure if i'll be able to hit the required fitness as i need to concentrate on my studies and i also work 20 hours a week, if by chance i become fit enoughto pass the POC i still have to nail the AIB - and i feel this may be extremely difficult as i am so young compared to the usual competition. I was thinking about leaving it a year and maybe joining the TA for a year to try and bump up my leadership skills. Any thoughts?
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Post by JCAP3 »

I would say that confidence is the most important thing when it comes to the AIB (and to some extent the POC). Working under alot of pressure is something you would need to get to grips with (i screwed this up).

Don't rush into the POC. If you don't think you are fit enough yet then put it off for a few month until you are, otherwise you'll end up with a fail on your record or a VW. I thought I was fit but it was truely the most soul destroying thing i have ever done thinking that i had failed the whole way through because my lack of cardiovascular fitness (plus they don't make your life very easy if you start to fall behind)

On my AIB most of the guys who were on my course were 20-23 and as a result had alot more skills and qualifications under their belt than i did. If you can do some courses for leadership skills and if neccessary the TA its more benefitial to you in the long-run. A few of the lads on my course had been involved in the TA (and passed).
A piece of paper with a few grades on it is nothing compared to experience.

Good luck mate.
Wkdgav
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Post by Wkdgav »

Cheers JCAP3 again. I do currently hold coaching qualifications for Basketball, but there is alot of opportunity for me to do alot of other coaching qualifications. I should also be completing my Gold Duke of Edinborough hopefully sometime next year to add to my list. It should give me enough time to get my fitness to the standards required and above. Thanks for the advice.
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