Passed PGAC

[KT1982]

Passed my PGAC yesterday. Was from 07/01/08 - 10/01/08. I know there are some blokes on here who were with me.

What a f*@king eye opener! Word of advice for anyone looking to join the RAF Regiment and do a PGAC: If you can't reach and exceed the minimum standerd on the fitness, DON'T BOTHER TURNING UP! They will just fail you. People who didn't get the required scores failed there and then. Out of a possible 27 people, only 12 passed!

Also don't think the RAF Regiment is an easy option, it's f@*king hard work on the PGAC and will just get harder on the TG course!

Any questions, feel free to ask.

[MrC]

Congratulations, good luck for the future,
keep us posted.

[adamdt]

What were the fitness requirements?

[hopeful gunner 17]

Hi I was jus wondering what were the type of the things you did during your PGAC as I have mine on the 21/01/08 and I'm kinda sh**ing it at the moment?
I know the basic layout of what you have to do but what do they expect?
many thanks.

Please remember that textspeak is not allowed on this forum.

That means that, 'n' is not a word, and neither is 'u'.

Next time, I'll delete it rather than correcting it.
Regards
T_T

[Rockape_884]

What in Gods name did you expect ?
The requirments are there to give you something to aim for , if they didn't enforce them what would be the point in having them?
And if you think PGAC is hard then I would have a serious word with yourself because TG course is a lot harder . ROFA (Regiment operational fitness assment)

[Wicksieboiirafreg]

Hi my PGAC is on the 4th of February.

I'm s**tting it, I'm fit but my 3mile run time is only just under 24mins. I haven't done a bleep test for a long time but I'm much fitter than I was last time I done one. My last score was 6.8, but I'm much more confident this time that I'll beat that.

I would like any suggestions that anyone could give me.

Thanks

[thundersafety]

Just put the miles in mate, nothing gets you better at running than running itself.

Really, don't overcomplicate it just pick a few different distances and run them and give it your all when running, then I'm sure you will be fine

[Wicksieboiirafreg]

Thanks for the advice

I'll give it my all

[KT1982]

Wan't just talking abou the fitness requirements Rockape_884, the whole thing was an eye opener! A real insight into military life, lining up in two ranks, inspections, early starts and some of the things we did when we got into the field. I knew it would be hard and I know that the TG course will be harder than PGAC, and with reference to the ROFA, they will build you up to that, so not too worried! (He say's )

You get the fitness requirments from the AFCO or you can look on the RAF or Gunners website adamdt: http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafregiment/

The PGAC is pretty much done how it says in the info you will get from your AFCO hopeful gunner 17, but remember that the fitness on the second day is all done one after the other, bleep test the sit up's press up's then the swim so that is a bit of a killer. Then the 3 miler is the next day and then out into the field, and a nice gentle speed march (yeah right! )

You got to get the times and the scores Wicksieboiirafreg or they will just fail you. Get out running and i'm sure you can download the bleep test off the internet somewhere!

Hope that helps lads!

[Wicksieboiirafreg]

Thanks KT1982

I know how hard the TAB is going to be I've done many with the T.A and every time it's still a bi*ch!!. I was worrying because I only quit smoking 2 months ago. But now with a lot of effort and hard work I'm going to be ok with it I think.

On the 3 mile run what the course like and how many laps round?

Please remember to capitalise the word 'I' in future.
Regards
T_T

[KT1982]

The run is round a field (made up of a couple of footy pitches and a rugby pitch I think?) It's flat and on grass. 6 times round run in two ranks. I just tucked myself in behind (in a good way ) the PTI on stayed there the whole time so I knew the pace and didn't have to worry about taking over people or dropping behind others.

If you can run 3 miles in 24 mins, this will be no problem Wicksieboiirafreg, it's run at a nice medium pace.

[Keates]

You guys have no idea if thats what you think is hard. Just browsing about bored at home and I found this. If you're struggling to run 3 miles in 24 mins you seriously need to sort it out. I was doing my TG course and was running 3 miles in 16 mins or under. Did the ROFA Speed march in 16 mins with full kit on with some crazy PTI. I myself am only 18 joined at 17 got some way through the course(Fieldcraft 4 - Dig Ex/Sleep Dep) and tore 3 muscles in my back. Was out for 2 months with nothing I could do but Gym and physio got bored and pissed off. The turnover rate meant they would keep me there for months before I got MD so I left to try my luck as a Prison officer.

I myself passed for both the RAF Regiment and the Marines. And I'll tell you now I'm glad I chose the RAF the first 4 weeks are pure awful. Ironing constantly, loads of inspections none of the "fun" stuff but trust me all the people that leave in the first 4 weeks are idiots for not giving it a chance.

FIBUA (Fighting in Built up areas) is about the greatest fun that a guy can have. Square of death is fun sort of >.> but you will hear all about these fun rumours once you get there.

You're lucky that Corporal D****** has moved to 51 Squadron because I think he was one of the nastiest corporals they ever had.

Edited for persec
T_T

[KT1982]

No offence Keates but someone who has experienced a TG course will think that PGAC is not that hard. The tempo increases on the TG course with the runs and the fitness so people hoping to pass a PGAC don't need to be running the 3 miler in 16 mins!

Sorry to hear that you had to come out mate, what week did you get to? How did the PRMC compare to the PGAC?

[Keates]

I'm not saying 16 minutes but everyone out of 26 people on my course only 5 passed first time round the rest were backflighted or left. If you're struggling on 24 minutes then there's something to worry about because Yes the tempo does increase but the tempo increases for about mid-level of the flight. So if you're super fit it's easier and if you ain't then it's harder. You do a fair amount of hard swimming so it's my advice for anyone who is a poor swimmer to go have a few swimming sessions. They take into account these things but that doesn't mean they're gonna go easy on you.

I got to Fieldcraft 4 which is the Dig Ex, our trench took 34 hours straight to dig only had a small flight. But I wanted to quit in the first 4 weeks, a lot of people did but those who left don't know what they missed I regret not passing through, If I had I would be going out on deployment in Febuary.

Difference between the PRMC and the PGAC is quite purely the mentallity of it all. You will find that the Royal Marines don't give a damn if you can't hold a rifle straight or set up a bed for inspection. It's all about how fit you are. They can teach you those things but being fit is the only thing they care about and they push you to your physical and mental limits.
The PGAC was a lot more a look into the life of soldiering, It was around this date last year I did mine and we had 90mph winds. I wore every single bit of kit they gave me including goretex and was still a bit cold. The element of fitness was there but instead of being a general "How Many" like pull ups and press ups it was alot more standard stuff for the military like doing leopard crawl and monkey run for a few hundred metres.

The PRMC 3 miler was done in 21 minutes as opposed to the PGAC's 24. When you start your TG course they will get you to do a 3 mile run and we were expected to do it in under 21 minutes in like the 3rd week so I'm saying that if you're struggling to do it in 24 then better book your idea's up because nobody got over 21 minutes in our flight yet a lot of people struggled with the fitness.

[KT1982]

Good insite that mate. Know what your saying about improving and stuff. The 3 miler on my PGAC was probably the easiest test of all. The pace was medium and the ground was flat, and on grass! The course itself was tough. Early starts, marching around lessons in the field etc.

Can't really comment on the Marines, seen what is required on a PRMC and fitness is important, but I think it's important to all services to be fair, Marines, PARA's etc

No plans to go back then mate?