I understand your point, but you're being a bit defeatist, don't you think?plastic wrote:Had my BARB test today: 71.
My recruiter said there's no reason why I can't go for a commission now and encouraged me to do so. He's sending me the Sandhurst prospectus at some point.
I think I'll go in as a Tom (subject to P Coy, obviously) and apply for a commission once (if) in. My reasoning behind this is you only get two cracks at P Coy as an Officer, after that, I understand you're binned completely. I'm just thinking worst case scenario, injuries etc.
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Life as a young Officer in The Parachute Regiment.
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Tartan_Terrier
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plastic
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I've been injured on the course once before old boy and would just like to have all bases covered this time aroundTartan_Terrier wrote:I understand your point, but you're being a bit defeatist, don't you think?plastic wrote:Had my BARB test today: 71.
My recruiter said there's no reason why I can't go for a commission now and encouraged me to do so. He's sending me the Sandhurst prospectus at some point.
I think I'll go in as a Tom (subject to P Coy, obviously) and apply for a commission once (if) in. My reasoning behind this is you only get two cracks at P Coy as an Officer, after that, I understand you're binned completely. I'm just thinking worst case scenario, injuries etc.
But yes, I can see your point also.
You will have to get a lot fitter to get through Sandhurst and get into the Paras. The average 1.5 mile run time for all Officer Cadets is just over nine minutes and guys hoping for an Infantry choice of arm are advised to be looking at about eight.
There are all kinds of different backgrounds at Sandhurst so don't worry about that.
There are all kinds of different backgrounds at Sandhurst so don't worry about that.
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plastic
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I'm not off to Sandhurst now mate.
When I started at 4 PARA my 1.5 time was 8.27, but I'm a lot fitter now, all round strength and endurance wise. I think it's because I didn't run for a while due to injury that my time is still pish. I took 14 seconds off in 3 weeks with 3 hill sprint sessions and a couple of 2 milers.
When I started at 4 PARA my 1.5 time was 8.27, but I'm a lot fitter now, all round strength and endurance wise. I think it's because I didn't run for a while due to injury that my time is still pish. I took 14 seconds off in 3 weeks with 3 hill sprint sessions and a couple of 2 milers.
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Paratrooper01
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plastic,
Glad to hear you have decided to join as tom. As I mentioned to you before, some of the best officers were toms before.
I would definitely wait until you settle in your Battalion before making your platoon commander aware that you want to go to Sandhurst. Keep your nose clean and you should have no problems.
There is other options though of course for someone who is intelligent, fit and motivated, for example the Pathfinder Platoon, or SAS. Para regt is a great platform for passing these further selection courses. If you are interested in joining the Pathfinders then get in touch with me in a couple of years when you have settled down in battalion...if you're still interested. You wont be disappointed, its a mega platoon to be in.
Good luck mate, and keep me posted on how you get on in depot. If you want any other info on basic training and P-company etc just get in touch with me and I will square you away.
Glad to hear you have decided to join as tom. As I mentioned to you before, some of the best officers were toms before.
I would definitely wait until you settle in your Battalion before making your platoon commander aware that you want to go to Sandhurst. Keep your nose clean and you should have no problems.
There is other options though of course for someone who is intelligent, fit and motivated, for example the Pathfinder Platoon, or SAS. Para regt is a great platform for passing these further selection courses. If you are interested in joining the Pathfinders then get in touch with me in a couple of years when you have settled down in battalion...if you're still interested. You wont be disappointed, its a mega platoon to be in.
Good luck mate, and keep me posted on how you get on in depot. If you want any other info on basic training and P-company etc just get in touch with me and I will square you away.
Utrinque Paratus - READY FOR ANYTHING!
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plastic
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Cheers PT 01,
Pathfinder Platoon would be mega, I read the chapter in Patrick Bishop's book and the fund raising they did recently. My uncle was Gungy 3 so I'd like to get assigned to them.
One problem I think I'm going to have though; I run like a spacker so have overpronation trainers, my mate's just passed P Coy and says it's issue trainers only. Hopefully I'll be able to get a chit if my shins flare up
Pathfinder Platoon would be mega, I read the chapter in Patrick Bishop's book and the fund raising they did recently. My uncle was Gungy 3 so I'd like to get assigned to them.
One problem I think I'm going to have though; I run like a spacker so have overpronation trainers, my mate's just passed P Coy and says it's issue trainers only. Hopefully I'll be able to get a chit if my shins flare up
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Paratrooper01
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If you have problems with your feet, go sick fairly early on and just explain to the doc's that you know you have over pronation in your feet and you are getting slight shin pain from it. Dont go over the top and say your shins are in shit state or anything because they will think it's shin splints and take you out of mainstream training and put you into the holding company with all the craphats until you are mended.
I went sick with painful shins 2 weeks before P-company, and got told I had shin splints. I told them there was no chance they were taking me off training and in true spirit of the regiment "reg'd it out" through p-coy. Managed to pass every event in the end. People have passed events with broken legs, so anything is possible.
The only time you wear trainers on P-coy is on the milling, so not much running to be done actually on P-coy. In my platoon I had quite a few guys who wore Asics with their own insoles due to having spastic feet. I used my own insoles in all my boots and issue trainers from day 1. Who is going to know when they are on your feet? Just use the issue insoles for the items in your locker for inspections.
The thought of locker layouts and inspections just brought back a couple of nice memories! One night I stayed up until like 3AM ironing all my kit ready for inspection the next day.
Locker inspections were also one of the funniest parts of depot...licking the bottom of boots and trainers that were dirty, and the daily serving of shaving foam in your cnut cap which you put back on your head like a cream pie! Oh and pray that your are on the bottom floor of the block...it's just less running to do when they throw all your locker items out of the window!
I was 3 Para so when you get to the final week you send me a PM and I will give you my name. Tell them that you have a mate in 3 Para and they will put that as your first preferance. But that's a fair way off yet.
Oh, and how many runs did I do on PF selection?
None.
P.S
How the hell did you pass Recruit Selection with a BFT time of 9:46??? Have they put the times down for Para recruits?
I went sick with painful shins 2 weeks before P-company, and got told I had shin splints. I told them there was no chance they were taking me off training and in true spirit of the regiment "reg'd it out" through p-coy. Managed to pass every event in the end. People have passed events with broken legs, so anything is possible.
The only time you wear trainers on P-coy is on the milling, so not much running to be done actually on P-coy. In my platoon I had quite a few guys who wore Asics with their own insoles due to having spastic feet. I used my own insoles in all my boots and issue trainers from day 1. Who is going to know when they are on your feet? Just use the issue insoles for the items in your locker for inspections.
The thought of locker layouts and inspections just brought back a couple of nice memories! One night I stayed up until like 3AM ironing all my kit ready for inspection the next day.
Locker inspections were also one of the funniest parts of depot...licking the bottom of boots and trainers that were dirty, and the daily serving of shaving foam in your cnut cap which you put back on your head like a cream pie! Oh and pray that your are on the bottom floor of the block...it's just less running to do when they throw all your locker items out of the window! I was 3 Para so when you get to the final week you send me a PM and I will give you my name. Tell them that you have a mate in 3 Para and they will put that as your first preferance. But that's a fair way off yet.
Oh, and how many runs did I do on PF selection?
None.
P.S
How the hell did you pass Recruit Selection with a BFT time of 9:46??? Have they put the times down for Para recruits?
Utrinque Paratus - READY FOR ANYTHING!
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plastic
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PT01,
Cheers for the reply as always.
I'm going to try and get to a physio before my intake and I've just taken delivery of 3 sets or Sorby insoles.
As for the run, less than a year ago I was doing that in 8.27 . Maybe because I hadn't ran for ages as I'm still injured then my legs needed the cobwebs blowing off of them, also I believe there is an extension time for a higher score on the static lift.
Cheers for the reply as always.
I'm going to try and get to a physio before my intake and I've just taken delivery of 3 sets or Sorby insoles.
As for the run, less than a year ago I was doing that in 8.27
. Maybe because I hadn't ran for ages as I'm still injured then my legs needed the cobwebs blowing off of them, also I believe there is an extension time for a higher score on the static lift.