4 Para Selection weekend standards

[phoenix1379]

Hi all,
Although I went to the insight night a couple of months back, they went through the training program however i cant remember if they went through their selection "standards".
I have put in all my paperwork and got my medical date and selection weekend date for 4 para ( London ) but im a little unsure of the requirements necessary to pass.
Looking through other forums i keep coming up with:
60 press ups - 2 mins
60 sit ups - 2 Mins
1.5 miles - 9 Mins 08 Seconds
Are these for regular soldiers, reserve soldiers or both.
Are these " hard and fast " numbers which you have to reach otherwise you will be unsuccessful or are they flexible providing correct attitude and determination are shown.
One last thing, with the sit ups, is it hands across chest or hands on head. Only so i know which way is correct so i can adjust my training correctly.
Cheers all

[jaydub]

Phoenix,

My understanding is as follows: recruits for 4 PARA have to pass an ADSC to the same standard as those who aspire to join a regular Parachute Regiment battalion. I believe that means a run time of sub 9 minutes 18 seconds. I also believe that ADSC do not test your sit-ups and press-ups (if they ever did -- it's been a while since I went through what used to be the ADSC equivalent). In the place of those tests there are things like static-lifts? Plus some other gubbins of which I know nothing about.

I understand that once ADCS is passed, 4 PARA have their own tests. These include press-ups and sit-ups -- I've heard the minimum of 60 for each, but I don't know if that is "gospel". My own opinion is that provided you exceed these limits, you'll be OK. They are looking for maximums rather than minimums! Probably best to ring the recruitment number to clarify.

Hope this helps,
-Joe

[IV Cockney]

Hi all,
Although I went to the insight night a couple of months back, they went through the training program however i cant remember if they went through their selection "standards".
I have put in all my paperwork and got my medical date and selection weekend date for 4 para ( London ) but im a little unsure of the requirements necessary to pass.
Looking through other forums i keep coming up with:
60 press ups - 2 mins
60 sit ups - 2 Mins
1.5 miles - 9 Mins 08 Seconds
Are these for regular soldiers, reserve soldiers or both.
Are these " hard and fast " numbers which you have to reach otherwise you will be unsuccessful or are they flexible providing correct attitude and determination are shown.
One last thing, with the sit ups, is it hands across chest or hands on head. Only so i know which way is correct so i can adjust my training correctly.
Cheers all

Hi mate

Hopefully this may help you a little....

I was at Pirbright a few weekends back now for my 'pathway into 4 Para' TA selection and I can confirm the only press ups I did was when they decided to beast us (only a little bit ) for not doing something right!

Seriously though, the weekend made sure you was switched on at ALL times. Long days, very long. The timetable was demanding and schedule tight. We did the 1.5 miler on the back of the Gym tests (chins, deadlifts etc) and the Jerry Can walk.

After the 'good ol' scoff' we were marched straight out onto the fields again for some leopard crawling and grenade drills which absolutely f**ked me as I'd scoffed too much after the 1.5 miler thinking that was all the PT for a little while (NOTE: check the timetable of events properly!) plus in between everyone else doing their two runs the rest had to double on the spot (get those lovely knees up!) for the whole time.

Other events...... 4 Command tasks, designed to not only test your agility and logical thinking but also your ability to lead if you are selected and how well you work as a team.

The 8pm Saturday night PT session was cracking! General running about all over the sports hall, Vollyball and some rather 'physical' basketball games (Us 4 Para lads versus a few of the staff being the best and most physical of the lot!!)

BARB test, grenade knowledge test, your ice-breaker presentation of yourself, various talks, of course the interviews, a rather interesting chat with a couple of recruits who are further down the line, a chance to test out some ration packs, lessons on the rank system etc.... all formed part of a very challenging and physical weekend. Arising at 5am and getting sorted for inspection on the parade square was bad enough but getting the block clean also all before brekkie was proper 'having it'!

Personally, I was just outside of the 'Airborne time' required but they passed me as I had excelled in each of the other points and believe them when they say they are watching you EVERY minute of the day and your attitude and approach to everything! I actually received some praise from the OC and was asked if I was interested in 'Potential Officer' which was nice to hear. I was told to work on my fitness but my Sgt Mjr told me he knew I used to be a 'big unit' (some 15 stone of gym frame) and that I had busted a gut and given my all by running my size down to a mere 12st 11 and that determination had seen me through.

I think you'll be surprised at how hard the weekend is in relation to the fact that not all those who attend are going the Para Regt route. Of course, all those who attended from the 4 Para stable got a bit of extra expectancy from their staff and we all tended to stick together on the tasks and back in the block which was a great intro into the comraderie of the Reg I suppose.

The staff couldnt be faulted there. The PTI's fair and helpful whilst still strict, the OC, the Sgt Majors etc all very good and gave an excellent account of how it is. No namby pambying with new potential TA recruits at all and certainly no short cuts.
Particularly good was the two Para Reg staff who strutted around constantly bigging up Para Reg to us and making sure we all stuck together and gave best efforts at all time and told us how well we'd done.

One of the staff asked our Sgt Major 'what is it with your boys, do you brainwash them or something when they walk through your doors??) which I can only take to mean that they were impressed at how we gelled and showed our respect and pride at our chosen Regiment!

Anyway Ive waffled enough now. It pi$$ed it down and was cold the whole weekend and if I can get through that at teh ripe age of 34 I am sure you'll be ok mate!

Pauly