Am i too old?

[blade1889]

Hiya lads
Would just like to start by saying the guys who ara already in and those who are trying you are the greatest I am so proud of the paras. A little history before I ask my question. My dad spent 22 years in 2para then nearly 15 years in 4para maybe a few of you guys might know him? Retired Captain Jimmy Kerr I am the proudest son ever. Anyway I am 39 years old I had 4 months with junior parachute company+2 thirds of my life was brought up with the paras. I want to try for 4 para I have looked into it and I wouldnt be the oldest to try. My fitness is preytty good apart from my bft time althouth I am getting it down all the time. Hope someone can help me? Dont forget YOU are the BEST

[sportbilly42]

You're too old to make a difference mate.

Do yourself a favour:
Join the British Legion, get involved with Help 4 Heroes, do a sponsorred thingymybob in support of the Forces, shake a tin during poppy week while wearing your dad's medals...

But please don't think you can join up this modern day army at your age. (either TA or full leaded) Plenty of things that can be done by guys of OUR age (I'm not that far ahead of you) But as for thinking it's a good idea.... believe me, it's a bad idea. Accept your age. Mind may be willing but the body will reject it.

I admire your pluck though....

[blade1889]

You may be right mate but in life if you dont try you get nothing. The parachute regiment is the greatest regiment in the world I should know. Thanks for the advice but I not going to give in. If you old enough at 17 then I young enough at 39

[blade1889]

P.s mate dont know if you are or was in the paras but my dads medals are his and he earned them mate, you sound like you should be with george galloway with that reply

[gunner75]

not meaning to p*ss on your bonfire, but yes you are - without previous military serving history (in all honesty i dont know if 4 month with JPC (is that affectionatly referred to as hitler youth??) counts anymore??)I think although dont quote me its 36yrs if you have served and 33 if you havnt. although your old man may of been the dogs dangly bits when in I'd doubt that would matter in this instance. but having said that there are waivers for waivers. with your old mans previous form and the fact that you actually done something rather than just got to 39 and thought 'i wanna be a para' i think if you went to a TA battalion and explained the scenario, they may get you in. however you have to be fit enough and then some, your self admission that your bft time is pants (but improving) says alot - imagine what they would be thinkin/sayng if you told them that!no way hose!! you need to go there with the ammunition to prove they were right to get you on board.
SPORTBILLY im 34 m8, can still do bft just under 9min - fair enough its when iv got a bag of chips and pie sat at front of treadmill - does that make me elite?? ;o))

[blade1889]

Listen mate I appreaciate your reply and I didnt say my bft time was pants either? In a lot of ways I agree with you but in life if you dont try you get nowhere. P.s I see you from Leeds if you woz in 4 para you must have known my old man?

[sportbilly42]

It's Friday night..... Blade, you might just have got back from the pub... so a bit of beer talk maybe? I accept "If you don't try, you get nothing" but why's it taken 39 fekin years to come to this conclusion? You just come out of prison or something?!

Listen. If you want to give it a bash, give it a bash. For my two penn'orth you're WAY too old. As I say, there are PLENTY of things guys our age(ish) can do to support the lads, but I really think you're delussional if you're having some sort of Rambo moment and are thinking there's a chance of 'getting in the paras and running round shooting at things.....

"I'd love to be back in"....... Actually, in truth .... I wouldn't. All the 'Been There, Done That' t-shirts I bought don't fit me anymore. I've accepted I'm too old. The Army (when I hit my 40th birthday) picked me up by the scruff of the neck and booted me out of the door coz I was too old... So why would they let someone with no military experience IN at 39?

Get yourself a Horlicks mate and get yourself off to bed.....



(And as for George Galloway!!! Wasn't in the paras but they ain't they ONLY good regt in this mans army)

[sportbilly42]

Gunner..... BFT in UNDER 9 minutes????!!! At 34??

Wind behind you, on a downhill course you've measured yourself in your car doesn't count mate! If that's true (and it isn't) then I bet your CFT time time depends on how fast the recovery Landrover can get round to pick up stragglers....

Racing snakes... They just are NOT designed by God to carry base plates....

Anyways.... you mention treadmill.... What are you? A feking hamster? Do a PROPER 1.5 mile course, involving negotiating corners and dodging other struggling runners and rain and maybe some hill, with a bit of 'wind against you' as well as 'with you'

1.5 mile times in the real world of regimental life isn't based on the treadmill.

[Dawber]

You may be right mate but in life if you dont try you get nothing. The parachute regiment is the greatest regiment in the world I should know. Thanks for the advice but I not going to give in. If you old enough at 17 then I young enough at 39

just a bit confused why ask for peoples advice and opinions if your going to disagree not being funny but pretty pointless if you ask me lmao

[blade1889]

Listen sportbilly fanx for the advice, I know what it takes and if I not up tp it then yes I will try help for heroes etc coz the lads deserve it. P.s sorry to p**s on your bonfire but the PARAS are the best

[sportbilly42]

I will bow to your superior whatchamycallit and life experience blade.... But if we are going to bow before the God of Parachute Regiments, I demand that I use my trump card and say that 9 Para Regt RE may have the edge....

(coz it flicks my switch)

As for your 'Age' question.... Go for it, but I think my answer is honest if a little bit harsh....

Well I'm off to bed now even if you're not....

[gunner75]

SPORT BILLY HAHA yeah mate wind assisted - kebabs take a long time to digest, and yes on tread mill - i know not the real mcoy but the eye candy from said tread...hamstermill is, well, easier on the eye. AND myCFT time was AWESOME M8 - i always finished!! id imagine knuckling doon and getting road slappers on and doing all out best effort i wouldnt be too far off. started training few week back after near year off (refurbin house n what not) and already back to getting out 7milers.steady away. im far from a racing snake matey lol more like rotundus man. ;o)

BLADE1889 short stocky guy grey hair??very bolshy straight to point. i was in 4 para nearly ten year ago bear in mind. if he were pudsey then yeah in know the old man lol

[gunner75]

PS SPORTBILLY 1.5mile measured route bft (NOT ON treaders. 1.5mile. very easy jog 'out' 1.5mile (id say over 15 -20 min). 1.5 all out effort back. fair one slight decline last .5 mile, other fairly flat. time was 9.50 - im just under 13stone so not massive. and yes ideal conditions and YES was FUNKED and took its toll for day or so. plus didnt hav timmy tight pants pti carrying me with all that 'shoutin'....lol.point is - can be done! and before you answer I know what your gonna say..... ;O)

[anglo-saxon]

blade: First off, the fact that someone would have the neck to tell me I was too old for anything would be THE single factor in me going and doing exactly that!

Don't ever, ever let some stranger tell YOU you can't do something. The only person who can tell you that is you. And you will do it loud and clear if you thunder in and make an arse out of yourself if you approach this in a weak-minded way. Do yourself a favour: Get tough between the ears, get seriouse, say "bollocks" to everyone else and get out there and do it, if that's what you really want. Sometimes we mentally defeat ourselves before we've even started. Don't go there. Get positive! And if you're truly into this, you'll do what it takes to make it happen.

Over here , our BFT is a 13.0 Km speed march with 55lbs rifle, helmet, and tac vest. In late Nov I happened to be doing it among a group among which were no doubt people who think I'm an aging ivory tower desk jockey. Wrong! Two words...keep up. I came in first out of the about 30 doing the test and the next guy was almost 25 mins behind me. I'm 46. I always swore that as long as my back and knees can hack it, so will the rest of me. Most of it is in the mind, anyway. I know runners who can out-distance and out-pace guys less than half their age.

But it's like a rugby tacke. Go in half-hearted and it's you that gets hurt!

Good luck!!

[sportbilly42]

Blade.... only a bit of banter last night. Nothing personal mate.

If you've got the fire and the desire, then you can achieve surprising things....

But with no previous adult military experience it's going to be a vertical learning curve. That's where Anglo has the overwhelming edge and may have missed my point. He's as fit as a butcher's dog at 46 by the sound of it and has the military skills. You, on the other hand, may have the enthusiasm, but unless you're an ex-regular wanting to get back into a TA unit, perhaps to assist on training nights in some sort of instructional basis, then I can't see the TA accepting you.

As far as I'm aware "4 Para selection is open to UK residents aged 18-32 and is dependant on passing a medical exam."

Sorry mate but my first comments may be entirely appropriate.