Who gets to do P coy?

[daz89]

Okay so I was out running with the army today and got talking to someone who’s joining the Paras. Im joining the Black Watch but he said I should try and do P company when I get in. I didn’t think you get to do P coy unless you’ll be serving/attached to the Paras. Is this possible?

He also said that his dad told him that a Black Watch soldier has never failed P coy (because they do a lot of the same training), so I’m guessing that the Army let more corps/regiments do P coy in the past and they have changed the rules or something?

[Tab]

When I was in I left a County Regiment and just did the P Course to get into the Para's. At one time they only took trained soldiers, and then the P Course last for two weeks and was very intense and if you failed any part of it you were RTU. These days I believe that the course takes longer as so many men arrive not really fit enough to take the course straight away.

[SandyTheGuvnor]

He also said that his dad told him that a Black Watch soldier has never failed P coy (because they do a lot of the same training), so I’m guessing that the Army let more corps/regiments do P coy in the past and they have changed the rules or something?

Well that is complete rubbish, there was a Black Watch PTI who was at ITC who went on P Coy and he came off on day 1 after failing the screening CFT.

[daz89]

I didnt think it was true, so what would be the chances of getting to do p coy if your in the black watch or any other infantry regiment anyway?

[tom163]

Why on earth would black watch soldiers do the same training as Paras!

I think soldiers can do P-Coy even if they are not in direct support of the Paras as some 1 RTR members are or have undergone it and they don't directly support 1,2 or 3 Para.

[egghead]

from what i understand anyone can do p company as long as your fit enough

[Tab]

You used to be able to request a transfer to the Para's but you would have to do the P Course, as you are a trained soldier it is not that long, when I did it the course was two weeks of hard graft with milling, Water Assault course, the Assault course, and umpteen runs including the log race, you also had a good work out in the gym, swimming, pull ups , press ups and a hundred one other things

[daz89]

You used to be able to request a transfer to the Para's but you would have to do the P Course, as you are a trained soldier it is not that long, when I did it the course was two weeks of hard graft with milling, Water Assault course, the Assault course, and umpteen runs including the log race, you also had a good work out in the gym, swimming, pull ups , press ups and a hundred one other things

I think thats what the boys dad must of done tab, I think he had transferred from the black watch. Maybe no black watch soldier had failed p coy when he was in (alot of years ago im guessing though!).

Tom why wouldnt any regiment do the same training as the paras (except parachuting obvisouly lol)? And I didnt say 'do' the same training, I said DID

EDIT: by training I dont think he meant basic training, but the training you do with your regiment when youve completed phase 1 & 2.

The Parachute Regiment is stil a frontline infantry so wouldnt you think it would be a good standard to be training at for any other regiment.

[Tab]

When I did that P Course there must have been a 150 men it and they chose 30 from it and they ran one of these courses every 14 days . You can bet that people from the Black Watch and every other Regiment had failed the P Course at some point or other.

[tom163]

No normal infantry regiment do or ever did the same training as the Parachute Regiment. They run alot further and faster and do much more thats what makes them special and the Blackwatch are just a regular infantry regiment.

[HCR]

Tom so the PARAS are special and the Blackwatch are just normal are they. I dont think the Taliban think that when they are planting there IEDs. We are all British Army at the end of the day fighting a common enemy. All this "we are better than you" crap is getting boring

[Leyton1990]

No normal infantry regiment do or ever did the same training as the Parachute Regiment. They run alot further and faster and do much more thats what makes them special and the Blackwatch are just a regular infantry regiment.

Black watch are a battalion not a regiment.

[daz89]

Im not arguing about anything and Im not trying to say the black watch are great etc, Im just quoting what the boys dad said to him as I thought it was a load of bollocks.. but I guess your speaking from experiance since you seem to know what type of training theyv both done in the past

Infact you seem to know everything about the British Army

[tom163]

Tom so the PARAS are special and the Blackwatch are just normal are they. I dont think the Taliban think that when they are planting there IEDs. We are all British Army at the end of the day fighting a common enemy. All this "we are better than you" crap is getting boring

Yes I know all that blah about everyone is the same etc and its true but of course Paras are special its common sense. Blackwatch are light role infantry same as most of the infantry regiments there for normal in that respect. You need to chill out mate.

No normal infantry regiment do or ever did the same training as the Parachute Regiment. They run alot further and faster and do much more thats what makes them special and the Blackwatch are just a regular infantry regiment.

Black watch are a battalion not a regiment.

My mistake

Im not arguing about anything and Im not trying to say the black watch are great etc, Im just quoting what the boys dad said to him as I thought it was a load of bollocks.. but I guess your speaking from experiance since you seem to know what type of training theyv both done in the past

Infact you seem to know everything about the British Army

Not trying to start an argument by any means pal just saying they don't do the same training as the Paras end of.

I don't have first hand experience obviously but quite alot of my family have been in the forces and therefore spent a bit of time in militaty environments. Oh and I do know everything about the British Army .

[Tab]

I have been in both a line regiment and the Paras, and there is quite a bit of difference to them both. The selection to get into the Paras is a lot tougher and quite a few never make the grade, and they expect the same commitment from you year after year, now after a while you don't seem to notice it so much. A line regiment once you have been approved then it it is unusual that you don't get into it. Now I am not knocking the any other Regiment they all do a dam good job, but there is still that difference