Born into PRMC?

[Justin]

Good day gentalmen,

Do you think people are born with the genetic makeup to partisipate in PRMC, or is it hard work that gets you to PRMC?

I doubt many people have ever though about it, but I know that it is genes over hard work that prevail in the end. I am living proof of this.

I have used hard work to raised my fitness level to 115 pushups in 2 min, 130 sits ups and 25 pull ups. Now my running needs some work as my 3 mile is around 21 min and can only push myself to about a 6 mile steady run. But with 4 monthes before my PRMC date I think I can improve on all these scores with a more hard work.

All this hard work doesn't necessarily mean I am going to pass PRMC, but I think that going in knowing what I am capabale of is going to give me that confidencec to do my best.

So if that's the outcome of hard work, what it is that makes your genes the deciding factor as to your success? Well if you will pardon me while I tell you the tale of what happened to me yesterday, I will explain.

I was the the gym as I am almost everyday and I was talking to one of the personal trainers. They are great souces of information and motivation. Durning the conversation the topic of PRMC came up, I told him what information I knew about it. He though this sounded like a great thing and offered to give me a personal fitness test of his own to test my fitness levels to see what I could improve on. This sounded like a great idea to me. He wanted to give me a quick psysical before we stared ( This man is not a doctor he is working on his masters but is a certified trainer). So everything went smooth no medical problems as far as he could tell that would effect me taking this fitness test. Just as we were about to leave his little office he just wanted to check my eye sight. Well no problem, I read all the letters off perfectly from his little wall chart. So at this point I was hoping I was done with these dumb little tests and I could get on with some real PT. Now he hands me a book and asks me what do I see. I take a look at the picture and say "Dots". And this is where everything falls apart. He tells me I should see a number... but I see dots. Oh well, his test were done and we set off to PT (His PT test is where I got my above scores).

So I felt pretty pumped after getting thoes good results after his fitness test, but as I walked home I was still thinking about that picture of dots. When I got home I called up a optomistrist and told them about it, I was invited down to take the Isihara test. So the optomitrist handed me a book and told me to flip through it and tell her what I see, well I see.... DOTS DOTS DOTS!@!!

Anyone figured out where I am going with this yet? I was told I failed the Isihara color vision test, which is an internation test and the same one used durning the RM medical.

So.... after the long process of trying to get a PRMC date, hundreds of hours working on my fitness.... its all over. Just like that, and before it even stared.

So no matter how fit, or smart I am there I nothing that I can do. A very very disapointing day.

I thank everyone that took that time to read this post although it offers no new information nor does it pose a question.

To all of you looking forward to PRMC best of luck to you. Remeber pass or fail you are atempting somthing most people wouldn't even try, and some just can't.

Good Luck

Justin

[El Prez]

Justin, go back to an optician and ask him/her to show you through their book of tests. try the whole series, something like 16 different pictures, now you know what you are looking for you may surprise yourself. Never give up.

[Justin]

The book my optician showed me contained 30 some pictures. I saw nothing but dots on all of them but one, and I was told that is the one that everyone can see.

Thank you for the advice Mr. Parry, the last thing I want is to give up, but nothing can be done for color vision.

Justin

[Beasta]

Justin,
Listen to the man Parry, dont just give up like that mate, you've worked hard by the sounds of it.....

[Chris]

you must be pissed

[El Prez]

Chris, I presume you mean P****d off, and not inebriated. Being told you can't do something because of a medical condition is gut wrenching. I was told by an Air Vice Marshall ENT specialist that I could never fly again due to the damage to my hearing and balance. Try and imagine how that feels. So I can empathise with Justin, however, it is not the end of the world. You have to pick yourself up, scrape off the dust and get on with life. Good luck Justin.

[tony dean]

Justin,
Are you sure there is definately a colour test? The reason I asked is even though im not joining RM, when I had my initial medical, I only had a standard eye test (read the small line etc.), although Im told im going to have a full medical when (If) I start my training. Either way, I hope things work out for you mate.


Ps. Sorry to hear about your heli flying days Mr Parry.

[Bringer]

Justin, have you spoken to a recruiter about colour blindness? I called them about vision issues before (I'm short sighted) and they had me fax over a copy of my prescription that they then had a medical officer look at. They said nothing about colour blindness.

[Beast]

Might be worth investigating Justin.
Don't give up mate, by the sounds of it you have been working hard.
Goodluck.

[TheCount]

Hey no...... This can't be right

Im partially colour Blind, I got about 5 out of 10 in my last test as tomato picker when I was still at school, failed.

Ive read that people who have slight colour blindness can distinguish camoflauged positions better that people with normal vision as textures opposed to colours become more apparent..

F*@k No!!!

Im gonna contact the Recruitment agency in the morning... can anyone shed any light on this?

As Ive already mentioned im only partial, its the brown/green/red patterns that throw me.

[Justin]

Thank you for your kind words.
I have been in contact with the overseas career officer.

I was told...

Justin if you have been diagnosed as being color blind then it is unlikely that you will pass the CP requirement for service

Now some of you might say that the word "unlikely" is used which would mean there is still a chance. But to travel from Canada to the UK when I know I have outright failed the same test here at home is unwise.

Once again thank you for your support.

Justin

[Beast]

Justin, you don't know until you try mate, be positive.
If Count is going to find out more details, perhaps he would be kind enough to inform yourself as well.
As by the sounds of it, he is in a similar situation.
Chin up mate, it's not over yet.

[TheCount]

I actually feel sick.......

[Chris]

count you never know if you are only 50/50 you may be ok

[TheCount]

The Army site is much more forgoing with its information and says that only 'some' trades will not be available to people with colour blindness.

This gives me hope, hope that the Marines adopt a similar stance....

Fingers crossed

What are the eyesight requirements for joining the Army?

The requirements for eyesight depend on the job you are undertaking in the Army; some employment groups require a better degree of sight. Glasses are permissible but some trades are not open to individuals with certain types of colour blindness. The AFCO/ACIO will give you further information on this.