British Army

[Blitzen]

Taking orders and being forced to be respectful to a superior officer and authority COULD save, not just your life, but the lives of your colleagues AND...in the final act, make the difference between a successful or failed outcome to a conflict.

and thats the crux of it.
Also, its not a question of respect for the individual, its a question the rank that individual has achieved.

When i took squads out on patrol, i didnt think for one second that i was a better shot, or was better at negotiating with the locals for example.

By the same token, i knew i was a better thinker, i knew i was better evaluating a dangerous situation, i knew i was calmer when the time called for it whether i was interogating or when trigger fingers were 'itchy'.

These are just some of the reasons why i was a sergeant and the senior person in that squad. I am also proud to say that all of the guys that served with me there came home to their families. This is not only down to my leadership of them, but also my superior officers make the correct decisions aswell.

Everything in order to function correctly needs leadership as ZAK says. Therefore it vital that every link in the chain respects the command.....it doesnt mean you have to respect the individual.


I have many times met officers that i wouldnt give the time of day to but they are officers for reason.....they are bloody good at what they do

[Zak33]

very good post Blitz.... outstanding actually

[J4MES]

...but as I understand it being in the armed forces is not an easy life- at least not until you've served plenty of time and you wangle yourself a cushy posting for your last few years. ...

Given the current operating environment, there aren't any 'cushy postings' left - (almost) all the members of the Armed Forces are working their collective arses off either on/training for operations or supporting in/directly those operations... and plenty of fun is to be had at the start of your career (arguably more than later on)

[Blitzen]

Thanks for that James ... you are spot on.

If anyone thinks that being in the forces is 'cushy' then they are madly deluded.

[RoadRunner]

hi there dude, i trying for RMs(royal marines) the fitness is pretty much 100000 % harder but from what i hear it isnt that hard to get into.

please post the following will help a lot.

1: time yourself 2 mins and do as many press-ups within time limit, keeping arms within shoulder length, making sure your chest goes about 2 " above floor and exstend fully the arms.

2: sit-ups 2 mins, on the down of the sit-up make sure elbows touch the map and when come up from floor the elbows must touch top of knees and keeping knees together thoughout.

3: pull-ups no time limit, as many as you can do, i beleive for army you do fingers facing you pull-ups, but remember to do them to the count of "bend....stretch" and not to try blitz them maybe count 1...2 every pull hold, stretch might help. chin must go over beam.

Lastly i beleive you will most likely do a "bleep test" im not sure what the exact score must be but probally aim for around 10.

On a further note, running wise you will need to do 1.5 mile run at 12.30 mins but this very easy and you will probaly be able to do it in 11 mins depending on your fitness(marines do this in sub 9 mins)

if you need some advise for press-ups ect give us a bell

[Blitzen]

hi there dude, i trying for RMs(royal marines) the fitness is pretty much 100000 % harder but from what i hear it isnt that hard to get into.

please post the following will help a lot.

1: time yourself 2 mins and do as many press-ups within time limit, keeping arms within shoulder length, making sure your chest goes about 2 " above floor and exstend fully the arms.

2: sit-ups 2 mins, on the down of the sit-up make sure elbows touch the map and when come up from floor the elbows must touch top of knees and keeping knees together thoughout.

3: pull-ups no time limit, as many as you can do, i beleive for army you do fingers facing you pull-ups, but remember to do them to the count of "bend....stretch" and not to try blitz them maybe count 1...2 every pull hold, stretch might help. chin must go over beam.

Lastly i beleive you will most likely do a "bleep test" im not sure what the exact score must be but probally aim for around 10.

On a further note, running wise you will need to do 1.5 mile run at 12.30 mins but this very easy and you will probaly be able to do it in 11 mins depending on your fitness(marines do this in sub 9 mins)

if you need some advise for press-ups ect give us a bell

This quote that you made: the fitness is pretty much 100000 % harder but from what i hear it isnt that hard to get into. is DEFINITELY the stupidest i have EVER read on a forum ANYWHERE!


1. You 'sit up' rep instructiuon is incorrect. I suggest you look a little harder at the requirements.

2. 12:30 for a 1.5miles run is also MASSIVELY off. Its 11mins just for the normal Army or Navy (dont know the RAF....prolly 25mins )

With the 'this is going to be easy' attitude you have shown, i can guarantee you will get beasted half to death and almost certainly fail the course. Fitness is only half the battle in New Entry Training and you will learn that the hard way.
I would've loved to have been your instructor.

Tone the ego down a bit, and PROVE yourself rather talking yourself up and maybe you will do ok.

[Rawkus]

I was looking at joining the army also. Not really based on anything but the experiences you would get. a mate of mine is a reccy trooper, doing armoured reconaisance and foot recon.

He's been to canada, france, germany, belgium... several other places. he's only 18 and he's loving it. Sure you have to do a tour and the phase 1 would be a pain in the arse. but i recon it would be an experience to have. I don't think i've got it in me to take it as a career path though.

Fitness, so everyone i know who's in the army has told me, is not hard to pass on entry. It gets crazy in phase one. But its more the training to make you fitter them pushing to to higher fitness levels. Sounds to me like you'd pass it fine with what ur doing now, but if you want an easier ride through phase one, work on endurance running etc. they run you ragged...

[Rawkus]

Just like to add that blitzen is right. it aint all about fitness if you havent got the mentality and ability to deal with whats thrown at you. you'll probably crack...

[RoadRunner]

This quote that you made: the fitness is pretty much 100000 % harder but from what i hear it isnt that hard to get into. is DEFINITELY the stupidest i have EVER read on a forum ANYWHERE!


1. You 'sit up' rep instructiuon is incorrect. I suggest you look a little harder at the requirements.

2. 12:30 for a 1.5miles run is also MASSIVELY off. Its 11mins just for the normal Army or Navy (dont know the RAF....prolly 25mins )

With the 'this is going to be easy' attitude you have shown, i can guarantee you will get beasted half to death and almost certainly fail the course. Fitness is only half the battle in New Entry Training and you will learn that the hard way.
I would've loved to have been your instructor.

Tone the ego down a bit, and PROVE yourself rather talking yourself up and maybe you will do ok.

i said RMS not army.... and the royals is massively harder than army. it the hardest infi training /one of the hardest in the world 32 weeks of lovely PT down on bottom field

i did my 1.5 mile in 8:50 by the way and 75 press-ups and 88 situps and 7 pull ups, and the situps i said are the right way for the RMS here the video you should look at before posting.

http://www.royalmarines.mod.uk/training-tool.html

it helps a lot.

"if you havent got the mentality and ability to deal with whats thrown at you. you'll probably crack..."

good point though as they say "failing to prepare is preparing to fail" so being fit, fitness wise will iin turn help you mentally know where your limits are, it no good going to the fitness test with i going to pass this then looking at your score of 15 min mile... mental tests come later when your pushed to your limits.

[Norky]

i said RMS not army.... and the royals is massively harder than army. it the hardest infi training /one of the hardest in the world 32 weeks of lovely PT down on bottom field

And you've done these 32 weeks have you?

[lego batman]

Just out of interest, is this accurate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_marines#Training ?


Plus any read the thing on the BBC about the arctic trek?

Tomorrow, we get to work with our final preparations for three months in sub-zero temperatures, pulling fully laden sledges weighing 100kg (200lb) more than 1,000km of floating sea-ice to the North Geographic Pole.

see here... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7897392.stm

[RoadRunner]

Just out of interest, is this accurate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_marines#Training ?


Plus any read the thing on the BBC about the arctic trek?

see here... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7897392.stm

suggest looking at the royal marines site for better quality information, but tbh most of the stuff that happeneds during training i beleive isnt written down.

beastings and such arent part of the written course ie today you will be running up 800 mtr hill with webbing 10 times sinse your ginger that sort of fun.