‘PARA Fit’
There is much talk about PT. I know that I have not yet given you any actual specifics on PT and how to train. I am working on that.
In the meantime, if you are looking for inspiration, standards and motivation, I found this site for you on FaceBook:
The video below is a sampler of ‘P Company.’ Pegasus Company is the British Airborne Forces selection course. The Pegasus Company training company exists alongside the Parachute Regiment recruit training company at ITC Catterick. Parachute Regiment recruits do P Company as part of their basic training. Anyone else who wants to serve with Airborne Forces and progress to parachute training (jump school) must attend a standalone course, known as ‘All Arms P Company.’
So far, no female has been successful at passing P Company, although it was opened up to females and some have tried.
There is a final ‘test week’ as part of P Company following the ‘beat up.’ There are a number of events. From memory it includes:
– 10 Miler (‘tab’ or ruck)
– 2 miler (ruck)
– Assault course/steeplechase
– Milling: 1 minute of straight punching an opponent in each others heads. It is designed to see who will stand up to a firefight, give and take punishment.
– Log Race: 8 guys holding into a telegraph pole for about 2 miles all out effort. Hardest event.
– Stretcher run: 200lb stretcher, running in a team over about 7 miles. Held on the shoulder.
– 12 & 6 miler (ruck). One slow. One fast.
– 18 miler (ruck). This was over larger hills as an endurance event.
– Trainasium: this is the confidence course designed to test your ability to comply with orders while experiencing fear. Parachuting and battle.
(‘TAB’ originally stands for ‘tactical advance to battle’ – it has evolved into a term for both ruck marching and tactical movement).
Everything on P Company is ‘110% effort’ – if you are not dying when you cross the line, then you will be marked down for it. Part of the scoring is time based, part of it based on assessment of effort.
Each of the test events was desigend with some purpose in mind:
– 10 miler: the original march from the drop zone to Arnhem bridge as part of Operation Market Garden was 10 miles.
– 2 miler: Rapid Advance to relieve troops in contact.
– Assault course/steeplechase: rapid movement over obstacles, rural and urban environments.
– Milling: Designed to see who will stand up to a firefight, give and take punishment. Keep your head up and face the enemy. Controlled aggression.
– Log Race: Ammunition resupply forwards.
– Stretcher run: Casualty moving off the battlefield.
– 12 & 6 miler / 18 miler (ruck). One slow. One fast. These events, although modified over the years, were put in Airborne forces selection after the experience doing long endurance tabs in the Falklands War.
– Trainasium: designed by psychologists and even includes an ‘illusion’ jump from a standing position. The shuffle bars are pretty exposed.
Milling:
In case the Facebook thing doesn’t work for you, here is another P Company video from YouTube:
Enjoy!
Max