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Advisory Panel
Originally Posted by
Gil Boyd
Got you all fired up
I wouldn't say fired up, but there's a lot to this one for sure...
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09-26-2018 02:02 PM
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Contributing Member
Geoff,
Difference in the PARA's mate we have to have full belt order and your weapon whilst doing it
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
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Advisory Panel
We eventually graduated to few enough people knowing how to do an obstacle course that we were required to take a course before running troops through. This is after 25 years of doing it...and next to us are the PERI staff that are supposed to be teaching us...they are contract civilians that had never done it. The people showing up for the endoc were all dressed the same as the PERI staff, runners and shorts, "T" shirts... Four old guys showed up, all Infantry. We hadn't talked to anyone and just dressed in like kit as would be correct. Full length sweat shirts and combat pants, with boots. The Peri staff started talking and walking...and we looked at each other, finally I stopped this. I asked them, "Aren't you going to demonstrate to us?" No...we haven't done these (obstacles)... Ok I said, we'll take it from here, so with three old infantry and one instructing we went through, some of the youngers wanted to participate, and wore the damage from rope and walls next to their PT strip...
Yes, we normally wore full gear but occasionally the Pl Comd would decide to take a lap through during the morning run. We'd at least be in boots, pants and shirts...
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Talking of fitness tests........ I had a heart attack in 1997. Survived, just because there is a world class University hospital 8 miles away. I made it my aim to get fit again. I used to go to the Gymn at the nearby Transport/Logistic unit close here and do an increasing amount of Gymn work twice or three times a week under the watch of the PTI Sergeant (REME too...) who I knew quite well.... Don't worry, I'll get to the point soon........ Used to cycle the 2 miles there and back. Indeed, was always a cross country cyclist together with my son who was at junior school. During the summer holidays I used to take him to the Gymn and he'd muddle along as you do. On many occasions, he would tag onto the crunchies that were coming to do the BFT run and assault course and tag along at the back. I appreciate that he was in 'uniform' of childs size replica 'combat kit' less webbing and rifle but he could do the run and standard assault course and nets and even go onto the 25m range (not to shoot but he did pick up the empties and fill the magazines for a bit of pocket money between details!). One day the Sgt PTI told me that I was capable of doing the BFT (the Basic Battle Fitness Test) and he would be trotting alongside to keep an eye on me generally. He needn't have bothered. There were some totally unfit overweight chair-bound monsters doing the run, puffing and wheezing their way around the camp but I did it, non stop except for water which everyone has to take. Robert ran with me but by then he was used to it having done it many times. He said that when I'd gone, he'd tell them that the older TA Captain that was running had had a heart attack 6 months before.
Nope. I think that the standard fitness test should be just that. A test of guts, strength and fitness, for all, across the board regardless of your job in the Army. Just my view as someone who always enjoyed it and seemed to take it in his stride - if you'll excuse the pun.
One thing that would certainly make the BFT runs and Physical TRaining brighter was if the PTI's l;ightened up and made things enjoyable with more competitiveness thrown in. Some were great...... things like beat the fire hose drenching. Great fun, everyone got soaked and........ Great thread.......
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Legacy Member
I think that the standard fitness test should be just that. A test of guts, strength and fitness, for all, across the board regardless of your job in the Army.
Fully agree. 'Every soldier is a rifleman first' used to more than just a slogan.
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Advisory Panel
I think that the standard fitness test should be just that.
Agreed, there was one standard. It was there because when things like Singapore happened, everyone had to take to rifles. Tools down, work begins...
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Contributing Member
Agree there Peter that every soldier should HAVE to pass the BFT regardless of profession.
We had cooks attached to PARA Reg who thought they were just cooks when we were in the UK. They were therefore surprised to find out that they would accompany the Battalions to operations where there was to be a HQ base.
Even more surprised, to find out they would be doing OUR BFT as Support Arms as well. Many of the "fat" ("little F******) chefs who got that way testing and trying out their own dishes soon lost a few pounds to ensure they passed the test in future or they were sent back to the Army Catering Corps for fitness.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
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