cheers,

tom

(b2819@hotmail.com)

Taking the gym tests first: they make you do all the pushups, pullups etc. after they’ve had you sprinting around for half an hour beforehand. So you’re already knackered and then the tests begin. The obstacle course is the same – they sprint you around and make you do loads of pushups before you even get started. And when you do the endurance course they never let you stop moving and throw in plenty of pushups (they love them).

So you’ve got to be able to run when you’re already tired, something that is a lot easier when you’ve practised it lots (your body adapts to it with training).

I did most of my training runs in army boots. Damn hard work and initially much slower than in trainers, but you can eventually manage to run at the pace of most people in trainers with time. I found my feet got cut up a bit to start with but eventually toughened up. The extra weight of the boots takes some getting used to but encourages you to not lift your feet so much when you run. I also tried to do as little running on roads as possible (dodgy ankles you see), but sand is the best if you live near any beaches. In fact, running up and down sand dunes until you literally drop is excellent training for what they put you through at Lympstone. Both aerobic and anaerobic.

Upper body strength is the next one and pullups are a particularly important exercise that most people seem incapable of doing more than a couple of. Follow their training guide if you like (pretty much what I did) but when going running I’d stop every mile or two to do 50 pushups or situps – it does prepare your body for what they make you do. It’s all about breaking up your rhythm and being able to adapt to it.

Periodically going for a hard run (mixing up with some sprinting and pushups) and then seeing if I could do the RMFA helped build my confidence. I guess the bottom line is being able to do what they ask when they’ve already beaten you up a bit.

So that’s the physical bit. Preparation, preparation and preparation. There’s no shortcuts, just hard graft to get in really good shape. And that’ll only just be enough to make it – you really need to be at the top of your game.

The next thing is attitude. Marines tend to be quietly confident types rather than brash Parachute Regiment thug types. They’re looking for a good team attitude, trying to help people along that are struggling, that kind of thing. They know what they’re looking for so just be yourself and if you’re not their type of person there’s not a lot you can do. And definitely don’t be Mr. Cocky git, especially during the discussion exercises. They’re looking for people who can communicate, think logically when knackered or under pressure and stay positive and switched on.

Whatever you do though. Don’t quit. It can get pretty hard but it is perfectly achievable to pass the course. When you’re fit enough it’s purely a mental battle. Good luck.

That’s a bit of a ramble but some of it should make sense… Any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

If I remember correctly the selection goes over several months so you need to be pretty lucky to not pick up some nasty injuries. And even more determined.

I still can’t work out a connection between the army and computers though

Nice to see you draughted the assistance of Jerry Springer for the heart warming conclusion.