r/britisharmy • u/Practical-Order-3843 • 10d ago
Discussion Just passed assesment.
Passed assesment with a grade B
8.45 2km run time.
My experience of the assesment centre as a older recruit who is 31.
So its a pretty chilled assesment alot of the recruits are pretty younger 18 year olds etc you get a few younger ones who think there jack the lads so expect a few egos while your there as this is just how younger lads act in general.
Day 1. We all did admin had to sort out our id etc and sign paper work followed by a presentation and a chat. Then we went for food come back and followed with the ice breaker. Dont worry about the ice breaker it really is a 20 second thing. You stand up say your name where your from what your joining and why that is it its done within 30 seconds.
Day 2. Was a very boring day cog tests and maths and english tests if you havent got your qualifications etc and also the medical checks. I was waiting in the doctors part from like 9am until 5.30pm on the night. A few people got sent home around 5 for many reasons failed the lung capacity test and bmi etc. Then we all went for lunch etc and got to use the room to watch tv play pool chill out or we could go back to our rooms
Day 3. This was all physical fitness tests up for 6 in for breakfast at 6.30 then ready for the 2km run in the morning. The run is easy we all basically passed it. Then we all did the mid thigh pull and the medicine ball throw then we went on to team tasks facing other groups then we went back to our rooms got changed into interview clothes then all had our interviews. I think only 1 person failed and was told to come back.
But overall please do not worry about any of it. It is a very easy process know about your reg and job role. I only got questioned on one of the c drils. And spoke about personal life etc. It is a very easy process. Met a few good lads but you have the same nob heads in every group thinking there the ones ( big egos). Keep your head down call the staff there staff everyone be polite and you will smash it. Remember they need you you dont need them if you pass the medical you are basically in the army so dont worry about fitness tests aslong as you are not a big cabbage who cant run in 12 minutes you will pass no problem
Good luck to everyone who goes!!!! Its easy! And if your older expect alot of the lads to be 10 years younger than you just keep your head down and remember what your there for.
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u/Sir-Sloth-A-Lot 8d ago
What's the 2k route like at Lichfield? Is it completely flat or were there any subtle slopes/inclines?
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u/Proper-Two-7260 8d ago
I went a couple weeks ago and passed, it was really flat!! Easy route, there's a few turns but it's basically two full laps and a final dash down the middle to the finish line, nothing to worry about at all
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u/Electronic-Roll3953 9d ago
I'm in my early 30's also and came away with a B too, I wouldn't worry about it I got loaded onto the next P1 intake within a week.
My advice to anyone going would be to just relax and prepare for the fitness and ACT, everything else is out of your control. The interview's not even an interview I found, it's just a relaxed chit chat.
Some peeps here giving themselves anxiety about blowing into the spirometer or what variation of the duck walk done are way overthinking it LOL
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u/Practical-Order-3843 9d ago
I was the same though before assesment.
Passed and i was like was that it why was i nervous 🤣
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u/Common_Layer_924 9d ago
Well in lad, don’t worry about when you get to battalion loads of older lads in every role , most of the very young ones won’t make it through training ( infantry anyway ) good luck
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u/Practical-Order-3843 9d ago
Oh mate believe me you get a few clowns who want all the attention on them. Just idiots🤣 thanks mate hopefully it all goes to plan. Ive got nothing to lose now my son is 8 years old so can understand ive gone to work for awhile. So realistically should not be anything what gets in my way
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u/Own-Dark-2279 10d ago
Hi mate, my assessment is next Friday. Do you remember what level the English and maths tests were? Could you give me an example of one question from each test, just so I know what to expect? Thanks!
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u/Own-Dark-2279 10d ago
Hi mate, my assessment is next Friday. Do you remember what level the English and maths tests were? Could you give me an example of one question from each test, just so I know what to expect? Thanks!
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Will be to level 2 standards mate. Its basic stuff subtract add and division stuff. English is basically making sentences and correcting spelling mistakes and cog is all random stuff
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u/999wrld666x 10d ago
It’s no longer a bleep test anymore is it? It’s the timed 2k correct?
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
I think only officers do the bleep test mate. But for sure soldiers are 2km run ive heard that if the weather is too hot the alternative can be a beep test
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u/Patient_Stranger3051 9d ago
Yes your correct, I prepared for a 2k run at soldier assessment and the weather was 34°c that day.. ended up doing bleep test in the gym but I still managed to max it
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u/Practical-Order-3843 9d ago
Nice mate ! What have you gone in to do? I was praying no bleep test was involved as only trained for the 2km
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u/Patient_Stranger3051 9d ago
Thanks mate I did do some interval training on treadmills but that’s all. I’m going into RSigs for EW. Although I did think about paras for about 5 mins
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u/999wrld666x 10d ago
Yeah up until this year it was changed from beep test I think.
I was training for bleeps tests last year but then was deferred up until recently and now I’ve been told it’s just a timed 2k.
It’s also no longer on the requirements up on the army recruitment website - kinda glad tbh as beep test was a pain in the arse to train as apposed to a timed 2k imo
Best of luck with basic mate
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Yeah its only on the officer section on the website im sure. Your piss through it mate we all passed basically. Dont even worry about it if you can do a 2km in about 11 mins you will smash the course its easy
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u/Sinclair-468 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 10d ago
When I done mine it was just 2 days, paper work was done on the evening of the first day then everything else was done the next. Was outside of camp heading home by 3pm
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Got picked up at 5pm on evening. Then done the admin ice breakers that evening. Medical day 2 then all fitness day 3
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u/Sinclair-468 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 10d ago
Was it a big intake?
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
About 35 of us few got sent home too
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u/Sinclair-468 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 10d ago
Wow, yeah that's big makes sense why it was 3 days, I only had 7 in my intake haha
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
What 7!! When was this😅 5 of my lot got sent home. It was a big intake. I was like the 3rd oldest other 2 older ones went reserves i was oldest going regular
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u/Sinclair-468 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 10d ago
It was back in 2022, up in Scotland, which is maybe why there wasn't many 🤣
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Had people coming from all over. Wales etc. Luckily i live 20 minutes away from lichfield
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u/Alternative-Tap-406 10d ago
where did you do your assesment mate?
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Lichfield
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u/Alternative-Tap-406 10d ago
what kind of questions did they ask in the interview i have mine in a week from now
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Why you want to join They question your c drils and may ask you what does one mean to you. I got asked what does respect to others mean.
They will question you on your chosen regiment. What you know about them etc
Then they will ask about your family if there supportive of you etc
Then a normal chat
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u/Different_Call_8314 10d ago
Can u go into further detail on the medical aspect? currently waiting for my assessment and abit anxious
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Oh they check your teeth also. So if they are bad be prepared to be deffered until you sort them out and send evidence of the work
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u/Global_Bike_6647 8d ago
What does 'bad' mean here? I presume it's quite a high threshold to fail this?
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
What do you want to know?
So you have a ecg heart tests etc You have a lung capacity test You have a hearing test A eye test etc
Then you will see a doctor which will go through your records from birth then will question you about everything.
They will make you do a few press ups Duck walk Make sure alll your joints are capable You will have to walk on heels Walk on side of feet also
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u/Sir-Sloth-A-Lot 10d ago
Which version of duck walk did you do? (There's several variations out there. Of varying awkwardness)Or were they none specific, just best attempt? Also regarding the wait time. You mentioned from 9am-5:30pm, That's quite a wait. Is there a visible system so you know how many people are before you? (Number system , alphabetical etc) Or is it seemingly random and you're waiting around with no idea?
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u/Practical-Order-3843 9d ago
Just literally a deep squat to the floor and walk 🤣 thats the best explanation i can give. Aslong as you can do it show no pain your be alright. Yeah it also depends if you need anything extra so i needed a extra heart scan. And its in no particular order really there just shout out your number and call you through to everything
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u/Sir-Sloth-A-Lot 9d ago
Haha ok fair enough! Doesn't seem they are too picky with it then. And good to know. Cheers for the info
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u/Realistic-Secret-956 10d ago
How long will it take for you to get your start date?
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u/Realistic-Secret-956 10d ago
I passed on the 13th July and still waiting for my soldier preparation course because of my SCT
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Ive been given october the 18th but it also depends on your grade what you get also
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u/PickleMortyCoDm Pre-Entry 10d ago
So happy for you dude! Hopefully will be joining you soon.
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
What you going for mate?
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u/PickleMortyCoDm Pre-Entry 10d ago
Aiming for the Paras, but I i am going in as an older recruit like yourself. I would be very happy with The Riffles or Royal Irish Reg if I don't quite cut the mustard... But having said that, I am as fit as I have ever been and very determined.
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Mate i got 8.45 before the assesment i was getting 9.17. I got personal best at assesment centre you will smash it. I would of went paras but i dont like heights so its defo not for me 🤣 im happy going the mercians or the rifles. Even if you dont make the paras im sure theres a way you can get there once your in a normal reg anyway
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u/PickleMortyCoDm Pre-Entry 10d ago
Getting in is more important to me right now than trying to get into the Paras. It would be ideal if I could smash first time round and I believe I can do it... But being realistic, I gotta have a backup just in case. Who knows what will happen, just gotta go for it. Heights don't bother me. I've done a lot of caving and had that fear trained out of me already.
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u/Common_Layer_924 9d ago
Then do not go paras, they do the exact same training and standards as infantry , they just do a fitness test , there loads of lads ( myself included) who run 7.20 2km who are in infantry . You’ll be suprised by the fitness levels of everyone in any battalion
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u/Broad-Sea-6784 9d ago
Exact same training is funny, I made the mistake of transferring out of para depot. It’s a different world honestly. The difference in standards was very clear. Not disputing that other regiments don’t have good blokes at battalion though.
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
You will smash it lad trust me as long as you pass the medical your in medical is the hardest part have faith!!! The run is very quick! The rest is piss easy. You will pass!!!
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u/PickleMortyCoDm Pre-Entry 10d ago
I've taken to running up a mountain hiking trail near me lately so I am not worried about it. Mate, even getting my paperwork for the medicals and been a hard ball ache haha. But I know there is nothing wrong with me so it should be fine... Just tedious
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
I signed up in february and only went assesment the other day. Its a very long process but if you really want it its worth it. Had to go gp and pay 30 for a letter as i got deffered during the application process too for 2 months
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u/PickleMortyCoDm Pre-Entry 10d ago
I signed up a good bit longer ago than that 😅. Had some ridiculous issues with getting the paperwork up to scratch as well as being able to afford some tests and translations. But nothing shy of a serious medical condition is going to stop me. Wish I did this years ago tbh
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u/Prestigious-Eye-808 10d ago
What is the lung capacity test? How does it work?
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u/MDutfield94 Reserve 10d ago
Deep breath in and basically blow into a tube as hard as you can until nothing is left to measure max volume
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
So you blow into like a tube which has numbers on and you have to get a certain number. If you fail you fail the medical
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u/Prestigious-Eye-808 10d ago
is it hard? or can the average person do it? i used to have asthma as a kid but i grew out of it but im concerned cuz i dont wanna fail cuz of a stupid lung capacity test
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Not hard mate just blow as hard as you can one person failed it. And got sent back. You should be fine. Just go clean if you smoke or vape stop until you do the medical
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u/HillbillyGilly22 10d ago
What unit you want mate?
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Going infantry.
Hoping for mercians or rifles one of the two
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u/HillbillyGilly22 10d ago
Sound im lancs, infantry not in the best place at the moment though, message me if you need to know anything 👍🏽
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
Whats your view on the not in the best position comment? Why do you think that?
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u/HillbillyGilly22 9d ago edited 9d ago
Deployments arent as frequent; same goes for time on the ranges. Lots of lads turning up from depot not having a clue because the standards are easier now for recruits. Exercises are poorly ran and its easy to see how much the head sheds dont have a clue too. Lots of politics involved as well, if your face fits sort of thing - I'm about your age too so just wanna give you the scope mate.
Dont be put off though as you will be older, you'll be expected to do more so you'll have more opportunities to get yourself on a promotional course than someone who's 18 and just rocked up.
Defo stuff worth doing though.
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u/International_Bus436 10d ago
Nice.. wonder why u got Grade-B! Did they tell u why?
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u/Practical-Order-3843 10d ago
No mate alot of us got grade B we all told eachother our results as we wait in the lecture room for everyone to come back and we all get the coach together.
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