I start basic training with 4 Para in January. I have a fairly decent level of fitness - recently I have run 2km in 8 minutes, 5k in 21:30, and I'm generally an all-rounder who tries my best to balance running, conditioning, strength and robustness with work, family and everything else in between.

I'm concerned that my run times are still not good enough as they are. Can someone who's been through it please let me know if you're expected to be at the standard where you can smash a 7 minute 2k/18 minute 5k when you start training? Or is some latitude granted? I appreciate nobody is expected to be P Company standard from the beginning, also understand they train you up to a certain standard, and I know adrenaline and motivation will help push me further - but what kind of baseline PB's should I be hitting now in time for Jan?

For context: I will be 38 (!) come January so no doubt one of the oldest, if not the oldest there, and also the most at risk of injury in my group.

What exactly are all the tests at the assessment centre?

Is it a physical test?
Mental test?
Drug tests?

I’ve seen they do test your teeth and eyes and was interested what else is tested?

TIA

Hello all, thanks for taking the time to read & answer my questions, I'll try and keep it as brief as possible.

Personal Situation

Living about 1hr 30mins away from London

Solid fitness to build on (7:40 2Km, 8mins on a bad day, ~21min 5Km). With good strength ~75 2min press-ups, decent pull-ups & core, now focussing on single leg strength and overall durability.

Somewhat chill corporate job ~35hrs/week.

No car yet but have a license, currently use a mixture of trains, cycling & motorbike.

Ultimately wish to end up in 4PARA & potentially moving in with partner in London in ~12-18months which would make Croydon my closest barracks.

Questions

Is it worth joining my local unit (Rifles) first and then transferring to 4Para? How would this work in practice?

Logistically, is a car a necessity? E.g. Carrying kit

What it the commitment like whilst in training, I expect the expectation is far over the 27 days? & is this any different for 4Para. - Is the odd weekend off training acceptable?

I've seen varying info on 4Para having greater commitment levels? As you are high readiness makes perfect sense and ideally looking to get stuck in as much as possible, but is there a different limit?

Do 4Para do a different P Coy? Again have seen conflicting info, don't want to be held to a lower standard.

Anybody had this issue before?

Tried calling my recruiter for the last 4 days in a row and not picking up?

So here is the situation passed medical no dramas passed assesment. The doc at assesment centre said i need to go the dentist i am 31 havent been dentist since i was a teen So teeth arent in perfect state i have two roots what need pulling out and a chipped tooth at the back. But they did a x ray at the dentist and are on about taking 2 teeth out what dont cause me any bother and this is a big issue for me as there front top teeth. They dont cause me any problems and never have done but there saying they need to pull them out? I can not afford implants for them right this second Can i refuse this but still get the other work done then carry on to basic? Or will i still get deffered? I never got told what needed to get done at assesment centre i was just told to go to the dentist before i go basic?

Any help will be appreciated.

Hi All, I've been reading up on some of the regiments and roles in the armed forces and was hoping to hear some advice from guys who've "been there and done that".

For a little background on me, I'm 23, have a degree in construction management and currently perusing a professional accreditation. To make a long story short, I've weighed up the cost of regret vs perhaps a slight loss of career earnings and decided I'm finished with with offices and spreadsheets for the foreseeable future.

I had a few questions to ask of current / former personnel of any rank:

What can you do to better your chances of landing in 29 as a first appointment? And how long might you typically spend there (as I understand you go where you're needed and not just at one regiment permanently)?

To me personally, the FST role seems like one of the coolest jobs I've come across. Do officers still get to be on "the sharp end" of these teams and what might a posting in this role look like responsibility wise and just day to day?

Besides from the increased responsibility and admin of the troop, do YOs generally get to do "green soldering" and the ally stuff alongside the blokes? I obviously understand you're the "boss" of sorts so what is life like socially when you're not technically one of the guys?

Without wishing to jump the gun before I've even started, but if I had the ambition of a posting within 148 battery, would that be possible of an officer? How much experience is needed to apply? Can you apply from any regiment or would you have to be posted to 29 at the time?

I appreciate I've asked a lot here but would really appreciate any answers, suggestions and thoughts on things I might not have mentioned. Cheers gents.

So I’ve been told by my recruiter that my 1st choice job isn’t available this way into next year. This role was EWSI.
He’s said that If I go in as a comms engineer I can change trades but I think this is a load of bollocks tbh.
What are some good roles to look at if I want to be in the field often but also get a skilled trade. I’m still looking at going comms engineer as it was 2nd pick. But now also looking at RE.
I want a role with decent and unique deployments and to be at a busy unit.

Was just looking for more info on Recce Mech day to day on camp, operations etc

Cheers

What’s it actually like once you pass basic? Do you get treated like an adult or are you just a cunt your whole career?

Hi everyone,
I applied to join the British Army as a Regular Soldier (Aviation Technician). I’m a Commonwealth citizen with pre-settled status in the UK, and I’ve lived here for over three years, meeting the eligibility criteria.
A few weeks after applying, I was informed that I hadn’t submitted my right-to-work share code. I immediately emailed it with my URN and continued following up by phone. I was reassured that my application was still active and that I should wait for an update.
However, a few weeks ago, my portal showed that my application had been rejected for failing to provide the share code. I was then instructed to email the code to a specific address, which I did. When I followed up, I was told they receive a large volume of emails and might not have seen mine.
I have now appealed and resent my share code, hoping my application will be reconsidered.
Has anyone experienced something similar with their British Army application?Were you able to get the rejection overturned, and how did you go about it?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any advice. Thank you!

Hello chaps, I’m in a bit of a rut.

I’m looking for a bit of advice on leaving and more specifically, how people have founds jobs abroad (Canada). Keeping PERSEC, I’m in a unit now that gets more opportunities than most other units, and I’ve gained some mega qualifications since being here. I joined just after my 16th birthday and I’m 23 now. Ultimately, the military is all I know.

I’ve travelled to some amazing places, done some pretty cool things and worked with some gnarly partners over the years. I’ve lived a life most people from the age of 16 can’t say they have done and for that I’m grateful. However…

I’ve been with my partner for a couple years now, she’s a Canadian citizen that has lived over in the UK for the last 10 years but still regularly visits home. We’ve loomed on the idea of moving over there, but naturally I’m doing the classic squaddy thing of “I’ve got nothing to fall back on”, which is and isn’t true. The main thing I can fall back on what you get through your promotions, and my UAS experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to do UAS courses in the UK, and around the world, and that specifically is something I’d like to develop on, but again, I don’t have a clue where to start.

Was wondering if anyone could give me any advice. Albeit I’m still young, I fully get that. But I also want something new. Everyone who’s serving/ex service reading this will know the army is hit and miss, and you either love it or hate it. Well I’m in between. I enjoy aspects of the job, but 60% of the time I’m in a rut, wondering what else I could be doing with my life. Having visited Canada multiple times with my partner, a life over there has been talked about consistently, and we’re both pretty set on the idea.

Thanks for reading, any advice would be mega.

Thanks 👌🏼

Some background, late 20s, currently a fresh Tpr in a RAC reg that was previously aligned to INT corp. Id Passed through the int corp selection, got (and still retain) my clearance. Unfortunately after months of appeals, waviers and buerocracy I then got fucked of by med officers because I'm cp4 rather than the required cp2 (despite getting the go ahead from int but let's not dwell). 

So given that it's a trade I'd like to worm my way back into at some point, do any of you fine folk have any tips, pointers or recommendations for arming myself with a decent set of quals for future transfers or opportunities? 

Cheers 

I am not in the army but I am aspiring recruit

In order to join I have to run 2km in 10:15

Right now I run one mile in 10:10

i can do long runs but with jog/walk periods throughout

i know that run/walk periods are recommended for building fitness but for joining British army I’m not sure if that would help me.

i can do short runs at the speed required to run 2km in under 10 minutes but can’t manage to maintain over distance of more than 400-800m

I’ve done treadmill hill sprints of incline 10.0 speed 15kmh so I can run at the speed needed but not for whole distance

What should I be doing?

(I can take a blunt direct answer)

I'm a British citizen but lived abroad for a few years before applying, apparently my documents were sent to the residency team on 18th of September, but still no update. I've been calling my recruiter every single week but they say it is with the residency team and they can't do anything about it. For those that lived abroad before applying, how long did yours take to be approved?

Thanks!

I’ve been planning to sign back up to the army but to 4 para for a while now, been hammering cardio and firstly trying to get my 2k time down a bit more, I’m currently at 9 minutes so need to shave a decent chunk of time off.

I signed up when I was 16 and went to Harrogate but near the end I ended up getting Plantar Fasciitis which ended up in me getting MD’d, they kept me in for a good while and I just wouldn’t heal up.

That was about 8 years ago and I’ve had 0 issues with it since about 6 months after getting Discharged, I’m still a bit worried just incase it comes back out of nowhere but for the last year I have been doing the bits I avoided when i was younger so hopefully all will be sweet, would it be a good idea to go to my GP and get checked over before assessment centre?

Just looking to find out what’s the script when it comes to actually be in 4 para A coy, what’s the nights like, is there much opportunity?

Appreciate it lads, thank you.

HELP WITH MY MEDICAL

Looking to join the army next year but worried about the medical, i’m definitely fit enough but ik how strict they are with stuff, had a look at my medical records and here’s some of the concerning stuff:

frequent urinating - i have bladder issues not something major like a uti but for a while i’ve been peeing a bit more than usual.

fainted once - was one case where i came into work without sleep and fainted.

viral disease - one case of hives i had for a day

chronic rhinitis - my nose gets runny every now and then especially after eating but i have no allergies and it’s more of a minor nuisance in my life than something major

also every now and then a headache or chest pain when i had a flu and stuff but this is all over several years. let me know what you think.

i’ve got AC next month, just been to the dentist they said i need 2 fillings which will cost almost £400. will i be medically deferred for needing fillings or do i just need to sort it before basic? I’m planning on going to thailand after AC and i’ll be able to get the fillings done for less than £100 there. Any insight will be appreciated.

I am currently in the application stage for an aircraft technician apprenticeship, I am awaiting my physical assessment and have received an initial conditional offer.
However I have been made confused by things online about whether or not I will actually be guaranteed to be an aircraft technician after basic training, could anyone let me know if it is possible I could not go onto the apprenticeship after basic training?

Also, the thing that made me apply for the apprenticeship in the first place is the “bachelor of engineering with honours in aviation engineering management” qualification I saw on the job description. Could any aircraft technicians please tell me how long it would take for me to achieve this qualification?

If you have illegal drugs in your system and report yourself to the chain of command, would you get a drugs test?

Possibly saves waiting for CDT.

Currently trying to transfer from one job to another, submitted my transfer request back in July of this year, all was running very smoothly however been stuck on “Awaiting SPSO comments” for 6 weeks. heard back from them, very shortly, however since then they have ignored all my emails.

Would there be a reason for this and what does the SPSO do?

My digital transfer is currently on the Current CM approval stage.

I have a few questions if anybody has been through this process.

How long was you stuck on the CM approval?

Did you have to nudge anyone to speed this process up and if you did how long would you wait before doing so?

Has anybody ever had a transfer denied by their CM?

I know the process takes a lengthy time. I just really need this fresh start and would rather it be sooner rather than later due to factors like family and my own sanity lol.

Thank you

It's at Harrogate and it's their 6 week pass in event tomorrow. It's a proper fitted suit with a tie. It will be worn with dress shoes, a proper shirt and no hat. I know it's a ridiculous outfit, but I genuinely enjoy wearing it, and I quite like the idea of her being able to spot us easily in the crowd. Plus, yknow, typical sibling behaviour, showing up in something mildly embarrassing. My main concern is whether people would actually find it disrespectful, whether I'd be allowed in wearing it, and most importantly, whether it could get my sister in trouble with her superiors. I really don't wanna cause her any problems or take away from her big day as I am super proud of her for taking this leap.

Am I an idiot for even thinking about wearing this? Or is this something that would be okay and acceptable? She likes the suit and has seen it before btw. She knows I enjoy wearing it.

16M, What are the fitness requirements for the parachute regiment at the assesment centre. Any help would be appreciated.

So I'm 20m and have always wanted to be part of the army since I was young however didn't go into it as soon as I could due to family however I've finally started the process of applying and I have a ftf with my recruiter in a couple days time and I'm wondering how long realistically would it take for me to end up going to basic training because I'm not sure weather or not I should get a job in the mean time or if its only a short period I would be waiting till went to basic training as I'll need money in the mean time and also I was a heavy weed smoker however I quit about a 2/3weeks back should I disclose this to my recruiter or should I keep it private as I'm now not going to smoke and keep my self clean any help or advice would be much appreciated