Update two

ill get to the god dam exiting bit in the post after, which will be the last stage in the joining the para's but ill get this bit out the way first and do it in order,

Third Stage
CIC, The Combat Infantryman's Course, Catterick, North Yorkshire
28 week course, The course is similar to the Standard Entry Combat Infantryman's Course but also includes Pre Parachute Selection (PPS), more commonly known as P Coy.

(extract from the British Army website)
CIC concentrates on three core skills: shooting, fieldcraft and fitness. However, many other skills are contained in the programme. These include signals, first aid, map reading, driver training and lessons towards an NVQ in security. There will also be time for recreational activities such as Adventure Training, paintballing, high wire assault courses and sport. This is where ill keep training until they consider me fit enough to pass PPS and put me up for it roughly after 19-20 weeks, most arent expected to pass first time.

PPS or P coy, is a week long test, consisting of 8 tests, this is from wikipedia but nothing seems to disagree with it so far.

10 miler
A 10-mile (16 km) march conducted as a squad over undulating terrain. Each candidate carries a 35 lb (16 kg) bergen (not including water) and a rifle. The march is currently to be completed in under 1 hour 50 minutes (TA candidates have 2 hours).

Trainasium
A unique assault course set 60 feet (18 m) above the ground, designed to test a candidate's ability to both overcome fear and follow simple orders at considerable height. This is the only event which is a straight pass or fail; all the other events are scored. The total score required to pass is known only to the P Coy staff.

Log Race
A team event, in which eight men carry a log (a telegraph pole) weighing 60 kg over 1.9 miles (3.1 km) of undulating terrain. Candidates wear a helmet and webbing. This is supposed to be one of the hardest events.

2 Mile March
An individual effort over 2 miles (3.2 km) of undulating terrain, carrying a 35 lb (16 kg) bergen (not including water), rifle, combat jacket, and helmet. Regular candidates have 18 minutes, TA candidates have 19 minutes to complete the run.

Steeplechase
A 1.8-mile (2.9 km) cross-country run, followed by an assault course. Candidates are under a time limit to complete the event.Time limit is 19 mins after that you lose a point evey 15 sec

Milling
In this event, each candidate is paired with another of similar weight and build, and is given 60 seconds to demonstrate 'controlled physical aggression' in a milling contest - similar to boxing, except neither winning, losing, nor skill are pre-requisites of passing. Candidates are instead scored on their determination, while blocking and dodging result in points deducted. Candidates now wear head protection as well as boxing gloves.

20 Mile Endurance March
A 20-mile (32 km) squadded march over diverse types of terrain. Candidates carry a 35 lb (16 kg) bergen (not including water) and a rifle. The march must be completed in under four hours and 30 minutes. TA candidates do not participate in this event, due to their reduced opportunity to prepare for the course..

Stretcher Race
Candidates are divided into teams of 16 men, and have to carry a 175 lb (79 kg) stretcher over a distance of 5 miles (8.0 km), each individual candidate wearing a helmet, webbing and a slung rifle. No more than four candidates carry the stretcher at any given time, swapping round at regular intervals so that all candidates carry the stretcher for a certain distance.


The prize, for those who are successful, is the award of the coveted 'maroon beret' , meaning id look pretty swarve but this isnt the good bit, the next post is.... BRILLIANT