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Royal Marines or Para's?

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Ieuan7
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Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Ieuan7 »

Age old question; Which should I choose?

Really am torn between the two. I'm trying to work out which would be better suited to me, and the answer changes depending on the day!

Il give you some stats;

(Note: These are without training, coming off the back of a few lazy months/knee injury, what I'm currently at)

Age: 19
Height: 5'9
Weight: 63KG
Push-ups: 55 approx
Sit-ups: 65-70 approx
Pull-ups/heaves: 15
Squats: 70KG weight (4 Sets of 7, Very Cautious with my knee but going good!)

(haven't ever timed myself on distance specific runs to be honest, at least not accurately anyways)

I have previously applied for the Marines, and failed the medical due to a dislocated knee I suffered about 6-8 months before the medical (Playing Rugby) and was told to come back in 6 months, and train hard during...I lost my way, fitness dropped, weight dropped etc ..And never returned!

I'm a good swimmer, and heights don't particularly bother me either.

My main concern is I'm not physically strong enough...I can throw my own body-weight around like no tomorrow, but I am a slim build (Pretty much perfect for Marathon length yomping lol)

At first glance you'd laugh if I said the above, but I'm actually pretty strong for my size, just am I strong enough for either of these two forces?


(side info: Il be starting training with an Ex-Marine in the coming months (Friend up the road, how convenient!), after Iv put the weight back on, he thinks Il do it...But I think having a strangers perspective on my stats is always good, what do you think?)
Ieuan7
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Ieuan7 »

Edit: Currently focusing on Gym work & Bulking/Gaining Weight, I understand there is a 65KG weight requirement for RMC which I don't have any real worries about achieving. Not sure about requirements for the Para's though.
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mike.dt
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by mike.dt »

As far as I know there's no minimum weight for the Parachute reg. It's really tough deciding which job to go for when you've had little or no experience of them, I know how you feel! Try to gather as much information on what the job actually involves once you're out of training. I'm a firm believer that you can achieve anything you want, so when it comes to training, you'll be fine if you want it enough. Fitness wise you're doing alright, you need to get yourself timed on your runs. Download the 'Runkeeper' app if you have a smart phone, its free and very comprehensive. If not a £10 argos digi watch will have a timer on it so pick yourself one of those up. You're pretty much the exact same build as I am and a similar level of fitness if you're running your 1.5 in an average of 9.30-10 mins and banging out those press ups in one hit etc. I believe I wasn't this fit when I first turned up for my basic training and passed it. Just focus on NOT injuring yourself :P.

As a royal marine you might be doing tours in the gulf of aden boarding skiffs and combating piracy. Something you won't do as a para, but you will jump out of an aircraft. They are two completely different roles and serve different purposes. Maybe ask in a recruiting office about an RIC (regimental insight course) for the parachute regiment. I'm not sure they do these for the marines, but there's no harm in asking. either way it will help you to decide.

Hope this helps mate, and good luck whatever you decide!
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Ieuan7
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Ieuan7 »

Thanks for the reply mate :)

Yeah, at the moment I can push around 55 push-ups out without stopping in around a minute (Going balls to the walls, and paying for it afterwards lol)

BEFORE I dislocated my knee, and was really training for the Marines, I could push about 25-30 one-handed push-ups and around 100 push-ups out, I was in great shape and really ready for it!

...But lost the strength and confidence!

I actually visited an Army careers office first, and enquired about the Para's and the bloke said he would not help me with an application as they would 'Brake me' which I found REALLY disturbing/strange/annoying considering my fitness level, and my ability to do double the basic entry requirements...I lost heart here.

Then I visited the RMC's and spoke to another guy, who was really good, encouraging and set me up with the medical & written assessments, so had a much better all round experience with the Marines..

Really is a tough decision! (Leaning towards RMC when I put the weight back on!)
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mike.dt
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by mike.dt »

The guy at the army careers office sounds like a complete lunatic! Don't really blame you if that the kind of mongspawn you dealt with! Make sure you do what YOU want and not what others think is best for you etc etc. It's your life and your career at the end of the day. I've struggled with a knee injury and had to have surgery which completely messed my fitness up, getting it back hasn't taken too long, it's surprised me thats for sure. You'll do well by the sounds of it, just don't get injured and enjoy it! :)
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daz89
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by daz89 »

Think of all the SQ's you can specialise in with the marines, you'll be working with a great bunch of lads and you will get to enjoy Lympstone for 32 weeks! What more could you want from life!

Seriously there's lads who have passed out that had far worse scores than that, you do really need some timed runs under you're belt though.. How is your running generally?

Any questions fire away mate I'm happy to help!
Ieuan7
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Ieuan7 »

Yeah the guy in the Army careers office did annoy me, and in all honesty did not to do his job well!!! (encouragement)

Yeah I totally agree...I went to college for a few weeks (Recently) and just could not find the motivation or drive to do it. I'd prefer being cold, soaking wet, and working my ass off for something I REALLY want, like to right to wear a Green beret! (or Maroon, yet!)

Daz89; Yeah I'd like to think that physically I have it locked-down, or at least I have the ability to crack it! ..Running is not up to scratch at the moment to be honest. I'm currently bulking/gaining weight, so avoiding cardio to hold onto those precious calories until I put some decent weight back on lol

And cheers mate if think of any I will!
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Tab »

If you can't make your mind up which unit to join could I suggest a flip of a coin and let lady luck chose. Which ever one the coin chose for you and if you lucky to pass the test for, you will make friends for life. I had a family member who chose to spend most of his life in the RM and he had no complaints, and I was luckier I was in the maroon machine and had a great time.
Ieuan7
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Ieuan7 »

As bizzare as that sounds, i think I may do that budd

..Just did, best out of 3...Per Mare Per Terram!

I look forward to the challenge!!
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by B Gordon »

Hi. guys I'm from jersey in the channel island's and I'm going to Go for the para's.

I have my first interview at the end of this week, does anybody have suggestions on what I should learn and be prepared to answer. I received an email on what I should learn (understand) do you think I should keep going in depth with this or learn different things (history, famous operations etc.) or just stick to the things they've sent me in the email to learn?

also I've put my fitness levels below would you say there any good or what area's should i work on? (if not all)

Any reply would be a great help thank you.


Fitness...
1.5 mile run 9.09 mins tredmill/9.23 road
14 underarm pull up's
50 push up's 1.04 mins
50 sit up's 1.48 mins
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mike.dt
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by mike.dt »

Hi B Gordon. Your fitness is at a good level as well mate. Just keep it up until your selection date comes around and you should breeze it! As for your interview, i'd learn as much as you can about your chosen regiment. Only use the info the emailed you as a guideline and really dig up all the info you can get and commit it to memory. If you are really committed to joining then you will want to learn all you can about it anyway right? They're looking for you to prove that your keen, you want to know enough to be able to have a fluent conversation about it in the recruiting office not just give one word answers about where you do phase 2 etc. That should impress them, another good one is to ask them a question about something you couldn't find out about on the web eg: "I want to go for the pathfinders, but I couldn't find out whether you have to do a course for that or not, do you know if you do sir?" that will show that your still hungry to know even more :P Lastly, do not say "I think" at the end of any answers you give, this will show that you have a doubt in your mind. Even if you do, just go with it and blag it, if you say I think, he will go into more detail to see if you actually do know or not and you'll be rumbled! The chances are he doesn't even know the answer himself, he just wants you to say "I don't know".

Good luck mate :)
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B Gordon
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by B Gordon »

Thank's for you'r input.... helped more than what I thought it would.

Interview went great. answered all but 2 questions with ease. The question that really got me was what happens after week 14 (I know that phase 1 & 2 are together for Para's with 2 week's driving test's at the end).... I ramble on, apart from P company test week with the 8 event's (7 scored out of 10) what does happen in those last 10 week's?, do they in more depth with the 1st 14 week's I honestly don't know if anyone could help....

Back to the interview he's going to put me forward for The Parachute Regiment insight course (PRIC) to go away for a few day's. does anyone know if this is done with other people doing the PRIC, with recruit's currently going through they 30 week's or with who....?

Once again any response would be a great help.

Thank you.
Ieuan7
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Ieuan7 »

The insight course will be with people exactly like you, those interested in joining.

It's a chance for them to get a good look at your abilities, and to make sure you can hold your own etc

It's nothing to worry about mate, you'll do things like 'bleep tests' etc

Make sure you put 110% effort in, you NEED to nail the first impression!!

Good luck mate, keep us updated here!
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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by Rover »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf8obXd2xP8

Royal Marine Recruit Troop 159.
Finished 32 weeks training in September 2013.

Perhaps give you more of an insight.

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Re: Royal Marines or Para's?

Post by steve ossie »

Just want to say GOOD LUCK in what ever you choose. The only thing I would be concerned about would be the knee. Jumping with the Para boys could really screw it up I have known a few lads discharged because of there knees. Regardless you will be tabbing day and night with packs on or off, so it is going to get a hammering anyway. Had the privilege to work with both of these crack units. Good luck and hope you have a great career. www.steveosbornebritisharmy.com
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