Royal Marines Reserve

[TheForceV4]

shouldbworking said:

Returning to the medical, the reserves can be a little different from the regulars because the doctors who carry out the medicals are just normal gp's who are paid to conduct a few medicals, rather than being serving members of the armed forces.

I've seen them use discretion when a candidates bmi was 'off' but they were clearly fit and healthy.

Obviously don't rely on it though Struggling with the run time and the bmi says you've got some work to do first.

At the careers place I was told that they have a Naval doctor who is goes ridiculously by the book. Apparently they sent two lads up who were fit as fiddles who were failed purely on bmi.

Seems a bit OTT imo but rules is rules and all that. Used to do running every other day but have been every day since Friday (dont know why im saying but its nice to tell someone).

[z4chris99]

TheForceV4 said:

Hi Chris is this down at Lympstone?

Re your post above about the doctor my little brother has 4th degree 90% burns to his leg, from top to bottom. he doesnt have toes.. they passed his medical.

yes it is lympstone, I was down there for YO families day last month.

sit up time, and bottom field.

Channel 4 were filming there for an 8 part docu to be aired next year.

Edited by z4chris99 on Tuesday 10th December 11:39

[TheForceV4]

dai1983 said:

Kit is produced or supplied by the lowest bidder so that's what you get. There's also tradition, insurance and fk around factors that have to be considered. God help it if you saw the old itchy blankets!

There's some sense but also some bks on this thread so I'd advise the OP with the following:

- get the bulk off and get your running up.
-Make sure you can pass a PJFT but 3 miles in under 22 mins on the road is your aim.
-body weight exercises only but only to ensure you pass the tests
- learn to climb ropes with the correct technique
- a lot of black lads have trouble swimming. Make sure you can do front crawl, breast stroke and are comfortable treading water. Unless you really can walk on it.
- no running in boots or with loads. You should get built up to it properly and you don't want to get injured before you've started.

I passed out in 2008 and I'm a regular so things are likely to be different for you. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Our officers tend to be sound and down to earth but you do get the odd strange one. A lot of the Army officers and SNCOs I've worked under have been total knob heads. Not because they are toffs but because they don't get bootneck humour or our work ethic.


Edited to add:

-find out what boots they wear at CTC at the moment. Get hold of those EXACT ones and break them in. The old assault boot was horrendous when new and only bearable after a few weeks of use. I got given some after my PRMC

Edited by dai1983 on Monday 9th December 23:45

Edited by dai1983 on Tuesday 10th December 08:07

Thanks for this Dai the 3miles in under 22 is what i'm aiming for as well as getting the weight off. Got 2 minutes to shave off plus a whole heap of Kilograms.

With you on the swimming luckily I have been blessed there as the mum chucked me in the pool aged 5 so im not too bad at it.

Honestly im just crapping it on getting through the medical and the bmi thing.

[dai1983]

minerva said:

The REME seem to be okay... Have you ever been attached to a cavalry unit? They all seem to try to model themselves on George from Blackadder goes forth!

No I've not. I've also worked with the Rifles but they were complete toilets throughout. The REME lads I was also working with were like super humans compared to the Rifles lot. The RE I worked with were also awesome but they were commando trained and more "royaly" than most RM.

I've also spent time at Bordon and Leconsfield. Things fall down there when the Army or RAF try treating experienced Marines like phase 2 recruits.

Think I know the bald PT. He may have also been on a TV show reading out a "Dear John" while in Afgan.

[dai1983]

TheForceV4 said:

Thanks for this Dai the 3miles in under 22 is what i'm aiming for as well as getting the weight off. Got 2 minutes to shave off plus a whole heap of Kilograms.

With you on the swimming luckily I have been blessed there as the mum chucked me in the pool aged 5 so im not too bad at it.

Honestly im just crapping it on getting through the medical and the bmi thing.

That's ok. With the swimming you only have to pass a BST which is easy. The phys sessions and thrashings in the pool are some of the worst things I've ever done though.

You'll be surprised how your running will come along but don't over do it. I ran and swam on alternating days with a body weight exercise circuit every day. Everybody is different and I knew I was crap at press ups hence the practice I put in.

Others on here should advise on how to loose the bulk as I've never been as big so no idea.

[Ruskie]

Level 13 on the bleep test will get you blowing as well. I'm 6ft 4 and at my peak weight of 14s 7lb I was hitting 12.5 max. I was a professional sportsman at the time as well.

Edit to say you can get the bleep test as an app on iTunes with full instructions for setting it up.

[GTIR]

el stovey said:

GTIR said:

I remember my brother telling me about officers when he was in the RM and they sounded like a bunch of typical posh tts with no clue!
I doubt it's changed.

All the ones I know are sharp, high performing, very fit, articulate switched on individuals. They certainly weren't the thickos and no hopers at school or university who couldn't do anything else.

Was your brother an officer? The days of rich people in the forces buying a commission ended a while ago.

Edited by el stovey on Monday 9th December 09:59

He wasn't an officer when he left not sure what he was but it wasn't a ground bloke (whatever they're called)

He was in there a loooong time and I've never really spoken much about it to him, just the officer comment and he talked about going to Lockerbie and picking up the remains of things, not inanimate objects if you get my drift.

Anyway. I'm the one who saved his old uniform and green beret from the tip. Just for his kids to keep really.
He really has zero feelings and is a cold bd. I don't think the RM did that to him though he was always like that!

(I really hope he's not reading this. )

[hidetheelephants]

GTIR said:

He wasn't an officer when he left not sure what he was but it wasn't a ground bloke (whatever they're called)

Non-commissioned officers(NCOs); was he a Sergeant or Corporal?

[GTIR]

hidetheelephants said:

GTIR said:

He wasn't an officer when he left not sure what he was but it wasn't a ground bloke (whatever they're called)

Non-commissioned officers(NCOs); was he a Sergeant or Corporal?

No idea, Corporal maybe?

I'll ask my mum not him.

"What rank were you in the Marines brother?"
"Why?"
"Oh it's just that a car forum I've been on since 2001 need to know...erm..."
"Get out"

[Ayahuasca]

Just have a look at any pictures of him - one stripe on sleeve = lance corporal, two stripes = corporal, three= sergeant , three plus a crown = colour sergeant, red tabs = general.

[andy_s]

Ayahuasca said:

Just have a look at any pictures of him - one stripe on sleeve = lance corporal, two stripes = corporal, three= sergeant , three plus a crown = colour sergeant, red tabs = general.

Tight shorts = PTI

[GTIR]

Ayahuasca said:

Just have a look at any pictures of him - one stripe on sleeve = lance corporal, two stripes = corporal, three= sergeant , three plus a crown = colour sergeant, red tabs = general.

Will do.

There used to pics all over his house of him in various locations, usually holding big guns, so in sure there must be some at home.

[Halb]

andy_s said:

Ayahuasca said:

Just have a look at any pictures of him - one stripe on sleeve = lance corporal, two stripes = corporal, three= sergeant , three plus a crown = colour sergeant, red tabs = general.

Tight shorts = PTI

Swastika = Royal.

[Asterix]

minerva said:

dai1983 said:

minerva said:

Totally agree with all of the above post.....

Right up until he calls me a knobhead!!

;-)

Ha ha sorry. Once your used to doing things a certain way with our officers it's a shock working with the Army that's for sure. Where I work my OC is always a REME Captain and to be honest they've been sound.

The REME seem to be okay... Have you ever been attached to a cavalry unit? They all seem to try to model themselves on George from Blackadder goes forth!

I was REME and did a stint with the Blues & Royals at Knightsbridge for 4 months while I was waiting for my slot at Bordon to come up. I did the full ceremonial ride training but couldn't do the final Pass Out due to not being actual B&R. Those lads work hard - grueling hours. I actually enjoyed it and got on really well with the senior NCOs and Officers as I was a bit of a novelty and they were always happy to have a chat. I also had a lot to prove as they'd all gone through Pirbright and I'd gone through Arborfield for basic, so you couldn't get much more difference as far as discipline and drill standards were concerned. It also helped that I had been an infantry STAB for a year before going regular so I was ok on the Green stuff.

Was a great experience and was brilliant to be posted in central London during the summer - it also made Bordon seem like a walk in the park afterwards - in comparison there was zero BS.

I hope you get through alright OP - the RMs are a good bunch. Worked with a few in Norway.

[Panda76]

okgo said:

Nothing like as well as a marine needs to. Look at the requirements, for a male solider they're easy, 1.5 miles in 14 mins or something laughable. For marines its 1.5 miles in 12.30 and then another 1.5 under 10 mins, a world apart.

How current is that info?
Pretty sure when I was in the army some 16-17 yrs ago if you did the 1.5 in 14 mins you would fail. The target was closer to the 12.30 .
My best time was something like 8.23 on the 1.5 mile bft. Could never get it under that.

[Ayahuasca]

Panda76 said:

How current is that info?
Pretty sure when I was in the army some 16-17 yrs ago if you did the 1.5 in 14 mins you would fail. The target was closer to the 12.30 .
My best time was something like 8.23 on the 1.5 mile bft. Could never get it under that.

For the Parachute Regt iirc it was 9 minutes 30 seconds. In my day you had to do it in boots.

[dai1983]

Ayahuasca said:

For the Parachute Regt iirc it was 9 minutes 30 seconds. In my day you had to do it in boots.

The only time in the Corps that it's done in trainers is on the PRMC. It's always 1.5miles as a squad in 15mins then straight into 1.5 more best effort. The cut off is 12.30 mins plus more dependant on age. If you take longer than 9.30 then your pretty weak.

I was a STAB briefly and we had two laps off a 800m circuit for a BFT. I lapped someone before I crossed the finish line and did a 7.30. I did sub 8 in boots once when I was a grav but now I'm a VM it's more like early 9s!

[Panda76]

Ayahuasca said:

Panda76 said:

How current is that info?
Pretty sure when I was in the army some 16-17 yrs ago if you did the 1.5 in 14 mins you would fail. The target was closer to the 12.30 .
My best time was something like 8.23 on the 1.5 mile bft. Could never get it under that.

For the Parachute Regt iirc it was 9 minutes 30 seconds. In my day you had to do it in boots.

I can't remember if we did it in boots or not, my memory is totally gone,the only things that stand out in my mind is doing it around 8.23 and our plt sgt wanting everyone doing it under 9.30 or he took you out for a remedial run in the evening,which you didn't want as he was a fitness mad man and would beast the st out of you lol.

7.30 is a really good time dai , are you part greyhound ?

Edited by Panda76 on Sunday 15th December 12:37

[dai1983]

Panda76 said:

7.30 is a really good time dai , are you part greyhound ?

Edited by Panda76 on Sunday 15th December 12:37

I was 21, 75kg and in trainers. The fastest bloke in my department cruises in at mid 8s in boots and he's 45 but he does do triathlons, marathon de sables etc

[TheForceV4]

Right. Just in case anyone is interested a quick update.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy but this is something else.

Recruit test: Pass
Interview: Pass
Had my sight test

Medical is on 4th of June and I'm bricking it.

Weight is almost there I'm 101.5kg need to be at 100kg so doable.

I notice I lose 1kg through sweating after a run so if all else fails a run on the day!

Does anyone have any input as to what normally fails you on Medical? High bp? Heart murmur etc?

The weight off is destroying me, I don't think I'm meant to be this light! But I get why they go by bmi now.....the runs get easier.

I'm trying to get pjft ready as I hope to God I pass medical.

I'm running pretty much everyday now, each day I get a little closer but it still feels like miles off! Got the first part of the run licked it's the 10:30 that's unreachable at the minute....The 2% incline really does make the difference.

Sorry to bleat on but you guys are the only lot interested :-) :-) :-)