Well I Tried..

[Headsnap]

Went for my pre-selection for the Marines today and carked it. Not miserably mind you, but failure is still failure, and surprise surprise it was the pull-ups that knackered me. I managed one and a half of the six they wanted before my viscera slowly started climbing up my oesophagus necessitating a swift drop from the bar.

It wasn't all bad, the sit-ups went well and the mile and a half went a lot quicker than I expected it to, just those fucking pull-ups. They gave me a lot of advice and a little factsheet for building my upper body strength which is good, so it's back to the drawing board for the moment, although it could've been a lot worse I suppose 🙂

 

[subZer0]

It's damn hard. But maybe now you know what to expect and improve on, should you want to go for it another time.

But nice try mate, hopefully better luck next time - and thanks for letting us know how you got on.

 

[drew70]

Sounds like you probably did better than most and only fell short by a small margin. The fact that they gave you the literature and advice seems to indicate they're interested in you.

I must confess though, when I saw your thread title, "Well, I tried.." for a moment I thought you were referring to the triangle choke on the hyena.

 

[lespieds]

Except for those with serious health problems or those who are just to overweight, I always thought they military would train a person to be up to physical par?

I was in the army years ago and those who fell short, they really got a lot of extra training.

The army is more into pushups than pullups, but anyways, I would say work at it until you can do about 7 or 8 on even a bad day. It doesn't sound like much more than 6 but it gives a safe margin.

 

[Goodieluver]

Except for those with serious health problems or those who are just to overweight, I always thought they military would train a person to be up to physical par?

I was in the army years ago and those who fell short, they really got a lot of extra training.

The army is more into pushups than pullups, but anyways, I would say work at it until you can do about 7 or 8 on even a bad day. It doesn't sound like much more than 6 but it gives a safe margin.

True but people have to fit the certain body type to make it in. I recall my friend havin to diet like crazy and run daily to make the weight\body fat requirement for the navy

 

[Redmage]

Except for those with serious health problems or those who are just to overweight, I always thought they military would train a person to be up to physical par?

Up to a point, that's true. The military doesn't expect most recruits to be in combat-ready condition when they apply. They do have standards, though. You don't have to be "fit to fight" when you apply, but neither are they willing to put in more than a certain amount of training to get you up to where they need you.

Exactly how strict the standards are depends on the service, and on how difficult they're finding it to meet their recruitment goals. The US Marines and the UK's Royal Marines are considered "shock troops." Their numbers are relatively small and their requirements are quite high. Elite units like Rangers, SAS, SEALS, and Force Recon are even higher, but you have to already be in the service and trained up to basic military standards before you can even apply for these.

Headsnap, sorry to hear it. But I can tell you from experience that the second time is easier. Going in you don't have any idea what it'll be like. Now that you know, and you know you already have their measure in most areas, the next time won't be nearly as tough. Hit that Crossfit and do what the Marines recommended. By the way, Crossfit has several recommendations for improving pullups on their site, and you can even talk with military trainers about it on their message boards.

 

[Headsnap]

Aye this is the Marines though, their standards are 10 times higher than any regiment of the Army and that starts even before you're selected. You need to be able to be at a certain level of fitness before they'll take you on, and from there they build you up until you're at the standard they need. The Army's different, especially if you're going into one of the Corps, in fact given my current level of fitness I could probably walk into the AFCO and join one of the Corps, pass selection and mong it through basic no problem. But I don't want to do that. I want me a green beret so's I can go to Iraq, get captured by Iran and make £500,000 selling my story to a sleazy tabloid, then leave, get a job as a close protection contractor and earn £1,500 a week for wandering around Baghdad with an MP5. Sod the challenge, the prestige of being a Marine and all that sort of stuff. I want me a £500,000 tabloid deal.

 

[subZer0]

LMAO. If only..

Yep. Selection is an easy ride compared to what you have to do in basic.

They tell you it'll take 12-18 months to fully recover from basic training in the Royal Marines.

But then, it's even more with SAS, SBS. Elite forces require elite strength, determination, stamina.

Oh, and a desire to step out of a perfectly serviceable aeroplane with a bag of fabric strapped to your back. Into a jungle. Or into the sea.

Etc...

 

[Knox The Hatter]

One day, you will be a Royal Marine.

You will be a good one.

 

[venray]

Hats off for havin a go at it......

Better than most would do...
😀