Super Fit-passing The Fitness Test For The Parachute Regiment

As most people are aware, the British parachute regiment is one of the best military Defense units out there. They did not get that way by accident. Their motto, which means ready for anything, says it all. If you are not fit enough to complete a task that is put in front of you you are risking your own life and the lives of friends. You must be physically prepared for any situation or you literally risk death. It is not surprising then that the fitness test that is part of the selection process for the parachute regiment is grueling and challenging and designed to rule out those people who are not up to the job. It is passable though, if you are prepared.

Part of being prepared is to be aware of the types of things you are going to have to do to pass this test. First of all you are going to be doing a lot of running. The fitness test for any military regiment in the UK is likely to require at least a two-mile run. For the parachute regiment it is likely to be much longer and you are likely to be competing against other candidates. It is vital that you have put in training for running distance at speed. No other kind of training will adequately prepare you for this specific test.

It is likely that this test will be timed and for many people that can be worrying, because it is not something they are used to. The trick is to make sure you are used to it. In training you should time yourself and make sure you can set a pace that gets the job done to the best of your ability. This will take away a lot of anxiety on test day because you will be completely aware of how hard to push yourself.

There is also the dreaded beep test, which you may remember from school. It is necessary to be good at this if you want into the parachute regiment. This involves running between two points that are twenty meters apart. The pace you have to go is indicated by beeps and slowly gets faster. Each minute you are able to keep up with the beeps is a level. Obviously this is predominantly a fitness test but improving your technique in turning can improve your performance. This may be just the edge you need to get in front of the competition.

As well as running and sprinting the test for the parachute regiment is likely to include sit-ups and press-ups and other strength exercises. These will prepare you for parachute regiment training if you make it through the selection process.

If you want some tips and hints on how to prepare for this stepping-stone to the British special forces then you need to consult people who have been there and passed with flying colors. It is not easy but it can be done with the right training.