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Oooo,this should be good,Bergan Baiting is Top entertainement,not that anyone has managed it yet!

Lets give you a strater for 10 banjo.
When I was in '79-'83
Unit Recce Troop members, so 32 x3
Unit Survielance Troop members 32 x3
Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre???
SBS???
Other odds and sods for example, at least 2 RM Dog Handlers at 45 Commando managed to get on to and qualify as Paras, because they spotted the advice of courses available on Coy Orders while the rest of the Unit was in Norway.

Uh Marines actually LIKE girls

Originally Posted by neversurrender6

Uh Marines actually LIKE girls

No sweetie, they dress like girls.

Originally Posted by NZ_Bootneck

Lets give you a strater for 10 banjo.
When I was in '79-'83
Unit Recce Troop members, so 32 x3
Unit Survielance Troop members 32 x3
Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre???
SBS???
Other odds and sods for example, at least 2 RM Dog Handlers at 45 Commando managed to get on to and qualify as Paras, because they spotted the advice of courses available on Coy Orders while the rest of the Unit was in Norway.

There we go, firm numbers.

Assuming the above relates to all three Cdo's, your looking at what, 300 maybe 500 blokes across the whole Bde (I have no idea how many SB or ML's there are so I'm guessing there).

I did three winters in Norway and all of 1 Para went on the AWT (Cdo) course as part of the AMF(L) role, but I'd never claim that we had more artic trained blokes than the Marines.

Just a question to you Royals.

When earning your wings, do you have to do the full course (as in the arduous test week) or just the parachuting course, as the commando course qualifies as arduous?

To answer the original post, here's what they have to do.

10 miler
A 10-mile (16 km) march conducted as a squad over undulating terrain. Each candidate carries a 35 lb (16 kg) Bergen and a rifle. The march is currently to be completed in 1 hour 50 minutes (TA candidates have 2 hours).

Trainasium
A unique assault course set several metres above the ground, to test a candidates' determination and ability to overcome fear. 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, where 8 men carry a log (a telegraph pole) weighing 60 kg over 6 miles (9.7 km) of undulating terrain. This is reckoned 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) Bergan (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.

Milling
In this event, candidates are paired with another candidate of similar size and build, and have 60 seconds to demonstrate 'controlled physical aggression' in a milling contest, similar to boxing, except neither winning or losing, nor skill are pre-requisites of passing; candidates are instead scored on determination, and blocking and dodging results in points being deducted. Candidates now wear head protection, and boxing gloves.

Endurance March
A 20-mile (32 km) march as a squad over a 20-mile (32 km) course. Candidates are carrying a 35 lb (16 kg) Bergen and a rifle; the march must be completed in 4 and a half hours. 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 webbing and a helmet. No more that 4 candidates carry the stretcher at any given time, swapping round at regular intevals so that all candidates carry the stretcher for a certain distance.

And for the commando course

The Endurance Course
Starting early in the morning trainees must complete a two mile course across rough terrain, which includes a host of obstacles including culverts, deep pools and an underwater tunnel. Then they run four miles back to Lympstone. At the camp they then fire their weapon on the range. They must achieve six out of ten shots on the target, otherwise they will have to do it again. All this they must do carrying full fighting order (31Ibs including weapon) Time: 73 minutes.

The Tarzan Assault Course
The Tarzan course is an aerial confidence test, which starts with a death slide and includes numerous obstacles high up in the trees. It culminates with trainees climbing a 30ft wall. The Assault course incorporates a dozen or more obstacles ending with a 12ft wall. Prior to taking the Tarzan Assault Course Commando test both the Tarzan course and the Assault course will have been completed separately earlier on in training but now they are joined together and the whole test finishes when the Recruit reaches the top of the 30ft wall. All this must be done carrying full fighting order (31lbs including weapon). Time: Recruits 13 minutes.

The Nine Mile Speed March
This test requires the Recruits to 'speed' march a total distance of 9 miles in 90 minutes (10 minutes per mile) carrying full fighting order and rifle (31lbs), Both Recruits and Officers must run as a squad or troop. Time: 90 minutes.

The 30 Mile March
This test consists of a 30-mile march or 'yomp' across Dartmoor carrying full fighting order, safety equipment and weapon. Starting early in the morning both Officers and recruits are split into teams or syndicates to complete the test in the time permitted. Time: 8 hours.

Originally Posted by Touchstone

When earning your wings, do you have to do the full course (as in the arduous test week) or just the parachuting course, as the commando course qualifies as arduous?

OK, I'll bite

Training at CTC constitutes arduous so there is no requirement for PPSC, which is a chunk less than AACC.

I'm not convinced it's valid to compare the two test periods, since they each come at the end of very different courses; the products of which are different beasts.

Anyway, as to the numbers of para qualified RMs. There are lots of RMs who have done the parachute course, but I'm not convinced that 3 Cdo Bde has more qualified personnel than the Parachute Regiment, although if you bring in SBS, FPG, SFSG and 18Sigs RM Sqn plus all the qualified people elsewhere you might get close.

Small, genuine question.

When was the last time that the Parachute Regiment actually parachuted into combat?