Paratrooper Selection Process

With my engineering background I applied to join the Corp of Royal Engineers. I enlisted in 1972 and was sent to Cove Farnborough at the No1 Training Regiment R.E. After around 16 weeks at Cove we had a visit from a Sergeant and Corporal from 9 Independent Parachute Squadron R.E. who required new recruits to join 9 Para Squadron. The Sgt was called Tom Downie who was a charismatic character with a roguish temperament.

On completion of my military engineering training about dozen of us from my recruit troop went to 9 Para Sqn R.E. at Aldershot to undertake the pre para and the para selection training course. All budding paratroopers must pass “P Coy” or Para Company before going to the Royal Air Force parachute school.

 By end of the first week of pre para none of us could walk properly. We had so many physical aches and pains, caused through speed marching, over long valley a tank training area near Aldershot, and our daily sheer physical exertions. By the end of the first week I was only remaining recruit from my R.E. training troop left on the pre para course.

Cut a long story short I eventually made it to P Coy and passed the course at end of December 1972. Remarkably I achieved best all round personal P Coy performance for that course. It was sheer will power on my part, because at the beginning of P Coy I use to be at the back of the speed marching squad, I thought I must work my way to the front on each every speed march, being at the back on speed marches was always demoralising. 

What are speed marches? Speed marches are designed to get fully equipped paratroopers carrying his rifle, ammunition, personal food supplies contained in both his belt kit and his Bergen back pack quickly from drop zone to the battle field. Hence the speed march which is fast paced marching alternated with running. In para parlance the “TAB” tactical assault to battle. You’ve got to be extremely fit, tough and resilient to keep up with a fast marching squad of paratroopers.

Paratroopers have to be self reliant and it’s their own feet that gets them quickly to battle. The essence of parachute troops is the element of surprise, defeat the enemy through daring, sheer tenacity and physical presence. To break the enemies moral and totally disorientate him. It’s no wonder that German troops who fought British paratroops in WW11 aptly called them the “Red Devils”.  Shock troops, hence the great success of the early German campaigns in the Second World War using fallschirmjager or German Paratroopers. Blog story to be continued…….