In the early 80’s most lads were reasonably fit, most could pass a BFT and CFT. I remember one Pl Lieut had a thing about fitness. We’d go on a Pl march, about 7 hrs including lunch stop, including all the weapons, SLR, GPMG, Carl Gustov 84, radios, webbing, that sorted people out. I was very fit so it was easy, some struggled. The fat lads ended up in MT, stores, etc. Happy days.
When I joined across the pond many years ago,we had posters around with a soldier running in full kit,”Fitness-It could mean your life” true words indeed.
The fitness standards have definitely slipped. It's sad to see so many young people overweight. If the military doesn't resume the standards we will not be ready for the next war.
A new approach is needed. The problem is not physical training as the Army already knows how to do that well. it is the modern diet that is the real problem. The poor quality of contractor provided meals does not help.
I agree that the responsibility lies with the leadership. I went through a bit of a bad patch fitness-wise following some niggling injuries - for about a month either my troop commander or platoon sergeant would come out with me for a run before or after shift - it made a very big difference to my morale and helped my motivation significantly and got me back up to par.
When we were in Athlone Barracks, Sennelager, if you failed your BFT and the doctor passed you fit, you had to move into a separate block (Athlone was one of those old Canadian camps with stand alone blocks), even the pads. And you did remedial PT until you passed. It was known as the Olympic village! Then the welfare wonks got involved and we had to scrap it.
One full screw in our platoon was good at his job but he struggled with his fitness and he liked his food. The platoon commander put him on extra PT but it didn’t make any difference, his card was marked and he got moved to HQ Coy, as Ration Storeman! I kid you not.
In the Vietnam war, several recruits were rejected due to obesity, only for it to found they were Footballers and other athletes! They changed the standards to compensate! I used to work in the NHS and our medics said the best measurement was not Body Mass Index, but a simple waist measurement. You are fit, Soldier!
Apologies for the second comment but the BMI indicator is flawed, I asked a nurse once at my local GP's what would a solid muscle weightlifter rank at 18 stone, she said " Obese" absolute nonsense.
I knew my infantry Pl Sgts course was coming up in 1983 and knew I'd have to pass the dreaded fitness test. Fail it and fail everything. 2 miles in 18 minutes with 36lb of kit (webbing), combats, Boots DMS, tin lid and SLR. I trained for a year in my own time and passed the test but 20% of the course didn't. It was f king harder than it sounds.
As someone who's just left the British Army after 15 year, i left gobsmacked by this. I saw people promote who couldn't even pass fitness tests, let alone deploy, it was embarrassing, the CoC used to say well we can't discriminate against those who are injured - yet the over weight downgraded personnel would be laughing at their fortune of promotion with huge ego’s guzzling monster energy drinks and rollover hotdogs from the naffi - I'm glad I left.
This is so true an well put sir when I first went in in 1981 we had 2 guys that were physically unfit they had to do a strength an fitness course to help them build up there strength an help some loose weight then they could return to finish the basic but if it happen after they were in a unit an gained weight they had to do extra pt
Pay as you dine has something to do with this, Whenever I visit a dining room these days, it is chips with omelet or burger chips and as the month goes bye and troops money is dwindling then its pot noodles and other cheap rubbish. Plus the personal standards of fitness is not a priority these days.
I left in 96 before starve to save. Us old codgers could see what would happen. Those who went home most weekends complained at paying for food every day. They probably spend more over 5 days.
“Food makes you Fat”. That was a statement from a woman from The Belsen Concentration camp, I watched on here, the other day on the 80th anniversary the liberation of Aushwitz.
Could the rise in chunksters be because they have to put up with them and find it hard to replace the desk bound blobs with younger volunteers. Would love to see the waist sizes available at the quartermasters at Catterick today
I was always borderline on the BFT. But I passed the CFT every time. And anything gym related I was very good add. Running was not my thing lol. Keep the vids coming
The timings changed from 11:30mins best effort in boots, to 10:30mins best effort in trainers. The BPFA the press ups and sit ups are each done in 2mins.
In the US Army, we would have to do our PT test every year, in the infantry. 2 mile run, push ups, sit ups. We had to score at LEAST 70% in each, or else we went to "fat camp", which was essentially a PT session in the afternoon (we did PT daily each morning). Rarely did people fail. And, if they did, it was usually because of a cramp, or drinking the night before (I think thats universal in the military lol). I am short, at 5'6". My ideal weight for my height was 128 lbs at the time. Honestly-that is NOT a healthy weight. Thats with the old tape test, which I failed ALL the time. I am barrel chested, and have thick quads. NOT a skinny guy by any means. The whole thing was a joke.
Expected to run with weight on leave 10 miles every day .On arriving back to camp the PTI had a list of all personnel arriving back that day. Once all back .half hour notice to get into fighting order. Then PTI took us out for a 10 mile run .sometimes 15 miles .Who ever didn't make the grade / time was in the gym all night until they made the grade.Gary RMR. 6500 calories weren't enough .we had to supplement our own food .Still burnt it off.!!!!
I think it was different for the girls. As infantry, we did the first half in 13 mins paced by the PTI and then best effort. Max time for most of us was 11 mins but it was frowned upon to be that slow. Plus we did the BFT all the time not just once per year
Hi Keith, i have a question over your Northern Ireland service. I don't think you have already mentioned this but apologies if you have. What was the purpose of the NI patrol pack and what did you keep in it? They seem to have discontinued these bags in favour of the PRI pack which looks to be the one you have. The last time i saw one if these it was for carrying a radio. You told us about some of the things you carry but maybe not about the bags. Can you enlighten us please. Thank you.
Peter, thanks for your reply. I bought a really ratty NI pack years ago and removed the side pockets. Unfortunately the thing became very floppy and I gave it away. I have looked at the knock off version but they don't have the same quality. I will keep looking. I just wanted other options if this was a useful pack. Also if anyone has experience of any of the copies they could recommend. Cheers.
It's a problem i the whole of society, but I agree - the leaders at platoon and company level that have to sort this out. Organize runs, obstacle courses, gym sessions, train orienteering if possible. Put on some prizes för best personal efforts, and best platoon effort in every company.
Oh mate the thought of failing a bft was horrendous! I think it’s down to people joining up just to sit back and get paid? There where certain jobs that could of been done,and done well by people that weren’t fit to fight. Got to say that’s one of the things I missed the most, the fitness training,I know I could of done it after I left but work and kids etc and just the fact I was to bollocked too come into effect😂 I don’t know about these days I got out 25 years ago 😂 but you had to be of a certain standard and that standard has dropped. Not expecting everyone to go on selection etc but be able to pull your mate out of trouble is a good start. Nice one mate 👍
US standards have slipped as well. We worked out several times a week and no one mandated this. It was a personal preference. Time for military’s to stop catering to the troops and prep them for combat
Spent my last few years at the Guards Training Depot. Even as Staff, we were expected to run with the recruits on company fitness runs. And our CSM expected you to carry more weight in your packs and still beat the recruits. I wonder if that's why I've had knee replacements lmao. But seriously, we were all encouraged to do our own personal fitness regime. There was never any questions asked if you said you were going for a run or wanted to use the gym in your own time.
In my time we had a FFB test, fitness for battle, a 5 mile very brisk march and a one mile run carrying full kit in a set time, if you did not pass you kept on taking it until you did.
Totally agree with you 100%. Standards have dropped. Looks to me the Army now is very weak compared to our day. Another thing, when there is more horses than tanks tells you everything. We're a Laughing stock.
We had two that I can remember couldn’t get into the turret. One has since passed now. A legend who could drink a 2 litre bottle of coke without stopping for air. It became his party trick! His combat jacket was worn across the middle where the steering wheel of the 4 tonner rubbed as he turned the wheel. He never left MT.
I seen a few fat guys in other regiments when I was in the paras. It was considered criminal in a para battalion to be out of shape it would never happen. You had to take pride in your fitness. One of the problems I saw especially went on courses people would order takeaways straight to their room! Today's soldiers have easy access to everything now more than ever. Don't get me wrong I've worked along side so good regiments and some great guys let down by some who do the minimum.
How could they get food delivered straight to their room? I'm genuinely curious as I was in 1988-93 so there was none of that lol, you could phone for pizzas in civvy street but I never remember seeing anyone going to the gate to collect one. Do they let deliveroo riders inside barracks now or something? I probably sound like reet old fart but back then we even had to go on the back of the binmen's trucks as they went around the camp collecting, both in the UK and Germany.
Physical training in not the problem here the Army can still do that well. The problem is diet. Poor quality food from the cookhouse provided by contractors only adds to the issue. Lads avoid the cookhouse and are often left with convenience meals and takeaway’s that are high in calories and low in nutrition.
its the food that u get off base and were in basic training it is more controled where and what they can have after training people revevrt back to bad habits before joining
BMI is a load of nonsense, I’m 59 and work with a guy who’s a gym bunny morning and evening at least four days a week. Thing is he does zero cardio and I’d fancy my chances against him on a 5k….and I’m 59 to his 27 Other than that the state of youths health in this country is shocking. Young guys in their 20s that I see out and about, proper blubsters
Anyone remember 'Murder Ball'! Two teams, not necessarily, equal in numbers, tearing up and down in the camp sports hall, with a heavy, brown, medicine ball. The general rules were, no biting, scratching and that what pretty much it! Super fit in them days, also played an awful lot of badminton, but that was probably more due to my girlfriend of the time, wearing a badminton skirt..
Near Remembrance Day 2010, I was down at Kings X, St. Pancras station and there was an Army band playing tunes and squaddies milling around with tins etc. There were a lot of Plod around accordingly. Then it was obvious how fat the Plod were compared to the Squaddies.
I remember getting to my Unit and being able to just pass the BFT, then over time I got fitter from just the PT session we had twice a week. the last one I did before becoming being Downgraded, was sub 8 minutes. Something like 7:40. BMi is a load of crap. I weigh 17 stone and have shrunk down to 6'2", I do carry a bit of body fat, but I am still fairly muscular, So I don't look like I weigh as much as I do. Recently I have started to run again after 28 years of not being able to through knackered knees. They need to bring back Breasting, It worked for us lot. Not long before I left the Army the levels of fitness was far worse that my was after leaving Basic. I had spent time in Rehab not knowing if I would be able to walk again without any problems. It is nearly 10 years this year since I started to walk again after losing my mobility to 's Arthritis, cause by the back injury I got in Basic training. Never claimed as I don't see the point and my Med Docs are AWOL. I just took it as part of life little adventure.
Perhaps, these soldiers are eating their stress. You say the food is better, can they have as much as they want and have seconds , third helpings. Do they vary the physical activity, with different exercises? Are the soldiers in constant motion before their testing. Are they eating “Lean” with good protein? Yes the “Fat Jab” isn’t the solution. But diet and exercise. Just my observation and concern. I enjoy your videos and I thank you sir for your service. Onwards!
Hi Keith just one question,all my family some who were in the force's they always still get up early 6am even though they have left the force's, just wondered if you still got up early.
When we went on the Basic Static Line Cse it was done at Whenuapai Airforce base and their mess had a soft serve machine anyway everyone whinged and moaned about it for years until finally the CO relented and we got one in our mess a month later most had put on a few extra kilos and the soft serve 🍦 was replaced with frozen yogurt 😂😂😂
Keith check this book out of you library, Fit for Service: The Training of the British Army, 1715-1795 by J A Houlding. The book on british solders being fit for the army from the early 18th through to beginning of the Napoleonic Wars. A bit of scholarly slog. Get form library as the price of a copy is as you would say, very dear.
In the early 90’s I had to pop to 1 BW at Tern Hill barracks in Salop; I was in G1 at HQ W and W District and sent to carry out a full classified docs check prior to their posting to Hong Kong. The commanding officer had just instituted a regime of no promotion for fat soldiers. It was as simple as that. Lose weight or be deferred. Brutal, but it worked.
Yes Kenny we would turn left out of the camp gates, then the next right and opposite the school was a car park with a small river running next to it. Often stopped there and got a beasting.
I've taken a course in nutrition it is a diploma cost me £800 - £795 I don't have the receipt anymore. Basically it said nutrition is essential however its no good if the metabolism isn't being utilized if I'm overweight then a faster metabolism will be beneficial if you want to get stronger by gaining weight then slowing it down would be an advantage, the bloodstream has a part in it along with excretion it's specifically said for bowels urination is the other word ya shouldn't hold it in because it can slow down your metabolism because there's damages needing repairs... wiping is essential so your bowels won't inflate as much there could be swelling or scarring potentially even internal bleeding depending on how much you bleed when you wipe, and too much liquid can lead to a ruptured bladder when you urinate because the pressure change as it's released. I downed 2L in one go and felt fear going to the toilet I actually felt the pressure change shaking my bladder luckily nothing happened safe to say I won't do that again emphasis on the that goes through my mind. I'm no dietician although I'd like to be I need to go to university for this I'll get there one day. Wish I knew this before I joined up because there's no better help than self help I for one didn't know the terms I learned in the nutritionists diploma I didn't know how to ask the question or know weather it was relevant no way I would have asked a PTI about excretion and urination. I got told this stuff actually I believe it was worded more professionally though.
@ The famous pic of the guy with the Union Jack on his pack, on the YOMP to Goose Green at the Falklands. He lived in our town not far from me. He used to drink down The Portway Hotel, where Monty used to come and plan his missions against Rommel. 👍🏾🇬🇧
In my RHA unit we did PT every morning unless there was something on. I failed the BFT a couple of times and was put onto remedial PT straight away. I think the BFT was about 3 times a year and the 8 mile CFT was once a year. It used to be a 10 mile bash when I first joined in 73. I remember you had to have a full water bottle but wasn't allowed to drink it. That was bizarre. You are still carrying it inside your body. I think the iq of a few in the army was a little lacking. In Germany, I used to go running every night regardless of doing PT in the morning. Depending on how I felt. It would be either 4 or 7 miles. I found running in a squad very difficult.
Fitness in the RN during the 80s was all personal choice. When I was on board you could do 10 laps around the upper deck of a Leander was said to be a-mile and then flight deck fitness with the club swinger. When in barracks used go a run around Guz and the dock yard. As well as playing rugby. With the BMI I would be classed as a FB now. 5’6 and 13 stone, still go to gym a couple of times a week. And play cricket. I don’t think that’s too bad for 60 and with scar tissue from blood clots on the lungs and crohns from the 90s. Did train with the RM on the intrepid really good attitude to fitness even if you were no good as long as you put 100% in.
A gripe I heard from RN submariners more than a few times... the lads would come ashore after 4 months under water in their steel tube and the club-swingers would take great joy in beasting them through fitness tests at the first opportunity. :)
100% has dropped. Many years ago we had pride in our fitness, working on it in our own time as well as the armies time. Remember the Wednesday afternoons and the CO’s fitness on a Friday
Good video/subject. BMI works, google 'Association of BMI with overall and cause-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study of 3·6 million adults in the UK' if you want to know more about it.
I was always pretty fit as a young feller. I loved football, rugby, and cricket and played at fairly high level. So, when I joined the Army, the fitness requisites appealed to me to the point that I volunteered for selection as a para and SF. I realised then that fitness is not physical more than it is mental. Reaching a physical obstacle requires mentally climbing over it. The brain can drive the body when needs demand. At 60, I’m still pretty fit. I set my objectives and try to surpass them. Having been super fit once, you can’t really let that standard completely collapse. I don’t suggest doing the Fan Dance at any age, or P Company at all, but once completed, you owe it to yourself to honour those achievements. Keep tabbing, Keith, inspiring us all.
On the press ups and sit ups part of the PFT you and the other man could always give each other a fun count. 2...4...7....9..... Unless you had an officer or sergeant counting for you!
There’s less stigma attached to it these days, dei I’m afraid. Humiliation and shame is a great motivator, the army simply isn’t brutally honest with its people for fear of upset, not surprising given the manning crisis.
I remember the squadron smokers the night before Rememberance Sundays then made to do a BFT (or similar) in the morning. Never have you seen so many "deck pizzas" everywhere!! 🤮
The fitness standards have all changed recently to cater for the obese generation.The army needs the recruits...Quantity not quality. The Salvation army is probably harder to pass now!
Before a two week leave block my running fitness was Shite I blew my ass my platoon sgt called me out on it in front of the platoon embarrassed as all fk he then said “Right van Bommel sort your shit out on leave and when we get back we are doing the West Melton 10k run first thing” I was that angry I didn’t go home on leave I stayed in camp and did that run every day until the second week when I did it twice a day first day back the Sgt was true to his word at the start line all 32 of us headed off on the run well I sprinted it and didn’t stop until I finished it 😂😂😂 challenge Accepted 😂😂😂
Hi Keith, just because you lose weight doesn't mean your fit, only working out makes a person Fit , those jabs are a load of crap, if your in the services you should be physically fit.
If your fitness isn’t up to the standard required then you become a liability to your mates when the time comes Not about bench pressing a bus,(unless your a reccy mech,lift a ton but can’t spell it)😂 If your body is in general good condition then Physical becomes a state of mind
Sorry I resubscribed cause I had loads and many comments I got a few more views after unsubscribing and removing comments I'm less of a consumer and more of a producer this way I've subscribed again though your content gets noticed to me as "Important"
That road was very busy today it was like you were playing dodge ball but with cars ha ha ha. I think if anyone accepts that fat jab, they are lazy and want the easy way out. If someone wants to be a professional soldier then they should put in the work and not take the lazy way out. If they start getting the easy way of doing things then what will happen in battle - there is no easy way in battle - if there were there would be no need for all the training and any tom dick and harry could be a soldier. I think people should avoid that jab like it was a mine field and start putting in the work needed to because professional fighting soldiers and not lazy soldiers. It all comes down to self-discipline which the world is sadly lacking in today’s time.
Lets be honest bud throughout the 18th 19th very early 20th century the only phys ed they did was as a punishment ie running with ya rifle above ya ead phys ed only came in during WW2!
We had red squad if you failed any BFT or CFT , every Friday was the battalion fun run ,it wasn’t funny at all , it pays to be fit ,you do your job better , fit to fight , tdays army is lacking self respect in my opinion
I've heard that if you were to weigh and measure, say Marcus Rashford, or any other professional athlete of your choice, they would be overweight because muscle is heavier than fat. Interesting video. Well done.
Good grief.. That BMI thing Kieth surely isn't right atal ? With regards to fat soldiers .. Maybe it's now to much of a good thing .. Wonder if that fat jab will only serve as a short term thing..??
The worse case I ever saw of a fat soldier was when I served in the TA as an RE Reservist, I was in a commando unit and as RE's we would occasionally get training modules at Royal Mons RE locations where he was the unit cook. They were great, but they had a cook who had to be near 30 stones! We could have got 5 of us in his lightweights! This guy, on seeing us with green berets, used to glare at us, as if to challenge anyone to comment on his immense, disgusting bulk! OK, I know the Regiment probably needed him, but how the f**k could he have EVER served active? It was a joke! I'm sure his lighweights had to be specially made!
It’s all about personal pride to keep personal fitness levels up to a decent standard
It is also a military requirement, if you are not fit enough to support your mates in combat, you shouldn't be in the army.
DLI
In the early 80’s most lads were reasonably fit, most could pass a BFT and CFT. I remember one Pl Lieut had a thing about fitness. We’d go on a Pl march, about 7 hrs including lunch stop, including all the weapons, SLR, GPMG, Carl Gustov 84, radios, webbing, that sorted people out. I was very fit so it was easy, some struggled. The fat lads ended up in MT, stores, etc. Happy days.
When I joined across the pond many years ago,we had posters around with a soldier running in full kit,”Fitness-It could mean your life” true words indeed.
Fitness is like a pill......Should be taken daily 🇬🇧
The fitness standards have definitely slipped. It's sad to see so many young people overweight. If the military doesn't resume the standards we will not be ready for the next war.
😂😂😂 ridiculous
@@garagenigelhow so?
A new approach is needed. The problem is not physical training as the Army already knows how to do that well. it is the modern diet that is the real problem. The poor quality of contractor provided meals does not help.
I agree that the responsibility lies with the leadership. I went through a bit of a bad patch fitness-wise following some niggling injuries - for about a month either my troop commander or platoon sergeant would come out with me for a run before or after shift - it made a very big difference to my morale and helped my motivation significantly and got me back up to par.
When we were in Athlone Barracks, Sennelager, if you failed your BFT and the doctor passed you fit, you had to move into a separate block (Athlone was one of those old Canadian camps with stand alone blocks), even the pads. And you did remedial PT until you passed. It was known as the Olympic village! Then the welfare wonks got involved and we had to scrap it.
One full screw in our platoon was good at his job but he struggled with his fitness and he liked his food. The platoon commander put him on extra PT but it didn’t make any difference, his card was marked and he got moved to HQ Coy, as Ration Storeman! I kid you not.
In the Vietnam war, several recruits were rejected due to obesity, only for it to found they were Footballers and other athletes! They changed the standards to compensate! I used to work in the NHS and our medics said the best measurement was not Body Mass Index, but a simple waist measurement. You are fit, Soldier!
Apologies for the second comment but the BMI indicator is flawed, I asked a nurse once at my local GP's what would a solid muscle weightlifter rank at 18 stone, she said " Obese" absolute nonsense.
I knew my infantry Pl Sgts course was coming up in 1983 and knew I'd have to pass the dreaded fitness test. Fail it and fail everything. 2 miles in 18 minutes with 36lb of kit (webbing), combats, Boots DMS, tin lid and SLR. I trained for a year in my own time and passed the test but 20% of the course didn't. It was f king harder than it sounds.
I did the same course, without a shadow of doubt the hardest thing I ever did in the army
Same for me, automatic fail the course if anyone failed their fitness test.
Hi...Keith..me even remember the leather medicine ball at school was great fun..uk
As someone who's just left the British Army after 15 year, i left gobsmacked by this.
I saw people promote who couldn't even pass fitness tests, let alone deploy, it was embarrassing, the CoC used to say well we can't discriminate against those who are injured - yet the over weight downgraded personnel would be laughing at their fortune of promotion with huge ego’s guzzling monster energy drinks and rollover hotdogs from the naffi - I'm glad I left.
This is so true an well put sir when I first went in in 1981 we had 2 guys that were physically unfit they had to do a strength an fitness course to help them build up there strength an help some loose weight then they could return to finish the basic but if it happen after they were in a unit an gained weight they had to do extra pt
Pay as you dine has something to do with this, Whenever I visit a dining room these days, it is chips with omelet or burger chips and as the month goes bye and troops money is dwindling then its pot noodles and other cheap rubbish. Plus the personal standards of fitness is not a priority these days.
I left in 96 before starve to save. Us old codgers could see what would happen. Those who went home most weekends complained at paying for food every day. They probably spend more over 5 days.
Two words Keith. Leadership & Pride. Kev
“Food makes you Fat”. That was a statement from a woman from The Belsen Concentration camp, I watched on here, the other day on the 80th anniversary the liberation of Aushwitz.
Could the rise in chunksters be because they have to put up with them and find it hard to replace the desk bound blobs with younger volunteers. Would love to see the waist sizes available at the quartermasters at Catterick today
My Wednesday sports afternoon consisted of visiting the personal viewing cinema on Senalarger strip😅
I was always borderline on the BFT. But I passed the CFT every time. And anything gym related I was very good add. Running was not my thing lol. Keep the vids coming
The timings changed from 11:30mins best effort in boots, to 10:30mins best effort in trainers.
The BPFA the press ups and sit ups are each done in 2mins.
We had to be under 10.30 in boots
In the US Army, we would have to do our PT test every year, in the infantry. 2 mile run, push ups, sit ups. We had to score at LEAST 70% in each, or else we went to "fat camp", which was essentially a PT session in the afternoon (we did PT daily each morning). Rarely did people fail. And, if they did, it was usually because of a cramp, or drinking the night before (I think thats universal in the military lol).
I am short, at 5'6". My ideal weight for my height was 128 lbs at the time. Honestly-that is NOT a healthy weight. Thats with the old tape test, which I failed ALL the time. I am barrel chested, and have thick quads. NOT a skinny guy by any means. The whole thing was a joke.
Expected to run with weight on leave 10 miles every day .On arriving back to camp the PTI had a list of all personnel arriving back that day. Once all back .half hour notice to get into fighting order. Then PTI took us out for a 10 mile run .sometimes 15 miles .Who ever didn't make the grade / time was in the gym all night until they made the grade.Gary RMR.
6500 calories weren't enough .we had to supplement our own food .Still burnt it off.!!!!
Keith I seem to remember the bft was around 27 mins for 3 miles that was for the Ramc back in the late 70s to i think late 85
I think it was different for the girls. As infantry, we did the first half in 13 mins paced by the PTI and then best effort. Max time for most of us was 11 mins but it was frowned upon to be that slow. Plus we did the BFT all the time not just once per year
Perhaps they should create a Tubs Battalion? 🤣👍🫡💂♂️
1st Battalion Telly Tubbies
Hi Keith, i have a question over your Northern Ireland service. I don't think you have already mentioned this but apologies if you have.
What was the purpose of the NI patrol pack and what did you keep in it? They seem to have discontinued these bags in favour of the PRI pack which looks to be the one you have. The last time i saw one if these it was for carrying a radio. You told us about some of the things you carry but maybe not about the bags. Can you enlighten us please. Thank you.
I have a NI pack. Best pack I have ever had.
Big enough for a few days out sleeping rough in the countryside.
Peter, thanks for your reply. I bought a really ratty NI pack years ago and removed the side pockets. Unfortunately the thing became very floppy and I gave it away. I have looked at the knock off version but they don't have the same quality. I will keep looking. I just wanted other options if this was a useful pack. Also if anyone has experience of any of the copies they could recommend. Cheers.
@stuartswindells5955 Hey Stuart. They are on eBay at the moment. Ten available.
The overweight troops, especially in the Infantry, where generally in HQ company, or indeed in the Company Stores.
It's a problem i the whole of society, but I agree - the leaders at platoon and company level that have to sort this out. Organize runs, obstacle courses, gym sessions, train orienteering if possible. Put on some prizes för best personal efforts, and best platoon effort in every company.
Oh mate the thought of failing a bft was horrendous! I think it’s down to people joining up just to sit back and get paid? There where certain jobs that could of been done,and done well by people that weren’t fit to fight. Got to say that’s one of the things I missed the most, the fitness training,I know I could of done it after I left but work and kids etc and just the fact I was to bollocked too come into effect😂 I don’t know about these days I got out 25 years ago 😂 but you had to be of a certain standard and that standard has dropped. Not expecting everyone to go on selection etc but be able to pull your mate out of trouble is a good start. Nice one mate 👍
US standards have slipped as well. We worked out several times a week and no one mandated this. It was a personal preference. Time for military’s to stop catering to the troops and prep them for combat
Whatever happened to the Wednesday sports afternoon? The loss can’t have helped.
Remember the old video To Fat to Fight
Spent my last few years at the Guards Training Depot. Even as Staff, we were expected to run with the recruits on company fitness runs. And our CSM expected you to carry more weight in your packs and still beat the recruits. I wonder if that's why I've had knee replacements lmao. But seriously, we were all encouraged to do our own personal fitness regime. There was never any questions asked if you said you were going for a run or wanted to use the gym in your own time.
In my time we had a FFB test, fitness for battle, a 5 mile very brisk march and a one mile run carrying full kit in a set time, if you did not pass you kept on taking it until you did.
Totally agree with you 100%. Standards have dropped. Looks to me the Army now is very weak compared to our day. Another thing, when there is more horses than tanks tells you everything. We're a Laughing stock.
Another good video! Good effort for a Tiger 👍🇬🇧😂
👍🫡
And if a can remember the cft was 9 miles full kit and slr in March run hour and a half a loved it
We had two that I can remember couldn’t get into the turret. One has since passed now. A legend who could drink a 2 litre bottle of coke without stopping for air. It became his party trick! His combat jacket was worn across the middle where the steering wheel of the 4 tonner rubbed as he turned the wheel. He never left MT.
I seen a few fat guys in other regiments when I was in the paras. It was considered criminal in a para battalion to be out of shape it would never happen. You had to take pride in your fitness. One of the problems I saw especially went on courses people would order takeaways straight to their room! Today's soldiers have easy access to everything now more than ever. Don't get me wrong I've worked along side so good regiments and some great guys let down by some who do the minimum.
How could they get food delivered straight to their room? I'm genuinely curious as I was in 1988-93 so there was none of that lol, you could phone for pizzas in civvy street but I never remember seeing anyone going to the gate to collect one. Do they let deliveroo riders inside barracks now or something? I probably sound like reet old fart but back then we even had to go on the back of the binmen's trucks as they went around the camp collecting, both in the UK and Germany.
I've seen plenty of bootnecks and para reg Biff's in my time!
Physical training in not the problem here the Army can still do that well.
The problem is diet. Poor quality food from the cookhouse provided by contractors only adds to the issue. Lads avoid the cookhouse and are often left with convenience meals and takeaway’s that are high in calories and low in nutrition.
its the food that u get off base and were in basic training it is more controled where and what they can have after training people revevrt back to bad habits before joining
BMI is a load of nonsense, I’m 59 and work with a guy who’s a gym bunny morning and evening at least four days a week.
Thing is he does zero cardio and I’d fancy my chances against him on a 5k….and I’m 59 to his 27
Other than that the state of youths health in this country is shocking. Young guys in their 20s that I see out and about, proper blubsters
Anyone remember 'Murder Ball'! Two teams, not necessarily, equal in numbers, tearing up and down in the camp sports hall, with a heavy, brown, medicine ball. The general rules were, no biting, scratching and that what pretty much it! Super fit in them days, also played an awful lot of badminton, but that was probably more due to my girlfriend of the time, wearing a badminton skirt..
Played that at high school believe it or not. Stood there with his mop and bucket for the blood. Everyone hated that PE Teacher
Yes remember that well
Teacher may well have been an ex squaddie 😆
Standards are what separate us.
Near Remembrance Day 2010, I was down at Kings X, St. Pancras station and there was an Army band playing tunes and squaddies milling around with tins etc. There were a lot of Plod around accordingly. Then it was obvious how fat the Plod were compared to the Squaddies.
Why O why are they overweight? where the RSM sorting out PT!!
I remember getting to my Unit and being able to just pass the BFT, then over time I got fitter from just the PT session we had twice a week. the last one I did before becoming being Downgraded, was sub 8 minutes. Something like 7:40.
BMi is a load of crap. I weigh 17 stone and have shrunk down to 6'2", I do carry a bit of body fat, but I am still fairly muscular, So I don't look like I weigh as much as I do.
Recently I have started to run again after 28 years of not being able to through knackered knees.
They need to bring back Breasting, It worked for us lot. Not long before I left the Army the levels of fitness was far worse that my was after leaving Basic. I had spent time in Rehab not knowing if I would be able to walk again without any problems. It is nearly 10 years this year since I started to walk again after losing my mobility to 's Arthritis, cause by the back injury I got in Basic training. Never claimed as I don't see the point and my Med Docs are AWOL. I just took it as part of life little adventure.
Perhaps, these soldiers are eating their stress. You say the food is better, can they have as much as they want and have seconds , third helpings.
Do they vary the physical activity, with different exercises? Are the soldiers in constant motion before their testing. Are they eating “Lean” with good protein? Yes the “Fat Jab” isn’t the solution. But diet and exercise. Just my observation and concern. I enjoy your videos and I thank you sir for your service. Onwards!
muscle is considerably heavier than fat, BMI ( british mediical idiocy) is Bollocks !
Hi Keith just one question,all my family some who were in the force's they always still get up early 6am even though they have left the force's, just wondered if you still got up early.
Cheers Paul, yes I'm up at 0700 daily but occasionally later on a Sunday. I also tend to get up earlier during summer. All the best 👍
When we went on the Basic Static Line Cse it was done at Whenuapai Airforce base and their mess had a soft serve machine anyway everyone whinged and moaned about it for years until finally the CO relented and we got one in our mess a month later most had put on a few extra kilos and the soft serve 🍦 was replaced with frozen yogurt 😂😂😂
Which did eff-all good?
Keith check this book out of you library, Fit for Service: The Training of the British Army, 1715-1795
by J A Houlding. The book on british solders being fit for the army from the early 18th through to beginning of the Napoleonic Wars. A bit of scholarly slog. Get form library as the price of a copy is as you would say, very dear.
In the early 90’s I had to pop to 1 BW at Tern Hill barracks in Salop; I was in G1 at HQ W and W District and sent to carry out a full classified docs check prior to their posting to Hong Kong.
The commanding officer had just instituted a regime of no promotion for fat soldiers. It was as simple as that. Lose weight or be deferred. Brutal, but it worked.
In.celle we had regimental run 1230 every Friday 5 ks outside gate in front of flats turn left u know the place
Yes Kenny we would turn left out of the camp gates, then the next right and opposite the school was a car park with a small river running next to it. Often stopped there and got a beasting.
I've taken a course in nutrition it is a diploma cost me £800 - £795 I don't have the receipt anymore. Basically it said nutrition is essential however its no good if the metabolism isn't being utilized if I'm overweight then a faster metabolism will be beneficial if you want to get stronger by gaining weight then slowing it down would be an advantage, the bloodstream has a part in it along with excretion it's specifically said for bowels urination is the other word ya shouldn't hold it in because it can slow down your metabolism because there's damages needing repairs... wiping is essential so your bowels won't inflate as much there could be swelling or scarring potentially even internal bleeding depending on how much you bleed when you wipe,
and too much liquid can lead to a ruptured bladder when you urinate because the pressure change as it's released. I downed 2L in one go and felt fear going to the toilet I actually felt the pressure change shaking my bladder luckily nothing happened safe to say I won't do that again emphasis on the that goes through my mind.
I'm no dietician although I'd like to be I need to go to university for this I'll get there one day.
Wish I knew this before I joined up because there's no better help than self help I for one didn't know the terms I learned in the nutritionists diploma I didn't know how to ask the question or know weather it was relevant no way I would have asked a PTI about excretion and urination.
I got told this stuff actually I believe it was worded more professionally though.
The cook house in celle was great u could eat as much as u want especially brunch at weekends missed that all greasy fry up and chips
Hi. Love your video's. This may seem like a stupid question, but what does TAB stand for?
Hi Bill, not a stupid question mate. TAB is an acronym for Tactical Advance to Battle. All the best 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fdHi Keith, so is it similar to a Y.O.M.P? ( Your Own Marching Pace?).
All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧
@Soggz7785 pretty much the same
@ The famous pic of the guy with the Union Jack on his pack, on the YOMP to Goose Green at the Falklands. He lived in our town not far from me. He used to drink down The Portway Hotel, where Monty used to come and plan his missions against Rommel. 👍🏾🇬🇧
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Hi, Thanks for your reply and your past service. Stay well and safe and all the best to you and yours.
In my RHA unit we did PT every morning unless there was something on. I failed the BFT a couple of times and was put onto remedial PT straight away. I think the BFT was about 3 times a year and the 8 mile CFT was once a year. It used to be a 10 mile bash when I first joined in 73. I remember you had to have a full water bottle but wasn't allowed to drink it. That was bizarre. You are still carrying it inside your body. I think the iq of a few in the army was a little lacking. In Germany, I used to go running every night regardless of doing PT in the morning. Depending on how I felt. It would be either 4 or 7 miles. I found running in a squad very difficult.
Fitness in the RN during the 80s was all personal choice. When I was on board you could do 10 laps around the upper deck of a Leander was said to be a-mile and then flight deck fitness with the club swinger. When in barracks used go a run around Guz and the dock yard. As well as playing rugby. With the BMI I would be classed as a FB now. 5’6 and 13 stone, still go to gym a couple of times a week. And play cricket. I don’t think that’s too bad for 60 and with scar tissue from blood clots on the lungs and crohns from the 90s. Did train with the RM on the intrepid really good attitude to fitness even if you were no good as long as you put 100% in.
A gripe I heard from RN submariners more than a few times... the lads would come ashore after 4 months under water in their steel tube and the club-swingers would take great joy in beasting them through fitness tests at the first opportunity. :)
100% has dropped. Many years ago we had pride in our fitness, working on it in our own time as well as the armies time. Remember the Wednesday afternoons and the CO’s fitness on a Friday
Our wednesday sports afternoon were spent in a bar in Krefeld lol
Good video/subject.
BMI works, google 'Association of BMI with overall and cause-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study of 3·6 million adults in the UK' if you want to know more about it.
I was always pretty fit as a young feller. I loved football, rugby, and cricket and played at fairly high level. So, when I joined the Army, the fitness requisites appealed to me to the point that I volunteered for selection as a para and SF.
I realised then that fitness is not physical more than it is mental. Reaching a physical obstacle requires mentally climbing over it. The brain can drive the body when needs demand.
At 60, I’m still pretty fit. I set my objectives and try to surpass them. Having been super fit once, you can’t really let that standard completely collapse. I don’t suggest doing the Fan Dance at any age, or P Company at all, but once completed, you owe it to yourself to honour those achievements.
Keep tabbing, Keith, inspiring us all.
You never wanted to be the slovenly soldier who dropped behind or started walking on PT runs
On the press ups and sit ups part of the PFT you and the other man could always give each other a fun count. 2...4...7....9..... Unless you had an officer or sergeant counting for you!
There’s less stigma attached to it these days, dei I’m afraid. Humiliation and shame is a great motivator, the army simply isn’t brutally honest with its people for fear of upset, not surprising given the manning crisis.
Is beasting not a thing these days?
Not allowed , recruits complain ,social media , gone soft
Good Lord, no. Not even allowed to use hurty words, apparently.
they are replacing fitness/stamina tests with strength forgetting an ancient adage : what can any soldier do once out of breath.
I remember the squadron smokers the night before Rememberance Sundays then made to do a BFT (or similar) in the morning. Never have you seen so many "deck pizzas" everywhere!! 🤮
they should be doing a certain amount of phys every bloody day!!
The fitness standards have all changed recently to cater for the obese generation.The army needs the recruits...Quantity not quality.
The Salvation army is probably harder to pass now!
what was the time limit for the 3 mile BFT
For men, 1.5 miles as a squad, basically a warm up. The other 1.5miles in 10.5 mins, for under 29.
Sugar addiction would be my guess.
Yes, all those ‘energy’ drinks and sweet jelly thingys.
Before a two week leave block my running fitness was Shite I blew my ass my platoon sgt called me out on it in front of the platoon embarrassed as all fk he then said “Right van Bommel sort your shit out on leave and when we get back we are doing the West Melton 10k run first thing” I was that angry I didn’t go home on leave I stayed in camp and did that run every day until the second week when I did it twice a day first day back the Sgt was true to his word at the start line all 32 of us headed off on the run well I sprinted it and didn’t stop until I finished it 😂😂😂 challenge Accepted 😂😂😂
I had just come off knee surgery and my running fitness was pretty low
Standards not what they were
👍❤👌🏻❤👍
We use to have Thursday afternoons for sport . They always said that if the Russians were going to invade it would be a Thursday afternoon Ha Ha
There properly eating crap,whilst on their beds.
Bit to busy 😅😅😅
Summit else is the fast food culture in the 21st century!!🙄
Fitness Standards are pathetic now
Hi Keith, just because you lose weight doesn't mean your fit, only working out makes a person Fit , those jabs are a load of crap, if your in the services you should be physically fit.
If your fitness isn’t up to the standard required then you become a liability to your mates when the time comes
Not about bench pressing a bus,(unless your a reccy mech,lift a ton but can’t spell it)😂
If your body is in general good condition then Physical becomes a state of mind
Sorry I resubscribed cause I had loads and many comments I got a few more views after unsubscribing and removing comments I'm less of a consumer and more of a producer this way I've subscribed again though your content gets noticed to me as "Important"
That road was very busy today it was like you were playing dodge ball but with cars ha ha ha. I think if anyone accepts that fat jab, they are lazy and want the easy way out. If someone wants to be a professional soldier then they should put in the work and not take the lazy way out. If they start getting the easy way of doing things then what will happen in battle - there is no easy way in battle - if there were there would be no need for all the training and any tom dick and harry could be a soldier. I think people should avoid that jab like it was a mine field and start putting in the work needed to because professional fighting soldiers and not lazy soldiers. It all comes down to self-discipline which the world is sadly lacking in today’s time.
You can't single people out for being fat now it's against the law in todays woke society.
Lets be honest bud throughout the 18th 19th very early 20th century the only phys ed they did was as a punishment ie running with ya rifle above ya ead phys ed only came in during WW2!
We had red squad if you failed any BFT or CFT , every Friday was the battalion fun run ,it wasn’t funny at all , it pays to be fit ,you do your job better , fit to fight , tdays army is lacking self respect in my opinion
Yawn
@ just say it ,instead of one word ,very immature
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keep tabbing.
I've heard that if you were to weigh and measure, say Marcus Rashford, or any other professional athlete of your choice, they would be overweight because muscle is heavier than fat. Interesting video. Well done.
Good grief..
That BMI thing Kieth surely isn't right atal ?
With regards to fat soldiers ..
Maybe it's now to much of a good thing ..
Wonder if that fat jab will only serve as a short term thing..??
The worse case I ever saw of a fat soldier was when I served in the TA as an RE Reservist, I was in a commando unit and as RE's we would occasionally get training modules at Royal Mons RE locations where he was the unit cook. They were great, but they had a cook who had to be near 30 stones! We could have got 5 of us in his lightweights! This guy, on seeing us with green berets, used to glare at us, as if to challenge anyone to comment on his immense, disgusting bulk! OK, I know the Regiment probably needed him, but how the f**k could he have EVER served active? It was a joke! I'm sure his lighweights had to be specially made!
I bet he's still had more confirmed kills than you!
@@garagenigel Definitely!
= NAAFI Beer v XD #