A morning of reflection.
We only really see what we want people to see on social media, which often means it’s not a true reflection, 2023 has far and away been the hardest year of my life and the biggest fight to date.
I said goodbye to a job I loved with some of the best
Armed forces Day! A chance for those that did minimum time and whinged how shit it was to change their profile pictures and tell everyone how awesome it was!
For the rest, have a great day 😉
Pte Carter of
@AirborneMedics
was among those that were awarded a maroon beret yesterday.
Braking glass ceilings as the first Female OR to pass the course.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
You don’t know what a heatwave is until you’ve paid a visit to one of these bad boys in the height of the summer in the Middle East!
#Gipping
#PhotosThatSmell
#StopWhinging
I guess it doesn’t matter what % pay rise we get. You’re always going to get those that whinge!
To be honest I was expecting nothing, so I’m really happy with it, I didn’t join for the money, it helps obviously, never been a job for me, it’s a way of life 👌🏼🙏🏼
For those not following FYB, take a look at their wall of remembrance 👌🏼
Not an easy time for many people, but reading some of the stories of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice is humbling to say the least.
Cracking Job Alfie 👏🏼👏🏼🫡
Remembering pte “Dave” Murray 2 para who was killed when a suicide device went off whist on patrol in Afghanistan June 2008.
Love and missed by his family and friends everyday
No matter for which force you’re in, which Arm you serve or whatever headdress you bear, those involved today in any way shape or form have done the nation proud, not afraid to say I shed a few tears today. Massive respect on the greatest spectacle of our generation 🫡
And that’s a wrap!
What a job, made even better by the people I’ve shared it with.
I hope we’ve made P Coy more transparent and given an insight into what is expected. Hopefully dispelled some myths too.
Gutted to be leaving but time for someone else to take the reins 💪🏼
Wow, where does time go?
20 years since we crossed the border from Kuwait - Iraq on Op Telic
Valuable experience as a recently turned 18 year old.
Oh to turn back that clock!
No wonder recruiting is down the pan these days, rang to see if the RAF careers office was open to take the boy for a chat today and you can’t just walk in anymore. Have to book an appointment!
If people can’t just walk through the door to speak about it then they’re gonna lose
It’s funny isn’t it, I spent most of my time in a C130 absolutely hanging to get out the door, laden with kit after a few hours low level flying 🤢
This week we say goodbye to it, with no timely replacement! Absolutely mental, she’ll certainly be missed!
#Hercules
#C130
@TrollFootball
I’m no Arsenal fan by any stretch. But what are we becoming as football fans?
It’s the Champions league and they’ve just won a very nervy game on Pens, giving it all for 120 mins, I’d celebrate it too, as I have on a Sunday when we go 6-3 up 🤷🏼♂️
Fair play to them
A fantastic watch over the last 3 nights, I advise anyone that’s not seen it to give it a look on 4OD.
There were recruits that passed out of training on the Fri that deployed on this on the Wed!
Some serious Resilience, Empathy and restraint on all fronts 👏🏼🙏🏼
#Evacuation
Today Recruits from 832 Bruneval Pl finished test week.
28 on the start line and 17 received their Maroon Berets.
For those unsuccessful, that feeling you feel now use it! Some of the best Paratroopers I know failed first time, it’s a speed bump, not the end of the road!
A lot of changes in my personal life recently, some not so great and some awesome (everything happens for a reason).
So to be awarded the MSM in the kings first birthday honours list is a welcome shock.
A massive thanks to
@Pegasus_Coy
who without a doubt played their part 🙏🏼
Many will say Afghanistan was for nothing, it wasn’t, not even close, this picture is awesome, shows a young Afghan boy paying his respects to departing troops, those troops who allowed him to sleep safely at night, if that’s not motivation right there then I’m unsure what is!
#TBT
GCSE results day.
Only ever really had one goal as a kid at school, To join the Paras, so didn’t particularly do too well on my exams, bar PE.
A little different these days but there are options that will help improve you and better yourself.
Good luck today
(Telic 1)
December 22nd, 2009
Lance Corporal Tommy Brown, aged 25 from Glasgow, of the SFSG, and 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was killed by an IED blast whilst on foot patrol approx 1km south of Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Lest we Forget this brave young man 🏴🇬🇧
22 years ago today we paraded in Catterick with ironing boards under our arms ready to embark on a journey like no other.
I’d never imagine that 22 years on I’d still be serving the crown. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Today I managed to catch up with a couple of those lads and
Congratulations to 21 members of Athens Pl who were successfully awarded their Maroon Berets on completion of PPS today. They will now move onto the defence Ex, LFTT and Final Ex before the Pass out parade 💪🏼
Had worse Mondays!
Today students on Basic Parachute Course 1324 did their first Para descent out of a Sky Van (Caravan on Wheels)
No one forgets their first!
Video in thread!
The Beret Parade, a proud day for Joe and a massive milestone within their career, one foot in the door now Joe!
48 started test week and 34 were awarded the coveted Maroon Beret.
💪🏼
I sometimes have to pinch myself and remind myself how lucky I actually am, I can hand on heart say, that without this girl, I’d not be here today 🙏🏼
Sometimes angels appear when you least expect them.
Yesterday also seen 22.04 take on their final event (and mine) Milling! A 60 second bout where the aim is to throw accurate fire (Straight Punches) at the enemy (Opponents face) showing the ability to get your head above the parapet and get rounds down.
36 bouts and …wait out😉
One hell of an opening address last night, the hurt in his eyes was there for all to see, I’m not afraid to say the room may of been a little dusty last night.
God Save The King!
Not sure where I stand on this, completely understand it from a reserve point of view. If someone doesn’t want to join up because of facial hair then are they the right type of person?
Are people genuinely signing off so they can grow a beard, think there’s bigger battles to be
Great Army Executive Board yesterday where CGS agreed to look at beards in
@BritishArmy
to understand the benefits to Recruiting, Retaining, Motivating & our reputation to aid a quick decision next year.
We are listening to our soldiers.
@jeromestarkey
@MilitaryBanter
With all the negativity around the world right now, let’s take a moment to appreciate what
@jacovangass
has just achieved in Tokyo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 ex
@TheParachuteReg
soldier injured in Afghanistan breaks world record and takes gold 🥇 💪🏼
A P Coy first today (for me) not one red card issued on Good wood races! An extremely fit bunch (due to the start standard changing)
A little resilience for the officers and Seniors straight after too 💪🏼
104 remain on course
Long awaited return of All arms today.
AAPPS 22.04 took on “Screening Day” an 8 mile Tab followed by a 1.5 mile run.
105/112 successful including all 8 Parachute Regiment YOs
Course starts tomorrow with Speedplay 👌🏼
We don’t dictate the weather on operations! So we train through all conditions.
This morning Students took on “The 4 Horseman” Tab, a series of hills and runaways, the conditions never got the better of us.
102 remain.
A lot of questions on the milling recently so I’ll dispel some myths.
Milling is 60 seconds long, those that can still pass P Coy will mill someone within 3.5 Kg male or female. Like the Trainasium it is a Critical output, so you fail milling (final event) you fail the course!
I’d like to wish all those involved tomorrow the very best of luck.
Cherish every moment, stick that chest out, grow those extra inches and be PROUD for you are forever a part of history, a legacy you can tell your grand children of.
🧵1/2
My final stretcher today, so we did 2 💪🏼. I’m gutted to be leaving all this behind. 11/76 failed to finish with the stretcher.
72 will go Forward to Mill!
Elements of
@16AirAssltBCT
were also invited to watch and see how their units are getting on 💪🏼
Armed forces day has lost its appeal these days. Usually a time for those that whinged about how shit it was when they were in, got out as soon as they could, and change their profile pics whilst gobbing off about the “Good Times”
The Stretcher Race 💪🏼
Mixed performance this morning, they pulled it out the bag but left it late!
Milling and Beret parade this afternoon, a day none of them will EVER forget.
AAPPS 22.04 seen students take on the infamous PARAS 10 route. A tough 10 mile tab carrying 37lbs + water and weapon.
80 remain on course.
If it was easy, everybody would do it!
Fair to say that this course is keeping expectations high!
Test week started today with the P Coy 10 miler, 77 on the start line and ALL 77 got round within 1hr 50m 💪🏼
A first (and last) for me, Keep up the hard work. BIIIIIIG day tomorrow.
Absolutely overwhelmed by the support received from my post on NYE, seems the words resonated with quite a few. I like to wear my heart on my sleeve, doesn’t always bode well, but that’s who I am.
I enjoy this platform because you see what you want to see, I just wanted to say
Last event before test week tomorrow, (bar Trainasium)
Students took on “Old Man’s Run” a 4 mile recovery run in trainers to help “Taper” before tomorrows 10 miler.
77/105 remain 💪🏼
4 members of
@TheParachuteReg
Pegasus Company are taking on the Brecon 10 Peaks challenge to help raise vital funds for 2 year old Rosie’s much needed treatment. Please share so we can help make this happen.
Last, but by no means least,
@ChrisB8940
will be keeping the posts going, I was his first Pl Sgt on a particularly difficult Kenya in 2014 and now his first ever CSM 💪🏼
A perfect example of the right man in the right job from the Regiment.
All the best
HO/TO complete, firmly bedded into the new job now, can honestly say I’ve not looked forward to any job more than this, some big boots to fill over the years and looking forward to maintaining those standards 💪🏼
#PCompany
A fantastic night where I remained Sober! Despite people’s best efforts 👀
Had a 05:30 alarm for a bike lesson before my test today, smashed it, can’t wait to get my hands on it 👌🏼
Met up with my eldest in Colchester today to take him Xmas Shopping and for a pint.
@ZaraDurrant
spoiled him more than I did.
Can not tell you how happy it’s made me having a chat with him and sorting things out 🙏🏼
#GetTheBadgeIn
🫶🏻
@LFCTransferRoom
Has to be Tsimi, to have a player like Robbo out for a long period and not struggle in that position at all is testament to Tsimi, he’s stepped and proved he can be reliable, even in the bigger games.
Gomez has been great going forward as a RB too
Not many people can say they went to their own funeral! Some leaving do that!
Yesterday I was buried as part of the all arms drill wing wake “mock funeral” some cracking banter and more than a few photoshops. Gonna miss these boys.
1 week left.
First time in nearly a year I’ve had these for a weekend, I barely slept last night and was up at a sparrows fart, but over the moon 🫶🏻
Haircuts had (Today, pic was last night) and a trip to see some 🐎 🐴 before hitting a May Day fair tomorrow.
They are absolutely living the
Utrinque Paratus.
As my career comes to an end, I ask myself would I do it all over again, ABSOLUTELY I would, if you want a job, go to the Job center, if you want an adventure, a career, a lifestyle and a purpose, join the
@TheParachuteReg
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
The PARAs are recruiting now! The Parachute Regiment offers more than a career - its an adventure. Ready to soar to new heights? Follow the link below and take the leap into an extraordinary future. Become part of something bigger - become a
#Paratrooper
.
Ever wondered what selection into
@TheParachuteReg
and
@16AirAssltBCT
consists of?
Take a look here 👇🏼
(Had to trim due to Twitters 140s rule)
Video courtesy of
@MikeThwaite
, check out his YouTube channel
Finally did it! After 4 long months I managed to drag my sorry arse out.
Wasn’t without its battles, had to fight myself to keep going, everything was telling me to turn back, my music even stopped!
Hopefully not leave it this long again and try and establish a routine
Final day of Joe and AAPPS seen the staff do back to back 5mile Stretcher races. No motivation needed for this event 💪🏼
44 successful students into
@16AirAssltBCT
including 3
@TheParachuteReg
young officers and a transfer in from the
@RoyalMarines
Well, today went exactly as I thought it would, in a world of hurt. Disappointed with the time, but considering I ran 27.3 miles I may as well ran an ultra. 26.22 time - 3:07. Official time 3:17 🫣😩
@ColSimonChapman
@LtGenMagowan
@RAdmJudeTerry
@WOCarlSteedman
Had a similar lad that spent over 600 days in our rehab Pl, he passed P Coy last week and is now cracking on in training and will pass out in a couple of months, exactly the people we’re looking for, resilience in abundance 💪🏼
🇺🇸 9/11 a day that changed the lives of millions around the world, 22 years ago tomorrow I went to the careers office and made a commitment that will stand forever. 🇺🇸
R.I.P to those involved both directly and indirectly.
Not been in a great place the last few months, let things get on top of me and had a wobble! Can literally pin point my downfall. BUT, I’m on the up now (at times) still inconsistent, but there’s never truer words spoken than “Fitness Wins”
This popped up on my memories today.
8years ago, where does the time go.
Loved my time at ITC Catterick, training potential Paratroopers. Even better when you see them doing so well today.
💪🏼
Land of Nod event today, another tough tab with hills (lots of) and runaways.
The course is progressing well into test week, peaking at the right time 💪🏼
Great to have Starkey’s up this week, my replacement.
BPC 1331 started yesterday.
A 3 week course where students learn the basics of military Parachuting.
Week one consists of ground training. Practicing exit drills, Landing techniques and malfunction drills.
Hopefully after week 3 all 76 qualify and earn their Wings 💪🏼
Speaking to some of the young ones yesterday, their faces absolutely lit up, great to see, not sure I was as “excited” as they were when the shoe was on the other foot.
If only they knew what’s to come “Feet, Arse and head” in that order, many many times 🤣👌🏼
Still unpacking Boxes and have no clue where most of our stuff is 🤷🏼♂️ but largely settled and are doing some exploring today, a new place to call “Home”.
Early thoughts are excited, looks nice and plenty to do around these parts. (paddle boards unpacked)
No rest for the wicked!
On the back of All Arms finishing yesterday, P Coy HQ took to the road and headed to Brecon to do some shared practices with the RAF Reg. 15 mile Tab into Log and stretcher race.
Some tired legs now.
🍺🍺🍺 needed 💪🏼
@ChrisB8940