Flexibility to join as an Army Cadet

blondie83

Hi all, have a bit of an odd question and was wondering if anyone could help me out. I'm hoping to apply for the 2009 Army Cadetship competition, and noticed the annex detailing the physical fitness test also mentioned the following:

Flexibility
Assessed using various flexibility aids (hamstring and lower back flexibility).

This has me pretty worried as my flexibility is not the best, and never has been. I'm back on the stretches again of course now to improve it as much as is possible, and I'm wondering if anyone has any idea just how flexible you have to be, or how they actually test it. I assume its something along the lines of the "touch your toes" thing, but is it standing up/sitting down ect, and do you have to be able to reach your toes, or can you be within say 5cm of them? It's this, and the hearing test that has me most worried!

pmg58

Hi Blondie, haven't a clue about your first question, but I don't think that part of the competition is until September anyway, so you have plenty of time to keep working on your flexibility. I suppose you could contact the competitions section on Monday and ask them?

The hearing test can be quite difficult, but its important not to panic about it, it'll only make it harder. You can only do your best. I'm assuming from your username that you're over 25 so I think the test will be slightly easier for you if that helps any.

Best of luck with it, I'm applying myself.

Hard Larry

blondie83 wrote: »

Hi all, have a bit of an odd question and was wondering if anyone could help me out. I'm hoping to apply for the 2009 Army Cadetship competition, and noticed the annex detailing the physical fitness test also mentioned the following:



This has me pretty worried as my flexibility is not the best, and never has been. I'm back on the stretches again of course now to improve it as much as is possible, and I'm wondering if anyone has any idea just how flexible you have to be, or how they actually test it. I assume its something along the lines of the "touch your toes" thing, but is it standing up/sitting down ect, and do you have to be able to reach your toes, or can you be within say 5cm of them? It's this, and the hearing test that has me most worried!

Because Cadetships are a Competition this is Pass or Fail for Candidates.

It involves you sitting on a Gym Mat and stretching foward to touch your toes and your reach/strectch is measured.

I have a mate who could never stretch past his knee caps and had to pass this test.They gave him a skipping rope which he looped around the soles of his feet and had to drag himself down until he was fit to snap. He had to do this 3 times a day to my great amusement and delight

Start improving your stretch now as it would be a kick in the arse if you got that far and were failed for that. Best of luck.

Edit: Hearing test involves you sitting in a sound proof booth with a headset on listening for beeps and tones. Theres no way to improve on this only advice I can give is don't use the I-Pod for a couple of days prior to the test and try not to expose yourself to a noisy enviroment prior to the test

blondie83

Hi guys, thanks very much for your replies. That skipping rope idea sounds like a good one I think I'll give it a shot and add it into my stretches (when I can do them again properly, stupidly overdid it the other day and mucked up my hamstrings ) At present I can't get too far past my knees, and when standing up am 10cm away from touching my toes (11cm when sitting down for some reason). Hopefully daily stretching will help me sort this - its very handy to know the exact format the test is given in (sitting down), so thanks for that too! My hearing is a bit dodge, but I'm staying away from the Mp3 player, and hopefully as I'm 26 the extra 5dB will get me through!

/*edit*/ and good luck pmg58!

tribulus

I'm sure formats and other things can change but they never tested flexibility last year. Doesn't mean they won't this year of course.

And there's no way that feckin booth is sound proof!

Hard Larry

tribulus wrote: »

I'm sure formats and other things can change but they never tested flexibility last year. Doesn't mean they won't this year of course.

And there's no way that feckin booth is sound proof!

Considering the economic climate at the moment selection for this Cadet class would be the fictional equivalent of finding a Golden Ticket in a Wonka Bar,take nothing for granted in preperation for it.


And yes the booth is not soundproof but at least its moved from its old location where people walking in the corridor sounded like Riverdance without the music

Del2005

Hard Larry wrote: »

It involves you sitting on a Gym Mat and stretching foward to touch your toes and your reach/strectch is measured.

I have a mate who could never stretch past his knee caps and had to pass this test.They gave him a skipping rope which he looped around the soles of his feet and had to drag himself down until he was fit to snap. He had to do this 3 times a day to my great amusement and delight

Start improving your stretch now as it would be a kick in the arse if you got that far and were failed for that. Best of luck.

I though that stretching to touch your toes had been killed off by Health and Safety? It's not good for anyones back to be made to bend like that.

blondie83

Hard Larry wrote: »

Considering the economic climate at the moment selection for this Cadet class would be the fictional equivalent of finding a Golden Ticket in a Wonka Bar,take nothing for granted in preperation for it.

well thats the thing, I think the standard applicant to post ratio is 25:1, but this year I reckon it'll be at least 50:1 if not more! Going for a job at those odds you need every little thing to be perfect I reckon

tribulus wrote:

I'm sure formats and other things can change but they never tested flexibility last year. Doesn't mean they won't this year of course.

And there's no way that feckin booth is sound proof!

Trib how goes it! Long time no see - but they let us both out of UCD in the end!

Hard Larry

Del2005 wrote: »

I though that stretching to touch your toes had been killed off by Health and Safety? It's not good for anyones back to be made to bend like that.

Don't know anything about that mate sorry.

I'm sure some H&S rep would have a sh1te haemorrage if they knew the things done by the Defence forces everyday

Del2005

Hard Larry wrote: »

Don't know anything about that mate sorry.

I'm sure some H&S rep would have a sh1te haemorrage if they knew the things done by the Defence forces everyday

I know the DF have to break the rules by the nature of the job. But it seems pointless to be doing something which can injure someone or have other long term affects, have they not learned anything from the deafness claims?

Hard Larry

Del2005 wrote: »

I know the DF have to break the rules by the nature of the job. But it seems pointless to be doing something which can injure someone or have other long term affects, have they not learned anything from the deafness claims?

At some point in his or her training a Potential Cadet will have to carry a 40lb pack complete with weapons and personal equipment a very long way over very high mountains. If they are going to get any back injuries it'll more than likely come from that.

I know a Sergeant who put his back out picking up a pencil so it can happen at any time.

Craigsy

First H&S stop you from strecthing, next they ban you from getting shot in a warzone:pac:

I know its slightly off the flexibility topic but its kinda on the cadetship topic, would having a gold gaisce (presidents award) be impressive for like the interviews and stuff, saw someone in an cosantoir did it recently and they seemed to be making a big deal of it

tribulus

The interviews are competency based so you could use it to talk about where and how you demonstrated x and y.

It would be far better to clearly show where you demonstrated leadership or self-discipline etc. in past actions than saying I have a gold gaisce, or 450 points or an honours degree - you get the idea.

neilled

Hard Larry wrote: »

At some point in his or her training a Potential Cadet will have to carry a 40lb pack complete with weapons and personal equipment a very long way over very high mountains. If they are going to get any back injuries it'll more than likely come from that.

I know a Sergeant who put his back out picking up a pencil so it can happen at any time.

Hi Larry - thats about 20kgs? Would that be normal weight for an exercise? I've backpacked with upwards of 30kgs in the past due to carrying kit for injured people on the trip.

Hard Larry

neilled wrote: »

Hi Larry - thats about 20kgs? Would that be normal weight for an exercise? I've backpacked with upwards of 30kgs in the past due to carrying kit for injured people on the trip.

Thats just a rough figure but its the approx weight of Fighting Order and CEMO as per an Admin in the Field Instruction with Army Issue kit.

And its prior to getting wepons and a ton of ammo dumped on you.

You could have your sh1t wired tight and then next second you end up having to carry a Sincgar and Spare Batteries which is the equivalent of someone putting half a Cavity Block into your kit. A great way to make anyone miserable

EDIT: actually I've just remembered all training is done with Body Armour now so its not only about carrying the weight anymore but being able to adjust it on the move wearing the flacker. More misery. Enjoy

neilled

Hard Larry wrote: »

Thats just a rough figure but its the approx weight of Fighting Order and CEMO as per an Admin in the Field Instruction with Army Issue kit.

And its prior to getting wepons and a ton of ammo dumped on you.

You could have your sh1t wired tight and then next second you end up having to carry a Sincgar and Spare Batteries which is the equivalent of someone putting half a Cavity Block into your kit. A great way to make anyone miserable

EDIT: actually I've just remembered all training is done with Body Armour now so its not only about carrying the weight anymore but being able to adjust it on the move wearing the flacker. More misery. Enjoy

Well considering i've paid money to go on holiday/given up time from work and lug huge weights around mountains, the prospect of getting paid for it would be a welcome relief!

pmg58

Hard Larry wrote: »

EDIT: actually I've just remembered all training is done with Body Armour now so its not only about carrying the weight anymore but being able to adjust it on the move wearing the flacker. More misery. Enjoy

Wearing a flakker and CEMO is the nearest thing to torture.

blondie83

Hard Larry wrote: »

At some point in his or her training a Potential Cadet will have to carry a 40lb pack complete with weapons and personal equipment a very long way over very high mountains. If they are going to get any back injuries it'll more than likely come from that.

Sure I'm going off to do that for fun next weekend! (Well minus the weapons anyway :eek: )

concussion

Including weapons, armour and ammo you're looking at over 40kgs.

Flexibility is a vital component of fitness, if you're not flexible you can't exercise properly and will injure yourself. More specifically to the DF, if you're not flexible how are you supposed to negotiate obstacles, debuss vehicles or get in and out of trenches quickly while carrying weapons and wearing boots, body armour and fighting order?

Flexibility training should be incorporated into every fitness plan and should be addressed once or twice a week.

Edit - if it was an issue under OH&S regs, why would it be a requirement for a Cadeship Competition???

Craigsy

Starting to feel glad my dad brought me out on the hills from when i was 8 and left me to carry all my own stuff and instilled in me the FFL motto of "march or die"

neilled

concussion wrote: »

you're looking at over 40kgs.

I have done this before and it was not comfortable, then again if its 40 kgs, how would it be!

byrner88

Third language (accepted for NUI Matriculation Registration purposes. NUI
matriculations exemptions apply).

i dont have a third language and i dont understand what the part in brackets mean anyone any idea??

pmg58

Candidates have to fulfill the matriculation requirements for the National University of Ireland. This means that they have to meet certain conditions, mainly along the lines of subjects and grades in the Leaving Certificate.

http://www.nui.ie/college/entry-requirements.asp

If you don't have a third language, you may be allowed an exemption:


General Exceptions to the ‘Third Language’ Requirement:
(i) Students entering the Faculty of Engineering in NUI, Maynooth, may substitute any other recognised subject for the Third Language; this provision also applies for entry to the Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Agricultural Science degrees in UCD – NUI, Dublin;
(ii) Students entering courses in Nursing may substitute any other recognised subject for the Third Language;
(iii) Students entering NCAD may present the subject Art in place of the Third Language;
(iv) Students from outside the European Union presenting the results of examinations other than those of the European Union countries may substitute another recognised subject for the Third Language (Section 5.4, ‘NUI Matriculation Regulations 2006/2007’ at www.nui.ie);
(v) Students from outside Ireland presenting Irish as a Matriculation subject. (Section 5.4, ‘NUI Matriculation Regulations 2006/2007’ at www.nui.ie) This provision is relevant to students from Northern Ireland, and also to students from outside Ireland presenting Irish as a Leaving Certificate, GCE or GCSE subject;
(vi) Hearing-impaired students (Section 8, ‘NUI Matriculation Regulations 2006/2007’ at www.nui.ie).

byrner88

pmg58 wrote: »

Candidates have to fulfill the matriculation requirements for the National University of Ireland. This means that they have to meet certain conditions, mainly along the lines of subjects and grades in the Leaving Certificate.

http://www.nui.ie/college/entry-requirements.asp

If you don't have a third language, you may be allowed an exemption:


General Exceptions to the ‘Third Language’ Requirement:
(i) Students entering the Faculty of Engineering in NUI, Maynooth, may substitute any other recognised subject for the Third Language; this provision also applies for entry to the Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Agricultural Science degrees in UCD – NUI, Dublin;
(ii) Students entering courses in Nursing may substitute any other recognised subject for the Third Language;
(iii) Students entering NCAD may present the subject Art in place of the Third Language;
(iv) Students from outside the European Union presenting the results of examinations other than those of the European Union countries may substitute another recognised subject for the Third Language (Section 5.4, ‘NUI Matriculation Regulations 2006/2007’ at www.nui.ie);
(v) Students from outside Ireland presenting Irish as a Matriculation subject. (Section 5.4, ‘NUI Matriculation Regulations 2006/2007’ at www.nui.ie) This provision is relevant to students from Northern Ireland, and also to students from outside Ireland presenting Irish as a Leaving Certificate, GCE or GCSE subject;
(vi) Hearing-impaired students (Section 8, ‘NUI Matriculation Regulations 2006/2007’ at www.nui.ie).

sorry is that just for college students or people applying to the cadets??

pmg58

Well its for college students, but the entry requirements for the Army cadetship for school leavers require you to fulfill it, if you're a school leaver the Army will more than likely send you to college after the cadetship.

Graduates going for the Army cadetship don't need the third language, and its not a requirement for school leavers going for the Naval Service cadetship. So if you're a school leaver applying for the Army, then you'll have to meet the requirements or you won't be considered. I'd say exemptions (ii) & (vi) are out of the question, probably (iii) as well. (iv) & (v) would be possibilities, as for (i), I really don't know. Hope that makes sense.

Delta Kilo

I know a cadet who is going to UL to do sports science for his cadetship degree. You don't need a 3rd language to get into UL so maybe you could get an exemption on those grounds?

EDIT: That said, you would probably be dismissed straight away when they read your online application because there is probably lots of other guys with the necessary matriculation requirements.

On a side, I would be surprised if there were any more than 2 school leavers in the final 30. Probably just a token one or two for anti-discrimination purposes, I reckon.