A few questions about Cadetships

MickJB1989 · 13-08-2009 11:43AM

This is pretty strange, for some reason I can't view the informational videos on the website, I end up getting lines and lines of code, and then my PC freezes up. Is there a specific name for the sit-ups they do that I could have a look on google for?

blondie83 · 13-08-2009 12:28PM

Hi Mick, haven't seen them anywhere else, but it looks pretty stright forward. Begin by lying down with legs drawn up in standard sit-up position, and with your two arms stretched out in front of you (palm of your hands resting on your thighs). As you come up hands should slide up, until your palm is on (maybe just beyond) your kneecap, and your fingers on the start of your shins. Then back down and repeat * 19!

Hard Larry · 13-08-2009 05:21PM

blondie83 wrote: »

Hi Mick, haven't seen them anywhere else, but it looks pretty stright forward. Begin by lying down with legs drawn up in standard sit-up position, and with your two arms stretched out in front of you (palm of your hands resting on your thighs). As you come up hands should slide up, until your palm is on (maybe just beyond) your kneecap, and your fingers on the start of your shins. Then back down and repeat * 19!

^yep thats pretty much it

If your feet lift off the ground its a fail.
If your hands leave your thighs its a fail
No one will be holding your ankles as in previous years.

Those of you with little arms will have to work twice as hard

concussion · 13-08-2009 06:53PM

Try
http://www.1bderdf.com/malepressup.wmv
and
http://www.1bderdf.com/situps.wmv
and if all else fails look at
http://www.1bderdf.com/ftchart.pdf

For the sit-ups you can hold your heels against the edge of the mat and backside approximately 12" away from heels.
Females and those over 40 can elect to do the modified push-up which is done with the knees on the ground and one straight line to the shoulders.

MickJB1989 · 13-08-2009 09:24PM

Thanks for the info folks, good to know the exact format, and what consitutes a fail. Those informational videos were very useful. I'll need to change my sit-up technique, as I do the reps with my hands behind my head. Press-ups seem dead on though

Delta Kilo · 14-08-2009 12:00AM

RE the fitness test, how is the running part carried out? Is it on a treadmill or running around a track? So far I've only done it on a treadmill as there are a lot of hills around where I live. Running at 8mph brings you in at ~11.25. But I don't know if I would be able to judge how fast I am running on a real surface.

Is it done individually or in a group?

pmg58 · 14-08-2009 12:37AM

I'm fairly sure its done outside, whether on a track, grass or a road, I don't know. A better bet for you would be to work out a route of a known distance and time yourself running it, you'll soon get used to the pace you need then

.

Delta Kilo · 14-08-2009 12:55AM

Ya, I think it is time to move away from the treadmill as handy as it is. Get out on the road and see is there much of a difference!

pmg58 · 14-08-2009 12:58AM

Yeah exactly, the problem with the treadmill that I find as well is that its just too easy to stop whenever you want, I find it much easier to push myself when I'm outside running.

MickJB1989 · 14-08-2009 11:18AM

@ Delta Kilo: Personally I found treadmill too easy compared to what I'm doing now (athletics track). The treadmill (at my gym in any case) seems to help provide momentum, thus increasing speed slightly. 6 times round a standard 400m track covers the required distance, so it's has handy as a treadmill for measuring, but the difference on the ankles was quite something in my opinion, the first few times my time was reduced fairly substantially on the track compared to treadmill. I'd imagine concrete would be worse again, I plan on moving onto it shortly.

As for if the run is done in a group, I'm not sure on that one, but my gut tells me it would be, as they would only need one or two supervisors to get a good number of candidates done, rather than the individual supervision I imagine would be needed for the muscular endurance tests.

Delta Kilo · 14-08-2009 03:17PM

MickJB1989 wrote: »

6 times round a standard 400m track covers the required distance, so it's has handy as a treadmill for measuring,

That's handy. Pity there are none near where I live! Its handy because you know that you need to be doing a lap of the track in ~1min 50sec to come in on time. This is where I see a problem with the test. It's going to be hard pace yourself if it is just a straight run from point A to B or just 1 lap of something.

Hard Larry · 14-08-2009 03:55PM

The Assessment run will be done in a group. I don't know how big.

It'll either be in the DFTC (Curragh Camp) or Army Grounds in the Phoenix Park, Dublin depending on where you go for your interview.

The fitness test will more than likely be on the same day as your interview and the sit-ups & push ups will be done in the gym in DFTC or McKee Bks, Dublin

pmg58 · 14-08-2009 04:06PM

Got the email with the test familiarisation booklet in it this morning, only applied on Wednesday too.

Delta Kilo · 14-08-2009 04:35PM

I received it too. 9am on the 31st August. Job simulation exercise looks kind of cool!

pmg58 · 14-08-2009 04:37PM

Same as, I wonder if they'll just have one date or several?

Yeah some of the potential answers are hilarious!

MickJB1989 · 14-08-2009 05:40PM

PMG, didn't realise you were applying this year as well, figured you were already in! Good luck to you both!

pmg58 · 14-08-2009 05:42PM

Ha no, i've just done a lot of research to prepare for it, plus i've learned a few things from being in the RDF. Cheers!

neilled · 14-08-2009 06:37PM

I thought we'd be doing some group exercises, or do they doing those this year?

pmg58 · 14-08-2009 06:39PM

Yeah thats part of phase 2, along with the fitness test, the personality questionnaire and the "realistic job preview".

neilled · 14-08-2009 07:32PM

Cool, I'm off to get some practise at those tests!

blondie83 · 14-08-2009 07:46PM

Got mine as well - here's to the 31st! I'm assuming everyone would answer the job simulation exercises the same, though maybe the ones we get won't be quite so black and white! Do you guys reckon we'd need to know much Irish military history for the interview (thinking ahead here!), or will they be more concerned with finding out what we're like, what hobbies we have ect?

Craigsy · 14-08-2009 08:01PM

Did the run tonight, was going at a fair tilt to get it done in time. That being said i was doing it cross country and im just getting my fitness back up. Don't know what surface you get tested on.

Anyway, I've got at least 4 years to prepare for my cadetship anyway, planty of training time:D

Good luck lads doing it this year, might see ya in a few :pac:

Unpossible · 14-08-2009 08:04PM

edit: maybe we shouldn't discuss the application form

blondie83 · 14-08-2009 08:15PM

Unpossible wrote: »

...

I think I just stuck in N/A for them

neilled · 14-08-2009 09:55PM

Was out running tonight. 6.7 km done in an okish time seeing I'm still shaking a cold. Sit up and pushups aftwards. Room for improvement though.

byrner88 · 14-08-2009 10:50PM

do you have to have done a college course to apply for the cadets?

neilled · 14-08-2009 11:06PM

byrner88 wrote: »

do you have to have done a college course to apply for the cadets?

The information booklet has all the information you need.

MickJB1989 · 15-08-2009 12:18AM

byrner88 wrote: »

do you have to have done a college course to apply for the cadets?

No, the PDF will put you through after your cadetship. You would be 2nd LT until graduation, at which point you would be promoted to LT. I think they generally use NUI Galway. You will need a specified set of Highers though, with a swing towards languages (IIRC, Maths, English, Irish, 3rd Language and 2 others).

MickJB1989 · 15-08-2009 02:09PM

Just thought I'd post an update, went to my opticians today, and it turns out that my vision is a perfect 6/6 in both eys...when corrected. Uncorrected they're nowhere 6/18 though, so looks like my chances have been shot to hell. Does anyone know why the PDF don't allow candidates to have laser eye surgery?

pmg58 · 15-08-2009 02:47PM

MickJB1989 wrote: »

You would be 2nd LT until graduation, at which point you would be promoted to LT.

Actually no, you would be promoted to Lieutenant after two (I think) years service, taking into account service with your unit before attending college, this means that you would probably be promoted in second or third year.

Mick, sorry to hear about the eyes, I think the reason they don't accept it is because the long term effects are not yet fully understood.

A few questions about Cadetships

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