Stage 4: Medical & Physical

This might be a stupid question but are people wearing suits to the medical?

df14 wrote: »

I'd say jeans and a shirt would be grand

Ah yeah, definitely not a suit needed for the medical!

It was great to go down and get a feel for it. Would recommend everyone in the next batch to do it if you can.

For those who couldn't make it - it's not the end of the world. Watch the videos on youtube. There will be a talk on the day before you do your PCT, so if you've any questions ask them then.

I don't know if we are supposed to post this, so someone feel free to delete if necessary. But for those up in June who couldn't make the day I'll give you a quick breakdown of what we were told.

PCT day starts with a talk. Then it's bleep test in groups of roughly 8. Test has a built in warm up - Level 1 starts off at 8kph and has 6 shuttles, think he said level 2 had 6 as well. Some groups practicing this started out at too fast a pace. Take your time. Otherwise you'll be knackered by the end of it. They call out the shuttles for you starting from 6, so , 6, 6.1, 6.2 etc You only need to run as far as the mark you need plus one ie if you've to reach level 8.8 listen for the 8.8 and complete one more shuttle. If you miss a beep don't worry. Put your skates on and reach the next one. You'll get a warning but you're only out if you miss two consecutive beeps. Only one foot needs to hit the line, so don't waste time on two feet or big mad turns. Instructor recommended practicing the test indoors in a sports hall - not on a treadmill or on a pitch. Once you're finished you move straight into a side room for sit ups then push ups. So practice doing them fatigued! You'll be tested on this in private so don't worry about spectators. An instructor will stand on/hold your feet for the sit ups. Hands must remain on your temples. Elbows have to pass your knees on the sit up and shoulders have to touch the ground. You're lying on a mat for them. Feet are off the mat about a foot from your arse. Oh and if you are struggling on a sit up ie moving abs from side to side to bring yourself upright - it doesn't count. As soon as you've finished the sit ups it's on to the push ups no break -except maybe to shake out the aul muscles. You have to start off from the ground ie push yourself up. Hands under shoulders, arms/elbows tilted back slightly -so not at a 90 degree angle from your body. Need to keep back, arse and legs in a straight line - any bends and it doesn't count. Knees hit the floor and it's test over. Need to bring your chest down to about fist height off the floor. Can rest on your arms but instructor said it's fatiguing so wouldn't recommend it. That's unit one over. If you fail any part of it you will need to repeat that section. There is a possibility to redo one section of the PCT in 3 months. But don't bank on it. Mini break - the example he gave us was if beep etc finishes at 10.30 next section could start at 12. Again don't count on a massive break. Then it's on to the obstacle course followed immediately by the push pull. That is unit two. Again fail either component and you will need to redo entire section. Instructor said most people finish one lap of the obstacle course in about 50 seconds. Take your time on the balance beam (it's red with yellow spot at the start -need to start from the yellow), dipping under the bar (knock it off and you've to go back and do that section again). Things to watch out for are: green cones, go around them. Don't knock any cones down. Leave the tire hanging over the edge so it'll be easier to lift on your next lap. The mannequin weighs about 7 stone. If you have small hands you'll need to get a good grip on his ankles or try for his boots. Wrists won't be a problem. You can make up time on the sprint sections. Can take stairs two at a time. It's quite do-able. There will be an instructor talking you through the course so don't worry about getting mixed up or having to remember it all. You have 3mins 20secs. If you do it under 3min it knocks 10% off what you need to register on the push pull. Could come in handy for shorter people doing the push pull. Tips for the push pull. USE your entire body not just your arms. Use the legs to generate force for yourself. Don't look at the slider. Focus on the wall in front of you and listen for the beeps. Push til you hear a beep then pull back til you hear a beep etc. Again all this is done in private so no worries about nerves in front of others. Best of luck lads!

It was good to get a go of the push pull and the beep. Think with some training I should be grand. How bout yourself?

Bigdizzle92 wrote: »

Anymore people get a phone call about meeting their local super? I still haven't heard anything

Met my Sergeant last Thursday and met the Super yesterday

RedmondHR wrote: »

Got my physical date, anyone else ?

Yep, got one myself.

AnMuinteoirOg wrote: »

Have ye medicals done?

Yea medical done already