Ex-Forces - Please help.?

Question

I am joining the British army and my careers instructor has told me that they would prefer it if i could do chin ups by the time i join.

I will need to do at least a couple by the time i pass out but it would make my life easier if i could do them before.

Any tips from ex-forces????

x x x

Answer 1

Hi Bunny I would like to wish you the very best. Here is a website link that might help you.


http://www.how2become.co.uk/army.htm

Answer 2

Definately do it before you go. Basic training is exhilarating and very hard work, really the more you can do before you go will make it easier. You don't want to leave yourself mountains to climb in the short space of basic. Also you'll leave yourself open to injury. It really makes sense to be able to achieve all the fit standards prior to joining. The info you'll get from the careers office is good, they have an excellent training plan - www.army.mod.uk has some useful info too. Check out your local college, some offer fitness programmes in preparation for military service. Your local gym too, is a good place to get info and specific exercises to bring you up to the required standard.

I advise most potential recruits to join the TA first and make use of their training to prepare you, its a good way of getting started with the training, you get paid and the standards for joining are the same as the regular army so if you join the TA they will help you acheive that standard and you also get the opportunity to "try before you buy"

Answer 3

Simple grab your-self a chinning bar (available for around £10 from Argos) stick it somewhere that you pass a few times during the day (bedroom door, kitchen door etc) and every time you go past do a chin-up.

Then once a day (i find mornings best) just do as many as you can in a row, before you join you'll be able to do loads!!.

Remember don't neglect the rest of your fitness though!!

Answer 4

If you have been told that you will need to be able to do x amount of pull ups by the time you leave basic, then you will be made to do it.

The recruiters operate a bums on seats policy. That is they recruit to the number of people walking into training, not the number of people passing out.

The thing is if you can't do it by the time you leave then you won't be passing out.

You will probably have to do an initial test to asses you. If you fall short then you will be given remedial training and this likely to be done in the time you need to do other stuff, like polishing boots, ironing kit, even relaxation.

Do yourself a favour and start now.

I'm not an expert, but see a gym and ask. Its for your own good.

Otherwise, good luck on the career.

Answer 5

Fitness has become a bigger thing in the forces although the Army always were more insistent the the RAF. Work on your arms, (don't let the lads work too hard on your chest). Although they want you to be reasonably fit when you join, they will soon have you fit enough to pass their tests. If they didn't think you had the potential you wouldn't have been offered a place.

Best of luck in your military career.

Answer 6

Just start doing pushups and lifting weights. If you can not do a single chin up right now that is ok just work out and concentrate on your upper body when your at the gym.

Also dont forget to run, every military in the western world is big on that. Good Luck

Answer 7

Good for you! Congratulations from a two-tour US Viet Vet. There is no reason for you to wait as physical conditioning will be a big part of your training, so you might as well get started. Find a friend, or freind of a friend who works out. Ask their advice. perhaps, under the circumstances, as a patriotic gesture a local gym will allow you to use their facilities for free until your enlistment date. I'm sure they will also have plenty of folks there to give you tips.

Failing that, or if you are in an area with no local facilities, go to any one of several websites (just Google them - space prohibits listing here) that will be able to give you a safe, effective routine to follow for the beginner's course. Don't overdo it. You could hurt yourself. I'm sure those websites will also have clever ways to set up a safe chinning bar. Good luck in your new career!

Answer 8

The best way to build up your strength for a particular exercise is to do it. In this case you probably don't have the muscle strength to just jump up there on a bar and start knocking 'em out so here's a good starting routine for you: Find a good pull up bar, doesn't have to be at a gym or anything, it just has to be a a good height for you to perform the exercise with ease. Bring a friend with you, you will need a little help when first getting started. Grab the bar with your palms out or palms in, depending on the standard of which you will be graded on (palms in you will be targetting your biceps with palms out you will be working your triceps) and have your friend hold your feet and support a considerable amount of your hang weight. Perform the pull ups while your friend lifts on your feet because just beginning it will be very difficult for you to support and lift your own weight. Start of with three sets of 10-13. The more you work out on this exercise the less weight your friend will have to lift in order to aide you. Hope this helped.

Answer 9

Don't know about chin-ups but go in with a good level of fitness and you will have an edge on those who didn't bother plus it is amazing what you can achieve when a man with a hat on shouts at you.

Answer 10

The gym I belong to has a machine called a Gravitron that will assist one in doing chin-ups and dips.