P company
Encyclopedia
Pegasus Company is the rigorous training and selection organisation based at the Infantry Training Centre
, Catterick
, North Yorkshire
. P Coy run the 'pre-parachute selection' courses for trainee Parachute Regiment soldiers (Known as Baby Paras) and officers as well as an all-arms course for Regular and Territorial troops. P Coy is also responsible for delivery of the TA Combat Infantryman's Course for candidates for the TA Parachute Battalion, 4 PARA.
Pre-parachute selection must be undertaken by all army candidates for parachute training who have not already undergone a strenuous form of training, such as UK Special Forces
.
Training in P Coy culminates in a series of eight tests undertaken over one week. For recruits directly joining the Parachute Regiment, the tests are attempted at week 20 of training, all-arms candidates attempt the tests after two and a half weeks of build-up training.
Upon successful completion of the course, candidates will participate in the Basic Parachute course
at RAF Brize Norton
, Oxfordshire
.
. The time limit is 19 minutes, after which candidates lose one point every 15 seconds.
Infantry Training Centre
The Infantry Training Centre is a unit of the British Army administered by HQ School of Infantry responsible for both basic and advanced training of Soldiers and Officers joining the infantry...
, Catterick
Catterick Garrison
Catterick Garrison is a major Army base located in Northern England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world with a population of around 12,000, plus a large temporary population of soldiers, and is larger than its older neighbour...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. P Coy run the 'pre-parachute selection' courses for trainee Parachute Regiment soldiers (Known as Baby Paras) and officers as well as an all-arms course for Regular and Territorial troops. P Coy is also responsible for delivery of the TA Combat Infantryman's Course for candidates for the TA Parachute Battalion, 4 PARA.
Pre-parachute selection must be undertaken by all army candidates for parachute training who have not already undergone a strenuous form of training, such as UK Special Forces
United Kingdom Special Forces
The United Kingdom Special Forces is a UK Ministry of Defence Directorate which also has the capability to provide a Joint Special Operations Task Force Headquarters...
.
Training in P Coy culminates in a series of eight tests undertaken over one week. For recruits directly joining the Parachute Regiment, the tests are attempted at week 20 of training, all-arms candidates attempt the tests after two and a half weeks of build-up training.
Upon successful completion of the course, candidates will participate in the Basic Parachute course
Basic Parachute Course
The Basic Parachute Course for members of the British Armed Forces is conducted by the Static Line Training Squadron of No.1 Parachute Training School RAF, based at RAF Brize Norton....
at RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. It is close to the settlements of Brize Norton, Carterton and Witney....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
10 miler
A 10 miles (16.1 km) march conducted as a squad over undulating terrain. Each candidate carries a 35 lb (15.9 kg) bergen (not including water) and a rifle. The march is currently to be completed in under 1 hour 50 minutes (TA candidates have 2 hours).Trainasium
A unique assault course set 60 feet (18.3 m) above the ground, designed to test a candidate's ability to overcome fear and follow simple orders at considerable height. This is the only event which is a straight pass or fail; all the other events are scored. The total score required to pass is known only to the P Coy staff.Log Race
A team event, in which eight men carry a log (a telegraph pole) weighing 60 kg over 1.9 miles (3.1 km) of undulating terrain. Candidates wear a helmet and webbing. This is supposed to be one of the hardest events.2 Mile March
An individual effort over 2 miles (3.2 km) of undulating terrain, carrying a 35 lb (15.9 kg) bergen (not including water), rifle, combat jacket, and helmet. Regular candidates have 18 minutes, TA candidates have 19 minutes to complete the run.Steeplechase
A timed 1.8 miles (2.9 km) cross-country run, followed by an assault courseAssault course
An assault course is a special sort of trail that combines running and exercising. It was more popular in the 1970s than it is now. It is heavily used in military training...
. The time limit is 19 minutes, after which candidates lose one point every 15 seconds.