“Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.” Sir James Dewar (1842 to 1923) Dewar was a British chemist and physicist whose study of low-temperature phenomena entailed the use of a double-walled vacuum flask of his own design which has been named for him. With Sir Frederick Augustus Abel he developed cordite,… Read More
In the 2015 London marathon, times to complete the 26.2 mile (42.16 km) course varied depending on whether the runners were elite or non-elite: Elite Men: 2:04:29 by Wilson Kipsang in 2014. 2:03:05 by Eliud Kipchoge in 2016 Elite Women: 2:15:25 by Paula Radcliffe in 2003. Non-Elite: Finishing with a time of between two and… Read More
In 2017, the qualification standard for British athletes for the 3,000 metre (1.86 mile) steeplechase was set at: 8:58.00 for men; and 10:40.00 for women. For military personnel attending the All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection (AAPPS) course, commonly known as P Company, or Para recruits on the Combat Infantryman Course (Parachute), the qualification standard for the… Read More
In 2015, there were 1,320 personnel in the British Army’s Regular Parachute Battalions, of which 1,190 where parachute trained. You can learn about the training undertaken by potential paratroopers here. Reference FOI 74462/01194 dated 24 February 2015.
The percentage of Parachute Regiment recruits who completed the 28-week Parachute Regiment Combined Infantryman Course (CIC PARA), aka P Company, between 2011 and 2017 is outlined in Table 1 below. Table 1: CIC PARA Pass Rates Training Year 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 & Pass 30% 39% 73% 48% 65% 33% You can read… Read More
Fancy being a member of the Royal Corps of Signals? Fancy being a paratrooper? Well, you can be both! 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron serves with 16 Air Assault Brigade to provide telecommunications and information systems maintenance and support. Royal Corps of Signals soldiers have the opportunity to serve with these specialist organisations. Soldiers from the… Read More
In 2015, in formal recognition of its soldiers’ dual capability as paratroopers and combat engineering experts, 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) became 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment. “Our job is to enable the brigade to live, move and fight…” (Clark, 2015, p.46). The part-time (Army Reserve) element of the Regiment, Wakefield-based 299 Parachute Squadron, has doubled its membership since 2014 and is on… Read More
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