Mark "Billy" Billingham Talks about Para Selection

[@aceofspades5786]

Billy would be a great recruiter for the military, so calm, intelligent and articulated.

[@buffett1000]

Really love this guy. His bravery. Honesty. Dignity. The man is a total dude. I have utmost respect for him and wish him nothing but the very best.

[@mojomojomonomojo]

I worked for his corporal in sas unbelievable guy most interesting person I ever met

[@simonrogersparachuteregime3022]

Great bloke, he trained me in belize and was a honest guy.

[@walkie1985]

wow what an honour.

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

Did p coy 3 times back when I was 17 ....found it tough but finally passed and went to 2 para ....good times... interviewed billy recently on my podcast .... we both served in the same battalion all be it at different time💪🏻

[@stevekinsella5642]

Billy was 3 Para

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

Billy was 2 para ...he may have done a bit in 3 para but defo 2 para

[@jasonmars1221]

He is talking about P Company and not SAS Selection. (Edit: they fixed the title now)

[@jamesbradley7227]

I was just thinking that 👍

[@BennyH11]

@@jamesbradley7227 It says it in the title.

[@jllo3624]

It literally says Para selection

[@jasonmars1221]

@@jllo3624 They changed the title. It originally said "SAS selection".

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

If you’ve done it, then you are fully aware of what he’s talking about. If it was SAS selection, I’m sure there’d be every para trained soldier dressed in black climbing through windows and gangbanging all sorts of possibilities hahaha

[@job7973]

I was a marine, but these guys are on another level. SAS/SBS are the deal, much respect bro.

[@sobmadrox]

@William Seeing as though the Royal Marines wipe the floor with the US Marines, I'm assuming that he means Royals if we go by the way he compared Marine to SAS/SBS

[@JammyDodger45]

Got to be a Yank, Brits don't say 'Marine', we earned the title Royal in 1802 and still make sure that everyone knows it!

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

Cool your jets water babies, he’s talking about joining the parachute regiment. BRITISH ARMY

[@PsyCygnet]

Fuck me lads this is about his initial inlistment in the Paras....the being badged.

[@mkdy218]

@@William22M Good question. To me the RM's and Paras are on a level , just trained in general for different roles! I joined the Royal Marines in 81 and the only other Regiment our training team ever mentioned was the Paras. There was a begrudging respect. And rightly so.

[@alexkerr8770]

Para reg myself good to hear this

[@stevenbatey7684]

Thank you for your Service I love you all Steven xxx

[@daverich2534]

Totally respect to these SAS guys, I know no where near to it but nearest i got was when i was in 10 para, the recruitment right from start to finish with our company was tough , didnt realise till after only about 5% probably less from our company made it, although we were under a right hard guy from 3 para Johnny weaks, he weeded out the crap , and although just a reserve really felt i earned my red beret and wings the hard way over a year in total to pass. many of our guys went to serve in conflicts with regular units

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

I can Google it but I want to be sociable lol.. what was 10 para mucka?

[@garrywynne1218]

Former TA( Para) unit based in London. Along with 4 and 15 ( Scottish ) Para. Disbanded late 90’s and amalgamated with the 4th. Most were ex regular from Para, Guards, RRF, RMs . Good unit. Very fit and professional with good capability. A regular officer friend of mine in a line regiment came on an exercise once with 4 Coy and said the tempo was above and beyond a regular line unit . And he was ex SF !

[@e-4mind167]

Thank You so much for sharing experience. It gives us motivate to Youth and contribution for country. Salute from bottom from my heart 💂. I will following your step. Let's see.😊

[@peterstubbs5934]

His initial thoughts were EXACTLY like mine. I joined Junior Para in Sept 72 in Malta barracks Aldershot. Totally unprepared for what was to come, didnt have a clue. Outside the Gd Room as we were being processed, a Squad of P Company blokes (Regular non Para soldiers that had passed their initial training in different Regiments and wanted to have a crack at being Para) came running past us in the direction of the Tank Tracks. (I didnt know WTF P coy was by the way). One poor sod was at the back really struggling and being dragged along by two fellow P company students encouraging him on. I remember saying to John Maher who was also a new JPC recruit like me (I will NEVER be like that man at the back.). Actually, I never was BUT, I was only snotty like that because i didnt realise just what was coming to me and just how hard it was to be. I soon learned to STFU and get on with things. My training officer and NCO`s ended up being GOD` in our eyes. Less than half of us went on to pass out and joined a battalion. I completed 22 yrs man sevice in Para Regt. SAS never appealed to me, probably couldnt have done it anyway, plus I was having too much of a great times with the lads and the pubs were always open. Respect to the Hereford lads.

[@mkdy218]

Respect man ! 72 was bang in the middle of the Troubles as well !

[@steveforster9764]

JPC 1980

[@Zamudiokid]

What I like about interviews with these guys in the SAS, I can see they have a clear respect for life* and an understanding of people. Their humanity is clear as is their focus, they dont even come off as the ruthless type though theyve proven they could be just that should the need arise. I wish all these guys well, wish the late John McAleese was still alive.

[@leahm8166]

You should Google their legacy in Northern Ireland

[@DemetriPanici]

*“You don’t need a new plan for next year. You need a commitment.” - Seth Godin*

[@king_piratezzz4581]

I'm gonna remember that

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

What on earth are you on about hahaha

[@kjvenom8508]

P coy week is a beast . Hard selection week . Fair play

[@DemetriPanici]

You guys make the mtost engaging interviews

[@philipalbon3192]

Great film thanks

[@jamescoupland4673]

Billy taught me First Aid in Depot with 570 platoon 1991 while training for selection. He would come on a 10 miler with us then do another with the next recruits straight after. I always remember him having skinny arms at the time and seen now he has bulked up a bit since them. He walked around looking really alley to us Joe's. Never seen him again as he passed selection that year and I went to 3 Para.

[@Grenadier_1656]

My first experience of getting to battalion in N.I after passing out of the depot was walking into my lines and seeing a senior guardsman walking down the corridor with a grot mag and a toilet roll; he was only wearing flip-flops with a towel over his shoulder and he growled “what the fuck are you looking at dog shit?!” Respect to you Billy, all the best ❤🇬🇧

[@lumpygravy38]

Pressure and fear change everything. Met a couple of paras whilst doing civi parachuting. Nice guys. You can tell they are part of an exclusive tribe and you're not part of it ! I do respect that.

[@jockmcghee4147]

Champion!

[@AhmetKaan]

*"You will never change your life until you change something you do daily, so the secret in success is found in your daily routine."* 🌅🙏 _Comment yes if you agree! :)_

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

You just put loads of words together to try and sound inspirational?

[@mkdy218]

I did selection for 21st in 82. One of the selection Staff was apparently a millionaire and who had the highest pitched girl laugh you'd ever heard ! Takes all sorts! PS I failed 😞

[@trident1314]

I read somewhere 21 was full of posh adventure types and 23 was the more working class blokes...not sure if that's true or not though.

[@OMT988]

@@trident1314 its not, it is regional though. (each squadron is based in a different location across the UK.) so depending what area the unit is, the more blue collar or Dollie guys there are.

[@alexkerr8770]

Great stuff I know what it saying about people gone

[@si_h44]

the exact same shit happened to me! freaky, all the big hardmen fell within days, we did a bft and all the so called hardmen jacked!

[@Mod-rw9cw]

To all of you non readers . It actually tells you it’s about Para selection in the title. 🤪

[@thesmithsfamily1901]

He is actually talking about Para selection, not SAS selection.

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

So happy I didn’t have to say, now I’m not the angry para 😂

[@ianlaccohee7180]

He’s talking about P Company & the paras, not selection.

[@Rocknrollrecoverist]

Always a good day to listen to these guys when they talk . I take a lot of inspiration from their words and how these people conduct themselves. My young brothers colours in 3 Scot’s I think 🙄. He wanted black watch which I believe is 3 coy he’s my absolute fkn hero . I was the family fuck up,You know the score drugs booze stealing cars n shit like that . I was doin 5 years in an English nick and my young brother was writing to me and telling me he was up to all the crazy bullshit I was and he was only 15 at the time bless his heart. I suggested that he get his shit together and that there was absolutely fuck all glamorous about lying in a stinkin prison with rats on the yard n roaches crawling around at night. I told him to join the military somewhere,I tried when I was a lad too n wasn’t heavy enough at the time and had no support around me to help me make the weight it’s my only regret in life that I didn’t get the opportunity and I’m beyond grateful that the young yin did he’s the epitome of a “good man” it’s weird that I look up to my kid brother lol He fkn rocks though the lad and hell yeah am I proud of him,He got out of the shit show he was entrenched in and done something fkn amazing,17 years on and he’s colours sgnt n been all over the world. And no I don’t ask him about his job it’s not mine to know .

[@grahamobrienverynicex9804]

Hes a clever man. X

[@davidcullen1956]

as an ex para oh! you are never an ex para. I never had a problem with being shouted at or the hard physicality. Mind over matter, never mind it doesn't matter is the credo

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

I don’t mind joe, and you don’t fucking matter 😂😂

[@alexkerr8770]

I knownthat phrase I don't cause it doesn't matter . Fuck it and drive on lol

[@pierevojzola9737]

Once a Para, always a Para. I joined the Paras in 1960, seven of us got through and joined 3 Para and then the hard work begun. In those days we still had blokes who were at Arnhem, you just couldn’t let them down. It was long ago, but feels like yesterday. Cheers mate Harera

[@alexkerr8770]

My man

[@paulcummings1566]

Read his book, absolutely compelling.

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

What makes the grass grow? Seeds, sunlight and water!

[@WhisperedDreams951]

Para Reg - go if you have it. (Ex 2 Para).

[@matthewgadie7215]

love you bill xoxo

[@projectalpha4782]

That thumbnail tho 😂😂😂

[@kjvenom8508]

It’s p coy week Wednesday to Tuesday a beast of a selection.

[@Indoor_Carrot]

I've wanted to join the military since I was young but I was rejected because of a disability. If people gave it their all and couldn't make it, then I'll respect that. But if any guys just give up half way through training, then it's just a spit in the face to the thousands of applicants like me who will never even be given a chance to try because of circumstances out of my control.

[@user-zr4sj2ll5q]

Sorry to hear that. What’s your disability, if you don’t mind my asking?

[@Indoor_Carrot]

@@user-zr4sj2ll5q born with hearing loss. Can't be fixed

[@matthewlangton3148]

It's really about Depot para Aldershot that's were paras were made.

[@nicolasetherton2534]

Browning Bks, 468 platoon, good times, hard but worth every minute.

[@Dave-ko2pr]

It’s a shame they closed it in 1993

[@markhankin9317]

best time of my life was Para training

[@garethpenny3372]

My dad was 3 para ...hard . The best ..

[@Unity-v3f]

The forces will always push you and although it may feel like they want you to fail nothing could be further from the truth! They want you to pass but they want people of the right calibre. All i can say to anybody joinimg is gve it 100% do that and leave nothing to spare! Do that and you pass.

[@johnthow5816]

Ha ha well done Billy

[@johnjackson2519]

why was he born so beautiful

[@alexkerr8770]

Done it 😂😂

[@kfrahber5550]

That man sounds like conor

[@JammyDodger45]

Is Conor one of your mates at school?

[@joshherron6378]

😎🇺🇸

[@SeeLyons]

Interesting that the angel was telling him to give up, and the devil was telling him to stick it out!

[@Moving_like_a_Ghost]

PARA REG UTRINQE PARATUS

[@lowfatmofat2152]

Every man an emperor.

[@ronniepickering9191]

new moto , do you know who i am .

[@Darkhorse1978-c6w]

the only people to ruin it were other paras , if you were in aldershot in the 90s at the 1 para exodus you know how others ruined it

[@Dave-ko2pr]

In what way ?

[@Darkhorse1978-c6w]

@@Dave-ko2pr give me a private email address or something?

[@celticprogeny1569]

The enemy in NI were not cowards. UKSF use the same tactics.

[@frosty_soda]

Enemy in NI were and are cowards. They blew up buses with kids, shot women, and dished oit punishment beatings to those who didn't agree with their views. The civil rights movement was making ground, and the PIRA opposed it because it meant PEACE. These cowards didn't want peace. No harm to ye, but they're scum

[@flubbynubby3236]

They where…..

[@davidcullen1956]

I got bored with it

[@Sidney1WG]

Bored with what?

[@lowfatmofat2152]

​@@Sidney1WGfailing p coy 😂

[@Sidney1WG]

@@lowfatmofat2152 lol

[@dodibenabba1378]

It would have been the devil that would have said give up because he's a liar.

[@Jimbo-airborne-slice]

Paras kill.. so the angel said NO

[@johnrus7182]

UKSF don't put bombs in shopping centres or blow up kids.

[@aor3220]

'I was in Northern Ireland, they were cowards' It's like large amounts of British people prefered to construct 'make-believe' narratives about 'the troubles' in Northern Ireland rather than actually win the war! And all these decades later so many still believe stuff like 'the IRA were cowards' According to Michael Gove, (considered one of the more intelligent Conservative MPs, the 1998 good friday agreement, was a surrender to the IRA.) According to Peter Hitchens, one of a minority of journalists with the capacity to think for himself, the British state 'surrendered to the IRA.' So if the British surrendered to 'cowards' then what does that make the British????

[@Ytwhna]

Considering Northern Ireland is still part of the UK and the IRA doesn’t exist, I’m not sure the UK surrendered. By the early 90s, the IRA was limited to a dozen guys in south Armagh and they were finished once they caught the sniper team.

[@aor3220]

@@Ytwhna do you understand these matters better than Michael Gove or Peter Hitchens?? Are you saying that? Your second comment about 'reduced to just s.armagh, after they got the snipers s.armagh was not a major problem anymore' is disconnected from reality. Yet again another british person has proven my point. You are repeating propaganda and constructing narratives that suit rather than looking at the evidence. The war in N.Ireland ended in 1998 with the Good friday agreement. I am a nationalist and i read unionist newspapers on occassion to see what they are saying. A man wrote a letter to the belfast newsletter saying the Good friday agreement was designed to create a united ireland. He is a unionist saying that and his assessment is entirely correct. Do you understand these matters better than the typical n.irish unionist also.?

[@aor3220]

@@Ytwhna i replied to you earlier and my comment was deleted for some reason. Anyhow, heres my second reply. You said 'by the early 90's the ira was limited to a dozen guys in s.armagh and they were finished once they caught the sniper team' That is exactly what I was talking about in my original comment. That is a construction of a narrative that has no relationship with reality whatsoever.

[@victornewman9904]

What kind of "army" disappeared over 200 men, women and even children?

[@aor3220]

This question makes no sense to me. Why have you addressed such a question to me ?​@@victornewman9904

[@alexkerr8770]

Would the now 17 year olds go to war ie to fight Germans These young lads are so soft

[@Brianhugetool.]

Royal navy is the life lads , all that phys interferes with the tea breaks , bacon sarnies and regular self abuse .

[@mustafakemal9547]

Really decent bloke, Total resoect as an ex 2 para MMgs -support coy. makes a change from the dickheads ive met over the years in the reg