Pre Selection Process To Becoming a Royal Marines Commando: Jason Fox’s Military Career at 16🇬🇧😳

[@dsgreat3]

I rember doing that competency test and the guy doing it looked at me looked at my score looked at me again and said “what did you want to join again?” to which I told him marines and he looked a bit disappointed and said “you know you could join the submarine service?” I just said “I’m 6’3” he just nodded his head and said “Yeah alright marries it is”.

[@leon6777]

Oh my lord you'd be looking like Mr Burns in a year

[@dsgreat3]

@@leon6777 yeah at the time I was quite unwell and my life moved in a different direction. I often wonder if things had been different how my life would have turned out. I’ve a feeling I might have done well there but we will never know.

[@davidnanderson4869]

Same mate, BARB test, I got told I could train to fly an apache .....unfortunately I ripped the tendons in my ankle just before recruit and selection at glencorse

[@dannymunro7454]

​@@davidnanderson4869 When I did mine I was told my score (67) left me open to become an Ammo tech, or MP. I wasn't guna be a nark so joined as an Ammo tech. Wasn't offered anything else.

[@user-hr9kt7yn9i]

The people in my careers office were lovely. Obviously the type of people who took no shit but was genuinely there to see you succeed.

[@Males_Should_Be_Abused]

Succeed 😂

[@Kexlar]

I remember back in 88 when the Royal Marines came to my school on a recruitment drive, I studied to be an archaeologist, but once I listened to what they had to say I knew that was for me, I put my name down and the rest is history, joined the Marines and went into 42 Commando, the best decision of my life. Now at 51 I am retired and my Daughter wants to join the Royal Navy and be a Submariner Chef.

[@donovanfigg6461]

Good time to join, with the new astute revamps and the dreadnoughts coming as well. Per Mare Per Terram

[@leejames1792]

@@donovanfigg6461 yea real good time, especially with the UK gov itching for war.

[@michaelcostello1053]

God bless you and your daughter, sir.

[@michaelcostello1053]

@@leejames1792nobody is “itching for war” stop with your paranoia comments 😂

[@letsgotoe2toe]

you might not be but the arms and missile manufacturers are itching for men to start firing their equipment across borders. ​@@michaelcostello1053

[@davidlewis492]

That's such a heart warming story.

[@reeceferretti5616]

That marine on the screen is lt.col Gary Green, I met the guy at my old cadet squadron, super inspirational bloke.

[@TorchFTW]

Sounds like the asvab test. I took it and was told I'm smarter than the desk. 😂

[@sbkenn1]

When i was 24, I could do 35. Now, I doubt that I could do one.

[@Males_Should_Be_Abused]

And then I got blown up and told that my injuries are not service related 😂 yaaayyyyy

[@owenbutcher1954]

UTMOST RESPECT 👌

[@RageAZA]

Walked into the careers office and the marine officer there was a bloody giant and damn near crushed my hand on his handshake

[@anthonydavies35]

I done that competency test for the MOD. Didn’t get the qualifications so got an interview at BT and the exact same test 😂

[@DECODEDVFX]

I considered the marines as a youth. I always wanted to be an RAF pilot as a kid but my eyes weren't good enough. I spoke to the marine enlistment dude. I was a fat kid at the time, maybe 18. He indirectly talked me right out of it. He basically said, "you seem like a smart lad, I'm not sure this is for you. But if you can pass the tests in a few months, we'll take a look at you". He basically talked me out of it. I'm glad he did today. I would've lost the weight and hit the criteria, no problem. But I was never made to be a royal marine.

[@Males_Should_Be_Abused]

You were never made to be blown up in a hole while your superiors dust their hands of you 😂 people like you are very funny indeed

[@G58]

I answered the advert in Exchange & Mart, turned up for an assessment test at a hotel in Birmingham, did my BFT in the grounds of a large house near London, then got on a plane for France, Johannesburg and Salisbury.

[@hachimanjiro]

At the time it was hell but in hindsight great days 42 COMMANDO ret

[@garethlee1326]

I failed the medical at 16 when you could join navy then transfer over to marines I believe. Long time ago then

[@harrystott236]

You still can get your green lid, it’s called AACC (All Arms Commando Course)

[@Bobblenob]

I can remember I did that test and the recruiter Sgt was surprised when he said it can chose any trade I wanted

[@Ardass486]

I wanted to be a spark but was too thick,so wound up at ctcrm.

[@user-fz7de4cz4w]

Don’t Know About The Royal Marines but the Army Competency test was Called a BARB Test.

[@Thee_Penguin]

Don't know if it's still a thing but 22 years ago I got one of the highest scores on the BARB test at Blackheath recruitment office (SE London). I was very proud 😊

[@TheJon2442]

It was an SSG assessment mid 1970's.... I forgot what the letters stood for!

[@bonkers1212]

I went into the careers office at 17 and said I wanted to join the Royal Marines... I had the standard 90s curtain hair style earrings and an eyebrow ring and was basically told to fck off 🤷‍♂️😂

[@TukikoTroy]

Did you take them out and go back? That's what they would be hoping you would do to show that you really wanted to be a marine.

[@RayCyst310]

Good for you

[@bonkers1212]

@@TukikoTroy na bud, went back on the fishing boats then joined the army a year later 🤣

[@ed-venture7963]

I had exactly that happen to me, they said 18 (over arms ) though, I got on the bar and pulled 18. The guy said he’s never seen anyone do that before. The shape I was in was due to the national standard swimmer I was at the time, best none stop was 24. Now probably am at 2.5 😂

[@leon6777]

From what he described the test sounds like the Bennett's mechanical comprehension test, most engineering apprentices need to pass one, or machinists and fitters do, not too sure about the welders 😉

[@jmcgaminghov9994]

It is / was called the BARB I belive Atleast for the army ..British Army Recruitment Battery '. Dunno if they still do it or if it was tri service Basically a bunch of verbal reasoning tests etc.

[@sirmalus5153]

We used to say in the steeworks " A welder is just a Fabricator with his brains smashed out".

[@Jonathan-tz7ss]

BARB test (British Army Recruit Battery) It said shit like "jane is not as short as joe, who's taller?" and you need to be quick. The higher your score; the more job options in the Army you'll have. Though maybe the Navy one is slightly different? they'll all be pretty much the same if it is

[@lamorphise]

It's logical reasoning, numeracy and problem solving. It's laughably multiple choice 😂

[@amacca2085]

I got a really high score which I thought was easy they were very impressed they said most people just past it can’t remember what the pass was sure it was 38 for basic infantry was a long that was like 02 / 03 most of the offices shut there used to be one in most decent size towns

[@TukikoTroy]

The Navy one? They were so desperate for recruits in 1974 that if you could spell your name right two times out of three, you were in! (Joke btw, and an old one at that)

[@colinelliott5629]

OK, I give up. Who was taller?

[@lcameron2480]

It's called the PRMC. potential royal marine course

[@scottalexander9098]

The good old BARB test 😅

[@andrewblunden2834]

Barb test to see what colour crayons you like lmao

[@sillytorque]

Don’t confuse US Marines with Royals ;)

[@djustinfowler]

For the US, our “competency test” is called the ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery) test, and as a former recruiter…it was pretty damn useless.

[@daredemontriple6]

I did a similar test to be a Royal Marine Officer when I was 18 - although that was more of an exam of sorts. Sat down in a room with a dozen or so other blokes and was given a little booklet of questions and an hour or so to work through it. The questions were all pretty straight forwards, felt like more of an idiot check than a real test of intelligence. I specifically remember one question about how a different amount of powder would affect the trajectory of a cannonball. At the end of it the bloke asked me about my school grades and such. He said I should have a good long think about whether I really wanted to be in the marines. "It's tough, it's dangerous, and it doesn't pay nearly as well as a civvy job". Part of me now regrets my decision, but I followed his advice and became an engineer instead.

[@84stoney]

Most Saturday mornings on Woodbury, I see two Royal Marines in full camo gear and high vis vests (do you want to be seen or not?!) stopping traffic, so others on a training run can cross the road. This is our elite fighting force, the best of the best, trained to be deployed to any warzone to fight for King and country, and face all the dangers of active combat. But they can't cross a road in Devon without help. School kids only need a pensioner with a giant lollypop and not an SA80 assault rifle in sight. What's with that? 🤷

[@standleymt]

Wow you’re hard

[@gay_commando1611]

What a funny story.

[@dannyturnbull9010]

What do you want then to do just rub across the road and get it by a car?

[@84stoney]

@@dannyturnbull9010 I want them to cross a road like any other man, woman or child would, by looking both ways for cars and crossing when safe to do so. If they would just run into traffic without looking, as you suggest they would, then they definitely need more training before going to fight abroad. 🤦

[@daredemontriple6]

@@84stoney Think it's just a case of safety more than anything else mate. Plenty of people cross roads without that sort of help every day, plenty of people get hit by cars every day. Those recruits get beasted for 32 straight weeks in marine basic - there's a good chance they're not really 100% aware of themselves. So rather than just let groups of tired and delirious men run across the road and hope there's no accidents, they get two guys to stop the traffic and ensure there are no accidents.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

This reminds me of when I failed my test to join the RN. This was back during the recession so the Armed forces had the cream of the crop to choose from as they had many applicants. They said I had good mechanical mind but that I hadn’t passed the test. I asked them what I had failed on and they told they were allowed to disclose that info. I expect it was my maths that let me down :/

[@sguk6673]

Pere mare per terram the 10 pull ups is a deal breaker for a lot.. I worked careers just before I left service. It was my job to make sure to encourage but also want to have a guy I'd fight next to .

[@morningstarboi6861]

And then you have me, taking 3 months trying desperately to join the army, and having to wait till September to actually start

[@Prometheus7272]

In the same position 😂

[@morningstarboi6861]

@@Prometheus7272 damn, where are you joining from??

[@herbie3oh3]

I wish I could… I have Crohns and have been turned a way twice because of it.

[@alisonw5150]

How many times can you use the word 'like' unnecessarily?

[@timmycrw91]

😅😅 that reminds me a little bit of how my son went into the Marines. He used to play a lot of sports when he was younger and he was always skinny and ripped. But he hadn't done any exercise in years. They brought him in to do some calisthenics and asked him to do pull-ups. He did 16 with good form. There is just something about the way he's put together that he has always been good at doing pull-ups, and they really are hard to do so I just don't get it😂😂

[@andreworr4307]

I remember doing that type of test when applying to join the royal navy ? so ive never really had a problem with these gear/cog questions and just thought it was an easy little thing you had to do ? But i found out later out of 32applicants only me and one other dude went on to the next test ? I dont mean to sound big headed but i really couldnt understand how someone could fail that test ? Weird !

[@ianreynolds1806]

The apptitude test

[@raders4615]

I failed it for the RAF reserves just over a month ago I did well on the electrical and engineering part and the shapes as I’m an engineer by trade, but the maths nope I’m terrible, felt like a reet plant pot, court me off guard 😂

[@bh8671]

And that’s the difference between wanting something and not. He said he idk two and a half pull ups and was told to come back when he could do ten. He proceeds to say about going to train and the women had already given up saying his dream was over. 🤔

[@stevenvater8720]

I'm old man but when I was 20 I could do 50 pull ups from a dead hang, full pull ups not half ones...... I never thought anything of it. Now if someone does 10 they superhero. I wish I was 20 again....

[@standleymt]

No really - world record in 24 hours is 8600…

[@stevenvater8720]

@@standleymt you a hero in the gym if you can do 10!!

[@brodiegriffin_is_Ozzy]

They call it an Aptitude test & it's see what roles / jobs you are or are not suitable for , if you don't already have an idea they then give a list of roles you are with some info etc...

[@Lonely_Goat]

I went into the army careers and said I want to be infantry and he said no, we need caterers and engineers. I told him I can do that in the real world why the fk would I do that ? He also took one look at me and said " You need to put on weight and come back" I asked him how much did I weigh and his reply was" how the hell would I know?" I was 18 and 11 stones. Perfectly fit and healthy, football twice a week. I had a slim face that was all. Glad he was such a knob and I left as a few years later they all went to iraq

[@DaveSCameron]

Jason 😂

[@jester5ify]

You go into the recruiting office... Then capita fucks everything up.

[@And-rc9yy]

I'm 52 fit as a fiddle. I wish I wasn't too old.

[@standleymt]

You weren’t 21 years ago!!

[@And-rc9yy]

I needed guidance. I distinctly remember going for career advice and just being advised to work on the local farm.

[@red00eye]

GTI test

[@dirkdiggler3605]

Scruff McGough those that know 😆👍🏻⚓️

[@StiofanMacSiomoin1798]

BRAB Test

[@markcarroll2727]

Jason cox real name is Paul Kelly from Luton 👊👊🫣

[@JammyDodger45]

WTF are you waffling about? For a start off he's not from Luton never mind you getting his name wrong.

[@jakealcock5905]

@@JammyDodger45 Jason Fox is from Luton. Jason Cox however, I don't have a fucking clue.

[@JammyDodger45]

@@jakealcock5905 - he's not from Luton. He's a Plymouth lad. He spent his early years in the SW before moving to the 💩 pile that is Luton as a pre teen. No wonder Afghanistan didn't seem so bad to him if he'd spent time in Luton.

[@nickybluechips7567]

BARB test?

[@Ned.1274]

Yes its the BARB test or at least thats what they called it in the mid 90s when I did mine.

[@dannydinneen1498]

Aptitude test.

[@ryanwalsh231]

BARB test isn't it? Was for the army

[@JayFast89]

I'm an ex Royal. What's the link for this podcast?

[@flavioalmeida3443]

yeah what is the name of it and link

[@robcurley2585]

Search for Grace Beverley. It’s on her podcasts

[@trumpstinyhands]

😂😂😂 so true , I went in with a friend who was applying. I’m sat gassing to this 6’4 specimen that looked like he was carved from granite. Said “I guess you’re not applying because it’s too hard” Me (dumb as f and 15) “I can pass anything”. 6 months later I’m stepping off at commando halt in a suit too big and my balls have retracted into my body lol My mate btw got rejected , walked across to the army careers joint 2 para then 15 years 22. Bumped into him on ops in Afghan, shared a lift in a chopper than was flown by my kids god father. The three of us had another weird rendezvous in Ireland as well

[@IllegalHelios]

If you join at 16 you got to an army college for 2 years until your 18. I cant remember if you then start your army training or not at 18 or if its all completed within the 2 years. Im also pretty sure this is solely for infantry not other regiments. I had 14 weeks of phase 1 training then another 50 weeks of phase 2 training for the royal artillery. I cant remember noe but im pretty sure the only phase 2 training longer than mine is for medics which is 54 weeks. Might be wrong as last time i even thought about any of this was 5 years ago.

[@Ned.1274]

Pretty sure it’s for all regiments you do what they used to call Junior Leaders until you’re 18 then you chose your regiment.

[@standleymt]

In the RM, juniors join at 16 no special college! just recruit training culminating in the Commando tests and Kings Squad…

[@daniel.gilliss6030]

If the US military required a new recruit to be able to do 10 pull ups and meet weight they would not be able to get hardly anyone in lol. Hard enough to get them to meet the lowest on the entry test now all these mommas boys cupcakes only skill is sitting for hours on end playing video games.

[@1000GayOwls]

Well, remember US Marines are not like Royals, they're commandos. Royals along with Paras are the two most difficult to enter infantry forces with 50+% selection failure rates, they feed the tier 1 SBS/SAS/SRR. I expect US Army Rangers for example have similar standards to that.

[@FORTISWARRIORS]

@@1000GayOwlsthey do, The US Rangers were flown over to be trained by the UK Commandos during WW2!

[@Ardass486]

Sainsbury's pays more

[@standleymt]

Pretty sure civvies going for the Seals would be able to crack 6+ decent pull ups!

[@LucindaHcorral-rt3ph]

Aspen do you think that because the women in here burned toast every morning but loose cinder should be put on a cross every time she walks through the door and wants to go through that security checkpoint to ask her to alter her clothes lift her shirt put her hands down her pants and running around her waist line is not only inappropriate but is illegal

[@joep5080]

So to be a marine you gotta do 10 pull ups, work out 4 cogs n go to the base. So glad your short video cleared that up for me

[@Thatguy91919]

And to be you all i have to do is be a meek bitch, thanks for clearing that up

[@user-xh3wr1do7k]

That's not what he said at all. 🤡

[@dsgreat3]

The actual test is a lot more than 10 pull ups that’s just to earn the chance to do the real test.

[@Ardass486]

There's always one.