Any of you CF Reservists do yours yet this year? Just got off ours on Saturday. Finished it in 2:01 We jogged through half of the last 2km.

The fireman carry was the worst. I had to carry the heaviest guy. Then the trench dig... gotta love the trench dig.

Last time I did a 13k was on course.. and we did it in 2:24 (the limit being 2:26) and I thought it was hard. Making it in 2:01, although painful, was worth the blisters on my feet

That's why I love being 6'5". During our CFAs (Combat Fitness Assessments, involving a 15km pack march), all the shorter dudes are basically shuffling to keep the pace, while I just stride along as per normal, usually giggling to myself.

It's also another reason to laugh at Reservists (in my own Army at least). For us, the CFA is just part of a normal days training - the last one I did we just marched out to the range one morning instead of taking the vehicles. Not a man struggled, and it gave us the tick in the box we needed for another six months. The chockos next door, however, were training specifically for it for a month, and still had about 20% fail. Very giggle-worthy.

- Sarge

Although I can see how it can be "giggle worthy" to a Regular member, keep in mind a Reservist is juggling a military career and a full time civilian career. Most people have trouble handling one or the other.

Another thing that is bad for us is say for instance I go out for a jog or to the gym to do some weight lifting to keep fit and hurt myself, I am screwed. If a Regular hurts themselves during PT, the military looks after them and pays for their recovery, and should you become disabled, the military will look after you for the rest of your life.

But on a side note, I'm happy to say no one from our regiment failed. Although some just made the march in the allowed time, they made it none the less.

What takes part in the 13 KM marhch? fireman carry- to what distance? it seems bizarre to just throw in fireman carry into a march, usualy a stretcher (or a few) is opened at the last KMs of the march or a 'stretcher march' is done, what kind of marches are you doing in reserves?

after finishing my regular service in which I did different marches to distances such as 80 KM, we dont seriouly train on these things, how often do you train in your reserves duty?
next sunday im off to a few days training of reserves duty, im assuming its going to be focused on nevigating mostly, although they might surprise us with an infantry training for some upcoming operation in Gaza.

~

Knowledge has become the most important capital in the present age, and hence the success of any society lies in harnessing it.






It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious

Our marches are in FFO (Full Fighting Order). This includes a ruc sack that must be filled with at least 52 pounds of gear. A tac vest loaded with standard field kit, including 4 mags. Your rifle, with a mag attached, and your kevlar helmet.

We have 2h23 to complete 13km's. We usually do it in less than 2 hours at a decent pace.

Right after you finish your 13km, you remove your ruck sac, find a buddy in your weight class, and fireman carry him for 100 meters. Your buddy will have his vest, helmet and weapon on him, as will you during this carry. This simulates a casualty evacuation. You have 60 seconds to complete this task.

After your 100m carry is complete, you immediately begin the trench dig. It's not a full trench. Its usually a shell scrape. You have 5 minutes to dig the shell scrape.

It is required to pass all 3.

As per the type of work we do in the reserves... it depends on your trade. Infantry does infantry stuff, I am in armoured recce, so we practice different aspects of our trade when we train. Its usually 2 weekends a month. There are also a couple of major 7 day exercises during the year as well.

13k is 2:01.. Not bad at all for non infantry types.

When i was in battle school, the 2 hour mark is pretty much the general standrad for RCR recruits.

This kind of stuff is pretty nasty for a small guy like me. 5'9 160 pounds.

On my fighting withdraw in battle school we had a 7 km all out sprint in FFO with rucks. This was in Meaford where there are millions of hills. On average each man had a belt of C-6 and 20 box of C-7 ammo. I also had to hump the platton 84mm besides my C7. Some guys got stuck with rocket ammo cans filled with sand . I remeber by the end of it at lest a couple of guys passed out and a half dozen guys give up and got on the safty trucks.

Although not infantry (I'm Armoured Recce), the regiment still pushes fitness. We practiced section attacks/advance to contact last year before we went on the SATS.

But yea, that fighting withdrawl sounds pretty hard... and Meaford on top of that... I can't count how many times I twisted my ankles in those damn tank ruts...or driving cross country with the Iltis and have the steering wheel jerking all over the place..