HMForces

If you serve in the Armed Forces you need to be fit to respond to the different physical challenges you may face in on operations. If you think you are fit enough to walk (or jog) into the Armed Forces you are ‘planning to fail’! Ensure you know the fitness standards you need to achieve. One individuals’ definition of being fit ...

The fitness requirement consists of a 1.5 mile run that must be completed according to the time set for the particular Regiment/Corps that you are intending to join. • Infantry Regiments (not including the Paras) – 12 mins 45 secs or less • Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Household Cavalry, Royal Logistic Corps, Pioneers – 13 mins 15 secs ...

Before you go to Basic Training, make sure you have taken care of the every-day issues in your life. Check with your recruiter if you have questions or are unsure about how to handle any of the following matters: • Who will receive your mail? • Does your family have access to your finances? Bank accounts, etc… • How will your ...

*Basic Training* The Basic Training is both challenging and rewarding and will teach you how to become an effective soldier. It includes physical fitness, weapon handling, field craft, map reading, as well as military terminology, drill and how to wear your uniform. In Regional Units the basic training is spread over several weekends finishing with a residential two week course at ...

The Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) for the Royal Marines is a 1.5 mile run on a treadmill that has to be completed in under 10 minutes. However, this is just the beginning as potential recruits also need to complete the Pre-Royal Marine Commando Course (PRMC) – a three day assessment course held at The Commando Training Centre at Lympstone. The exercise ...

The good news is that you do not have to be super fit to pass the Armed Services fitness tests, the bad news is that you could be caught out by a particular exercise if you haven’t prepared for it. Why make life your first time away from home any more stressful than it already is? Check out our "Adrian Weale’s ...

The first question on most people's lips when they think of the Persian Gulf War in 1991 is - Why did Saddam Hussein invade Kuwait? It's a complex issue but in simple terms his country was almost bankrupt from its previous war with Iran which lasted between 1980-88, a bloody and irresponsible conflict in which both sides committed terrible atrocities against ...

*The Semi-Pro Programme* The Semi-Programme is designed for the person who is keen to attain a reasonable level of fitness but doesn’t have the time available to follow the full Fighting Fit programme. It is a progressive programme which builds up over four weeks to a level at which you will be increasing your cardiovascular fitness and toning your muscles without ...

Wheeled vehicles have in the main been seen as providing the means of transporting men and materiel and not normally being involved in a direct combat role. However, current operations in Afghanistan have given the military wheeled vehicle a higher profile and are now in greater use as a high mobility weapons platform. That being said there will always be a ...

Despite the overwhelming numbers of Aircraft the Iraqi's had (more than 600), the Coalition's superior forces dominated the air relatively quickly because of these considerations: 1. Organisational and logistical superiority 2. Technological advantages The Iraqi Air force was poorly trained, disorganised and using older equipment. By 24th February allied ground troop began moving into Kuwait - the operation was dubbed Operation ...

Members of the British Army are able to call on an amazing armoury of weaponry to fulfill the task of taking and holding ground when deployed on operations. This armoury includes grenades, rifles, machine guns, mortars and anti-armour weapons to name but a few. The following Small Arms and Support Weapons are currently in use by the British Army. Pistols [photo:37659] ...

There is an impressive array of Support Weapons available for use on operations ranging from Shotguns and Machine Guns to Mortars and Missiles. The following is a list of those weapons: L128A1 Combat Shotgun. A semi-automatic tubular magazine fed weapon the 12 gauge Combat Shotgun is issued for use by the ‘Point Man’ – the first and most exposed position in ...

NATO’s ARRC (Allied Rapid Reaction Corps), under the command of Lt General Sir Mike Jackson, were ready to move into Kosovo as and when agreement was reached that Yugoslav combat troops would withdraw from Kosovo. The Russians, having played a crucial role in persuading Milosevic to meet the terms of the ceasefire and end the war, were expecting to be allowed ...

In mid January 1999 45 Kosovan Albanians were massacred by Yugoslav forces in the village of Racak. Global outrage at this incident led to NATO issuing and ultimatum to Milosevic to end the fighting and for Yugoslavia to comply with the demands of the international community. In an attempt to avert a humanitarian disaster President Milosevic was invited to accept the ...

The last of the wars in the former Yugoslavia took place in Kosovo in 1998/99 and was directly linked to other wars in the region. With ethnic divisions and a repressive and militaristic regime in Belgrade the ‘end’ result was bloodshed and the eventual re-drawing of international borders. The 1998/99 Kosovo conflict included the fighting that took place throughout this period ...

Hägglund BvS10 The initial BvS10 was produced by Hägglund as a special order for the exclusive use of the Royal Marines on Northern Flank exercises in Norway during the Cold War period. The vehicle gained an excellent record as an outstanding ‘over-snow’ and fully amphibious tracked vehicle and was designed along the familiar twin cab and articulated steering system typical of ...

Iraq's refusal to comply with the UN Security Council's resolutions meant that the UN was obliged to use force when economic sanctions failed. The United States-led coalition launched a massive military assault on Iraqi forces stationed in Kuwait 17th January 1991. This war was an early test for new PM John Major whom had taken over premiership from Margaret Thatcher the ...

The initial BvS10 was produced by Hägglund as a special order for the exclusive use of the Royal Marines on Northern Flank exercises in Norway during the Cold War period. The vehicle gained an excellent record as an outstanding ‘over-snow’ and fully amphibious tracked vehicle and was designed along the familiar twin cab and articulated steering system typical of the Hägglund ...

Designed by Alvis in the late 1960’s the first of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) was delivered for use in the British Army in 1972 and in the course of the following 14 years over 1800 vehicles were delivered for use by the Army. The CVR(T) ‘family’ of seven armoured vehicles were designed in such a ...

Tracked vehicles have been part of the British Military inventory for nearly 100 years. Over the years, with advancements in technology and automotive power, tracked vehicles such as the British Mark 1 have progressed quickly – from a 28 ton, 4 mph leviathans of the battlefield with a crew of 8 to the 62 tonne Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank capable ...