P Company
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Pegasus Company (also known as P Coy) is the rigorous training and selection organisation based at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, North Yorkshire. P Coy run the 'pre-parachute selection' courses for trainee Parachute Regiment soldiers (Known as Baby Paras) and officers as well as an all-arms course for Regular and Territorial troops. P Coy is also responsible for delivery of the TA Combat Infantryman's Course for candidates for the TA Parachute Battalion, 4 PARA.
Pre-parachute selection must be undertaken by all army candidates who wish to undertake parachute training who have not already undergone a strenuous form of selection, such as the vastly more challenging UK Special Forces Selection process or the significantly more challenging Commando Tests and RAF Regiment Pre Para.
Training in P Coy culminates in a series of eight tests undertaken over one week. For recruits directly joining the Parachute Regiment, the tests are attempted at week 20 of training, all-arms candidates attempt the tests after two and a half weeks of build-up training.
Upon successful completion of the course, candidates will participate in the Basic Parachute course at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.
The 8 Tests
10 miler
A 10-mile (16 km) march conducted as a squad over undulating terrain. Each candidate carries a 35 lb (16 kg) bergen (not including water) and a rifle. The march is currently to be completed in under 1 hour 50 minutes (TA candidates have 2 hours).
Trainasium
A unique assault course set 60 feet (18 m) above the ground, designed to test a candidate's ability to both overcome fear and follow simple orders at considerable height. This is the only event which is a straight pass or fail; all the other events are scored. The total score required to pass is known only to the P Coy staff.
Log Race
A team event, in which eight men carry a log (a telegraph pole) weighing 60 kg over 1.9 miles (3.1 km) of undulating terrain. Candidates wear a helmet and webbing. This is supposed to be one of the hardest events.
2 Mile March
An individual effort over 2 miles (3.2 km) of undulating terrain, carrying a 35 lb (16 kg) bergen (not including water), rifle, combat jacket, and helmet. Regular candidates have 18 minutes, TA candidates have 19 minutes to complete the run.
Steeplechase
A 1.8-mile (2.9 km) cross-country run, followed by an assault course. Candidates are under a time limit to complete the event.Time limit is 19 mins after that you lose a point every 30 seconds
Milling
In this event, each candidate is paired with another of similar weight and build, and is given 60 seconds to demonstrate 'controlled physical aggression' in a milling contest - similar to boxing, except neither winning, losing, nor skill are pre-requisites of passing. Candidates are instead scored on their determination, while blocking and dodging result in points deducted. Candidates now wear head protection and gum shields as well as boxing gloves.
20 Mile Endurance March
A 20-mile (32 km) squadded march over diverse types of terrain. Candidates carry a 35 lb (16 kg) bergen (not including water) and a rifle. The march must be completed in under 4 hours and 30 minutes. TA candidates do not participate in this event, due to their reduced opportunity to prepare for the course.
Stretcher Race
Candidates are divided into teams of 16 men, and have to carry a 175 lb (79 kg) stretcher over a distance of 5 miles (8.0 km), each individual candidate wearing a helmet, webbing and a slung rifle. No more than four candidates carry the stretcher at any given time, swapping round at regular intervals so that all candidates carry the stretcher for a certain distance.