wannabeofficer said:
I am worried if the actual training will be a lot more physically demanding than this standard.
I am 163cm tall and weigh 45kg. I know I am underweight but I am an extreme ectomorph and I cannot gain weight nor muscles no matter how hard I try. I guess being thin is my natural thing.
I am really a non-athletic person.
I didn't really try my best then.
Anyways I have about 4-5 months to prepare for the BMQ. Do you think this time is enough or should I take longer?
What is the likely chance that the used-to-be-the-weakest girl in high school will survive the BMQ after 4-5months of intense training at home?
Am I dreaming something unrealistic? Please be honest.
Right now, I can barely pass stage 4 in the 20m shuttle run, my handgrip (combined) is barely over 50, can easily do 15 sit ups but can only do 1 push up at this time.
I am 24 years old btw.
The minimum standard is not adequate preparation for course, at all. As previously mentioned, TRP platoon is a constant institution at CFLRS. It is designed to get candidates fit for the next session of BMQ/BMOQ that they will be medically cleared for. You workout twice a day, and depending on why you're in TRP, your workout routine will work with injuries or be designed specifically to train you up for success. It often incorporates specific exercises to help you get better at the FORCE test and the fitness aspects that Basic challenges. The number one thing that TRP provides is
structure. If you can blast your body and eat healthy for the months leading up to your BM(O)Q, you can likely just get through the course. If you arrive underprepared and are not able to achieve the standard required, TRP is there to train you up to it. I'd advise anyone to do the work on their own, and avoid TRP, but it should not be seen as a crippling failure if you land there. There are always highly motivated people on TRP that landed there due to Murphy's Law and will be top caliber candidates for the next available session of Basic.
I'd say this all depends on how bad you want this career. I agree with the statement that being underweight and under-tall puts you at a distinct disadvantage, especially for the drag on the FORCE test. I can also say I've seen some very petite people drag about triple their body weight to finish the test successfully.
Basic is meant to be somewhat challenging physically and mentally. It will likely call upon every candidate's weaknesses at one point or another. That being said, your motivation will guide a fair bit of how prepared you arrive to course. Some people have inner drive, others need to find tricks to help themselves overcome procrastination or low motivation.
General tips:
Do not rely on supplements - you won't have them on Basic. Get used to eating healthy and hearty meals to fuel yourself. The average candidate on Basic burns about 3600 cal/day. You aren't expected to count calories, but start to do basic research on nutrition. You are far better off eating two hard boiled eggs and 250mL of water, than you are downing McNuggets, a can of Coke, and whatever supplements will make up for it.
Drink water - become one of those people that just carries a water bottle with them everywhere, and uses it. Course staff will harp on this relentlessly, to hydrate. Your body needs more than just water to function well, but most of the time water is all you have. You can mix powder Gatorade or whatever, but don't overuse it or replace water with it all the time.
Create challenges for yourself - walk everywhere. Get a comfortable pair of running shoes and use them. Have a friend take your cell phone, drive you about 5km away, and dump you at the side of the road. You'd be surprised how motivating it can be to have "home" as your destination, and there's no backup coming to give you a ride.
Get comfortable with your body weight, and approximately 40-45lbs. - Crunches, push ups, running up and down stairs, plank, think about body weight exercises first, and get
very comfortable doing these. Later, start thinking about a 45lbs weight. The FORCE test uses sandbags for a lot of it. You will carry them around, lift them repeatedly...and on course it is no coincidence that your rucksack will eventually weigh about 40-45lbs.
