OASC Medical and the Nijmegen March
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OASC Medical and the Nijmegen March
I have posted this in the interview prep section also but I thought this section may be able to offer advice too.
I am attending OASC for my medical and fitness testing for aircrew (pilot).
My problem is that I am taking part in the Nijmegen Marches '08 and there is an RAF qualifying event in a couple of weeks which lasts two days and involves 50 miles of walking with a considerable amount of weight. Obviously this is going to be demanding on my body and the same day I finish walking is the same day I am heading up to OASC Cranwell to begin the medical tests the following day. I am concerned this physical exertion will produce abnormal results in my medical, and the lack of proper rest mentally and visually may affect my eyesight tests.
Am I being too worried or are these genuine concerns I should have?
If so I need to consider whether I should go to this qualifier.
Thanks for the help.
I am attending OASC for my medical and fitness testing for aircrew (pilot).
My problem is that I am taking part in the Nijmegen Marches '08 and there is an RAF qualifying event in a couple of weeks which lasts two days and involves 50 miles of walking with a considerable amount of weight. Obviously this is going to be demanding on my body and the same day I finish walking is the same day I am heading up to OASC Cranwell to begin the medical tests the following day. I am concerned this physical exertion will produce abnormal results in my medical, and the lack of proper rest mentally and visually may affect my eyesight tests.
Am I being too worried or are these genuine concerns I should have?
If so I need to consider whether I should go to this qualifier.
Thanks for the help.
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My honest advice
It's a long time since I went to OASC, and it's a long time since I did the Nijmegen Qualifying event (Swanton Morley then but it may have changed now?).
The Qualifying Event was an absolute killer, designed to weed out those unprepared for the real event. It was however great practise for the two successful Nijmegens I took part in and completed :-)
Dunno why your worried about your eyesight particularly? but if I were you, I'd seriously consider giving the event a miss, given your OASC timing.
There's no point whatsoever in turning up at OASC with a f*cked up body/feet and a semi-frazzled brain still riddled with 'gotta finish regardless' hormones. After SM, we were completely f*cked, mentally and physically and not fit for very much for a few days after.. To say nothing of how we felt after the main event
That's probably not the advice you were after but it's the best I can offer.
Best regards
CS
The Qualifying Event was an absolute killer, designed to weed out those unprepared for the real event. It was however great practise for the two successful Nijmegens I took part in and completed :-)
Dunno why your worried about your eyesight particularly? but if I were you, I'd seriously consider giving the event a miss, given your OASC timing.
There's no point whatsoever in turning up at OASC with a f*cked up body/feet and a semi-frazzled brain still riddled with 'gotta finish regardless' hormones. After SM, we were completely f*cked, mentally and physically and not fit for very much for a few days after.. To say nothing of how we felt after the main event
That's probably not the advice you were after but it's the best I can offer.
Best regards
CS
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Not military myself but have also completed a couple of Nijmegen's with the Air Cadets, as a member of staff.
I would suggest career comes first, you will always have the chance to complete a Nijmegen or more later should you wish, but OASC may not be available again.
I would suggest career comes first, you will always have the chance to complete a Nijmegen or more later should you wish, but OASC may not be available again.
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I've done my fair share of serious tabbing/yomping, and the day after you'll be stiff, tired, but fine.
Your biggest problem will be nutrition, and avoiding ketosis, which is when your body starts burning fat to provide energy, as you have not eaten enough carbohydrates to provide the energy. To avoid this you need to have lots of pasta before the march, and eat lots of Mars bars during it. Afterwards have more pasta/spuds.
Make sure you re-hydrate after the march (til your p!ss is light straw colour) and I think you'll be OK. You are after all 19, not 49. If there are any problems on the medical (most of which involves sitting down) then explain. The ketosis issue will only come up on the urine test, but should be very easily distinguishable from ketoacidosis, which is found in diabetics.
Your biggest problem will be nutrition, and avoiding ketosis, which is when your body starts burning fat to provide energy, as you have not eaten enough carbohydrates to provide the energy. To avoid this you need to have lots of pasta before the march, and eat lots of Mars bars during it. Afterwards have more pasta/spuds.
Make sure you re-hydrate after the march (til your p!ss is light straw colour) and I think you'll be OK. You are after all 19, not 49. If there are any problems on the medical (most of which involves sitting down) then explain. The ketosis issue will only come up on the urine test, but should be very easily distinguishable from ketoacidosis, which is found in diabetics.
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I would go with clicker on this.
The march can be done at any time; OASC is a once-in-a-lifetime, and will dictate what you do with the rest of your life.
It's a no-brainer really. I know [ex Flt Cdr IOT, 37 years service] what serious exertion and exercise can do to you both mentally and physically for several days afterwards. For OASC you need to be sharp, refreshed and not worried by any physical limitations you may be suffering as a result of your efforts in preparing for the Nijmegen. [What happens if you strain/sprain/break something?]
Bin Nijmegen, concentrate on OASC.
The march can be done at any time; OASC is a once-in-a-lifetime, and will dictate what you do with the rest of your life.
It's a no-brainer really. I know [ex Flt Cdr IOT, 37 years service] what serious exertion and exercise can do to you both mentally and physically for several days afterwards. For OASC you need to be sharp, refreshed and not worried by any physical limitations you may be suffering as a result of your efforts in preparing for the Nijmegen. [What happens if you strain/sprain/break something?]
Bin Nijmegen, concentrate on OASC.
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Is it the medical or the selection tests you are doing? Some people are at odds with their advice... You state medical, but FJJP talks about mental tiredness which is applicable to doing selection tests, but not a medical. (Having done my selection many years ago, not sure of the format anymore i.e. are you doing the medical having already passed the selection tests)?
Having done several tabs and several marathons my opinion is if you are fit enough to do the march, then it won't have any adverse effect on a medical the next day.
As A_A says, your limbs may be a bit stiff, but medically you are either up to standard or not regardless of previous exertions.
If you were doing a fitness test the day after, then I would advise you not to do the march, but a medical is not the same. You can always mention you did it to the MO if it makes you feel happier but completing the march will not affect your medical outcome. Good luck on both!
Having done several tabs and several marathons my opinion is if you are fit enough to do the march, then it won't have any adverse effect on a medical the next day.
As A_A says, your limbs may be a bit stiff, but medically you are either up to standard or not regardless of previous exertions.
If you were doing a fitness test the day after, then I would advise you not to do the march, but a medical is not the same. You can always mention you did it to the MO if it makes you feel happier but completing the march will not affect your medical outcome. Good luck on both!
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Anotherthing - the selection phase is now split from the medical phase, as I understand, so all the lad will be doing is going from room to room having his heart listened to, his b@lls felt, and his peepers checked.
Piece of piss, and no harm done by a good walk the day before.
Piece of piss, and no harm done by a good walk the day before.
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My thoughts exactly A_A... ISTR when I went through it was AAIB then if successful, an overnighter with copious alcohol in Daedalus Wardroom before the medical the next day at Haslar.
I agree that after a bit of strenuous exercise you can be mentally tired - I would advocate not to do the march if it was the day before the actual tests just in case, but if are medically fit, then you are medically fit... exercise will not change the result (though alcohol may cloud the urine sample).
I agree that after a bit of strenuous exercise you can be mentally tired - I would advocate not to do the march if it was the day before the actual tests just in case, but if are medically fit, then you are medically fit... exercise will not change the result (though alcohol may cloud the urine sample).
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What a daft question !!!
Why risk something as important as OASC by doing the march just before going ?
Pick up an injury and / or get tired prior to attending - think about it.
C130JB
Why risk something as important as OASC by doing the march just before going ?
Pick up an injury and / or get tired prior to attending - think about it.
C130JB
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Talkin to the organiser I actually have no choice in the matter anymore!
Our team is on its last legs in terms of numbers so we can't afford another drop out, so I am walking. Thanks for the nutrition advice airborne artist.
I am not worried about the fitness aspect, that will be fine. I am worried about things such as the urine test like airborne atrist mentioned and how a long march could effect the result.
Our team is on its last legs in terms of numbers so we can't afford another drop out, so I am walking. Thanks for the nutrition advice airborne artist.
I am not worried about the fitness aspect, that will be fine. I am worried about things such as the urine test like airborne atrist mentioned and how a long march could effect the result.
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As for your team being short on numbers, not your problem and for not having a choice - bollocks.
Will whoever is running the team sort it out for you if you screw up OASC - eerr no.
Will OASC cut you some slack post march, because your tired - eerr no and no.
What is the next 10 - 20 years of your life in a well paid (and well worth it ) job compared to the march, worth ?
Methinks you need some advice from parents / other ATC staff and look at the BIG PICTURE.
Best of luck though
C130JB
Will whoever is running the team sort it out for you if you screw up OASC - eerr no.
Will OASC cut you some slack post march, because your tired - eerr no and no.
What is the next 10 - 20 years of your life in a well paid (and well worth it ) job compared to the march, worth ?
Methinks you need some advice from parents / other ATC staff and look at the BIG PICTURE.
Best of luck though
C130JB
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gezzwhite -
further to what A_A states - maintain a good intake of liquid during the walk. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. It can take over 48hrs (extreme) to properly rehydrate your body after strenuous exercise if you become dehydrated... the simple solution is don't get dehydrated.
I would suggest you might want to look at a 'camel back' or similar - basically a pack you wear on your back with a drinking tube attached... a hell of a lot easier than holding a bottle or stopping to get a bottle out of a day/ruck sack every 20 mins.
Your body loses approx 100ml of fluid an hour at rest, during exercise that can increase to between 400-1600ml (extreme). When you are walking, try to take 150 to 200 ml every 15-20 mins.
If you find yourself sweating a lot, increase this, but you will probably need no more than 250ml every 15-20 mins, unless you are a gusher (as a guide - a marathon runner who is working hard would need about 250ml per 15 mins).
Too much can be detrimental, but you would really have to go to town to get to that level.
A pre-hydration drink of about half a litre and hour before is a good idea too... and don't go out on the pop the night before!
Water is fine, but your body takes up liquid easier and more readily if you have a little bit of a sodium content in the liquid. You can simply add a tiny bit of salt (as drinking plain water dilutes your bodies stores and again can be detrimental).
If it is hot conditions you want a hypotonic concentration of fluid i.e. a fluid with a concentration of 5% or less of dilute carbohydrate (CHO) (as you want to ingest more water). Normal conditions dictate an isotonic concentration (5-8% CHO - about standard for proper 'off the shelf' isotonic sports drinks).
In other words if it is really warm, supplement a sports drink with water. If its a cool day you can get away with just isotonic drinks.
There are plenty of decent isotonic drinks out there, but check the commercial ones for sodium content... many do not have any because it slightly affects the taste and they are trying to sell the stuff... you want one with a little bit of Na in it to be getting the most benefit. Try the drinks before the day of the walk - you may not like the taste or certain brands may not agree with you... the day of the march is too late to find out!
Boots do a decent and well priced sports drink powder that you can dilute yourself with water, but there are many other products around.
further to what A_A states - maintain a good intake of liquid during the walk. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. It can take over 48hrs (extreme) to properly rehydrate your body after strenuous exercise if you become dehydrated... the simple solution is don't get dehydrated.
I would suggest you might want to look at a 'camel back' or similar - basically a pack you wear on your back with a drinking tube attached... a hell of a lot easier than holding a bottle or stopping to get a bottle out of a day/ruck sack every 20 mins.
Your body loses approx 100ml of fluid an hour at rest, during exercise that can increase to between 400-1600ml (extreme). When you are walking, try to take 150 to 200 ml every 15-20 mins.
If you find yourself sweating a lot, increase this, but you will probably need no more than 250ml every 15-20 mins, unless you are a gusher (as a guide - a marathon runner who is working hard would need about 250ml per 15 mins).
Too much can be detrimental, but you would really have to go to town to get to that level.
A pre-hydration drink of about half a litre and hour before is a good idea too... and don't go out on the pop the night before!
Water is fine, but your body takes up liquid easier and more readily if you have a little bit of a sodium content in the liquid. You can simply add a tiny bit of salt (as drinking plain water dilutes your bodies stores and again can be detrimental).
If it is hot conditions you want a hypotonic concentration of fluid i.e. a fluid with a concentration of 5% or less of dilute carbohydrate (CHO) (as you want to ingest more water). Normal conditions dictate an isotonic concentration (5-8% CHO - about standard for proper 'off the shelf' isotonic sports drinks).
In other words if it is really warm, supplement a sports drink with water. If its a cool day you can get away with just isotonic drinks.
There are plenty of decent isotonic drinks out there, but check the commercial ones for sodium content... many do not have any because it slightly affects the taste and they are trying to sell the stuff... you want one with a little bit of Na in it to be getting the most benefit. Try the drinks before the day of the walk - you may not like the taste or certain brands may not agree with you... the day of the march is too late to find out!
Boots do a decent and well priced sports drink powder that you can dilute yourself with water, but there are many other products around.
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Geezwhite - tell the organiser that you will not do the walk. Explain that you have the OASC test to do immediately after the walk and you cannot afford to have anything go wrong. Tell him that you are not prepared to take the risk with your future prospects in the Royal Air Force. If necessary, get parent help to reinforce your arguement.
The bottom line is that you cannot be forced to participate. There is no sanction that the organiser can apply.
Don't risk blowing you future; forceably resist the organiser. Sort your priorities.
The bottom line is that you cannot be forced to participate. There is no sanction that the organiser can apply.
Don't risk blowing you future; forceably resist the organiser. Sort your priorities.