Some years ago, long before the RAF FT, a colleague who was ex-Lightnings, ex-UK Harriers was posted to an exchange tour with the US Marine Corps. It soon became apparent to him that our colonial chums had rather an obsession with fitness; however, he noted this with benign indifference. Until one day when he was invited to participate in one of those 'cadence runs' the USMC does...

"Run?? RUN?? Dear me no, old chap! British officers don't run - it would panic the troops!"

Other countries manage to have a 'summer' parade uniform.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ed0570ec5.jpeg

Batco

There used to be a categorisation, the all-rounder being A1,G1,Z1. Just changing Z1 to P1 ought to do it, I'd have thought.

CG

3 operations, so far, for me. I was put on to the Rockport Walk earlier than my 55th and can still pass it comfortably. I'm not 'fit', indeed I could do with losing a few lbs, but I can pass the fitness test, even though I have no need in my job or in the real world to perform sit-ups or press-ups. I won't be sorry to leave all that sh*te behind when I retire in '26.

Still, I've outlasted a few enthusiastic cyclists and gym bunnies who died in their 40s from causes various.

When are we going to see an equivalent annual test for the bit that lies between the ears?

Thankfully mental health is now taken very seriously by many people in chains of command, as well as the medics. Only problem is generally one has to seek help unless the people you work for have a degree of empathy.

IIRC, it was A fit for aircrew (I was A4, eyesight), G fit for ground duties and Z fit for overseas. Still, my A4G1Z1 was good fun and paid well eventually.

I have a check ride every year for professional competency, a physical fitness test every year (actually every two years) and at least two mental health DLE competencies. This is in addition to my annual PME.

With all the MH training that we get, thankfully people are more inclined to ask people if they are ok, as opposed to waiting for people to recognise it themselves.

Do the trick cyclists also look at something like Myers-Briggs?

I would not want several of the 16 types in my unit/ aircraft/ ship/ ditch.

[They wouldn't want me, of course]

Myers-Briggs became part of the CRM Cse in the late '90s. IMHO it's utter horlicks.

It may well be, it may very well be.

Fact is, when I was subjected to it and saw the result I most definitely identified with it. Perhaps everyone does ....... one size fits all.

Beags,

Had he been with a US Army Aviation Unit and stayed close to the Warrant Officer Pilots and played our Corps notorious Game known as "Where's Chief?"....he would have found himself in an aircraft overflying that bit of cadence called bit of silliness known as "running".

I did that free on-line test without really concentrating. Is “Executive” a good answer for a Staff Officer (retd)? 😎

My question is will DCNS have to issue a notice that members of the Naval Service must not refer to RAF IT personnel as 'fat crabs'?:} Sincere apologies to any currently or formerly in light blue who are offended, but I could resist the pun no longer.

Myers-Briggs: taken it four times been told four different types.

However, academic research would appear to support those of us who think being fit improves mental effectiveness and mental health.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles....00509/full#h7

Seems I must be an " outlier"....I made some of my stupid decisions and judgementt calls when I was the most physically fit during my Life.

Not as bad as a cringeing nonentity discovering that, at heart, he was a mix of Napoleon and Genghis Khan.

Bugger!

Indeed - here's another example - ridiculously fast marching for the use of - with the number of shirt buttons to be used left entirely to personal choice!

Ah yes, the strange Spanish Legion. This is how a proper legion marches.

UAV Pilots - Why not...?