Pegasus Company (P COY) - Pre-Parachute Selection (PPS)

Potential Parachute Regiment soldiers and all arms wishing to join 16 Air Assault Brigade (16 AA Bde) must got through Pre-Parachute Selection (PPS) run by Pegasus Company (P Coy) at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

P Coy run 3 PPS courses:

• Parachute Regiment Recruit PPS
  (for regular Parachute Regiment)
• All Arms Regular PPS
  (for 16 Air Assault Brigade)
• TA Parachute Regiment/TA All-Arms PPS
  (for 4 PARA and other reserves elements of 16 AA Bde)

Test Week

All PPS courses feature a series of 8 tests, held over 7 days

1. 10 miler
   carrying 35lb bergen and a rifle, to be completed in1 hour 50 minutes or under
2. Trainasium
   An assault course designed to test a candidate's head for heights
3. Log Race
   8-man team carrying a 60kg log over 1.9km
4. 2 Mile March
   carrying 35lb bergen, food, water and a rifle, to be completed in 18 minutes or under
   
5. Steeplechase
   1.8 mile cross-country course featuring water obstacles and an assault course
6. Milling
   Milling tests if the recruit as the aggression and determination required of a Paratrooper. Recruits must aggressively pummel their opponent whilst wearing boxing gloves and head guard.
7. Endurance March
   20 miles carrying 35lb bergen, water, food and a rifle, to be completed in 4 hours or under (TA recruits do not do the endurance march)
   
8. Stretcher Race
   16-man teams carry a 175 lb stretcher over 5 miles

Regular PARA recruits undergo PPS during week 20 of their training. Other recruits (all arms) undergo a series of preliminary tests before undergoing test week. All Arms PPS comprises:

1. Screening
   • 8 mile march
   • Trainasium Introduction
   • 1.5 Mile Run
2. Buildup
   • Load-Carrying Marches
   • Fast Runs
   • Circuit Training
   • Military Skills
     • Map Reading
     • First Aid
     • Fieldcraft
     • Bayonet Fighting
     • Military Swim Test
3. Test Week

On completion of PPS, a recruit is eligible to wear the coveted maroon beret and can now move on to parachute training with the RAF.