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John WILLIAM's Photo Album
AAS Arborfield
Intake 52A
having just completed a “BFT”* “I kept my 70th birthday quiet, it was on 17th
February, but I'm too young to be this old. We who have reached this landmark
are now, as government statistics go, officially "OLD". Now I hate statistics
even more. Mind you, I have a great respect for age, especially if it's
bottled! But just so the bastards couldn't grind me down I ran a three-mile
BFT on my 70th, and did the 1.5 miles return leg in 14 min 17
seconds which, with the help of 6X and Ibrufen, is
I believe an Over-40 pass. I did cheat, note the trainers! Hope to hear more
as the 52Aers hit the big number.” * BFT: stands for Basic Fitness Test and was,
when I left the service in 1999, a mandatory annual requirement for all
ranks. It consisted of a warm-up 1.5 miles march/jog usually under
supervision of a PTI, the aim being to complete the first stage in exactly 15
minutes. There then followed a return 1.5 miles at individual pace, with a
set completion time dependent on age group. I think the under-25s had to
achieve 10.5 minutes, whilst the over-35s were allowed 15 minutes. The
over-40s were free to run the 3 miles alone in under 30 minutes. The run was
without kit, but wearing boots. Failure by anyone resulted in a re-run,
followed by remedial PT, and in the worst cases referral to the MO. There was
also a CFT (Combat Fitness Test) which was 8 miles squadded in full battle
order with weapon, followed immediately by a short exercise sequence and then
a 100 metre run (or stagger) carrying a comrade of equal weight in a
fireman’s lift. I think the CFT time was just under 90 minutes. The
Highland Division also had a BFT for Jocks with short legs, but I don't have
any details of that. Hope that clears it up. John WILLIAMS Published:
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