Just passed ADSC with a grade B at Glencorse, Scotland.
You do get graded, of course better grades means less waiting time for people wanting to join, no-one out of our 30+ group got a grade A. One guy ran 1.5mile in 8:44 and he didn't get an A. Most grades were B. not many C grades.
The recruiting agent said to me that 25% of your marks are from your BARB/Maths/English tests in the AFCO.
Okay, this is my take from Glencorse.
Keep your head down and listen.
Don't go for a tab at anytime unless told otherwise, don't do anything unless your Staff Sargent (staffy) tells you to do so, if you are unsure ask.
Best effort heaves.
People completed 2-4 pull-ups and passed, static pull you are aiming for about 100+, you'll know what I mean when you get up their, it is a bar attached to a piece of wood and you've got to pull it up as hard as possible.
You are also tested your lower/back strength by getting strapped into a machine and pulling back.
Team Tasks
Make SURE you input in someway or another.
One guy failed because he was a numpty and didn't say or do anything. Team tasks and 1.5mile run are the most important tasks. For the team tasks have your say and then listen.
When you're on top of the barrels, keep a hold of each other, keep each other up, when moving the wood help your guy out, don't let anyone fall and shout encouragement even if you are shy, still do it.
If you don't complete the task, it doesn't matter, it is about team work and as long as you show that you'll be fine. Input as one but listen as a whole, you'll have one minute to discuss your plan then you have to tell the staffy how you are going to do it. Listen, repeat, work things out and speak up. Make sure it is all seen and heard.
The Run
1.5 mile and a small warm up.
We ran on the spot, arms up, and knees up. Some people claim it was 800m, I don't think so because it was a brisk run down to the startline and small rest and then start.
You don't do any stretching so when he was talking I carried out my own stretching, you all start in a small huddle then filter out, yes it is a public footpath and yes it's quite narrow, some of the public are on the course so plan you route, its a straight up and down run, once you get to the top you go around a gate and come back down (now is the time to get whatever is in you whilst you can!) their are many staffys all up and down the course.
"If you stop, you will fail." - Shouting the staffy
Get a decent nights sleep, sometimes it is hard with a few "divvies" ranting on, tell them to shut up because at the end of the day if you don't get enough sleep, you will be dead on your feet the following day. Take ear plugs.
Granade TestYou get showed cards, we had to remember them, then he gave us a sheet with 10 questions on relating to the two types of granades he showed us.
To be honest everyone sat in one room and most people just copied off each other.
Icebreaker
I sat in a room with 6 people, before we went into the room we wrote out our ice breaker on a sheet then handed it in, there was a board infront of us and we had to choose 4 topics out of 10 to talk about, that was it. Mine lasted about 4minutes.
DO NOT say "Ughhh, uhhh I don't know what to say" or stand like a complete erect nipple and wait for the staffy to say pick something else. Be clear, confident, know what you are going to say and you will be great.
Jerrycan run
Unless you are suffering from malnourished you should not drop the cans, no-one that I was with did, people where young and a small build. Don't walk infront of the staffy always keep in line with him, you will get warnings and ask to stop if you reach three warnings. The run is 1 up and 1 down the gym, so its 6 all together. Not too sure on the distance, not far though.
MealsThey where quite far apart i thought but I like my food.
We eat at 6am on the second day and then dinner at 11-12pm.
Drink plenty of water to keep your hunger pains down and maybe carry a snack if you are a big fat fatty.
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The Medical
I sat in a room for about 2 hours waiting for something which takes 20minutes.
Its in three main parts
(YOU CAN AND WILL GET DEFERRED/FAIL ON ANY OF THEM.)
First stage.
BMI, Eye Test and height measurement. I blew into a tube to measure my lung capacity, one guy failed because he couldnt blow hard enough (easy ladies) and get the right measurement for his chosen trade.
Second stage.
The hearing test, my ears are not that great and I did fine.
I sat in sound proof booth and listen for sound waves, frist in your left ear then your right ear, when i didn't hear something for about 5seconds, i just pressed the plunger just incase, i think the sound was every 3-7seconds.
Third stage.
Male or Female doctor asked me to take all of my clothes off apart from my boxers.
She asked me if i could move my ankles, move my wrist, touch my toes, 10 push-ups.
Some people got asked to do 5, kneel down, walk on your toes, walk the balls of your feet, woddle like a duck on your feet, walk on the outside of your feet, checked your testicals and cough, she moved my legs, checked my heart rate and beat, she checked my back for pain and also asked if anything hurts.
The doctor also asked questions about drugs, your medical life such things like have you ever had this or this and deaths in your family and so on.
Inbetween all of this you'll be briefed, you'll watched a few vidoes and you'll shower, shave if you have not and don't worry boys the showers are not a sausage fest, its one shower to one person but you have to be quick because it was like a cheap hostel minus the piss stains.
Thats about it.
If you've got any questions I'll try answer them. This is just based off my experience. Some people might have a different output for the team tasks because there was a few people who failed, luckily i was with people who knew how to talk and listen to each other not like some of the chimps that were on the other teams.
Goodluck!
Hope this helps.
