FIRST DAY A BOOTCAMPER

Our first session will start in less than 48 hours for all Alpha and Bravo platoon. Slightly more than 48 hours for Dusk and Zulu platoon and a day extra for platoon Charlie.  I know the suspense and anxiety counting down for the first session. It is also worth investing in an Alarm Clock. Some could not sleep the eve before the first session and some tend to oversleep. Shit happens but please do not think too much and just enjoy the workout.

The first session of each intake is always the Benchmark Assessment!!

Benchmark Assessment??? What is it? and how is it done?

Every recruit is first assessed at the start of every intake for the instructors to gauge the recruit's physical ability in strength, muscular endurance, stamina, agility and speed. The record on the first assessment will be the benchmark for your fitness improvement. This benchmark assessment will provide the instructor with a better insight into the recruit's ability to go beyond their physical fatique. This is important for the instructors to get the best our of every recruit during training.

After completing the benchmark assessment, base on their timing record, workout form, strength and techniques observed during the assessment recruits will be graded and placed unto three ranking. The Rangers, Seal and Delta with the Delta being the elite group that has both a good form and speed and is seeking athletic performance. However, the timing is not the only factor used in categorizing recruits. The number of recruits among other factors that only known to the instructor, at the platoon is also a determining factor to form a rank.

The Benchmark Assessment is important and should not be missed. At the end of the 12th session, if a recruit decided not to continue, he should still perform the benchmark assessment on the first session of the next intake which is part of the fee that he paid. That way, he can see the result of his investment. Hey, every spending must generate a return! You pay for result. Make sure you get it! You do not pay to befriend instructors or recruits but you pay for result. Be result oriented!! We insist you must get and see your result.

PLEASE NOTE: Although all recruits registered under MC12 (Twelve Military Corp sessions in a month) are allowed unlimited attendance and training at any other platoon (including benchmark assessment), ONLY your timing at your registered platoon will be recorded. It is important that you attend your benchmark assessment at your registered platoon. WHY? Because different platoon at different location will have different field condition and will not be a good benchmark as your future reference and comparison. A benchmark assessment is for you to gauge your own timing and must always be at the same venue for it to be an effective benchmark.

Your timing is your timing. Please do not compare your timing to the timing of other recruit at other platoon.  In fact, your timing should only be compared to your previous timing. In fitness, you must always target to improve your previous timing and not compete with other recruit unless you are in Delta, then you are expected to compete with other Delta.

There are 2 parts of the benchmark Assessment:

1) Benchmark Assessment 1 (BM1),  there are Four (4) Exercises involved in the Benchmark Assessment.
 
i) Running 2 laps of 200 meter track.
ii) Pushups (10 repetition on toes & 15 on knees)
iii) Grunts (10 repetitions)
iv) Situps (15 repetition without assistance, 20 rep with feet assisted)
There will be no resting between workout and once the 3 sets of the circuit above is completed, the timing will recorded.
 
# For recruit that could not complete the benchmark assessment within a given time, a formula will be use to calculate their end-time using the time taken at the end of the last sit-up on second set. If the recruit could not complete the sit-up on the second set within the pre-fix time, then the recruit's time will be denoted as DNF (Did Not Finish).
 
2) Benchmark Assessment 2 (BM2), 1 Mile Run (or 1.6km)
 
Recruits are required to run 8 laps of 200 meter track for the 1 mile run.
# Similar to BM1, if the recruit could not complete the 8th lap within a given time, a formula will be used using the time and the total number of laps (Eg. Completed 5 laps in 10 minutes) to calculate the end timing.
 
Whatever your benchmark time is or if you could not complete the benchmark assessment or if the time is not what you had expected, please do not worry, there is only 1 way forward at the COBC... yes further improvement!!! Your focus should be on what will your time be at the end of the intake.
 
HOOYAH!!  

p/s- The next is when the real training began!!