Potential Gunners Selection Course
Potential Gunners Selection Course came into effect on 01 January 2010. Formally known as the Potential Gunners Acquaintance Course (PGAC), the Potential Gunners Selection Course (PGSC) is a 4 day course that requires mandatory attendance for all young men wishing to be selected to train as a Gunner in the Royal Air Force Regiment.
Candidates
Only men aged 16 – 36 can attend. Candidates do not need to hold any formal qualifications. The candidates must be a Citizen of the UK or the Republic of Ireland, or a Commonwealth citizen since birth.
Changes from PGAC to PGSC
The new system will allocate four PGSCs to each Trainee Gunner (TG) Course intake. Under the new system an individual who passes all of the minimum standards on physical assessments will become eligible for selection. After four PGSCs all those candidates will boarded and the top sixty selected for the TG intake ensuring that the best sixty candidates are selected.
Location
The course is held at RAF Honington in East Anglia. However transit to other Stations may occur.
Course content.
The course is designed to assess the candidate’s suitability for training i.e. can they follow instruction or can they apply what they have learnt? Secondly, it gives candidates the experience of the day-to-day activities of a Gunner, so they can see how well they are suited to the job. Also determination and attitude towards training comes into account. Self discipline, respect for others and self integrity. It also tests their physical fitness, all RAF Regiment Gunners must maintain the highest levels of fitness at all times.
All of the above is determined by the following:
Gym Sessions
• Multi stage fitness test
• Sit – ups
• Push-ups
• 3 Mile assessment
Swimming
The candidates are required to swim four lengths of a 25 meter pool followed by treading water for 2 minutes. All of this must be done in succession, without touching the sides or the bottom of the pool. They must then exit the pool unaided.
Assault course
Here the candidates are taken through the Royal Air Force Regiment assault course. Firstly all the candidates will do a “walk through, talk through” at each obstacle under the direction of the physical Education staff. This allows candidates to familiarize them selves with each part of the course and the obstacles prior to testing. The course then begins and ends with a 100 meter sprint around 4 markers. The course is timed and every obstacle must be completed to pass. (Some candidates have difficulty getting over the nine-foot wall; to avoid this problem it is important candidates practice over-grip pull ups.)
Typical course Structure
Day 1
Pick from Bury St Edmunds Train Station and transit to RAF Barnham
Administration Briefing
Day 2
Opening Address
RAF Regiment Presentation
Introduction to Weapons
Fitness test and Swim test
Skirmish Run
Trainee Gunner Course Brief
Day 3
3 mile Assessment
Assault Course
Kit Sizing
Education Centre
Question and Answer session with current Trainee Gunners
Day 4
Interview
Physical Training programme
End of course de-brief
Candidate guidance
It is in the best interest all candidates to give a best effort on all physical exercises and at all times on the course. It is important to stress that achieving minimum standard by no means ensures a candidate will be selected, it merely ensures they are eligible for selection.
