Day 2 of the CAT 1

So my room mate decided to get up at 5:45am. Turn the light on and make as much noise as possible.

So i relentlessly got up. Hating on her. Hating on my body... My throat was sore I couldnt stop coughing and iw as dehydrated. All i had to look forward to was the showers. They were amazing. They were the showers that ripped your skin off. Felt like i was getting a massage whilst becoming very clean.

I had to strip my bed and remake it with fresh sheets ready for the Main Board Candidates. It really is clever, saves on housekeeping staff. Then had to return the sheets and my number. And get dressed into an overrall and put on my heels for breakfast. Biggest Fashion Faux Pas EVER!!!

1. Breakfast.

It was a full fry up. Or. Cereal. like the women told every girl (all 5 of us) she didnt bother telling the guys. I felt sick with nerves. I needed to nail my fitness to make up for a very poor performance yesterday.

So Egg, Beans, Bananas and orange juice.

2. Plan Exercise Presentation

It was time for us as a group to present our chosen plan to the Colonel. I made sure my hand was always up first and i answered everything as to the point as i could. I wanted to shine and show that although i mucked up on my individual one i was fully understanding of the task.

I think it came across well.

I was asked to present the factors, and the Colonel gave some great guidance which really helped.

3. Group Planning Task

Basically to get over obstacles with a burden in an allotted time. Or perhaps without a burden. We had a lot of talkers but not many do'ers in our group. Had we not bickered we may have actually finished one of them but it was good to see and learn the vital lessons. That planning ahead is essential.


4. Bleep Test

Well not making excuses. This was not my day! I had the worst chest pain. I was dehydrated and to be frank running in overralls was not easy. I struggled. received one warning and was scared i wouldnt finish. Mentally pushed myself to the end but i was dissappointed.

5. Ropes

All i am going to say is.. Thank goodness this was not assessed.

It is high on my list of things to work on.

6. Press Ups and Sit ups

Practice every day! huge improvement from last time. KEEP GOING!
Luckily again they were not assessed but i know they needed work. And now i have the right technique its all GO!

7. The Assault Course

' If you get under 30 seconds i will be impressed'

- Two hurdles
- Long Jump (must hit a target)
- Climb Bar steps carrying a burden - Must replace Burden (which i forgot to do - wasted time)
- Jump a 5ft Wall
- Jump onto a raised platform. Jump onto a rope, swing over the line LET GO. (well first attempt i fell back first into the rope - wasted time)

TIME: 47 Sec.

I was happy with it. I made some stupid mistakes but i know i can do it better!


Then came the Finale:

After a terrifying speech where the Vice President basically put the fear into you and the Colonel said he saw some appalling Plan Ex's. I was first up.

Some reason i wasnt shaking.I was scared.. too scared. If i didnt pass i knew this would be it. If you cant get a Cat 1 at briefing what is the point...

So i am in the room with the Colonel. He says ' I will put you out of your misery, you are a Cat 1' Then he smiles. The strange thing was the smile meant more to me than the result. The fact that i knew that that smile was genuine was important to me. more important to me than the fact that i had just passed despite thinking my worst nightmare had come true. That going on the earlier briefing was really just a month too early!!

BRING ON THE BOARD!!!