Recently students of the Uniformed Public Services Course at Fareham College spent the day at HMS Collingwood taking part in a variety of fitness activities.
With 56 students visiting the Fareham site who are at varying stages of their course, the Royal Navy Physical Training Instructors put them through their paces, assessing their physical fitness in the Royal Navy Fitness Test and the Military Swim Test.
The team from the Uniformed Services course at Fareham College, aged between 16 and 20, are all interested in joining the Armed Forces, Police and Fire Service, Revenue & Customs or the Prison Service.
Their Courses are set at various levels with the opportunity to progress from one level to the next, building on the skills and experience gained within each level.
It provides learners the first step on the ladder of employment in this vital area and offers the skills necessary to serve Her Majesty’s Uniformed Services.
HMS Collingwood has a strong affiliation with Fareham College and a particular interest in the Uniformed Services Cohort, with the college entering teams into the establishment’s annual Junior Leaders Field Gun Competition.
Their site liaison officer Chief Petty Officer Physical Training Instructor Jimmy Forwell said of the visit “Hopefully this will provide an insight into the Royal Navy for those considering this as a career and give the student the bench mark of the fitness standards they require for any of the Uniformed Services.
"Some of them have a bit of work to do but overall I was really pleased with their application and efforts. Overall it was a rewarding and a really good day.”
Steve Christian, lecturer in the Uniformed Services Course accompanied the group, he said “This is brilliant, I’ve been at Fareham College for 7 years and we’ve been trying to work with Collingwood for some time, I contacted Jimmy regarding the Junior Leaders Field Gun competition and it’s built from there.
"Our liaison with Collingwood is stronger now than it’s ever been, it’s fantastic.”
Student Spencer Lee, 17, from Fareham, said “I am looking to join the Royal Marines, I’ve just had my first interview.
"It’s been great to come here and do this, a good opportunity to get practices in before joining. This is exactly the sort of thing the Marines do, it’s been really good.”
