MILITARY MOTIVATION

Mike Chadwick is the former paratrooper turned tactical fitness coach who revolutionised training in the British Armed Forces to deliver unprecedented pass rates for soldiers. Here he reveals the secrets to that success – and how his approach can benefit your own training

- Mike Chadwick

Jumping out of a plane is quite literally a leap of faith. It requires overriding every logical instinct in your body – while putting your complete trust in a thin nylon canopy which should, in theory, unfold above and glide you down to safety.

“This is the part where most normal people will stop to think,” explains Coach Mike Chadwick. “But when you’re a paratrooper, there’s no time for hesitation. You’re in a line of soldiers, clipped onto a static line, all waiting to follow you out of that door. On the other side of the plane, there’s another line of guys who are also jumping out and any delay or mistiming could put you and others at risk. So, when your superior shouts and taps you on the shoulder to go, you have no other option…”

During a 13-year career in the British Army, Chadwick made hundreds of these jumps without even thinking about it. As a professional soldier, this was just part of his day-to-day routine – in fact, it was only after leaving the plane that the real work would start. He would have to steer away from his colleagues in the air, deploy his kit and land safely. Then, when his feet touched the ground, his real work as a soldier would start and he would have to follow out the mission plan.