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In a military context, P Company training (often written P Coy) refers to a very demanding selection and training course in the British Army, not a generic term used by all militaries.
What P Company is
P Company (Pegasus Company) is the Pre‑Parachute Selection organisation of the British Armed Forces, based at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, North Yorkshire. Its role is to test whether soldiers have the physical fitness, mental resilience, determination, and teamwork required to serve in airborne units, especially the Parachute Regiment and 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Who has to do P Company
P Company must be completed by:
- Recruits joining the Parachute Regiment
- Serving soldiers from other Army units (Regular or Reserve) who volunteer for an airborne role
- Some Army Reserve and Officer Cadet candidates, depending on pathway
Passing P Company earns the right to wear the maroon beret, but does not by itself make someone a qualified parachutist. Successful candidates go on to parachute training at RAF Brize Norton.
What the training involves
P Company culminates in “Test Week”, which consists of eight physically and mentally demanding events. These are designed to be done under fatigue and pressure, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and aggression as well as endurance. The events include:
- A loaded 10‑mile march
- The Trainasium (aerial confidence and fear‑of‑heights course)
- Log race and stretcher race (team events)
- Timed marches and cross‑country runs
- Milling (controlled boxing to test aggression and determination)
All events are scored except the Trainasium, which is pass/fail. Candidates must reach an overall pass mark to succeed, and Reserve soldiers must meet the same standard as Regulars.
What P Company is designed to test
P Company is not just about fitness. According to official Army descriptions, it specifically tests:
- Physical stamina under load
- Mental robustness under stress
- Motivation and self‑discipline
- Teamwork and leadership
- Ability to perform when exhausted
You do not need to be an elite athlete, but you must show determination and resilience when things get very difficult.
Why it has the reputation it does
P Company is widely regarded as one of the toughest courses in the British Army because:
- Standards are fixed and non‑negotiable
- Instructors do not coach candidates through the tests
- Fatigue is deliberate
- Team failure can cause individual failure
- Pass rates are traditionally low
Its purpose is to ensure only those suited to airborne operations continue to parachute training and service in airborne forces.
Can Women can get into P Company? Yes, and and they are held to exactly the same standards as men.
What the policy is
P Company (Pre‑Parachute Selection) is open to women serving in the British Army who volunteer for an airborne role. There are no adjusted standards for gender — every candidate must meet the same timings, loads, and pass marks to succeed.
Proof it’s not just theoretical
In October 2022, the British Army officially confirmed that a female soldier passed P Company for the first time.
- Private Addy Carter, from 16 Medical Regiment, successfully completed All Arms Pre‑Parachute Selection (P Company) and was awarded the maroon beret after passing all eight Test Week events.
- The Army explicitly stated she was not treated differently and met the same physical and mental standards as male candidates.
What this means in practice
- Women can apply for and attempt P Company
- They must:
- Carry the same weight
- Meet the same time limits
- Pass the same events
- Achieve the same overall score
- Passing P Company allows them to move on to parachute training and serve in airborne units such as 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Important context
P Company is not about gender, but about:
- Endurance under load
- Mental resilience
- Aggression and determination
- Teamwork when exhausted
The course is designed to identify who can operate in airborne forces, and anyone who meets the standard passes — anyone who doesn’t, fails.
If you want, I can explain:
- What roles women usually attempt P Company from (medics, signallers, logisticians, etc.)
- How P Company differs for Parachute Regiment vs All Arms
- What preparation typically looks like
- Why pass rates are low regardless of gender