Fit for Role

Have you considered using your Armed Forces gained skills as a fitness instructor? If so British Military Fitness can start you on the path to a new career.

BMF offers resettlement packages through its partner Premier International Training which includes course and exam fees, awarding body registration and course material as well as career advice and guidance with a dedicated Armed Forces Education Adviser. If you are leaving the Navy, Army or Air Force, and are looking to retrain into an exciting new career, then Premier Training International’s spectrum of military resettlement courses will help springboard you into your future.

Premier is also a preferred supplier of training to the Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) funding as well as the Careers Transition Partnership through Premier.

BMF was founded in April 1999 by Major Robin Cope as an alternative form of group fitness training to gyms. Robin’s idea was to get people of all fitness abilities outdoors training in parks, with motivation provided by military trained instructors. It was never the intention to make this a ‘boot camp’ but a fun and effective form of training using the highly professional skills learnt in the military to get people fit.

A highly decorated officer, Robin left the army after 16 years service. Given his reputation, Robin was immediately in great demand as a military consultant and worked with, amongst others, Russell Crowe on the movie ‘Gladiator’ and Tom Hanks and Matt Damon on the movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’. On both these movies, Robin was asked to train all the actors in the fighting scenes and to provide advice on how to act in a military style.

In April 1999, Robin decided to focus his knowledge and skill into the launch of British Military Fitness in Hyde Park in London. The first session saw just three people turn up but week by week, the numbers grew as the people being trained enthused to their friends and work colleagues about what an amazing experience it was, and others simply walked up in the park and asked to join in. By the time they reached the first winter, BMF had 200 members but was contemplating closing for the winter months. The members’ pure passion indicated that they wanted to continue through the dark, cold months and that has been the case ever since!

Soon BMF was spreading across London as people asked for classes to be set up in parks near them. Very soon it had moved beyond the capital, and is now in over 100 venues across the UK.

In terms of the future, the plan for BMF is more of the same! More parks and more classes, with potential for new products such as BMF holidays, BMF kids classes and families activities. Robin said: “Whatever we do, we are aware that the single most important element to retain is to ensure the standard of exercise classes stay the same and that our professional instructors keep providing fun and challenging classes for all our members.”

BMF works alongside Premier Training International who offer a range of courses to get you qualified. The Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training will establish you as an authority in the field of health and fitness and allow you to immediately apply for work or set up on a self-employed basis as a Personal Trainer. The Diploma is viewed as the gold standard in Personal Training qualifications and will ensure you graduate with the highest calibre of education and support. Those successfully graduating will qualify in Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training and Level 2 Diploma in Health and Fitness.

Level 4 qualifications will help you take your expertise to the next level and give you the confidence you require to work with these at risk groups with sensitivity and purpose.

The qualifications will also take you to the highest level of industry recognition with the Register of Exercise and Professionals (REPs), giving you their Level 4 ‘Specialist’ status. Such status will confer the levels of credibility necessary to place you at the forefront of government-led initiatives to deal with ever-growing health epidemics such as obesity and diabetes.

By achieving Level 4 you will be registering yourself as a willing and able partner to engage with the medical community in meeting such worthy aims while maximising your opportunities to excel in your career.

There are special offers on course fees for Military Personnel and guaranteed interviews with British Military Fitness. Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training comprising of the Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training and a discounted Gym Instruction course is now £3,000.

Level 4 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training (note this also includes a choice of one of the Level 4 Diplomas) is now £3,995.00.

Robin Cope continued: “Our resettlement packages include course and exam fees, awarding body registration and course material as well as career advice and guidance with a dedicated Armed Forces Education Adviser. If you are leaving the Navy, Army or Air Force, and are looking to retrain into an exciting new career, then Premier Training International’s spectrum of military resettlement courses will help springboard you into your future.”

Candidates may be eligible for Fee Remission relating to the funded elements of our Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training due to Premier’s association with Milton Keynes College which can be used alongside any Enhanced Learning Credits that you are entitled to.

For further information please contact the dedicated Armed Forces Education Adviser on 01480 410322 or visit www.premierglobal.co.uk. More information on BMF is available on www.britmilfit.com, or telephone 020 7751 9742.

Courses are run nationwide throughout the year or food and accommodation can be offered through the Milton Keynes Residential training venue.

Images: michaeljung, Paul Michael Hughes, marekuliasz ©shutterstock