Ever since being 'beasted' by the WD PTIs, I was determined to get my own back.

Why did I put myself through nine months of build-up training? To be able to wear the PTI 'crossed swords' knowing that I had achieved a great milestone in my training and a measure of my own personal fitness.

I knew I wanted to do the course for a long time. I set out a time frame to complete it and started running, interval training and moved onto strength work. Knowing that I hated going to the gym, I enlisted the help of a personal trainer. Many people lift weights, feel good in themselves, but I wanted to know that what I was doing was right and was going to build up strength in my legs and my upper body.

I also found out I needed to complete the military swim test. I went to the local pool one night to realise I could not swim more than 50 metres without killing myself. I found a technique, which I now call the listed fish, where I could swim 800 metres after 5 weeks of training, tread water for 25 minutes and get out of the pool unassisted. Again, another task which I knew I had to complete in order to pass the course.

Unfortunately, I started to have problems with my legs (trouble which had occurred a few years before), so I stopped running but continued with the gym work and swimming.

By the time I went on my course I thought I was ready, apart from the running. I had rested my legs sufficiently but kept up the leg strength work.

The two-week course was an eye-opener! For a start, the entry level was daunting. Out of 33 candidates, eight failed the intake tests.

The course involved every type of training from circuits, to endurance runs. We also completed classroom lessons and I was most interested in the Anatomy and Physiology parts. Not having done Biology at school I ended up knowing how the human body reacts and changes as a result of physical exercise.

After spending four days on the assault course, countless warm up sessions, endurance runs and classroom lessons, I proudly "passed in" as a Physical Training Instructor (Class 3).

For those who are looking to come into the TA and those already serving, I can recommend this course. Fortunately, I have been recommended for future training, which will mean completing the PTI Class 2 (Intermediate) and if I do that well, it would mean going onto the PTI Class 1 (Advanced) course. From there it would mean entry into the Army School of Physical Training.

As a funny point, my first weekend as a PTI involved taking the recruits for physical training as part of the recruit training syllabus. The PTI who had trained me as a recruit came out on the run. Following the second run on the Sunday morning, I received a text message on the Monday morning to say something to effect of go forth and multiply. It was worth doing the course just for that!