Milling is a training activity in the British airborne infantry. For a fixed period, two opponents punch each other in the head as aggressively as possible without evasion.
Use in training
Milling is a training activity used to assess candidates from age 17 for the elite Parachute Regiment of the British Army. It is one of eight physically-demanding assessment events carried out over four days. An instructor in 2014 described milling as "arguably the most important event of the course" and its "flagship event".
Procedure
A square milling ring is formed by the seated trainee group, while an officer and two non-commissioned officers observe as judges from a raised platform. Trainees are paired by weight and issued with head-guards, gumshields and 18oz boxing gloves. Each pair are told to punch each other’s faces as furiously as possible for one minute: "You must aim to dominate your opponent with straight punches to the head." Unlike boxing, it is forbidden: to pause in attacking the opponent; to aim at any part of the opponent other than the head; or to evade or block the opponent’s punches. The guidance notes state: "No ducking, parrying or other boxing defence moves are allowed." The clock is paused if a trainee is knocked down or if his nose is broken; any blood is wiped away by staff and the bout resumes. Whereas in amateur boxing the bout is normally awarded to the participant who scores the most hits against the opponent, a bout in milling is awarded to the most aggressive participant. The bouts are filmed and trainees can buy the DVD as a souvenir.
Purpose
According to the British Army, milling "replicates the conditions of stress and personal qualities required in a combat situation", and is "a test of courage, determination and raw fighting spirit". A milling instructor said in 2014 that milling teaches recruits "to deliver maximum violence onto their opponent". He suggested that the ability to take and throw punches in milling is the same as the ability of soldiers to fire at an enemy when under fire themselves. Briefing trainees before a milling session, Major Mark Swan said:
Injuries
Despite the intensity of milling, the British Army reported in March 2017 that there had been no medical appointments or medical discharges as a result of the activity in the previous five years. A civilian doctor overseeing a milling session said of the practice: "I am happy with the steps that have been put in place."
Admission of women and girls
In 2016, Prime Minister David Cameron decided to admit women and girls from age 16 to the infantry from late 2018, including the Parachute Regiment from 2019. In 2017, the Sunday Times reported that females applying to the Regiment would be assessed on the same basis as males, and would be expected to fight in milling with men of similar size and weight:
"Women wanting to join the British Army’s elite Parachute Regiment will be expected to gotoe to toe with men and trade punches for a minute."
