New Recruits Diary Week 8

The weekend was cut short! and to our excitement we had Rounds (an inspection of the accommodation, lockers and individuals) by our Troop Officer Captain Cunningham first thing Monday morning. So as you can imagine Sunday was a very busy day. It was spent scrubbing out lockers, re-folding, re-ironing and making sure everything was on the ball. After a long hard day we were ready for anything.

Mon 23 Oct: After a busy weekend, Monday started with an early breakfast, at 0630, which left us with about 15 minutes before the dreaded rounds started. In the past rounds normally started with the girls but much to the troops surprise, rounds started in the male accommodation. Rounds went well for all of us, nothing could be faulted and Captain Cunningham found the two alarm clocks, belonging to Musn Few and Bugler Vyse, very funny. Bugler Vyse was awarded the title of 'the person with the 'chaddest' (tackiest) alarm clock'. After rounds our first lesson was map reading, with Sgt Higgins where we spent the lesson going over everything that we had been taught in previous lessons in preparation for the day and night navigation exercises later on in the week.

Yet more injections at Sick Quarters were followed by IMF (Initial Military Fitness) not always a good idea. We found IMF very hard. Finally it was time for our interval drill Pass Out with Sgt Smith. Interval Drill consists of the about turn on the march in both slow and quick time, breaking from quick time to slow time and vice-versa. Saluting to the front left and right, and many other movements. Unfortunately the troop felt the pressure first time around and failed. Things were beginning to get us down but after a talk from Sgt Smith and a short break, everything came together and we passed the interval drill Pass Out. Now we can finally go on to something more interesting! After the news we had passed we were suddenly brought up to attention as Captain Cunningham came on to the parade saying how well we were performing and told us that we are better than many of the recruit troops at Lympstone!

Tue 24 Oct: Once again we started with an early breakfast and periods 1-2 were spent running around the gym improving our fitness. It went better than Monday but there was still room for improvement. The whole troop was on a high at that moment as the training team seemed to be very pleased with the way things were going. The important thing was to keep focused and not to let the thought of 'Long Weekend' distract us from what we were meant to be doing. Tuesday also meant the start of NBC Training (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Warfare. Sounds Interesting! Sgt Smith took us through 3 of the NBC drills. Which were demonstrated by Musns Trudgeon, Lawson and Beasley. They managed to do them without too many problems.

Wed 25 Oct: Yet again another early breakfast (0630). Wednesday was when we were to put all of the map reading skills we had been taught into practice. This was a very enjoyable day! The day navigation went very well and eventually everyone made it back to the starting point. Once everyone had returned from their travels it was time for scran (dinner). The hot food was kept in two big containers called Hay Boxes. Every single bit of food had to be eaten and the words of CSgt Fulthorpe "It all has to go" came back to haunt us . The night navigation went well with us all returning having roamed the countryside via the various checkpoints in complete darkness.

Thu 26 Oct: Early breakfast (0630). We started the day with IMF and as time went on the thought of going home to see family we haven't seen for 8 weeks began to excite us! Time for a quick change before we started our NBC lesson with the NBC Instructor, and also our Drill Instructor, Sgt Smith. Sgt Smith took us through the Drinking, Immediate Action, Immediate Decontamination, Canister Changing and the Self Aid Drills. The Self Aid Drill is where on feeling the effects of a nerve gas you must inject yourself in the leg or buttock using the combo pen which has a 2.5 inch needle. Luckily for us we were supplied with a drill combo pen. without a needle!

Thursday lunchtime saw us all depart for the long awaited Long Weekend leave.

Before closing we would like to wish Musn 'Long Hag' Young all the best for the future as he left us to rejoin civvie street through injuries sustained prior to joining the RM Band Service. He has said that he will reattempt training next year. We look forward to seeing you in December at our pass out. Good luck next year Hag!

Musn P J Dolby