Week 5 Musician Butchers 24 September - 30 September 2001
Monday
After a relaxing weekend spent ashore and getting our kit ready, we started
the new week as we meant to go on - with a session of PT in the Gym at 0750!
Just what we needed after the weekend to wake us up! The day continued with
a map reading lesson and then in the afternoon a Weapons Training session, during
which we were privileged to have a surprise visit from the Commandant General
of the Royal Marines, Major General R Fry, who witnessed our training period.
Sgt Henderson, our new
Drill Instructor, arrived today he will be taking over from Sgt
Whysall. We finished the day in style with coffee and a chat in the Chaplaincy
- we were thinking 'this is more like it!'
Tuesday
Today we had a big inspection along with Training Company and the Instructors
of the Royal Marines School of Music by the Flag Officer Training and Reserve.
It was a great feeling to be stood there on parade, especially when we did a
march past with the band playing A life on the Ocean Wave, our Regimental March
Past. In the afternoon we all thought that we only had a one hour swimming period
but it turned out to be a one hour swimming period followed by an hour and a
half in the gym. It was definitely tiring but we needed the practice to get
us ready for our IMF Table 1 PT Passout on Friday.
Wednesday
Not only was it my birthday today but also Bug Challis'. I felt very important
when Colour Sgt Basford
handed out the post today and joked that the whole troop had sent me birthday
cards just in case I didn't get any! I thought that the training team were being
nice to us by cancelling PT on my birthday but they still managed to slip in
a signals test and an afternoon of map reading. During the map reading lesson
a certain member of the troop nearly fell asleep and so we all found ourselves
emptying, tidying and re-packing the training store. We worked well together
as a troop and hopefully nobody will be dozing off again!
I would like to thank the girls of the troop for making my first birthday away
from home a really enjoyable one. The surprise after scran was great and the
cards were lovely too - we won't mention to Colour Sgt Basford that you did
all post them to me! (only joking).
Thursday
Today's programme appeared to be blank with only inoculations at 08.30. However,
it turned into inoculations followed by a visit to the dentist for the majority
of the troop followed by Weapon's Handling tests. I am please to announce that
we all passed the test and are now ready for our 5 days on the ranges next week…
Aaarrgghhh! Sgt Whysall left us
today to take up a new post at HMS Excellent, training Royal Navy recruits.
We would like to thank him for his help and guidance throughout our first month
of training and wish him luck in his new job. We also hope that he gets some
grips on his drill boots before he does any more drill instructing. (See the
report for 20 September if you are confused!).
Friday
This morning we were inspected in our Training Rig by Sgt
Henderson for the first time, however, I think there was something else
on our minds during that inspection - the fact that in about half an hour we
had our Table One Passout in the Gym. The whole of the troop put 100% effort
into the 40 minutes of the passout, putting into practice everything we had
learnt over the past four weeks, and I think it's fair to say that we were all
very pleased when Colour Sgt
Curry told us we had passed. Now we move onto Table Two. We spent the afternoon
weapon training to get us prepared for next week's range package where we will
be live firing for the first time.
Saturday
This morning we had rounds at 0800 hours conducted by our Physical Training
Instructor Sgt Griffin.
We didn't quite manage to get everything up to the required standard of perfection
and we found ourselves doing press-ups and sit-ups as suitable encouragement
to try harder next time! However, I'm sure it was just Sgt
Griffin's way of getting us warmed up for the 3 hours, yes that is three
hours or 180 minutes or 10800 seconds if you prefer, in the gym that was to
follow the inspection!
It wasn't as bad as it sounded - we learnt all the new movements needed for
our Table Two Passout, which will be in November. By 1 o'clock we were all definitely
glad to have finnished and were ready for going ashore, shopping and for a drink
(or two!)
Sunday
Today we had the day to ourselves. Going to church was not compulsory this week
and so I think it goes without saying that there were quite a few members of
the troop staying in bed this morning. Again we had shore leave from 1 o'clock
and so we spent the day shopping and getting our kit ready for the week ahead
on our shooting package at Longmoor ranges.
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Musn Butchers, this week's author during weapon training
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Two section practise their firing positions
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Two section strip their weapons during a training test
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The Commandant General addresses the troop during his
visit
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The troop finish after their IMF Table One Passout
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The troop listen as CSgt
Curry informs them of their result |
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Sgt
Griffin watches as the troop are given their result
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Musn Butchers
