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Day 1
So far, so good. We've just returned from weekend leave after a week away at
sea on Exercise. The Band has been reduced in numbers to 26 for the first part
of our deployment so those left behind stay in Blighty to gain extra training
and will join us at a later date (don't get too comfy lads, see you soon).
Day 2
After our last Run-Ashore for the foreseeable future, the ship set sail. Most
of the Band blaming their unsteady walks to lack of sea-legs, but for some reason
the unsteady ones all smelled of curry. Strange?
I'd just like to thank Cpl Matt Harding for phoning me up as we left Southampton
and asking me if I wanted a pint. Sorry Matt, "a wee bit busy at the moment".
Day 3
This was the day of endless stores movements around the ship. It consisted of
moving a pile of boxes from part of the ship to another. Yep, you guessed it;
we then moved them all back again. I'm sure the PCRF staff where just having
us on and really knew what they wanted, where? That was until I talked to Cpl
Paul Hart and his team who had emptied, counted and repacked the full contents
of a huge container not once, but three times! Fortunately the PCRF staff are
extremely good at nursing.
Day 4
With all this lifting and shifting going on CSgt Dave Sharp uttered the only
words capable of sending a whole ship of Bandies pale with fright and confusion,
"Right lads, compulsory PT every morning!" Hopefully by the time he
has finished with us we should be 'Chiselled Olympians' with six-packs (even
the girls).
Day 5
With all that is happening in the world it is best to be prepared for all eventualities.
So we eagerly turned up for a day of lectures from the FOST team (Flag Officer
Sea Training) on a variety of subjects ranging from NBC, fire-fighting (eh)
and damage control. The NBC lectures brushed up our skills on decontamination
and monitoring as well as getting casualties down from the flight-deck in a
chemical environment. The fire-fighting was just a re-cap for all the Op Fresco
ranks that were just back from their fire-strike duties.
Day 6
After another session of wailing and gnashing of teeth that accompanies Band
PT, we started a day of damage control exercises, incorporating the lessons
we had learnt from the previous days lectures. Port-watch was tasked to monitor
the PCRF for signs of contamination while Starboard-watch was on duty for Casualty
Handling on the flight-deck. Unfortunately, when we did get about 20 casualties
the lift that was to be used, broke down. Some things never change!
Day 7
Day off PT, thank goodness and a chance to play some music. We were asked to
play at the ship's church service by The Bish (Chaplain), who saw the perfect
opportunity to boost his congregation by having a full military band playing.
To be honest, we really enjoyed the chance to perform, because due to our fire-fighting
duties many of us haven't played since the beginning of October. By the end
we had a few bruised lips.
Cpl 'Shuggie' McGleish
The Band rehearse in Sickbay on board RFA Argus
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