Page 8 - Wish Stream Year of 2019

Exercise MONTGOMERY’s MARK
Ex MONTY’S MARK is the final exercise of the Junior Term of the Regular Commissioning Course. It is a five-day exercise in Thetford,
Norfolk under the constant noise of fast jets from the nearby USAF bases of Lakenheath. In its way it is a beautiful area of pastureland, to an extent unchanged since being requisitioned dur- ing WWII. It also remains a deceitfully difficult area to be on exercise: there are few contours, too many irregular-shaped woods, road junctions and other reference points are often too low-lying – it is all there to challenge the navigational skills of an OCdt in their thirteenth week of training.
The exercise is a series of section-strong recce patrols, platoon level attacks and advances to contact, and two periods of non-tactical work- ing through the Combat Estimate ahead of a few people being nominated to subsequently give a set of orders. After thirteen weeks of training, the Officer Cadets are tired. This is, by far, the longest time they have been tactical: their weap- ons are within arm’s reach at all times (includ- ing inside the now mandated Portaloos), day and night sentries are required, casualties have to be treated and removed, and comms main- tained. The scenarios are simple – there are no civilians in the area – all the enemy wear foreign uniforms, they are easily found, and they do not move around too much or show too much initiative or fighting spirit. But for most Officer
Cadets this is their first command appointment: it is their first time leading a section tactically to find the enemy, or to fight the platoon through an advance to contact. Some will go on to join the SAS; not sure which of them as yet, but they will surface from the masses at some stage. Mean- while, this is classic light role Infantry business: stand-to, clearance patrols, snap ambush, shell scrapes and navigating in the pitch black. It does not get better.
6 SANDHURST