Page 9 - Wish Stream Year of 2019

A Future Officer’s perspective on Exercise NORMANDY SCHOLAR
Firstly, this article will start by giving a brief background of 24 Platoon Burma Com- pany and what we have achieved so far on
Commissioning Course 192. The Platoon has had some great victories in the past term; firstly, winning Ex LONG REACH, coming in both 1st and 3rd place in a rigorous exercise designed to push OCdts to their limits and in doing so create strong bonds vital for the Com-
OCdt Reynolds
mentally it means that OCdts are over halfway through their time at RMA Sandhurst, and the first eight weeks or ‘hateful eight’ – a nickname bestowed by OCdts – is over. 24 Platoon has continued to hone their skills whilst also impress- ing and performing above expectations, as is expected of all OCdts. The Platoon is rewarded for their efforts with NORMANDY SCHOLAR, an
missioning Course. The Platoon has continued this trajectory by winning the Company athletics in both the Junior and Intermediate Term. Furthermore, 24 Platoon is now top of the leaderboard to become the Sovereign’s Platoon with only half the course to go. The Army continues to mould and sharpen its swords, allowing us to make decisions and utilise our intellect in the Intermediate Term.
exercise that is vastly different from any they have done so far. It starts with background lectures presented by experienced and engaging lectur- ers who have an in-depth knowledge of the Normandy campaign. In prac- tice cue long PowerPoints, stacks of information and plenty of coffee breaks. All vital for the voyage ahead.
Day 1
We started by embarking onto the coaches, fondly known by OCdts as ‘the white angels’ and set off towards Normandy, with half the coach still listening to Max Hastings’s Over- lord on Audible. After this, 24 Platoon arrived in
Ex NORMANDY SCHOLAR is a significant moment in the Commissioning Course. Funda-
In practice cue long PowerPoints, stacks of information and plenty of coffee breaks. All vital for the voyage ahead.
SANDHURST 7