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Regimental Selection Board
An Alamein Company OCdt
Approaching it with equal parts fear and antici- pation, the most emotionally charged week of the Commissioning Course had arrived on our doorstep. The anxiety and tension only started to build up in earnest the weekend directly before regimental selection. The relentless Commission- ing Course of arduous exercises, along with the crescendo of pre-RSB filters and personal state- ments, led to an eerily calm weekend: the quiet before the storm.
Some had gone home for the weekend; others did some last minute cramming, practising answers to obvious questions or revising regimental history. For myself, Saturday consisted of an hour-long trip to the NAAFI for several coffees, snacks and a long chat with course mates. Frankly, anything to get our minds off the topic of RSBs was wel- come. Whatever the strategy of choice for the pre- RSB weekend, we all reconvened nervously for the week ahead.
The interview for my regiment of choice was on the Monday morning. All of the effort I had spent in trying to relax had gone out of the window by Sunday evening. Far more energy had gone into bulling my boots and ironing my uniform for that fifteen-minute interview than any parade I had
been to. After a light breakfast, a few encouraging words from friends, and a healthy dose of caffeine to boot, I arrived five minutes before my scheduled interview time.
Upon being welcomed into Toppers’ Bar, the venue of choice, I was greeted warmly by the senior offic- ers interviewing me and was put promptly at ease in what I had been mentally building up to be a military version of Dragons’ Den. The questions started off friendly and gentle at first, before pro- gressing into more probing questions about my understanding of the corps, its capabilities and how well I comprehend their niche in the wider army. MTP uniform aside, it was totally what I would expect from any normal job interview. It felt like as soon as it had started, it finished. I exited the room and immediately began to double guess every answer I had given.
I understood that dwelling on the interview at this point was futile - there was nothing more to do. Nevertheless, the final result would only be announced later that afternoon, meaning I needed to wait. And wait. And wait...
Five minutes felt like five hours; an hour felt like a week. Desperate to purge the interview from my
Regimental Selection Board
OCdt Walsh
Iam sure many would agree that Sandhurst is a very stressful place at times. Under the watchful eyes of Permanent Staff, we tackle the seem-
ingly never-ending leviathan that is the training programme and meet endless deadlines. It truly pushes us to our limits. However, one week in November bucked this trend. The Permanent Staff ease their pressure, deadlines are paused, and the programme is relatively relaxed, yet us OCdts are more stressed than ever. It could mean only one thing: Regimental Selection Boards (RSBs).
The RSB process is guaranteed to send a shiver down every OCdt’s spine. It is the culmination
of weeks of preparation, drinks nights, and email chains with prospective cap badges through for- mal interviews. Everyone has a unique experience within this week, but it usually starts with a long slow walk, in a suit, from New College to which- ever ante room in the Academy the RSB is taking place.
By the time I began my walk over, I had already sat multiple interviews with the Parachute Regiment. I was familiar with every Battle Honour and Vic- toria Cross recipient and even odd little facts on why the colour maroon was chosen to represent Airborne Forces, yet I was still incredibly nervous.
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