Page 93 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

platoon sergeants and platoon commanders in a range of serials that tested section and platoon level attack, recce and advance to contact drills.
A field brunch, something possibly a little more familiar to the OCdts’ normal lives than the rations they had lived on for the previous three days, marked the end of the exercise phase and led into a week of balls, barbeques and leadership
and resilience training. A programme of sports, water skiing and battlefield studies aimed to challenge the OCdts physically and mentally, creating friendships as well as putting the potential officers under a managed level of stress. Water-skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, as well as an inter-company sports competition, offered a great way to foster some physical courage, while at the same time enjoying
Finally, a proud moment for the OCdts, was the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Menin gate memorial...
the summer sun, but indoor skiing also allowed for something a bit different, and largely unexpected from a country that was experiencing scorching temperatures.
Just before the final journey home
there was time for a visit to the first world war battlefields of Ypres in Belgium. The Subalterns provided an interpretation of the military actions while the CO shared his wealth of experience of military command with anecdotes of military leadership to illustrate many of the incidents on the battlefield. Finally, a proud moment for the OCdts, was the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Menin gate memorial on the 90th anniversary of the last post ceremony, in the presence of dignitaries from across the Commonwealth and Europe. With the end of the ceremony, and playing of reveille, it was the end of camp and thus time to say farewell to those OCdts who were leaving for careers in the Regular or Army Reserve.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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