Page 17 - WishStream Year of 2023

Having spoken to alumni and current OCdts, there was one significant moment, besides the eventual commissioning, during their time
at Sandhurst that was ingrained into their memory. That moment was the Week Five Drill Test; the culmination of five weeks of hard work, zero sleep and a lot of mistakes. It was then that they truly felt they had become a member of the Academy and realised their journey to becoming a British Army officer had begun.
During the first weeks at the Academy, the last thought on most people’s mind was the Drill Test. It was only after the end of Ex SELF RELIANCE that we remembered we had boots to polish and uni- forms to iron; a task few of us really fancied doing as we sat there tired and covered
OCdt Royle
that we would put on our best performance and pass. Then it was on the line in the block for one final check over of our turnout before we formed up for inspection. Every crease, lanyard and rogue hair was closely analysed and nothing got past the Company Staff who inspected us. We could see the other platoons marching off the square as the pre-parade nerves were kicking in.
We marched onto the Square, brimming with pride and hoping for no last-minute slip ups. The test was composed of a highly structured sequence of About-Turns on the march, saluting at the halt and on the march, as well as slow marching and individual questions. It was rather nerve-wracking marching up to and halting before the inspecting
Passing off the Square
in cam cream. Throughout our
time at Sandhurst, drill has been
taught, slowly learnt, practised and
improved. The progress from week
one to week five has been obvious.
No longer were we making simple
mistakes, nor did we look as fresh
faced as when we arrived. Now,
we were more hardened, robust and presentable with highly shined boots and good drill. The only obstacle between us and a weekend of rest and recouperation was the drill test.
The morning of the parade was a mixture of high tension, excitement, and nerves. The thought of our long weekend being revoked was at the forefront of our minds. Before the parade, the final prepara- tions were made to uniform and boots and we got some final practice to prove to our Colour Sergeant
The only obstacle between us and
a weekend of rest and recouperation was the drill test
officer, but we had been revising the answers for these questions for the last 3 weeks – I think I felt prepared.
After being asked questions on acad- emy personalities, military knowledge and marksmanship, the individual aspect was over. A few errors occurred throughout the inspection; one unfor-
tunate OCdt being made to repeat his halt on the march five times for lack of panache. One final march off the front of Old College and the drill test was complete! Of course, all of my platoon passed the test; thanks mainly to the hard work of our Colour Sergeant and partly to the hours of personal preparation and practice. The Old College RSM even commented that this had been the best turned out he’d seen in the six terms he has been at RMAS.
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