Page 38 - WishStream Year of 2023

Reflecting on the evening as I returned to the pla- toon lines, evening concluded, guests gone, wine drank, the Regimental dinner night is a corner- stone of British Army tradition. For all its ceremony and indeed, pomp, at its core any dinner night has what every activity in the Army has at its centre: the team. Tonight was a celebration of the team that is Inkerman Company. This is a broad unwieldly family of which the OC and CSM are at the head. Our platoon parents mingle with our actual par- ents; spread amongst us too were the fun body of
uncles, our wing and PT staff and, of course, our friends from beyond Sandhurst’s gates. Everyone within this vast concourse of companionship had the Army in common. Everyone was either in or in some way touched by the forces of service. Everyone had come to understand the sacrifices and burdens on our time, small and great, that the King’s Commission rightly makes. And everyone came away knowing that it is the love and sup- port of kith and kin that makes our burden easier to carry and prouder to bear.
Australian perspective
Capt McNamara, Royal Australian Signals
Arriving in London on a below freezing day a week before Christmas in 2022 was a shock to the system, but not entirely unexpected. It certainly set a precedent for the next three terms where I have been regularly surprised by the British Army way of doing things, but again nothing that was not entirely unexpected. The Australian and British Armies share many similarities in values, culture, humour, and language; however, the high- lights have been in learning about our differences
I have to do my best to hide my discomfort from the OCdts – whilst enduring the constant heckling of my fellow instructors. It has been humbling to see the staff thrive in such arduous weather, always with a smile or a joke to crack as they watched me freeze or complain about the rain.
Whilst learning the lingo has been a challenge at times, thankfully the doctrine, course structure and skills and drills are largely the same. My time as a Staff Cadet at the Royal Military College Duntroon
and sharing my Australian perspective who can understand my accent.
with those
was similar to that of the OCdts at the Royal Military Academy Sand- hurst, although it is obviously a much harder course at Duntroon... Brecon may be cold and wet, but at least nothing is trying to eat you. Three terms of progressive training from basic soldier skills, through to section command, culminating in platoon command is comfortably familiar. The similarities have made it quite easy for me to concentrate on learning British doctrine and
I thought I had a fairly good grasp of the
English language and military jargon;
however, I’ve come to learn the British
Army has its own way with words that
often leaves me laughing or downright
confused. I rolled out my swag (bivvy
bag) to set up my farter (doss bag) for
my first night out bush (in the field) in
Brecon, having stomped (tabbed) in
with my pack (Bergan) on my back. I
realised that the horrible (gopping)
weather would mean I’d need my hutchie (poncho) up otherwise I’d be a mess (in clip) in no time; not something you’d want the diggers (squaddies) to see from an officer.
supporting the OCdts in their ambitions to com- mission and lead soldiers of the British Army and trusted allies.
Getting to grips with the Regimental Selection Board process and learning the rich history of the various regiments of the British Army has been a fascinating experience. Coming from a relatively young Army of a little over 122 years, I have been mesmerised in learning all about the units who can trace their history back well beyond the arrival of the First Fleet in Australia in 1788. Combined with
As you can see, trying to translate the Kings English to Australian English, whilst avoiding baby heads and the most water I’ve ever seen in my Army career, I soon realised that this posting would be a steep learning curve for the OCdts and I alike. I’ve become far too used to 30-plus degree weather and year-round sunshine in Queensland and now
I’ve come to
learn the British Army has its own way with words that often leaves me laughing
or downright confused
36 SANDHURST