Page 18 - The Wish Stream Year of 2020 Crest

Long Reach followed soon after. We had heard many stories about the Black Mountains before arriving there. With a storm closing in, we won- dered how we were going to survive. The snow, which I’d never seen before, was initially a fun experience. After 15 minutes, I quickly realised it was not so fun. To this day, I do not know how I endured the hours spent in darkness on the exposed ridgeline between Victor and X-Ray, but with the determination of my section we man- aged to achieve second place.
This commitment to engage with our customs and beliefs demonstrates the strength of the relationship between the British Cadets and us. It is but one instance showing that the fears we had about British Cadets before coming to Sandhurst were unfounded. The British Cadets have in fact made the course easier by helping us and taking care of us. Equally the staff have been incredibly supportive and understanding. One example is particularly important to me.
During one weekend of the Inter- mediate Term, CSgt Waite of the Royal Welsh sacrificed time he could have spent with his family to help me understand the Combat Estimate. Though the course has been challenging, it has been far more manageable than I imagined. This is mostly due to the friends I have made whilst at Shrivenham and Sandhurst, the commitment of my Platoon staff and the broader
support of the Academy. Sandhurst has made me realise that my preconceptions were mis- guided. It doesn’t matter if you are international or British, male or female. As Cadets, we are all here for the same reason. We are here to com- mission as officers and will support each other in that goal.
The end of Juniors arrived amidst
the global crisis brought about by
the Coronavirus. Most of the inter-
nationals couldn’t get home. This
was particularly difficult, as many
hadn’t seen their families for a
long time. Sandhurst made every
effort to get people back to their
home nations and provide those
who couldn’t with everything they
needed to feel as if they were at home. Dur- ing Ramadan, international chefs were hired to cook meals, prayer rooms were provided, and an Imam was invited to hold services. Academy HQ also made weekly visits to ensure that the international Cadets were coping. These meas- ures made a huge difference. As well as the Academy, there were British Cadets who went to great lengths to support the internationals. Three even participated in Ramadan by fasting alongside them.
The snow, which I’d never seen before, was initially a fun experience. After 15 minutes,
I quickly realised it was not so fun.
16 SANDHURST