Page 49 - The Wish Stream Year of 2020 Crest

Lockdown has altered the culture, habits, and lives of nearly everyone in this country; 2020 is a year that will be remembered for social
distancing, masks, and closed pubs and restau- rants. While the majority of the country started to settle into Zoom calls, Sandhurst life continued with relative normality. For those who started in May and thereafter, a socially distanced Sand- hurst is all that they have known. Training contin- ues with little interruption, and those that march up the steps will do so with the same knowledge and skill as those before them. But what for those in Lucknow? Pre-lockdown, it was normal for the majority to spend the odd weekday evening away from camp, and at weekends the Lucknow lines would be empty. As this is no longer possible there has been a great deal of pressure placed on both the staff and the OCdts
Lucknow Platoon
bilitation progress and that we understand the, sometimes difficult, decisions that are made regarding our ‘return to training’ dates.
Furthermore, the staff are completely motivated to getting us where we need to be and making sure we are the best when we get there. Whether that be through helping to adjust kit so that it doesn’t aggravate an old injury, or through planning extra- curricular lessons such as survival training, that will give us new skills and further our experience and understanding. Just as importantly, lessons continue on course content ensuring that we feel we have not lost vital skills during our rehab time thus enabling us to re-join the course on an equal footing. Perhaps even returning to training at a more advanced footing to our colleagues. The
to find ways to maintain morale and engagement without risk- ing a delayed rehab and return to training.
The work done on the combat estimate is a particular strength of Lucknow
work done on the combat estimate is a particular strength of Lucknow, especially for those OCdts who were yet to touch it on the course.
Lucknow is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen skills that are vital on the course – as Captain Rosie Wild
There have been a great number of
changes since the summer term;
we have had new Exercise Rehabilitation Instruc- tors, a new physio, a new Platoon Commander, and most recently a new colour sergeant. Within the next few months, we will see another Platoon Commander, and another new physio. Despite the natural discomfort with so many changes, as well as the constant rotation of OCdts within the Platoon, each has brought with them a new approach, and has definitely made changes to suit the current climate. Every effort is taken to ensure that we are kept abreast with our reha-
(Lucknow OCdt then later, Sword of Honour win- ner) put it, Lucknow is ‘free time’ in which you can still advance without the pressure of maintain- ing high performance. You still end up on those steps, but you do so with an extra term (or four) of experience, not to mention the free mental resil- ience training you go through. Ultimately it is the attitudes of everyone, both OCdts and staff, that allows Lucknow to continue to be beneficial both physically and mentally despite the challenges that Covid has brought to us all.
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