Page 38 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

6 RIFLES
REFLECTIONS OF A RESERVIST
I’ve never been very interested in the Armed Forces, or the Army Reserve. It all seemed
a bit bizarre to me. Who on earth wants to spend their valuable spare time running around in the rain getting shouted at and sleeping in muddy holes in the ground? Three years ago, I visited my local Army Reserve Centre out of curiosity, on a bit of a whim. I’ve not looked back.
After struggling through Basic Training, I had the opportunity to deploy on Op TOSCA
33, the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.
It was exciting to get to work as part of an international team consisting of soldiers, police officers and civil servants from around the world.
38 RIFLES The Bugle
Upon returning home, I participated in a Mortar Cadre. I recall swearing very loudly the first time I dropped a round down the barrel, much to the amusement of my CSM. It felt incredible to be responsible for that kind of fire power. If only it wasn’t so heavy to carry.
Last November, I was loaded onto
the Infantry Skills Course with the RTT in Chepstow. It was a fantastic chance to work with, and learn from, a group of regular NCOs. The course focuses on developing you, not thrashing you. I can’t recommend it enough.
I recently got to attend a regular PJNCO Cadre with 5 RIFLES. It was probably the most challenging thing I’ve done in my life, but also the most rewarding. To be honest I’m still not
used to the rank on my chest, especially as I’ve now started to help train and develop the next generation of recruits. In a way, it feels like I’ve come full circle, but really, this is just the start of my (part-time) military career. I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.
I recall swearing very loudly the first time I dropped a round down the barrel