Page 60 - The Wish Stream Year of 2022 CREST

of time. These experienced professional soldiers and officers really care about the training they deliver; they know first-hand why it matters. Career briefings, Orders and Estimate lessons filled the rest of the daylight hours.
Every one of my fellow OCdts on the course were exceptional, coming from so many differ- ent backgrounds, ages, and experience bases. I was amazed at how well 13 people who had never met before gelled and were so incredibly supportive of each other.
I was given the busy job of Platoon Sergeant on Ex BROWNING STORM, where my ‘green’ skills were revised and tested. It reminded me how any leadership task is made easier with a great team around you... from my rations being cooked for me, to not one quibble when the stag list came out! One enduring memory is of the three Padres giving a wonderful Field Service in a small, wooded hillside with the sunlight filtering through the trees. We all agreed that this gave us a moment to be calm, look outside of the course, and reflect.
After three tough section attacks, the CASE- VAC stretcher run through the woods and Wish Stream was emotional, although it further dem-
onstrated the cohesion of 39 Platoon. It actu- ally felt good to get into that cool murky water when we were so hot, amongst much motiva- tion – notably from the Padres, including cries of “NGU” (never give up) and “We shall prevail!” to keep us all going. Padre Sharpe even found time for a spot of angling, finding a small fish in one of his pockets when it was all over!
Drill practice followed with Staff Sergeant Knight, and the RSM managed to mould us over many hours into a somewhat coordinated body. Thankfully all the hard work came together on parade, and I was proud to march up the steps of Old College with a team that I would also be proud to serve with anywhere. I am fortunate that my employers are so supportive of the Army Reserve at a time when NHS resources are so heavily stretched. I believe this professional train- ing benefits any civilian employer whatever trade their employee comes under.
I left the gates of RMAS with an enormous sense of camaraderie, pride, and achievement. I replaced my ‘Crown and Laurel’ with ‘three pips’ with a slight sense of sadness, but an even greater sense of responsibility and understand- ing from this quite exceptional and unique acad- emy of command and leadership.
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