Page 13 - LBV 2015

COMPANY TRAINING
An overview of Module 1 training with the CUOTC from the perspective of two A Coy OCdts
Unique, extraordinary, and eventful are the words to describe my year spent with the CUOTC. Having spent my rst year of university living up to the stereotype of being a typical fresher I was determined to make a change – so I signed up to CUOTC.
Following a medical check I participated in a number of eld weekends where we learnt basic soldiering skills, including how
to handle a weapon and survive
in the elements. It was dif cult
at rst to voluntarily sacri ce a
whole weekend of sleeping after
a strenuous week of studying. At
times I even considered quitting but the turning point soon came.
I woke up on a Friday morning as per usual to go to my 9am lectures. The weather on the day
was absolutely miserable, with the temperature falling below ve degrees, not to mention the non-stop raining. I only attended the weekend as it was labelled as compulsory to pass my MOD
1 training. However, no matter how demoralising the weather was participating in the weekends
activities reminded me why I was here. The outstandingly delivered section attack lesson inspired me and made me engage both physically and mentally. The
next day we practiced a section attack and it quickly became one of the most adrenaline-fuelled experiences of my life. Although
the weekend ended up with me going home a bit worse for wear, I was ful lled with a sense of achievement; I had learned a lot about myself and had accomplished something great.
...I was determined to make a change – so I signed up to CUOTC
THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER 11