Page 35 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

tunity to delve into some subjects to a greater extent than would normally be achieved on the CCS, had meant we were better prepared for our future careers than we could have hoped for in the middle of this crisis. It’s hard to be upset when there is a tea and cake break twice a day...
With the lion’s share of the course arriving as civilians, it was the exercises that made us sol- diers, and it was the command positions that began to make us officers. A disparate assem- bly of individuals had come together into a team. Some had overcome injuries; one had grown a moustache. In the space of eight weeks, we had learnt initialisms and phrases from ORPs to stags, from Bowmans to bashas, SOCSW and comms-cord, and sections attacking or supress- ing. We knew the difference between grenades and cocking handles, some had even tried the sambal sauce. Most of us got lost and a few found ourselves on NAVEX. The knowledge that Aldershot has gorse thorns and Barossa peb- bles. That Padres are non-combatants but come well-armed with confectionery. The OCdts had taken command roles, delivered orders, finessed models, and recce-ed enemy positions. We’ve learnt the Commander’s Pause; whilst learning
what to delegate and what to do right ourselves. We have dug shell scrapes, dug deep for each other and dug into pasta Bolognese.
At the close of the course, a nervous anticipation was spreading around the platoon. Our nurses and lawyers were not sure where they would be posted to from the following week, and our Reservists awaited their new platoons as they re-joined their units. There was excited chatter about scuba diving, skiing and AT, about the horrors of Brecon and how on earth to conquer the slow march. We now realised that our career was just beginning.
We were commissioning in MTP and desper- ately trying to mould regimental headdress, while acutely aware our state of drill and dress would be easily repayable on Facebook. In a space of eight weeks, we had all faced insecurities, learnt lessons that will serve us our whole careers and made friends for life – be this from surviving the Wish Stream undrowned (or partially drowned), the obstacle course unbroken or the three differ- ent types of carbs every single mealtime.
Remember – civilians pay thousands for this!
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