Page 5 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

Welcome to this year’s Wish Stream, which will very sadly be my final one before I hand over the role of Commandant to Maj Gen Zac Stenning.
With fingers crossed tightly, it feels like we may at last be emerging from the restrictions of Covid. In November we returned to Germany for Ex DYNAMIC VICTORY and in December welcomed back HRH The Princess Royal for her record equalling 6th Sovereigns Parade as Her Majesty’s Representative. Officer recruiting remains strong with full courses, and we have a record 117 International Officer Cadets from 44 different nations. Sandhurst has been very active overseas with Marne Company supporting the establishment of the first Commissioning Course in Jamaica, running a short course in Belize, and helping the creation of the first ever regiments for the Cayman and Turks & Caicos Islands.
For the first time in two years, our Inters and University Officer Training Regiments took part in Adventure Training expeditions supported by grants from The Sandhurst Trust and there is an article from Yorkshire OTR on their canoe expedition.
We have individual impressions from Junior Term Cadets on the transformation from ‘civil- ian to soldier’ and from Inters on the sheer pace of the term and the Regimental Selection Board process. We have thoughts from all three short courses, with a Professionally Qualified Officer perspective along with a final article from the Leadership Development course on their visit to the battlefield of Culloden. We have articles on exercises: CHURCHILL’S CHALLENGE and DYNAMIC VICTORY from Seniors, MARTELLO SHARPSHOOTER and NORMANDY SCHOLAR from Inters and LONG REACH, MONTGOM- ERY’S MARK and SECOND ATTACK from Jun- iors. All these reflect the variety of scenarios and challenges the cadets’ encounter.
The Trust has supported Lucknow Platoon team-building and social events during the year including a visit to London. There are articles from International Cadets on the three regular courses reflecting the shock of British weather
By Major General D F Capps CBE
and the challenges of completing the course in a second or third language. Articles from our US and Jordanian officers underline the enormous value we derive from our international instructors whilst our Colour Sergeants remind us who really does the work at Sandhurst and just how rigor- ous their selection Cadre process is.
From the Academic Faculty, Dr Anisa Heritage’s thought-provoking article offers that China val- ues The Commonwealth – does the UK? In the historical section, we feature an article from Dr Seb Puncher from the Sandhurst Collection highlighting the work of the curators and the items donated to the Academy including the medals of Sydney Jary MC, whose book 18 Pla- toon is still read by every cadet. We also carry an obituary of Major Dick McCormack who was Academy Sergeant Major in the 1990s.
There are also six more ‘Famous Fridays’, reflect- ing the vast diversity and achievements of those who were once Army officers; King Hussein of Jordan, Mike Campbell-Lamerton (Scottish rugby international and Old College Commander), Betty Harvie-Anderson (Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons), Sydney Carlin (one-legged fighter ace), Tony Hart (artist and TV presenter) and Teddy Tinling (dress designer).
Finally, and despite Covid, The Sandhurst Trust disbursed £84,000 in over a thousand grants. Notably these were to International Cadets ‘marooned’ at Sandhurst during the recess peri- ods and to our Afghan Cadets in the period after the fall of the Kabul government and before Gov- ernmental support.
I very much hope that you enjoy this Wish Stream! SANDHURST 3
Commandant’s Foreword