Page 73 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

ment My family and I were to wait it it it out in in a a a a a hotel room for for the meantime with nothing but our suitcases This lasted for for for two months until we we were granted an an an exception to policy for for the circumstances I I was previously stationed at at at Fort Irwin Cali- fornia home of of the the National National Training Training Center The primary mission of of the the the National National Training Training Center is is to test units from across the the U S military along with multinational partners in in in in in Brigade level combined arms training scenar- ios As a a a a a a a a a a a U S Army Aviator I was was was in in in in command of of a a a a a a a a a a a a fleet of of OH-58 Kiowas Our mission was was was to observe and coach the the the aviation task forces from from the the the air Coming from from the the the Mohave Desert a a a a a breath of humidity made us feel good The landscape the the the the the driving on the the the the the right side of the the the the the car the the the the the food the the the the the terminology everything was was different Adapting here was was way easier than predicted mainly because
their armies into forces that are respected throughout the the world Despite their many differences The Ameri- can and British Armies have a a a a a a lot of things in in in common too Discovering our similarities is is is one of of the the many aspects of of life at at Sandhurst that that make the the experience here very enrich- ing I I hope that that I’m able to to pass this sense of enrichment and and fulfilment on to to the OCdts and and friends that I meet here as as well Teaching OCdts has been a a a a a a a a a a unique experience espe- cially in in this environment I I feel that I I am learn- ing just as much if not more than them They are extremely motivated intelligent and team-oriented young soldiers There is a a a a a a a a huge sense sense of of of sorority and being a a a a a a a a part of of of it it brings a a a a a huge sense sense of of satisfaction of British hospitality Both I and my wife were were extremely flattered by how well we we we we we were were welcomed into the community Not long after my arrival I had
started working and that was when I really got to know the real real Sandhurst A place that holds history and and and and tradition alike and and and and is is also a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a place that has an an an an amazing and and and unique cul- tural mix I am am not only referring to the the inter- national staff and OCdts but also the the the people that come from many places within the the United Kingdom it it it is such a a a a a a diverse mix of different accents and cultures Originally the the the American Army Army was based on on the the the British Army Army traditions Although they soon became two very very different different institutions with very very very different different “modus operandi” both still consider one another to to be very very important allies throughout the the course of history I can now see how how different both countries are and and and I understand how how and and and and why they manage to exchange their best ideas and and and practices with each other This helps both countries develop
I I cannot abstain from saying that COVID-19 has been a a a a a a a a a a a a a hindrance to to what Sandhurst is meant to to be Clearly I know that it it has had
its effect on the entire world but for those of us staff and and OCdts it has meant a a a a a a a a dif- ferent personal and and professional experience The routines had
to be modified the locations of many field exercises changed Ex NORMANDY SCHOLAR took place on the Academy polo pitch and and we didn’t go to Grafenwoehr Germany for Ex DYNAMIC VICTORY The “Sandhurs- tisms” black-tie affairs dinner nights chapel and and extracurricular sports all these things that that made Sandhurst the the experience that that it it is had
to to to be stood down in in order to to to comply with Force Health Protection guidelines However in in in in the the the end the the the Academy has made the the the very best out of it and and did an an an amazing job in in in in keep- ing ing ing both the the OCdts and and and the the Staff motivated and and going on to a a a bright future It has been my honour and privilege to serve alongside our our lifelong allies at their initial officer training centre Defence Engagement programmes like this are one of of the keys to making both organisations strong and capa- ble to to face any future challenge together Both I and my wife were extremely flattered by how well we we we we were welcomed into the community SANDHURST SANDHURST 71