Page 72 - RADC Bulletin 2022

in section and platoon attacks was an interesting experience for many of us. Assaulting an enemy position time and again burdened by the weight of a weapon, ammunition, and pouches full of Haribo was certainly a test of character.
Aside from “silence, violence, silence” becoming the company motto, it was at this point that what we had been learning over the past four weeks had really started to sink in; leadership, teamwork, camaraderie. No one cadet in each of our platoons was the whole package, each had their unique strengths and weaknesses, but together, we were able to face the challenges brought both from Mod A and B, and now, it was time to face what the DS had been building us up to: Mod Charlie.
With very little time to settle in, we began our PRACTAC – an all-day assessment involving explaining our combat estimates and delivering orders to our directing staff. Sadly, many RFIs for an apache gunship were denied and so we had to settle for ye old faithful “assault, suppress, reserve”.
The following day we then deployed to Hankley common for Ex WAVELL’S
WARRIOR. Due to the possibility of having buried ordinance it was a real shame we weren’t allowed to dig, but thankfully the DS managed to book some horizontal rain which when combined with the sand made for a really enjoyable four days in the field.
Looking back, it was truly amazing how a group of strangers, united with a common purpose, and desire to succeed could gel so well together and focus on getting the
job done. If the course taught us nothing else than this, it would have already been a valuable life lesson.
Enter Mod Delta now, and we deployed back to Barossa for our final exercise: HORROCK’S ENDEAVOUR. This saw us carry out back to back platoon attacks culminating in a final raid on the Barossa FOB. Little did we know that that was a mere stepping-stone to the real test of
the wish stream CASEVAC. Having since been through it, it’s certainly evident why it’s known as a rite of passage, and why its exact nature is kept guarded by those who have braved it.
That night it really dawned on us that we were near the end. And not only that, but how far we had come. If you were to tell us at the start what we’d have to go through we would have laughed and thought it was impossible, and yet there we were. Bruised, and struggling to get the smell of wish stream out of our MTP. To face it alone it certainly would have been impossible, but as the family we had now became it felt like anything was possible. Teamwork really made the dream work.
Finally, it all culminated in the commissioning day, certainly a proud day for many of us. Walking up those steps really cemented what we had been through for the past month, and certainly what lay ahead.
All in all, CCS was an incredible experience, littered with some of the toughest challenges some of us had ever faced.
We may have arrived as strangers, but we left as a company.
As a family.
70 RADC BULLETIN 2022
RADC PEOPLE