Page 98 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

A Colour Sergeants perspective on Junior Term at RMAS
CSgt Matt Bourne
Arriving back at Sandhurst after summer leave, I was keen to meet my new platoon on day zero and get back into the training cycle in my new role as Junior Term CSgt Instructor in Old College. The first few weeks were as hard as expected, with the transition from civilian to soldier more difficult for some officer cadets than others. None the less, they remained motivated throughout and were keen to learn, no matter how much sleep they did or did not get the night before.
Deploying on their first field exercise in week four, SELF RELIANCE is the cadet’s
first chance to practice living and operating
in the field with the focus being on personal administration and basic fieldcraft skills. A few cold and rainy days made sure that it wasn’t the pleasant camping trip that some may have hoped for and allowed the platoon to practice the skills that they had been taught in the previous weeks, culminating in section fire and manoeuvre.
Post week five and the successful completion of the drill test, the battle rhythm steadied but the training became more complex. The OCdts were introduced to conceptual lessons in Command, Leadership and Management, and academic studies in, Defence and International Affairs, War Studies and Communication and Applied Behavioural Sciences.
Ex LONG REACH takes place at the beginning of week eight. A demanding
section-level navigation exercise consisting of roughly 60 wet and windy kilometres interspersed with command tasks across the Black Mountains in Wales in less than 36 hours. The event is challenging enough for trained soldiers, so it was good to see the inexperienced officer cadets tackle the exercise with confidence and determination, spurred on by the promise of their second weekend off upon completion.
On return to the Academy, the cadets began to develop their tactical skills during Ex FIRST and SECOND ATTACK, which consisted of three days in the field leading section and platoon attacks.
The following weeks included lessons on the Combat Estimate and regimental visits, a chance for the officer cadets to have a closer look at their desired choice of arm to better understand how they might fit into a particular unit.
The term ends with two exercises, DELIBERATE STRIKE and MONTGOMERY’S MARK. Further improving on their tactical command in section and platoon offensive operations, the OCdts are introduced to recce patrols and have the chance to plan and deliver orders for deliberate actions. Following the Sovereign’s Parade, the OCdts are given the opportunity to enjoy a week of adventure training before going on a well-deserved period of leave prior to Intermediate Term.
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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Capt Andrew Zeal
All British Army officers are trained at The
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS)
to understand servant leadership and the responsibility of commanding soldiers. Since 1947, 120 nations have also chosen to send their future leaders to RMAS for officer training because it is recognised as a world-leading academy. Military training is based on a dismounted close combat model so that all officers, no matter
what their eventual trade, will have mastered the fundamental essentials before moving on to more specialised training after Sandhurst. The Regular Commissioning Course (CC) lasts 44 weeks and is broken down into three 14-week terms. In addition to this, RMAS delivers training to late-entry officers, professionally qualified officers, reserve officers, and international officers overseas.
Mercian personnel currently serving at RMAS include: Capt Zeal as a Platoon Instructor and Regimental Representative, WO1 Timperley as Regimental Sergeant Major Old College, WO2 Massey as a Company Sergeant Major, CSgts
OCdts Hemming, Holloway and Salter wearing their Mercian berets for the first time on completion of their final exercise at RMAS
Bourne and Geoghegan both as Colour Sergeant Instructors, and LCpl Eyre as a Storeman in New College. The team is primarily integrated into the Regular Commissioning Course and shaping the future leaders of the Mercian Regiment and wider Army. We would like to say a fond farewell to WO2 Miller having completed a second two year posting at RMAS while representing the Mercian Regiment.
The Regiment continues to recruit high quality Officer Cadets (OCdts) and I would like to welcome the following young officers into the Mercian family; OCdt Jarrett, OCdt Millward (CC 203), OCdt Salter, Hemming and Holloway (CC 211) and OCdt Clydesdale (CC 212).
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