Page 94 - The Wish Stream Year of 2022

Forces, and the OCdts definitely did not volun- teer to attend because the food was guaranteed to be better.
OCdts were locked behind the gates of RMAS throughout Coronavirus for the entirety of each term, which prevented Lucknow from engaging in its usual off-site activities. We regained these freedoms in September last year when we could once again leave camp after the working day and on weekends. Time at home or elsewhere brought new life and a lot of morale to those in Lucknow, which plays a key role in managing the stress of injury and illness. Conversations on a Sunday evening became drastically more inter- esting; the weekend highlight was no longer a walk around the lake and a trip to the NAAFI, but instead watching the rugby with mates in the pub or even travelling abroad.
We are regularly encouraged to find produc- tive ways to enjoy this time outside the wire. Some OCdts attended the Bat-
tle Back course run by the Royal
Extra-curricular social events also take place a few times each term. Wine and Cheese eve- nings are good learning opportunities on how (not) to behave when the staff are present, and our black-tie Dinner Nights use raffle prizes to raise money for a number of charitable causes. Sometimes activities are organised on our behalf,
such as sessions on the clay pigeon shooting range and welfare garden- ing afternoons that conveniently tidy the courtyard near the Platoon Com- mander’s office.
For many Officers in the British Army, time served in Lucknow as an OCdt was not only a necessary part of their rehabilitation, but also a high- light in their journey to Commission- ing. Even for those who face medical discharge, Lucknow can be a help-
ful steppingstone as they transition into a career and future beyond the Army.
So, when people ask what we actually do in Luc- know, we could mention everything listed above. I often prefer the shorter reply: “I get paid to go to the gym.”
British Legion, while others used
their Standard Learning Cred-
its on coding or coastal skipper
courses. Cultural trips are regu-
larly organised by OCdts for the
wider platoon, and have recently
included visits to the Brookwood
Cemetery, Portsmouth Historic
Dockyard, a scavenger hunt
around London, and an afternoon
exploring Windsor. In September,
the platoon visited the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition at the ExCel Centre in London. We were invited to han- dle kit and equipment showcased by over 1,000 defence and security suppliers and listened to a variety of keynote addresses from top defence officials and military figureheads.
Even for those
who face medical discharge, Lucknow can be a helpful steppingstone as they transition into a career and future beyond the Army.
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