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WEEK 4 (May 30 – Jun 5) – Rifles & Grenades

  We started live firing on the ranges this week, all of us having passed our weapons handling assessment last week. We spent a lot of time at the ranges, live and simulated (DCCT). We did practice sessions at the simulated range (DCCT it’s called) before doing the live firing session the next day. So last Saturday we simulated what we would be doing on Monday. On Monday we got our webbing and day sacks all packed and then headed to the armoury to pick up our weapons. We took a coach to a range about 30 min away.     Monday was one of my favourite days being here. We practised firing from the prone position, which is lying down on your front with the rifle propped up by having your elbows on the ground. It’s one of the most stable positions and therefore the easiest to fire accurately. I didn’t do too bad considering it was the first time having fired the rifle. We shot from 25 metres in prone unsupported and prone supported (magazine of the rifle rests on the ground) and...
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WEEK 7 (June 20–26) — Sunny Sennybridge Summer Camp

  On Monday we were taken to Wales for SDW (Soldier Development Week) to practise our MRT (Mental Resilience Training) and develop core values of the Army (CDRILS: Courage, Discipline, Respect for Others, Integrity, Loyalty, Selfless Commitment).  Sennybridge is a small village home to one of the largest military training areas in the UK. It’s right above the Brecon Beacons, a mountain range in south Wales. We stayed in the training camp, which apparently was used as a camp for Italian POWs during WWII. Just small buildings with rickety bed frames and buildings for showers, toilets, etc. I don’t think there have been any renovations to it since the POWs were here.  On day 1, we put our kit away and immediately got amongst it on the high ropes course. The course is a series of feats that we had to complete either individually or as a team of 4. The first one for our group was to scale a narrow ladder about 15 m (50 ft) high and stand on a small platform, from which we had ...
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Week 1 (May 8-14) - The Shock of Capture

This week seemed really long. A lot of stuff going on and a lot of new habits to form, a new schedule, and new information.     We officially started basic training on May 8 so last Sunday. Met a lot of new people. We are Masters Troop in the 96 Duke of Gloucester Squadron at ATC Pirbright. There are 32 of us in the Troop and we are divided into 3 Sections so approximately 10-11 in each section. I am in 2 Section. I feel pretty lucky because I have some cool “muckers” (squad mates). There’s Williams, Clapham, West, Hamilton, Elwin, Mancuso, Cummings-Jones, and me. A couple of them have been in basic training before either in the Navy or the Army so they have some good tips and advice for the rest of us, especially for admin tasks like ironing kit, polishing boots, etc. We get along well and some struggle with certain tasks more than others but we all try to help each other out and support each other.   I am the oldest in the Troop – the next oldest ones are 25 and below. ...
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