Week 4

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last couple of weeks. As I'm sure you can appreciate, it's been fairly hectic and so I really haven't had much of a chance to get on the net and post on here.

I won't go into every tiny detail, as I'll be here for ever. Week 3 mainly consisted of 3 things. Number one was weapons training, everything from drills, to stripping and cleaning and all sorts of other bits and pieces. That was all in preparation for our weapons handling test that happened on Monday morning of this week just gone. PT was another big thing, preparing a Gym display for a families open day last Friday and then finally preparation for a Drill demonstration for the same reason. There was a fair bit to learn, in a fairly short space of time, so the pressure was beginning to build a little. We coped well as a troop though, and the families day itself was a great success.

This past week has been slightly more challenging. With the first 3 weeks over and done with, as well as our a family day out of the way, the pressure has been turned up just that little bit. We started week 4 with a long day of weapons handling tests followed by an afternoon of Navigation Training. We hadn't had rounds that morning, and unfortunately a few members of the troop dropped the ball a little as regards to how they left their rooms during the day. Well, of course, that was the day our wonderful DL (Drill Leader) decided to spot check the Grots (Rooms). He wasn't a happy bunny. 1845 saw us all formed up outside, immaculately ironed CS95 rig (our normal day to day uniform)., then was half an hour of quick changes. 5 minutes to change into Half Lovats, another 5 minutes into PT Rig, then Smart Civilian and a few others as well. Its all fun and games, especially when you have to climb 3 flights of stairs to get to your room. Then we had an hour to totally blitz the whole floor ready for full inspection before finally being able to carry on with our own admin! It was a long evening!

Tuesday saw more navigation training as well as a pretty vigorous PT session, with piggy backs, wheelbarrow carries, squat runs and of course the usual dose of press-ups, burpees and sit-ups.

Wednesday then saw our 2nd trip into the field on exercise. 3 days and 2 nights of various bits and pieces of field training, including full field kit musters, always fun at 0530 in the morning! I can't really go into too much detail as regards to what exactly we did, for obvious reasons, but just take my word for it, it was hard work! Lets just say, we spent a fair bit of time getting to know a certain valley, about 40 ft down with a pretty steep drop! Anyway, we're certain learning more and more all the time, certain things came a lot more naturally this time, but of course, it was about time to throw in a little more, so you think you have a routine sorted when they add in another half an hours work! That plus the 45 minutes you're expected to take cleaning your rifle! Oh well, all fun and games. We'll get it some day.

This week coming up holds 5 days at the ranges, shooting etc. Not sure exactly what we'll be covering, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to qualify for a Marksman award, we'll see how steady the old arm is!

That's me for now, we'll post again soon.

Nathan

The Rest of Week 2

As I was saying, its been a tough one this week. We got back from our first exercise, rather tired. Then we had rounds on Thursday morning (Room inspections). Some people in the troop had not quite taken on board some of the instructions about what to do with wet kit etc, so we were in for a beasting! First was PT. This consisted of an hour in the Swimming pool, in which we did not stop once! We did all sorts of stuff, treading water, laps, lengths as well as various other exercises (bearing in mind its a high sided pool, and so climbing in and out, in itself is quite a tough exercise). Then, after having 4 minutes to dry and get changed, it was back outside on the field for more sprinting and exercise. One person sprinted up and down a football pitch, whilst the other did press-ups, or sit-ups etc, then you'd swap back and forth. That went on for another half an hour. Then, it was back to base, to meet our not so impressed Drill Instructor, who, along with the Troop Sgt 'gently reminded us' how important it was as a troop to get everything sorted. At that point I was definitely thinking to myself "What on earth am I doing here", but you push through it, and they day got much better. Friday was fab. We're well and truly into weapons training at the moment which is good fun and very interesting. We were finished by 1500 on Friday and we were able to relax a little and unwind in the bar later that evening.

This week holds all sorts. We have much more weapons training to come, which we need to complete fairly quickly, otherwise it's going to slow up the rest of the training program, on top of that we have a drill display and a PT display to organise ready for the open day on Friday. As a result, we have extra PT every evening this week, on top of what is already programmed. YEY.............. :-(

It's going to be a busy one, and with another major Inspection tomorrow morning, all are a little nervous as to how it's going to go. I definitely am. I have been tasked with heading up the cleaning etc of the whole lads block, and so I am a little nervous if its not good enough, that in fact it'll be me that gets the rubbish, not the whole troop. But that's all part of a leadership, and it's great that they are giving me these opportunities to stretch myself and show a wide variety of skills. Hopefully I should have my first review soon, so it'll be interesting to see what their opinion is of me.

That's more or less me for now. Please do post comments on here as well, it'll be good to hear from people, find out what people are thinking etc.

See ya

Nathan

End of Week 2

Well, this week has been pretty tough. It started off well. Monday was a good day of drill, bit of PT and a few more lectures on various bits and pieces. Tuesday, at 0800 saw us leaving for our first trip out into the field. The day itself was absolutely fine, we had lessons on shelter building, breaking down our rations, cooking and washing in the field etc. Tuesday evening, things got slightly less fun. Wet and Dry Routine! Basically what happens is, you get all your kit on, including your webbing and Bergen (Very Heavy)! You then walk out into a muddy lake up to your waist, fall backwards, get pushed under by the Sgt and then back up you come. You then walk out, go and build your shelter, get into your dry clothes and then into your sleeping bag. That bits OK. Then, of course, you can't leave your harbour position un-guarded, so you take it in turns to go on Sentry duty. Of course, you can;t wear your dry kit on sentry duty, because if it were to rain, you would then have 2 sets of wet kit and you only carry 2 sets with you! So, at 0300, you get back into your very cold and very wet kit, wander around for an hour on Sentry duty, then back to bed, getting changed again into your dry kit. At 0530, everyone is up, back in their wet kit again, having breakfast, washing shaving etc. Then its time to pack away shelters and form up.

There we are all soaking wet and very cold, but there's no rest then its straight into field PT, which on Wednesday morning consisted of a 3 mile cross country run, broken up with the odd break in order to do sit ups, press ups, squat thrusts and Ab extensions! Fun and games. Then back in formation for a full kit muster (basically showing off all your kit, making sure its all clean and neat and tidy). Then its packing away time and off home. That only took us till Wednesday mid day! I'll talk about the rest of the week tomorrow.

Bugging Out

Nathan

As Promised

Well, I've managed to get on for a second evening in a row now, so as promised here are a few more details.

As I was saying, the first week has been very focused on coaching New Entry Troop 1/07 through the basics of military life. The Training team have been nice and firm, but fair in how they're treating us, with the focus very much on training rather than beasting. Nothing they have done so far has been without reason, and even the small little things have been few and far between.

I myself have been fairing rather well in inspections so far, receiving very good comment on uniform in particular. Tomorrow, as I said sees the first of our locker inspections, so we will see if the weekends hard work has paid off.

This morning we attended church, all together as a troop. It was a good service, at St. Anne's. It's a church actually in the Dockyard. Very lovely building and an incredibly welcoming congregation. It turns out the Warrant Officer 1 Bandmaster for the School of Music also attends there, so am slowly building up a profile of Christians in the Band Service.

This week holds a few more challenges. We will be starting our rifle training this week, as well as spending our first night out in the field. That'll include the wonders of Wet / Dry Drills. More details on that later! PT will continue with a vengeance as well, with the first of our swimming sessions expected any day now. Emotions are running slightly wild. Sometimes excited, sometimes a little sad, mainly nervous and tired at the moment. But, still, looking forward to seeing what another week holds.

The guys in my room are pretty cool, getting on very well with them, having a good laugh and working together maintaining some degree of order with our kit etc. Slowly getting to know one another, filling each other in on our backgrounds which is good fun.

For now I should probably go, I need to report in with the Duty Corporal, and don;t want to annoy him by being late.

Do keep checking the Royal Marines Band website. They'll be more updates on there too, including diary entries and pictures.

Nathan


www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk

Week 1

Well, I have now finished my first week of Basic Training. I'll be honest with you, I am a little sore in places, and definitely could do with a little more sleep. However, it has been a good week. It all started with the Attestation, from that point on we were in and there was no way back! Literally! We cannot leave and they cannot kick us out now for at least 2 weeks! After that things change a little.

First things, a little basic drill, kit issue, how to iron and polish, how to clean the accommodation etc etc, fairly standard things for the first few days. Thursday was our first day in Rig (Uniform), we were in it for about 20 mins before getting changed into our PT Rig, which consists of a thick white t-shirt and very short shorts! Not to mention the all time classic High Tech Silver Shadow Trainer!

We have had 2 PT sessions so far, both have been quiet hard work, as you would expect. Monday morning is when things will start to change a little, we will have our first Locker Inspection then, and there is a lot of folding (A4 size of course) to go. Hopefully tonight I will have that done, then its Church tomorrow morning and then shore leave for the afternoon.

That's more of less all I have time for now, I will try and get on again shortly, go into a little more detail.

See ya soon

Nathan

It's Time

Well, as I sit here writing this entry, I am literally about 2 hours away from arriving at HMS Nelson to begin my training. I am a little sad, it has been hard saying goodbye to everyone. I am definitely very nervous now, lots of uncertainties whizzing around my head. But, mainly, I am incredibly excited. I can't wait to get stuck in and see what I can do. I know nothing about the timetable for today, other than the fact I will formally sign my contract and swear my oath at 1800 today. That'll then be it, head down and get on with it.

I will post on here as often as I can, but certainly for the first few weeks, I might just have to worry about one or 2 other things. There is also going be updates made on the Royal Marines Website. Go to www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk and follow the links to Troop 2007 Diary. There should be a short biog on there before long and maybe even some nice pictures!

Speak to you all soon

Bugging out

Nathan