So, Monday morning, there I was expecting another quiet day, making cups of tea for the training team, whilst the finer bits and pieces regarding my new training program were ironed out. I may even have laminated a few pages if I was lucky. But, at 0940 I got a phone call from the UPWI informing me that in fact they were going to start my musical training at the school right away, and I was to make my way down to the Bugler's suite to report to my new instructor.
So with a bang I landed in my practise room, and that's where I've been since. Its another mass of information to take on board. There's a whole new routine, new faces, new friends and a whole different ethos and 'way of doing things'.
So far I'm getting on well with the rest of the Buglers and I haven't gotten in trouble yet, hopefully I'll keep it that way for as long as possible. I had my first lesson with my bugle professor yesterday and will have my first theory tomorrow. So far its good, there is a lot of time for 'personal practise' and so careful time management is required, so that you can ensure the syllabus is being covered.
Its all an exciting new challenge, one that I am looking forward to getting stuck into properly as the days go on.
Nathan
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Update
Well, I am now able to offer you some form of update as regards to what is happening with my back and subsequently my career. The powers that be have been in conversation with each other, they've then spoken to my physio and doctor then they've gone back and spoken more (Its been a very slow process). But it would appear that a decision has now been made.
With immediate effect, I have been pulled from Basic Military Training. What is now going to happen is at some point in the next week or so I will go over and join the School of Music, and subsequently start my musical training (Approx 3 weeks early). I will be out through a somewhat accelerated program and syllabus, more or less being written for me. In addition to this, I will be released from training at various points each week, in order to undergo treatment on my back. This will be both physio treatment, but also a series of back rehabilitation classes.
This time next year, I will go back and I will re-do basic training right from square one, doing the whole 10 weeks. The idea of the acceleratedmusic program, is so that when I take the 10 weeks out to re-do the military training, I won't actually end up being behind.
This is fantastic news, as there was a realy possibility I may have been discharged! Not only are they willing to keep me on, but they really are bending over backwards to help me!
I will of course keep you posted as to when I start at the school etc. For now thats all.
Nathan
With immediate effect, I have been pulled from Basic Military Training. What is now going to happen is at some point in the next week or so I will go over and join the School of Music, and subsequently start my musical training (Approx 3 weeks early). I will be out through a somewhat accelerated program and syllabus, more or less being written for me. In addition to this, I will be released from training at various points each week, in order to undergo treatment on my back. This will be both physio treatment, but also a series of back rehabilitation classes.
This time next year, I will go back and I will re-do basic training right from square one, doing the whole 10 weeks. The idea of the acceleratedmusic program, is so that when I take the 10 weeks out to re-do the military training, I won't actually end up being behind.
This is fantastic news, as there was a realy possibility I may have been discharged! Not only are they willing to keep me on, but they really are bending over backwards to help me!
I will of course keep you posted as to when I start at the school etc. For now thats all.
Nathan
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Soooooooooo
Well, the last week and a bit has been incredibly busy. Full of different bits and pieces going on, lots has been happening and lots of things to update you on.
Firstly and most importantly (for those of you who don't know yet), Naomi and I got engaged last Saturday. We're looking to get married on August 16th 2008, so keep that date in your diary! Luckily for me, Naomi is good at organising things, and It would appear she has maybe thought a little about what the wedding might be like before! To that end, plans are progressing surprisingly quickly considering that I am still in the middle of Basic Training!
Week 6 was a heavy one. As before I can't go into too much detail, for obvious reasons, but we were looking at CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) warfare and everything that goes with it. Lots of information to retain, facts and figures, drills, procedures etc. All of it absolutely crucial in today's modern warfare. Needless to say, sections of the training were really quite harrowing. But nonetheless its done and dusted for now. This week has seen a little more navigation training on Monday and then a CBRN exam on Tuesday morning before the practical assessment in the CS Gas chamber in the afternoon! Its the kind of assessment that if you've learnt the drills and just keep calm, it really isn't that bad. When you start to flap a little bit, that's when it gets uncomfortable. Now we are currently on Wednesday, and the rest of Troop 1/07 deployed this morning into the field on Op. Afghan Horn, the main navigational exercise.
I unfortunately have not been able to deploy due to back problems. I was able to finally see this Physio yesterday and so hopefully we should start getting to the bottom of it. It would appear that the issue, rather than being purely muscular, is in fact being caused by a 'protruding' disk in my spine. Not quite as simple as I had first hoped. Anyway, this has led to me being medically downgraded, subject to review in one months time. Needless to say this is not an ideal thing to happen at any point in someones military life, least of all 7 weeks into basic training. As it stands at the moment, the Troop Sgt (Sgt Schofield) is having a meeting with the DOM (T) Major Dowerick as I write this, to decide what is going to happen. Obviously I am apprehensive at the moment as regards to my future in the Band Service. For now, this is as up-to-date as I can bring you. I will of course let everyone know when I hopefully find out the result tomorrow morning.
Bugging out
Nathan
Firstly and most importantly (for those of you who don't know yet), Naomi and I got engaged last Saturday. We're looking to get married on August 16th 2008, so keep that date in your diary! Luckily for me, Naomi is good at organising things, and It would appear she has maybe thought a little about what the wedding might be like before! To that end, plans are progressing surprisingly quickly considering that I am still in the middle of Basic Training!
Week 6 was a heavy one. As before I can't go into too much detail, for obvious reasons, but we were looking at CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) warfare and everything that goes with it. Lots of information to retain, facts and figures, drills, procedures etc. All of it absolutely crucial in today's modern warfare. Needless to say, sections of the training were really quite harrowing. But nonetheless its done and dusted for now. This week has seen a little more navigation training on Monday and then a CBRN exam on Tuesday morning before the practical assessment in the CS Gas chamber in the afternoon! Its the kind of assessment that if you've learnt the drills and just keep calm, it really isn't that bad. When you start to flap a little bit, that's when it gets uncomfortable. Now we are currently on Wednesday, and the rest of Troop 1/07 deployed this morning into the field on Op. Afghan Horn, the main navigational exercise.
I unfortunately have not been able to deploy due to back problems. I was able to finally see this Physio yesterday and so hopefully we should start getting to the bottom of it. It would appear that the issue, rather than being purely muscular, is in fact being caused by a 'protruding' disk in my spine. Not quite as simple as I had first hoped. Anyway, this has led to me being medically downgraded, subject to review in one months time. Needless to say this is not an ideal thing to happen at any point in someones military life, least of all 7 weeks into basic training. As it stands at the moment, the Troop Sgt (Sgt Schofield) is having a meeting with the DOM (T) Major Dowerick as I write this, to decide what is going to happen. Obviously I am apprehensive at the moment as regards to my future in the Band Service. For now, this is as up-to-date as I can bring you. I will of course let everyone know when I hopefully find out the result tomorrow morning.
Bugging out
Nathan
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