On the morning of March 13th, 2024, we rose early and made our beds before heading to the cookhouse for breakfast. Without much delay, we proceeded to the armory to collect our rifles and gather all the necessary gear for Exercise One, our field craft introduction. Subsequently, we assembled in Bhanu Square, located between our living quarters at Gurkha Company Catterick, where our Section Commander and Platoon Sergeant inspected our equipment. Joining us were 1 (Tigris) Platoon and three additional platoons from Gurkha Training Company.
At 0900 hours, our march towards the wood block commenced, covering a distance of 4km. Along the way, our Section Commander imparted valuable knowledge on tactical formations and the use of hand signals. We put our newly acquired skills into practice as we proceeded towards our designated harbour location. Starting from our lines, our march culminated in our Platoon harbour, but not before executing a snap ambush. Following its completion, we decided to dispatch a recce party to select the most suitable harbour location. Once chosen by our Platoon Commander, our Platoon Sergeant guided us into position. Due to the presence of four Sections in our Platoon, we established a square-shaped harbour, which may seem unconventional but proved to be highly effective. At this juncture, we were instructed on constructing our shell scrapes, which would serve as our dwellings for the next 24 hours. Utilizing trees, logs, branches, and leaves, we created shelters that would offer protection against potential adversaries.
After settling down, we participated in our initial field cooking session to learn how to prepare hot meals and water for warmth. Our Platoon Sergeant effectively instructed us in this, and we applied the lesson to cook our meals and enjoy lunch. Following this, we were educated on how to conduct ourselves in pairs within our shell scrapes during both day and night. Several crucial lessons were imparted to us, including individual movement and the significance of observations in the field. Subsequently, we progressed to our next lesson on individual movement, camouflage, and concealment. Our Section Commander led this session, guiding us through movements like leopard crawling, monkey running, silent walking, and rolling. We practiced camouflaging ourselves with the grass and branches in our surroundings. As the sun began to set, we paused to prepare our evening meal, setting the stage for our lesson on “pyrotechnics.” In the darkness, we learned about the types of pyrotechnics that could assist us in nighttime tasks, with our Section Commanders providing a comprehensive demonstration. We were then trained on how to patrol stealthily at night, avoiding detection by enemies and conducting our duties quietly, with both poor and exemplary demonstrations showcased. Following these lessons, we returned to our shell scrapes, set up our shelters, established the sentry schedule, and commenced our nightly routine.
