Getting Through Basic Training

[Ste Preece]

I recall when I went through training. We lost some really good guys through injury. There were many who opted out who decided that the demands of the course were too much for them.

Me personally. At times I was homesick, I missed my family, I missed my girlfriend. I found coming back to CTCRM after leave very difficult and always had butterflies and a deep dread in my stomach. Yet, no matter how difficult things became, no matter how fed up I became, I kept my eye on the King's Squad, the most senior troop in training, who had passed all the Commando Tests and were busy preparing for their pass out as Royal Marine Commandos. I wanted to be one of them so much that nothing was going to stop me.

In the end, I developed a strategy. It was Time, Distance and Effort. That is: Every effort I put in (always 100%) took time, (That meant no matter how much physical pain I was in, it was only a matter of time before it was over) Distance (The Time it took to cover the distance, I was always striving to improve) and the Effort I had to put in to achieve it. (Always 100%). No matter how hacked off I became, time was always ticking away. Time was moving towards the King's Squad. In the field, time continued to tick away, so no matter how difficult things were, no matter how fed up I became, Time , Distance and Effort, allowed me to forge my way through.

Believe me, these years on. I manage some massive Projects. I always seem to get handed the projects that are slacking and am always required to pull them through on time and within budget. Yes I succeed. Why can I do this you might ask. My answer is: because my principles and the building blocks of what the Corps forged me into, stay the same. Always 100% Effort, I work my project plans through timescales, covering the required distance and often beyond.

Once A Marine, Always A Marine. That's for sure.


So, remember this. As you go through basic training, each day is a day closer to being in the King's Squad, when you're hacked off, you're feeling nothing different to what other bootnecks who have gone before you have felt. If you want it bad enough NOTHING will stop you. There is light at the end of the tunnel and once you walk off the parade ground as a trained marine, you will be amongst some of the very best soldiers in the world.

Good Luck.

Steve

[timex]

Should this not be for the training forum?

[wannabe-rifleman]

Thanks for that, great bit of advice. I'm not joining marines but i'm sure i'll apply your method at Catterick if needs be.

[Ste Preece]

Yes, it could be for the Training Forum, but it does apply to a lot of things in life.It certainly helped me to forge my way through training and far beyond.

WR: Your welcome.

Cheers

Steve