Sinclair's Blog

Shaggy Ridge: II Class

2006-08-20T11:50:00.000+10:00

When I first joined the Army I swore to friends and family I would be diligent and regular with providing entries to a blog kindly set up for me by a good friend and devoted blogger Kim. As fate would have it I did not post regularly but I plead diligence in my intention. Eight months have now gone past and regrettably I have not chronicled my experiences on this journey. However after Exercise Shaggy Ridge I have found new determination to recount my Army cadet life, for ‘Shaggy’ was altogether a demanding, insightful and revealing experience.

With six months of Army cadet life under my belt I was still feeling very new, inexperienced and not quiet right with my life as an officer or staff cadet, basically I still felt I didn’t deserve the honour of wearing the uniform of the Australian Army. So far training had been demanding on time and personal ability, intimidating for an older and life experienced person such as myself, but at the same time challenging, engaging and everything I had hoped for and definitely more than I imagined. There were many demands on conforming to the image the Army had outlined for me and this was compounded by watching my fellow class of cadets go through their highs and lows as well.

Entering II class marked the beginning of the training phase dedicated ‘to be an effective team leader in a Military environment’; in layman’s terms this was the start of training focused towards section/squad level command and leadership. From the very first week of II class ominous whispers of the coming of Shaggy Ridge started surfacing and the directing staff quietly confirmed it was. Cadets who had been back classed into mine were now telling us of the trial that was to come and it didn’t sound pretty. We began to deduce that Shaggy was going to be about endurance, perseverance, determination and ‘putting in’. Rumours also began circulating that this Shaggy was going to one of the toughest yet, which is always the case with rumours. However when your Chief Instructor and Commanding Officer is from the SASR (Special Air Services Regiment) and then you find out the officer responsible for Shaggy is an SASR Captain, alarm bells and concern start putting paid to the real possibility that this Shaggy was going to be tough.

Now I could go into a blow by blow account of the build up, beginning, stages and conclusion of Shaggy but it would be arduous and unfortunately biased to sound as ‘tough’ as I could make it without trying to sound too conceited. Also in the unlikely possibility of a future cadet reading this I don’t want to ‘spoil’ the ordeal with which you have to face but know this, in the end like all worthwhile endeavours it is worth it. For while Shaggy is as much about ‘putting-in’ for the team, more importantly it is, as the CO said to me ‘about going to places and boundaries you haven’t or didn’t know about yourself’. In reflection and being honest I would have to agree with him.

In preparing to write this I thought about many ways to tell this story, to do it a little justice, to do it honestly and more importantly to make it sound like a story worth telling. I came to the conclusion that I would as the immortal poet said ‘stick to the facts’ and only add a little colour of my opinion. For Shaggy was a black and white experience, there was no grey or dazzling colour, just the stark truth of facing yourself, finding your boundaries, flying past them and then looking at yourself.

So what I will do is tell you the stats and let you and I deduce what you would face if it was you. I started Shaggy with glandular flue it was then to last from 0530 on a Thursday to the following Thursday ending at sunrise. Six days and six nights; in that time I slept for eleven hours, I ate a third of a cup of lukewarm offal, carried a fifteen kilo pack, took my turn at carrying the section trunk, trudged up and down hill and ravine, led my section twice, and faced the doubts of my weakened mind. This we did under the constant observation and evaluation of the staff that accompanied us. It sounds impressive, it is, but I remind myself that I wasn’t being shot at, watching my mates suffer and far from home!

It would be wonderful to tell you I did it at one hundred and ten percent of commitment, I didn’t falter, I did my bit and a lot more. Honestly I didn’t do as much as I could have, I sidestepped my obligation on occasion, I grumbled, I was disheartened, I was shamed by the efforts of others. In talking with others who shared this experience with me many felt the same and some felt a lot worse.

Shaggy was confronting in its demands and revealing in its experiences. From it I was reminded and amazed at the sheer ability of the human body and mind, the ability to endure, the desire to try a little harder, not let your mates down, to give your all when others are relying on you and most importantly do not indulge your doubts and give up on yourself. Hopefully this has given you pause to think, maybe even tantalise a little.

Today I now feel, just a little, being part of, perhaps deserving to wear the uniform of an Army so many have given a lot more to wear.

Sinclair
SCDT Swain

Sinclair's Blog

2006-04-06T18:11:00.000+10:00

The Upcoming Month

Soon Sinclair will be out bush again. During that time Melody, Loki, Odin and the fish will be moving to Canberra to wait for him. We shall depart Melbourne on Sunday the 30th of April and our new house will be available by the 4th of May.

Hope to see all Melbourne friends in Canberra when you can visit.

The Lanyard Parade

2006-03-24T23:13:00.000+11:00

On the 17th of March, Sinclair had his first parade. The Lanyard Parade is when the Cadets become soldiers in the Army's eyes. A Big Day. They march out and a speach is given about what they have achieved and where they are going. Then they handed out three awards. Two went to a Cadet who served in East Timor and is now becoming an officer. He was awarded for "Best Shot" and "Most Advanced Student" as he should be.

Surprise! Sinclair recieved the Third award! "Most Improved" and he didn't even tell us that he was getting an award. Considering what a culture shock it was for him and how he improved in leaps and bounds, we are all very proud and there were a few misty eyes. So out of 100 Cadets Sinclair is one of two who have been noted and as he realised over the weekend, he is stuck with the lable. Every time we ran into a fellow Cadet on the town they would turn to their family and say "this is the guy who got the most improved award..."

So he has made it through the hard knocks of the first leg and is now preparing for the next round. You may notice he is a little slimmer in the photos. He lost around 11 kilos (roughly 23 pounds) He has holidays soon and I am sure will tell you more of what he has been through.

Melody

Summary = 16 days

2006-02-03T17:35:00.000+11:00

*Sinclair would like it to be known that he wrote this while wa

*Sinclair would like it to be known that he wrote this while watching over 108 Light machine guns (Minimi to be precise)

Day 1) – Drill sergeant at airport

Arrive at RMC 1330, No yelling
Personal Admin, 106 SCDT’s
Only 4 Married, 13 DeFacto
Everything about paper work
Sergeants not screaming, but mean

Day 2) – Sergeant Everywhere

Intro to the cadets mess
Issue of most uniforms
Lots of waiting. So much to do
Intro to Army ironing, room layout
Lights out 2200!

Day 3) – Sergeant Get meaner

1^st PT, I stuff up
Lectures about E&D, OHS, suicide health
More Lectures- SAS!!

Day 4) - ~~~~~

Start Drill (oh my god) being a baby
Start Computerised Navigation lessons

Day 5)

More DRILL! In the rain
Spent time in Reg Aid Post- Glasses
My unit breakdown
III class- Alamein Co- 2^nd platoon, 6^th Section

Day 6) – Marching Everywhere

Did IFA again with sgts. – Passed
Speed Changes, Change dress in 4 min!
Vaccination, Dental, waiting around but a chance to unwind
More Drill, a marching tour

Day 7) – Didn’t record but

Issued F88
Beginning weapon drills

Day 8) – March Everywhere- PT

Drill with weapon- salute
Weapons instructions- Freaked out
NAVPAC exercises- computer

Day 9) – Run Everywhere (PT instructors are uptight)

Weapon instruction again, getting better
First Aid with Medics (they are cool)
NAV class, with CSM

Day 10)

Weapon instruction, more confident
First Aid with Medics (excellent a professional)
NAV class, with CSM

Day 11)

Full morning F88 instruction
F88 safety test- passed
First Aid again

Day 12)

0800 off to range (Madura) for first live fire- passed (hot day)
First Aid again
NAVPAK- all good

CRAP this is too hard to fill out day to day.

Summary = 16 days

First aid
F88 qualification
Leadership Lectures
Safety Lectures

*That is all that I received from Sinclair and hope that I deciphered his squiggle correctly.

- Melody

A New Lifestyle

2006-01-17T19:38:00.000+11:00

Sinclair said they had their first day of Drill now. A bit of a disaster, and probably funny to have seen. Everything is getting intense now and is all rush rush rush. Plus the days are very full now they have started some classes as well. His words, "If only I could stop thinking so much. It slows me down". Only early days yet, they should knock that out of him soon.

Apparently everything they say about the Mess is true..... "yummmy" >: p

He also found out that half the things he took with him are useless. If only they gave a more detailed list! Some of the times they go to the Mess they have to wear their suits or nice clothes and he wishes he had taken his slip on dress shoes to save time.

He was in the middle of folding his uniforms so the call was short. Plus it was nearly time for "Lights Out" again and he was buggered. He is not sure about when he would next be in contact, but they really encourage contact with family and friends. "Hello to all"

- Melody

Want to know what's happening?

2006-01-15T02:31:00.000+11:00

If you are a friend of Sinclair's and would like to get an email alert every time this blog is updated, please comment on this post and leave your name and email address. If you know of anyone else who might be interested in reading about Sinclair's grand adventure please send them a link to this blog.

Thanks,
Sassy

Update

2006-01-14T14:36:00.000+11:00

He managed to give me a quick call that night, just before "lights out" He said it was just a full admin day and then next was learning to Iron... hee hee. Sadly enough though he was not placed in a group with his mate Garreth which means he may not see much of him. But he is excited to be there.

Melody

Staff Cadet Swain

2006-01-12T18:26:00.000+11:00

Well After a very long struggle Sincalir is now in training to become an Officer in the Australian Army. He was Sworn in this morning at 9:30 am and given a nice piece of paper. He did not even have to recite an oath, raise his hand or anything. I was slightly disappointed, but am very proud that he is doing what he has wanted to do for a very long time. You could not wipe the smile from his face.

Melody

This is your blog

2006-01-10T14:55:00.000+11:00

I've given up. After playing with it and playing with it I've decided to take it back to something basic and easily maintainable for you.

Really, I just decided to stop trying to shape it. The problem was, I don't know what this blog will be about. I don't know what you'll use it for, how often you'll post or anything like that. It was crazy of me to try, because I just can't imagine what lies ahead for you.

So this is the end of my involvement here. Now this is yours. All I ask is that you try to post something every month or so, just so we know you're still alive.

Most importantly, I want you to know that we love you, we will miss you and we hope you have the time of your life. We can't even begin to imagine how you're feeling right now and what's going on around you, but we know you will make the most of it.

See you again soon,

Sassy