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VAL'S STORY
- A WEEK IN THE ARMY |
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Kyle Newton, a volunteer
on the Easter 2004 convoy was due to
join the Royal Army Medical Corps that
June. He felt so passionately about his
experience in Belarus that once posted
he approached his C.O. to tell him about
‘Leaves of Hope’ and the work it does.
Captain Ray Jolly was interested and
speculated about the army as a possible
career option for the boys. After a
meeting with Val, Ann and Paulette
Hanscombe (LOH and Llanrumney High
Schools Social Inclusion Co-ordinator),
things started to happen very quickly.
Within a week, plans were being set to
give the boys an idea of what it would
mean to be in the Army. A week at
HM’s base in Munster was arranged.
For a week the boys had to conform to
Army discipline. |
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They had to get up at 6
o’clock, make their beds ‘the military
way’, iron their uniforms, polish their
boots and tidy their rooms ready for
inspection by the Sgt Major. |
Ashley learns to ‘iron’
under the watchful
eye of Pte Morgan |
“A dirty locker means a
dirty mind boy!” The boys
soon learnt to be tidy - but
they tried to bribe us not
to show their Mums these
photos |
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The boys were taught how to light a
fire, but we knew that given a stolen
car
and a lighter they could have taught the
army a thing or two!! |
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They experienced
everything involved in a
soldier’s basic training. They
learned map reading and
camouflage, first aid and
resuscitation
and
the dreaded
DRILL! |
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Left hand/right hands
took on a completely different meaning!
The short film Val made of the boys’
‘Learning how to Drill’ would have to be
seen to be believed! |
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They had to learn the
six Corps values and be prepared to be
tested on them during their final drill
test in front of the C.O. Major Richie
Knight on their last day. To boost their
confidence, they practiced to the
Military Band that morning. It was
deeply moving for Val and Paulette -
bringing tears of pride and a lumps to
their throats! |
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But their final test was
attending a formal Regimental Dinner.
Their first time in dinner suits and
they looked stunning – and behaved
impeccably. We were so proud of them.
Well done Gentlemen! |
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