Our hardest test yet, this exercise was rumoured to make Long Reach pale into insignificance. We would be watched very closely over the next week to see if we were ready to pass on into the next term, or if we would have to re-do the entire term. The pressure was on to perform. On deploying, we set up the harbour area that was to be our home for the duration of the exercise. Each day followed a similar pattern: we’d patrol around a series of locations until we were contacted, before launching a platoon attack. This time, though, the DS would stand back and watch, with minimum interference. Many different styles of leadership emerged, from the quiet informer to the bold “lead-from-the-front” commander. As the days built up momentum, the platoon members started to cohere and everyone worked for the commanders, sweating in the knowledge that it could be their turn in the spotlight soon.

I was told that I was going to lead a recce patrol and establish an Observation Post (OP) on a hill overlooking an enemy position. After writing and delivering my orders, we patrolled out and moved into position. We made the most of the scarce cover the bare hillside afforded, and settled down into our watching routine. The place was seething with enemy activity: we’d obviously got into our OP earlier than expected, for the enemy hadn’t even set up their positions yet!

With the intelligence gathered, we mounted a company attack on the target which began the following night. A long tab in the pitch blackness – and an even more uncomfortable wait with me as an FUP (Forming Up Point) marker, clutching a failing Cyalume stick in numb fingers – preceded the first glimmer of light in the east. After a brief visit by the Commandant, the nod was given and the advance began. The enemy were contacted and 26 Platoon surged forward with the company attack. Drills were slick and people were in the right place at the right time. The assault on 26′s depth targets was going according to plan when the College Commander walked up to me with a thunderflash in his hand. He poked me in the shoulder, smiled and shouted “Bang!” I thought: “How odd?!” Then I clicked on. “Aaaaaargh! Ooooah!” I never knew I had any acting skills, but the Colonel was pleased with my attempts. I was unceremoniously dragged out of the action and wrapped in first field dressing in the captured house to the rear. Other ‘casualties’ began to pour in, but minutes later ENDEX (End of Exercise) was called, all the enemy positions having been ‘neutralized’. Exhausted, we trudged toweards the coaches and snored our way back to Sandhurst.