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I left you in this position .............. a morning with the Pre-Drill Course
 
Wednesday 23rd July 2008

Today, ShinyCapstar paid a visit to the main square where the Internal (in barracks) Junior Non Commissioned Officers Drill Course Candidates were carrying out Instructional Techniques in Drill, most had been up the night before digesting drill pamphlets!

The Course started a few days ago and its aim is to ensure that all candidates are ready for the Potential Non Commissioned Officers Drill Course being held at Pirbright at the Household Division and Parachute Regiment Centralised Courses (HDPRCC) at the end of August.

Running the Internal Drill Course are the Training Wing Staff, headed by WOII (Company Sergeant Major Instructing Musketry – CSMIM) Murphy, CSgt Hutt and Sgt Bakewell, administered by LSgt Clay and the rest of the Training Team.

Midway through the course I spoke to a couple of potential Lance Corporal Candidates during a 30 second fag break.

Drummer Rowley is part of the Corps of Drums Platoon, playing the ‘F’ Flute, and was selected for the Course by the Adjutant (Company Commander for the Corps) and Drum Major (Drum Major Ben Roberts). He has served for 2 ½ years and has just recently returned from Afghanistan with the Corps. His aspirations are to become the main focal point of the Corps of Drums and the pinnacle of a Drummers career – the Drum Major.

‘Like everyone, we all have strong points and weak points. Some have fantastic fitness whilst others are immaculate on Drill, with the exceptions being those that are good at everything. Hopefully I will complete this course and it will give us all the confidence to know we are ready for HDPRCC’.

Gdsm Naylor is part of Number Three Company having also just returned from Afghanistan. He came to the Battalion with Coldstream Blood piping through his body as his father, WOII Dave Naylor, served 22 years in the Coldstream Guards finishing as the head of the Roving Regimental Recruiting Team.

‘The course is in no way finished as we have the CFT (8 miles with 25kg weight carrying weapon and tinpot in under 2hrs) tomorrow but I should have no problems with that as I have completed a PTI Course (Physical Training Instructor) and have a good fitness level’. Said Gdsm Naylor
      ‘We have already done many things on the course including the 1½ miler (minimum of 44 sit ups in two minutes, followed by a minimum of 50 press ups in two minutes, then a 1 ½ mile run in under 10 mins 30 secs – if under 29), plus lots of lessons and Day & Night Navigations’.

Asked why they wanted to do the course both men answered more or less simultaneously ‘This is the first step on the Promotion Ladder that leads to more pay, less duties, more responsibility and the first step of two into the Sergeants’ Mess’.

The course however, is by no means easy as a number of potential candidates have already been taken off the course.

‘There are no way near enough places for everyone at Pirbright, this is the opportunity to filter out the elite and send them down to HDPRCC’ said WOII (CSMIM) Murphy.
        ‘Hopefully those that we send down to Pirbright will come back with a couple of chevrons, that said, all of those who started on day one were selected by their Company Commanders so they have something about them that was recognised. Anyone that doesn’t make it down to Pirbright should note the course de-brief and rectify any problems that were identified, then hopefully we’ll see you on the next Potential Drill Course!

The Potential Drill Course held at HDPRCC will teach all candidates key skills in becoming a Non Commissioned Officer in the Coldstream Guards from Footdrill & Arms Drill to Fieldcraft and Tactical (Combat) Training.

More images of the day can be found at the foot of this page.
             

   
  The close eye of WOII (CSMIM) Muphy (and his DPM notebook) follows Dmr Rowley (left image middle man) & Gdsm Naylor's (left image right man) every step.
 

Windsor Guard images

More images from the Pre Drill Course

           
           
           
           
           
 

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