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- LCPL & GDSM
Below are two recent
profiles of individuals serving in the Coldstream
Guards. These profiles show what can be achieved
by 'anyone' with a keen sense of adventure and lots of
grit & determination.
Click below to go straight to a profile, or scroll down
to view the information
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Gdsm Revill
of Number
3 Company, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
·
LCpl
X
of the
Pathfinder Platoon
Profile
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Profile 1 - Guardsman Revill, No 3 Coy
Rank: Gdsm
Name: Ashley James Revill
Nickname: Ash
Home Town: Doncaster
Town of Enlistment: Doncaster (Recruited by Sgt Thompson)
Enlistment Date: September 02
Brief History:
During my teen years, whilst at school I helped out
a hotel (in Walkringham) as a waiter and then a Chef. I
was always active and enjoyed keeping fit. I started a
mechanics course at my local college and was enjoying it
very much. One night I watched “Saving Private Ryan”
and thought it was one of the best films I have seen in
my life, I became interested in the Army.
I visited my
local Careers Office in Doncaster and spoke to Sgt
Thompson who made me feel at home and introduced me to
what the Army is all about. He suggested I attend a
Look at Life, I did and it was brilliant and a very good
introduction and insight to the Army way of life. I had
just turned 16 and the Look at Life had more or less
decided for me what I wanted to do. We looked at
different weapons and Tanks, we also visited London.
Whilst there we saw the Changing of the Guard at
Buckingham Palace and visited Chelsea Barracks, giving
us a chance to speak to a few Guardsmen in Battalion.
The trip was organised by CSgt Naylor and I decided that
I wanted to join the “Coldstream Guards”. I finished
the Look at Life course and in Aug 02 went onto
selection at Glen Course – Scotland (4 days).
Training:
Aug 02 Selection
Jan 03 – Dec 03 Harrogate
Jan 04 – Mar 04 Caterick
Apr 04 – Passed out of Training and onto 2 weeks leave, then
onto Battalion (Stationed at Aldershot). Commenced
Battalion New Draft Training for 4 days (mon-thu) then 1
day with my Company (3 Coy) then straight onto another 2
weeks (Easter leave).
Joined
Battalion:
Apr 04 – Joined Battalion (No 3 Coy – 9 Plt) – LSW
Gunner
May 04 – June 04: Ex Red Stripe (Jamaica – 1
Month)
I celebrated my 18th Birthday whilst in the
Jungle (Jungle Training), the exercise was outstanding
and we even had 5 days R & R which myself plus a few
mates from 9 Plt stayed in a fully inclusive hotel. We
saw the sites and experienced the delights of the local
food and beverages.
June 04: Back from Ex Red Stripe,
weekend at home.
I then deployed with the Battalion for an Exercise at
Salisbury Plain where we all “dug in” for about 2
weeks. This was my first exercise with the Battalion
and it was very exciting, the highlight of the exercise
was getting brought back into camp for the England Vs
Portugal match. We all let our hair down and did some
personal admin before going back in the field later that
night.
July 04: All Arms Parachute
Course (2 weeks).
After the exercise my Platoon Commander (Mr Lock) asked
me if I fancied “jumping out of a plane?”. I always
wanted to do parachuting and “jumped” at the chance so
the first day back after the exercise I was back to
Salisbury for 2 weeks at Neverhaven. The course was
fantastic, we started off on a static line and then went
up to 3 second delays, where I had to “pull my own
cord”. In total I did about 18 jumps, and it was all
paid for by the Army (the only thing I had to pay for
was £15 for insurance).
I did my last jump on the Friday morning and then went
straight onto 3 weeks Summer Leave.
July 04 – Aug 04: Summer Leave – 3 weeks.
Aug 04: Advanced Sharpshooters
Course (4 weeks).
Straight back from Summer Leave and I started an
Internal Sharpshooters Course. The course was ran by Sgt
Pote at Lille Bks (Aldershot), Salisbury and Wales. I
was offered the course because I was getting good
results in my APWT. The course involved learning and
using the Sniper Rifle, shooting from distances up to
1000, camouflage and concealment, judging distances and
lots more. It was a good insight to a Sniper Course.
The future:
I am looking forward to a few courses that are to be
confirmed after the forthcoming exercise, in particular
my Driving Course and RMA 3 Course (Team/Combat Medics
Course).
Notes:
I have done more in the last year (in the Army) than
I have done in my whole life. I would like to get a
Drill Course (Promotions Course) to get my foot on the
promotion ladder.
I would like to say thank you to my mum and dad for
giving me the support needed while I was going through
training, they were always there and helped a lot.
I would like to say thank you to my girlfriend for
supporting me, a lot of girlfriends did not provide
support to my mates, who ended up leaving because of
this – Gemma did.
A few questions put to Gdsm Revill
Why did you join the Coldstream
Guards?
"I wanted to do something with my
life, see the world and enjoy the experience.
After attending a look at life, and seeing the Queens Guard at Buckingham Palace
I thought they looked so smart in Tunics and Bearskins."
Would you recommend a mate joining
the Coldstream Guards?
"Definitely, I have done more in
the last year than I have done in my whole life!"
rofile
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Profile 2 - LCpl X
Rank: LCpl
Name:
Home Town: Sheffield
Town of Enlistment: Sheffield
Enlistment Date: August 97
Brief History
During my teen years I was a very active person,
and played many sports including football. My best
achievement was playing for the Sheffield Wednesday
Youth Team for two seasons, but I will admit I wasn't
talented enough in that profession. This was long
before joining the Army, I took that step in 1997.
One month after leaving school I joined the 1st
Battalion Coldstream Guards, the person I have to thank
(blame) for this was Sgt Naylor (ex Regimental
Recruiting Warrant Officer). After
joining at the age of 16 I have never looked back.
Training
August 1997 - March 1998
Battalion Statistics
Apr 98 - Joined Number 3 Coy, 10 Plt
Aug 98 - 1 month sailing trip around the Mediterranean
on 'Gladeye'
Mar 99 - Exercise Red Stripe in Jamaica for 1 month
Jun 99 - Intelligence Course
Aug 99 till Mar 00 - Attached to the Int Plt at
Crossmaglen's Borucki Sanger
Mar 00 till May 01 - Attached to the Regimental
Information Team
May 01 till Sep 01 - Number 3 Coy, 10 Plt
Oct 01 - COP Course (Close Observation Platoon)
Mar 02 - Off to Brunei on Exercise 'Atap Hurdle'
Jun 02 - LCpl's Drill and Tactics Course (for Promotion)
Aug 02 - COP Course (COP 2ic)
Nov 02 - All Arms P Company Course
May 03 - Advanced Navigation Course
May 03 till Aug 03 - Recce Conversion Cadre
Feb 04 - Pathfinder Selection Cadre
Mar 04 - Pathfinder Platoon Member
LCpl X now serves attached to the Pathfinder
Platoon.
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