Thursday, June 28, 2007

Medals, the HEGG, and Parades



Over the past 2 weeks, we've had 2 presentations of the Medal of Military Valour, they were both won for exceptional service in Afghanistan. It's quite an honour to work with these 2 modern heroes.



This past week, we've started the morning mounts, and my division has done fairly well, they need some more polish. On the 23rd we did the first mount, I was #1 Divison Commander, for me it was the best first mount that I've ever done. In years past there has either been divisions that would run into each other, or some catastrophic timing issues. But this year, it came off pretty well, far from perfect...

On the 25th, we did the HEGG inspection, it's always special doing a parade for the Governor General. After the parade, I got to meet the HEGG, in the Officers Mess of the Governor General's Foot Guards.


Now that parades have started, I've also started teaching 8 soldiers of my platoon, their Soldier's Qualification. This is their second military course, and their first one that is Army specific. They all started a few months ago with their BMQ (Basic military qualification) this is the first course all soldier, no matter what element, must complete. One they complete the SQ, they will go onto their trade course, for most that will be their Basic Infantry Qualification.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

The End of Drill...

... well of intensive drill anyways. Tomorrow is the last day of intensive drill and then we do our first Guard Mount on Saturday.

Over the past 3 weeks, besides getting the worlds best "farmer's tan", I taught my division of 22 troops a lot about drill and the traditions of the military. It's not easy taking people that speak 2 different languages, I have both French and English speakers in my division, and teaching them all the fine points and details of drill. When doing drill I can be very worried about the smallest things, like where the hands are, is the thumb sticking out, or tucked in, are the feet at the proper angle, and many more small details. We teach them all the moves they need and then we teach them the Guard Mount format, but there is just too much information for them to master in the 3 weeks that we have to do it in. One of the hardest things, is getting people that have thought they knew how to do a particular movement, but they were doing the small things wrong, change the way they were doing things. A good example is standing at attention, it's one of the first things we learn as a soldier, but in order to make it look good we have to make suer everyone does the movement exactly the same. So we ensure that everyone pulls the weapon in as their leg comes up, because if left on their own, some will have the weapon forced in as the leg comes up, some as it comes down, and some in the middle. So it's had to break people of their habits, and introduce the new habits that we want them to have.

So over the 3 weeks, we taught, or re-taught them how to march, halt, stand at attention, stand at ease, stand easy, shoulder arms, order arms, fix bayonets, un-fix bayonets, present arms, change arms, do right and left forms, right and left turns, slow march, and perform double sentry drill.

So tommorrow, they will be doing drill for the first time in their full dress uniform, some of them will be a little suprised to find out how tight it is, and how much it will restrict their movements. And then on Saturday the next phas eof the summer will begin. I'm really hoping that it goes well.

Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Day 1 Ceremonial Guard 2007

Well the troops have hit the ground. I'm 1 Section Commander for 3 Platoon, and have 26 troops in my division. Not much going on today, just got the guys into their rooms, and introduced them to the staff. Tomorrow will be more interesting, as we are having the change of command parade for the Commanding Officer and the RSM.

Here's to hoping we have a great summer.

UP THE GUARDS