Preparation can be key to success in any activity or walk of life, proper preparation and training help make the real test easier. Militia Troop is the name The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) give to the holding organisation for the Regiment’s recruits as they make their way on their journey into the Army Reserve.
Training is held at sub-unit locations on drill nights but is enhanced by monthly Militia Troop weekends usually held at our Regimental home in Monmouth.
This weekend recruits gathered from Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock and Oldbury in the West Midlands as well as Swansea, Cardiff and Cwmbran from South Wales (not forgetting Bristol Troop) and met up with those from Monmouth.
Recruits getting ready for the assessment centre received physical training to help them assess their readiness for the tests there as well as future training. They were also shown how to look after and prepare their equipment, taken through some basic foot drill (marching) and taught badges of rank. Their confidence was built up with an ice-breaking exercise (NOT literally) where they speak about themselves to a small audience. There was also the opportunity to chat with recruits who were ahead of them in the process to get some advice and dispel any myths! A busy Saturday for them before they set off home in the late afternoon.
Those recruits who had already been to and passed the assessment centre benefitted from lessons to help prepare them for Basic Training. As they are ‘on the books’ they were able to spend the whole weekend training. They benefitted from physical training on both days; Sunday morning proving particularly crisp for their steady state run! Navigation and fieldcraft lessons lay the foundations for the further training they will get at an Army Training Unit. Lessons on how to live and administer themselves in the field will help when they encounter it in Basic Training. Of course the package wouldn’t be complete without drill and we would hate to disappoint.
All the recruits really threw themselves into the training, taking plenty of information away and better prepared for the further training to come. It is often noticeable how this training does assist recruits as they go forward and we encourage all ours to attend if they are able.
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If you would like to find out more information about becoming a Reserve Royal Engineer (or a chef) please call 01600 711455 or 07880 053196 or email rmonrem.recruiting@hotmail.co.uk using the contact form on this website.
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