LeaveI was told to go on gardening leave for then next 10 weeks until my leaving do. That would be fantastic if I was married, the regiment and battery are on exercise and adventure training for about 7-8 weeks out of the next 10 weeks.
The reality is that I’m just hanging on.It’s been a week and I’m already bored, I can’t start work as I have a start date for a new job (
see last blog). I also have to go back finish my clearance chit, hand in my ID card the list goes on etc.
I have no resettlement to conduct, my house is already and I have a job. You would think that I would be pleased, as it all seems to be in place for my civilian life to start.
I could of taken a 2-year extension, but you have to make that break sometime.
The other night I was sat in the WO & Sgt Mess and for company was the mess barman and the ROS and the fruit machines. You know what kept me there (no it wasn’t to pi** the barman off), it was the home feeling I had. The History on the walls, pictures of mates and pictures of past mess members who I don’t even know. You look at them; it makes you feel like you are at home.
Do you know what the best smell in the world is? It’s that musty military smell a mixture of canvas, oil, dust and god knows what else. Your webbing, your combats, cam nets, tents and many other things all have that smell. You know why it’s the best smell? It will provide you with a lifetime of memories.
The reality is I need to move onI promise I’m not a manic-depressive, I am just trying to tell others who have to follow my footsteps, about the things that may keep you hanging on. I haven’t even gone into the 1800-0600 mess dos. Anyway I was sat there and I remembered when I was sent on a posting too 34 Bty RA, (a support Bty for Royal Artillery Training) and how I tried to hang on too the Regiment I was leaving.
I hated the first 2 months and I kept going back to my Regiment at the weekends to the people I knew and the familiar places.
After about 6 weeks of doing this I realised I was talking a different shop with my mates, my agenda was totally different to theirs. The worst part, I wasn’t getting to know my team at 34 or giving them a chance to know me.
Instead of a 2 year posting at 34, I spent 3 years at 34 and loved every minute. It got me promoted to Sgt; I was fantastic at my job and way a head of other firing Sgts in my regiment. I gained some fantastic experiences and some even better mates.
Like the posting it’s time for me to move on, who knows what the future will hold for me. Plus there is always Facebook.