I return to my unit on the 28th June for my last week. Finish my clearance-chit, de-kit and too say farewell to friends and get ready for my dine-out. Looking forward to them all. Not looking forward to the leaving-do arranged by the Ladies & Gents of the Bty. Not looking forward may be the wrong term, scared should sum it up.
The Dine Out
Tradition is such an important part of military life and carries HM Forces from strength to strength. Sadly some of those traditions are being lost. For my dine out the mess will be suited and booted in George Boots, Mess Dress and miniatures.
A 5-course meal prepared by some of the best chefs in the world, with lots of wine followed by several rounds of Port and Speeches. Mr Vice will be my younger brother and it will be his first time in the mess as Sgt. I just hope he has to buy, as many
bottles of Port as I did, as MR Vice. It should bring many memories flooding back as he gives the Loyal Toast.
Then stood around the bar reminiscing over last 22 years and listening to some of the funniest stories you will ever hear, to the early hours.
The Leaving Do
Moral is also key for any unit; any all-rank do, helps a unit to gel and always increases moral. Except for any BSM (CSM), who has to deal with all the mishaps that always occur on these occasions? It not often the leaver makes it through half night, we have all seen the amount of drink consumed. I am not as young as I used to be, it will take me days to recover.
De-Kit
I have accumulated 3-4 times the amount of kit that I have on my flick. I still have my Chinese Fighting Suit that I have never worn. Most of the kit will go to others in the Bty, apart from the boots etc (Ammo boots, 2 x CBH boots, Cold weather boots, jungle boots, 4 sets of various desert boots, a pair of Warrant Officer shoes, George Boots, Army trainers, Black plimsolls), I don’t think I shall have to wear a varied amount of footwear again. It will be a sad day handing all my kit in, only in the fact that it will make feel real at last. I don’t think any other company will come close in providing personal kit as HM Forces.
Clearance-chit
It is a pain in the ar##, but how many try to leave without handing over properly or still in debt with a mess bill etc. It just makes life harder for those who are left trying to do a job, plus why burn bridges and ruin a reputation that you have spent all your career building. Values and standards don’t just stop because you are leaving the Forces, I plan to take mine with me and continue to use them for the rest of my life.
The Last Day
All though it will be a sad day, I am leaving without regret. I have made some fantastic friends and gained experiences that will live with me forever, some good and some bad. It should be a positive day, because it will be the start of my civilian life. I just hope I can have the same success as I had in the forces. I will wear a uniform again in 25 years when I hope to become a Chelsea Pensioner.