The Cadet Sergeant Major

The Cadet Sergeant Major by Christopher Cummings Page B

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Authors: Christopher Cummings
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wants the company on parade at 0800. That’s only five minutes from now.”
    â€œYes CSM.”
    â€œThank you Ma’am,” Graham said. He turned and strode off towards 3 Pl. From a distance he saw that CUO White had finished his inspection so he called, “Sgt Brown! Move your platoon over to the parade ground now.”
    â€œYes CSM.”
    Graham checked his watch. ‘I will have to be less tactful with the other platoons.’ He marched to his position on the ‘parade ground’ then halted and yelled, “Platoon sergeants! Get your platoons on parade now! Move!”
    He could see that 1 Platoon commander was still inspecting but she immediately stopped and handed over to Stephen who began forming the platoon up in three ranks. Bellowing and shouting broke out in all the platoon areas. Graham noted that Stephen formed his platoon up in three files with the corporals at the rear so they were already facing the way they had to go and were in the order they would be on parade. A single command set them marching. ‘Cunning dog!’ he grunted.
    On the other hand Sgt Griffin formed 4 Platoon up on a right marker and then had to turn them. Because of the way he had been facing this put his corporals at the rear as well, but meant they would be at the wrong end when he halted them on the parade ground. Griffin only realized this as they approached their position. He got all flustered, tried to wheel them round but misjudged the distance and had to halt them rather than collide with HQ.
    This brought murmurings and jeers both from HQ and 4 Platoon. Griffin went red with embarrassment and rubbed his nose. To Graham’s astonishment he ordered the platoon to ‘about turn’ and ‘quick march’. This set them in motion away from the parade ground but with the corporals leading. Griffin again tried to wheel them round but again miscalculated and sent them off across the front of 3 Platoon, which was also marching towards the parade ground. Sgt Brown ordered his platoon to halt to avoid a collision. Graham tried to mask his contempt.
    Sgt Brown was less polite, as he had every right to be when Griffin’s troops marched through between himself and his own cadets.
    â€œGawd you are a drongo Griffin!” he jeered.
    Griffin flapped his arms and tried to explain to Brown, then realized the platoon was getting away from him again and were about to collide with HQ. “Halt!” he shrieked. Peter stood watching with his hands on his hips. He shook his head sadly. Grins, snickers and jeers indicated what the cadet’s opinions of all this were. Griffin stood and looked around in indecision.
    Graham saved him by calling, “Sgt Griffin, fall them out and form them up again on a marker. Sgt Brown, get that shambling mob you call a platoon into step.”
    â€œYes sir. Get in step 3 Platoon,” Brown shouted angrily. “Left, Left, Left, Right, Left. Stoneman, get in step!”
    At length all sub-units were lined up along the vehicle track. Graham made a play of looking at his watch. “Not good enough! Seven minutes late! You cadets get more organized and be ready on time,” he growled. ‘Sergeants too!’ he thought, but he did not say. He dressed the company and had the sergeants number their cadets. This was just a quick check to ensure they were still all present. Graham then called for reports and added up the numbers. While he was doing this he was conscious that the officers and CUOs were lining up on the notional ‘edge’ of the parade ground behind him.
    None absent. None sick. Graham ran his eyes slowly over the company. The cadets were wearing ‘Patrol Order’: camouflage uniforms, cloth bush hats and basic webbing. The medics had their First Aid Kits and the signallers their radios.
    â€œGet the buckles of the basic webbing done up. Don’t rest your arms on the basic pouches on parade. Sergeants get your

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