It was the 15th of March, and I was in a black suit, on my way to my new home, Uniacke Barracks, for the first time, I was both nervous for me to start my training, excited that I managed to get to this point, scared about what the future had in store for me, I knew I was leaving a lot behind, but I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain if I did this.

My foster family were near the camp, so we stopped at a pub to eat, I remember my meal, steak and ale pie, with chips and a side salad, as well as a glass of Coka Cola.
My family were all proud of me for what I have achieved with my life and how hard I tried to get here.
Upon arrival at the camp, I put my personal belongings in the drill shed, a giant metal shed at the edge of the Drill square, then made my way inside, I signed paperwork and confirmed my Identity and found out my Company and Platoon number.

When that was done, my family and I headed into a brief, explaining my train and about he first six weeks, to which, you can't leave and follow some strict rules, then get a week off before coming back, then the training will get tougher.
Upon hearing that they only had sixty seconds to say goodbye, my little sister, only a year younger then me, started to cry, she couldn't believe what was happening.

I hugged them all, I didn't cry as to the fact I needed to seem strong, we then parted ways, and I wouldn't see them again for the whole six weeks, then we picked up our bags and headed to the sleeping block, in the lines (corridor that the platoon is assigned to, so all the rooms in that corridor belong to that platoon) and once told my room number, I walked through, I got into the room and found a few of the lads already there.
I placed my bag in my bed space, then grabbed a chair from another bed space as one of the lads were using it, they were sitting in a circle, in one half of the room, and we're talking about themselves or just talking in general.

I became acquainted to the rest of the lads when my Section Commander walked in, talking to us about what he expected and that we are to do an ice breaker, in other terms, talk about yourself for about a few minutes, in front of you Section, each room is one section, we have 4 sections to our platoon and each section can be up to 12 men.
The in the time that followed, all of us swore our Oath of Alligence to the Queen, the Army and Country, got our uniform, and started to learn the basics of soldiering, I wanted to be a Light Infantryman in my local Regiment.

Time passed by rather slowly, then my Birthday passed. My first and only Birthday present that day was waking up, face down in the mud, with abit of cramp, when we got back to camp, my parcel arrived, although I had an early birthday at home before I left, my career said that she would send me a parcel, it was filled with sweets, Bottles of Coka Cola and Chocolate covered peanuts. Considering that there is a shop on site, that we can't go to until after the first six weeks period had passed, parcels were like gold.

Smokers couldn't by the cigarettes at the camp shop because they are under the age, and they were restricted to only 3 cigarettes a day, most of them would have a minimal of a packet a day, they were really agitated about this, it was hilarious to watch, but also, we were restricted to use our phones 1 hour a day, ha. That was the piss taker.

I had a couple of fights with my section, one of which I deserved and had to get a couple of stitches in a civilian hospital, and another that wasn't my fault, but we joke about that now, we learned how to use an SA80 and how to shoot, I'm not a bad shot, compared to most of the platoon, now I'm shooting targets at ranges like 300 metres away, easy.

I was give glasses due to my lazy eye, but don't wear them when shooting as I'm a better shot without them.
I finally learned how to iron my uniform correctly, still a pain even now, but we barely have any checks now.

I look at my friends on Civilian street now, they don't have decent jobs, or any for that matter, living on benefits, I, however get paid, pay bills and work hard.
My section don't really know all the reasons why I joined up, don't even think about asking either.

My pass in parade was a good day for me, but the second I got into the car, I fell to sleep, my first six weeks were hell, but I'll never forget about them.

AN-IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MESSAGE ME AND I WILL ANSWER, IF I FEEL THAT I CAN WITHOUT BREACHING SECURITY.