Being a first year, I did not really know what to expect at summer camp. By the end of the third term we had pretty well mastered life in the field for weekends and were just getting to know the system and how the whole organisation works.

What I hadn't experienced until summer camp was being thrown into a mix with the other companies in the field, especially for such an extended period of time.

I was looking forward to the five day exercise as field time for me is always the part I enjoy the most, however there was still a great deal of the unknown.

For example, when on a weekend, a quick feel around with a wet wipe passed for a wash, something more substantial would be required on camp.         

Prior to camp packing went from bad to worse as I packed and repacked my bergen again and again to try and bring down the weight and increase the comfort. Water seemed to be the biggest issue; being able to carry enough without making the weight ridiculously heavy.

Fortunately for me this was not the first time I had been on a military camp thus I had had at least some practice at paying the correct respects. I arrived at camp and quickly found out I was to be with Battalion HQ as a signaller for the first part of the exercise.

This seemed to be a good learning opportunity which allowed me to see how things work higher up the chain of command, but at the same time I was frustrated that I could not take part in the initial attacks and recces; instead I was relegated to the side lines to listen to events unfolding over a very dodgy radio.

When I did get to join my platoon again on the second morning I was happy that we were off to do a platoon attack straight away. I think my section were ready to shoot me by the end as I was neither tired nor had weary legs thus I ran about like a mad man shouting plenty…a trait I think people saw plenty of over the following ten days!            

The exercise continued and I learned a great deal. I got a chance to try my hand at various command positions within the platoon for the first time, these included Section Commander and also Platoon Sergeant. I particularly enjoyed going head to head against the other company although being Sergeant for the attack was the best 'phys' I had had in a long time.

We learnt all about CTR's and other useful observation skills which were put into practice both in a defensive and offensive role. I have no doubt my understanding of platoon life and workings increased dramatically in those five days.            

By the time we came off exercise on the Thursday afternoon we were all ready for a good shower but not before two hours of cleaning rifles on top of a freezing hill! I’d had a great deal of fun but was now looking forward to a couple of days relaxing on the beach before getting stuck into the second week.

The two beach days, one as a whole unit and the other learning to surf with Aber Coy, were over very quickly and we were then into our three day rotation. My group started with the battlefield tour on the site where the Battle of Stratton was fought in 17th century.

This gave me, as a first year, a good opportunity to get a basic grasp of the 7 questions before next year and proved an interesting day out. Unfortunately I was not able to join my group on the second day when they visited either the Royal Marines, or a Hunterkiller Submarine at HMNB Devonport. Instead I helped as a PTI on a stretcher race for the module 3 students.

I was a little disappointed about this, although I have had the chance to look around a submarine before. The day was made much more exciting with a ride in a Gazelle helicopter that evening; the area we had covered on exercise that had seemed so large looked depressingly small from the air!

The third day of the rotation was the hardest of the 3 and saw us back in our exercise sections for the RSM's challenge. This was a great day including a number of both physically and mentally challenging stands. The whole exercise was complicated by the extreme heat and some difficult terrain.

Our section got on well regardless and completed most of the stands in the time allowed. The log race at the end seemed a fitting end to the physical side of camp.            

We now had some good social nights to look forward to before heading home. The Beating Retreat was good to watch and gave us another taste of what being in a regular unit might be like. The following morning was the Regimental Prize Giving where trophies were awarded and next year's command positions announced.

It was great to see Aber do so well in the prizes and the various forms of drill people performed whilst marching to receive them. That evening promised to be good as it was the regimental dinner. I discovered on the bus I was to host the head of 5 Div for the evening which proved more interesting than it sounded.

There was a particularly funny incident at supper involving the distribution of the port. As it was handed round we suddenly realised that we were going to run out before it reached the Major-General sitting at our table! As the realisation slowly dawned, smaller and smaller measures ensued to try and leave some for him.

Fortunately he had a sense of humour and thought the whole thing was very amusing! The next day was taken up with admin and packing our kit ready to leave before one final social where each company did a 'skit'. These were entertaining, if a little close to the line at points, but everyone enjoyed themselves.            

Camp as a whole was probably the best experience I have had in the OTC and definitely the highlight of my year. I learned a great deal and I have no doubt that it has left me better prepared for my second year. It was a good opportunity to develop friends in other companies and to get to know the permanent staff outside your own company.