After completion of the Attestation Parade,  we got ready to go for the next stage: 9 months of training at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC), Catterick, UK.

For most of us it was our first trip abroad and the first time leaving our families. I was more excited than upset though because I had worked so long to make it into the famous Gurkhas.

Although it was hard  and we did lots of physical training like battle PT, circuit training, tabbing (marching carrying lots of equipment), swimming and running to build up our fitness,  I wanted  to show my Gurujis (instructors) that I was good enough.

At  the end of the first phase of training  we passed of the square and we were promoted from recruit to 'Trainee Rifleman'.  As a reward we were allowed to go on our first outing which was followed by a trip to Edinburgh and then London.

It was quite different for us seeing these places compared to our normal home villages. During the next phase of the training there were a lot more field exercises so we could learn about different tactics. I enjoyed this part the most .

At the end of the training my  platoon commander told me that I was going to 1 RGR and on the day of the passing out parade I was feeling very proud of myself for passing my training.