What a week this has been. We lost another troop mate this week. Kent decided to leave for personal reasons. That�s 2 from my room. We were pretty shaken up over that because it was very sudden. The same day all of us posted to �E� division received our detachments. That was a very emotional day. I found out that I have been posted to Lake Cowichan B.C. Right back on the Island. I was so happy. When they first started passing out the little post-it-notes with our name and detachment written on them I heard two people call out detachments on the Island. I was getting worried as they generally don�t put too many people on the island. The time came for the Cpl to give me my post-it-note. I held on for a sec took a deep breath and had a look. Lake Cowichan is only 135km from where I live now. The detachment has 7 members (soon to be 8) and patrols an area over 2500 sq km including the lake itself. The Lake is one of the biggest lakes on Vancouver island 30km long. The detachment has a 17ft zodiac boat for lake patrols. Can you see the big grin on my face from where you are???
I can�t wait. I have talked to the detachment commander and I am waiting for an info pkg from my field trainer. The end is fast approaching.
I had my fire arms qualifications on Monday. I shot 238 out of 250. Cross pistols on my serge. One down and one to go. I have to shoot well on my rifle qualifications to get the crossed rifles on my serge. I have my shot gun qualifications this coming week but unfortunately they don�t hand out crossed shotguns.
We got the e-mail on Wednesday that we were moving to D block. So yesterday thats what we did. Packed our stuff up and hauled it down to D block. Single rooms with tv and our own shower and bathroom. When we first moved to C block it was all you could do to get away from people there was absolutely no privacy. So after living with a lot guys for 4 months what was the first thing people did when we got single rooms? Prop their door open so that they could to talk to troop mates across the hall or who ever was walking by. Weird how things work.
On Friday night the RCMP Depot held its Cops for Cancer event. Last year they raised just over $8000. This year we blew it out of the water and raise over $32,000. The CO of depot put his head on the block as well as the Sgt Mgr shaved off his mustache. And yes my head went on the block too. I am bald . Its very weird to see my head in the mirror. I have one month to grow it back. No big deal. At least I shouldn�t have to worry about Sgt Stuart sending me for learning assistance because of my hair cut. A lot of my troop mates did it including one of the girls. In fact there are so many bald people on base right now that if you have hair you are in the minority. I have pictures and I will post them soon.
We are now third senior troop on base. Hard to believe. On Tuesday we will be 2nd senior troop on base and we will get to wear the red stripe of power on our shoulders across our Cadet epilettes. That will point us out as senior troop as well as allow us the privlage of walking on the sidewalks in Depot. It also means that we will have a lot of front end parade duty. I am signed up for a troop commandeer on the next noon parade. That will involve me bringing a troop (not mine) to attention, taking the role call, and leading the troop around the parade square when we march. It is rather stressfull but I am looking forward to it. There are a lot of commands to remember and all the drill staff are there. I also have my final PDT test on Monday, my gravel road drive and my shotgun qualifications. This is going to be a fun week. Wish me luck.
What week is this now? Wow going into week 19. |
