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I am 25027818 C/Sergeant Taylor and I am a serving member
of 1st Bn Irish Guards.
I arrived at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright on 4th July 1993.
At the time the old Guards Depot had just changed to the
Army Training Regiment and instead of completing all 23 weeks
of training at Pirbright, you did the first 10 weeks here
and then you progressed to ITC Catterick for the remainder.
After the initial shock of Army life had gone, I settled
down into the routine of a hard day's training and then a
hard night's swabbing . Although the training was hard and
having to be self-sufficient was a shock I soon started to
enjoy it.
After 10 weeks of learning the basic skills that I needed
to know to be in the Army it was time for the first of two
pass-out parades.
It was exciting as all our parents were there and it was
the first time that we were on parade in front of civilians.
I was lucky enough to be nominated Best Recruit of the platoon
and had to march out the front to get my prize.
After a short weekend leave I arrived at ITC Catterick to
learn the skills that would make me into an Irish Guardsman.
The training at Catterick was a lot more intense but at
the same time a lot more rewarding. We got to learn about
all of the section and platoon weapons and our shooting skills
were honed. We learned about signals and our drill was taken
a stage further by learning the slow march and all about
the ceremonial duties that we would be doing if and when
we reached our Battalions.
After 13 very cold and tiring weeks it was time for pass-out
parade number two. This time it was a much more grand affair
with the parade being a mini Trooping of the Colour.
Again all the Parents were there and I was awarded
the Best Trainee Guardsman prize.
The best part of the parade was at the end when the platoon
commander said 'Guardsman to your Battalions, quick march',
after 23 weeks of being called a recruit , trainee guardsman
or worse I was now a fully-fledged Guardsman.
My first posting was to Elizabeth Barracks where the Irish
Guards were serving.
I was quickly fitted out with my home service kit and was
ready to start stagging on the Royal palaces and my first
Trooping of the Colour.
After a short time the battalion moved to Chelsea Barracks
in London for a good two year stint of public duties. During
this time we deployed on a Battle Group exercise to Wainwright,
Canada for six weeks.
We then underwent the Battalion's second tour of Northern
Ireland for six months in East Tyrone. During the pre-training
for the tour I was put on a promotion cadre at FGPRCC which
I subsequently passed and I was promoted to L/Cpl in Northern
Ireland to become a team commander of a four-man brick.
When we got back we then had another stint of public duties
and yet another Trooping of the Colour. The Battalion then
moved back to Elizabeth Barracks and almost straight after
I deployed with Four Company to the Oman for a Company exercise
in desert warfare.
After we got back I was then sent to Brecon on the Section
Commanders Battle course which I passed and returned to the
Battalion after three tiring months.
After yet another Trooping of the Colour I was asked if
I wanted a posting to ATR Pirbright as an instructor. After
a few moments thought I agreed and upon completing the Guards
Potential Instructors course I was posted to Guards Company
as an instructor for two years. During my time instructing
in the ATR I taught and molded many Guardsmen who are now
on their own careers within their Battalions.
I left the ATR in January 2000 which meant I missed going
over the border in a peacekeeping role in Kosova with the
rest of the Battalion.
I rejoined the Battalion in Münster, Germany. I was
placed in Recce Platoon, Support Company where I took the
role of Section Commander.
After arriving back at Battalion I was sent back to England
to complete the Armoured Infantry Recce Section Commanders
course. This course lasted three months and covered all aspects
of Recce in the Armoured role from Driving and Maintenance
of the CVR(T) to learning how to fire the 30mm main armament
and then onto Learning the Tactics that are required to be
known. In January of 2001 I went to the AFV Gunnery School
at Lulworth to complete the Regimental Gunnery Instructor's
course for the CVR(T). This I passed with a Distinction and
I am now one of the Platoon's Gunnery Instructors.
Since completing the Gunnery Instructors course, I have
deployed with the Battalion on several overseas exercises.
These were in Poland, BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffolk)
Canada and for Exercise Saif Sareea in the Oman. In each
of these exercises I was a Section Commander for the Recce
Platoon. The exercises were conducted at a minimum level
of Battle Group and at times were extremely hard work but
enjoyable.
At the start of the year 2002 I embarked on my next course,
The Platoon Sergeants Battle course which is held at Infantry
Training Centre Wales. This is without doubt the hardest
single thing I have ever been asked to do, both physically
and mentally. However I passed the course well and looked
forward to my next step up the ladder.
The majority of the remainder of the year was spent in-camp
training where I ran internal Gunnery courses and taught
on the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer cardres. Additionally,
I spent 3 months at the Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT)
in Sennelager, testing the new £300 million Armoured
Warfare Trainer. Towards the end of the year I was promoted
and posted to ITC Catterick as a Platoon Sergeant.
I was recalled to Germany for the pending operations in
the Gulf. Since the start of the new year I have been with
Number Two Company, training for this.
To read about how I
got on click on the picture below. |
