09/06/2012 - Training With The Gurkhas!

After the disappointment of the cancellation of our original planned Gurkha training, the day finally arrived for the rescheduled event. The email from Oxfam indicated the itinerary as Command Tasks - tough team bonding exercises, Training and Preparation - tips and advice, Army Exercise Simulation - walking with kit, Army Medic Advice - dealing with blisters/injuries/heat stroke, History of the QGS and Circuits and Aerobics - the bit I was least looking forward to! Oddly though there were only four teams who had taken up the offer, us, The Vale Venturers, The Bun Lovin Criminals and The Mental Orientals.

Teammate Polly had decided not to run a mountain marathon on Scotland so arriving with Lee collected Mark on the way to meet Martin at Junction 15 of the M6 at 8:30am for the journey to Bramcote Barracks. It transpired that Martin's flight from Amsterdam had been delayed and only arrived at 1am that morning so he was already somewhat jaded.

The journey quickly passed with everyone having a catch up given that Mark hadn't seen his teammates for over two weeks and we arrived at the end of the drive to the Barracks being greeted by the Trailwalker flags and were directed where to park by a solitary Gurkha soldier.

Welcome to the raw recruits

A short walk around the perimeter fence and we found the field tents from where today's operations were to be commanded and banners announcing the 250 Queens Gurkha Signals as we grabbed coffee and soon bumped into the Bun Loving Criminals - a great group of ladies if you get a chance to meet them. We were rounded up into the main tent and welcomed by the Major and provided with the running order for the day which meant the physical activity would be done in the morning in order to ensure our lunch stayed down which was greeted with much nervous laughter.

Everything but the kitchen sink

The first presentation was on Medical Advice, particularly dealing with blisters and prevention. A slide was put up which in their admission was the tamest one they could find of the entire back of the heel of the foot with an exploded blister and red raw skin beneath. It was explained that ideally Compeed should be used on known hotspots before blistering not as treatment afterward. Zinc Oxide tape was also highly recommended though an example of its misuse was provided during a joint operation with the RAF. Apparently after a march, an RAF airman had rubbed up a large blister and then decided to apply zinc oxide tape to ensure he could continue the following day which he did. However, due to the sticky nature of the tape, he managed to remove the tape along with said blister and required hospitalisation for 3 weeks thereafter! We were advised on carbing up the day before, during and after and also drinking plenty of water the day before, during and after. It was interesting to note that caffeine tablets and caffeine based energy drinks were not recommended to be taken because of their diuretic effects.

Bergens full of house bricks maybe?

The room was divided into two groups and we were sent to the far corner of the field with three members of the Vale Venturers for kit familiarisation and 'Tab'-ing (which we found out was walking with kit at no slower than 15 minute mile pace). Arriving in the corner of the field we found two Gurkha soldiers, an array of kit laid out on the ground and a bunch of SA80 rifles. The kit on display included everything they would take and carry on a  two-day training operation in a 'Bergen' - the backpacks they carry. The kit included their sleeping bag, mattress, spare T-shirts, spare boots, shaving kit (they still have to shave daily in the field), boot polish, gore-tex waterproofs, ration packs, their waist webbing which includes water canisters and spare magazines with about 180 rounds of ammunition. All this weighed in at about 15kg. Noting a pile of fully packed Bergens we were quickly offered the opportunity to try them on and handed the optional SA80 rifle adding another 5kg to be carried. On top of this little lot, they would also wear body armour and depending on the plates could easily add another 8-9kg to their load (and I thought my 6kg 30litre daypack was hefty for a days yomp)

Gurkha recruits Mark, Lee and Martin

Once fully loaded we were off in two-abreast formation for a 'Tab' although the Gurkha soldier indicated it was more of a 'walk' and too slow for a 'Tab'. Marching us off around the perimeter of the base we soon got an appreciation of what these guys go through on long march. The straps soon started to be felt in the shoulders and we tried to work out how you could easily fire your rifle if you came under attack, something we found difficult with a pack on. Back at the start point we were relieved of our rifles and Bergens and then taken through a range of stretching exercises, each working different muscle areas as we went through the routine. This was really useful as we discovered some great stretches for the calf - an area I've had particular problems with.

The Circuit of Death

Our stretches done, it was time to swap with the other group and head for the Circuits and Aerobics area or 'The Circuit of Death' as it should be renamed. Our PT instructor and two eager Gurkha assistants took us round the circuit to demonstrate the exercises to be done at each station bearing names like Supermans, Thrusts, Bungees, Plank, Weighted Sit-Up, Sprints, Medicine Ball, Alternative Medicine Ball, Press-Ups, Squat Thrust, Squats, Lunges - names filling me with dread and designed to work different areas of the body or in my case inflict pain.

After the demonstration, we were off for the warm-up, a gentle walk around the circuit - so far so good I thought. This soon progressed to jogging and the need to touch the ground with various parts of the body as instructed along with direction changes on the instruction of the Gurkha PT instructor. By the end of the warm up I was already feeling like I'd had a good workout but the real pain was yet to come. We would have an initial 10 seconds at each station to familiarise ourselves with the activity before being told to move to the next exercise. After completing the next exercise this was increased to 40 seconds at each, then 15 seconds then 5 seconds - each one requiring we move to the next one as rapidly as possible. Towards the end I was finding it was taking at least 5 seconds to get off the ground! With the torture session over it was time for more stretching and a demonstration of the use of a foam roller.

Gurkha curry - you'll want more!

Leaving the Circuit Area we were off to the Mess Tent as the Gurkha Chefs removed the covers from the most amazing display and we were greeted by the welcoming smell of curry. Naturally we had to try everything on offer and we agreed it was as good if not better than anything we had tasted in a restaurant. As we were joined by the hungry Gurkha soldiers we got the chance to chat with them as most had done Trailwalker in the past and they explained that for them to have the fastest time gave them the bragging rights over other areas of the military so they are pretty keen on who gets selected to do it each year. Fortunately there was plenty of curry leftover so after the mornings activity we justified second helpings but it still left us wanting a doggy-bag.

After lunch it was back into the tent for a presentation on the history of the QGS, their formation and areas of operation. It was interesting to learn about the selection process for the Gukhas that there are 30 applicants for every position such is the demand in Nepal to become a Gurkha soldier in the British Army and they would then normally serve 22 years though sadly with military cuts, a number of them will have their careers cut short.

Not sure I'd want to spend the night in it

Following the presentation on Training and Preparation, we were off for the final task of the day which was the Command Task. Separated into our two groups as before, we were presented with two taped off squares an array of tent poles, spikes and tent canvas all laid out on the ground. The rules were that we would have to erect the array of tent paraphernalia into a 9' x 9' tent but two people would remain outside the square providing instruction and 6 members inside the square who were not permitted to talk. Sounded straightforward enough and our Red Team were quickly in the lead with the frame up only to find that one of the horizontals was shorter than the rest. In error, a shorter pole had been matched with a longer pole requiring the frame to be dismantled to find the problem. 

A quick re-erection had the frame back up and us still ahead of the Blue Team and ready for the canvas. At this point a member of the team (who shall remain nameless) gestured that the canvas was upside down, so quickly flipping it over it was soon over the frame only for it to be realised it was now inside-out requiring it to be removed and flipped over again costing us time and allowing the Blue team to marginally snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

This simple exercise was explained to us as an example of working as a team to achieve a goal. For Trailwalker we're going to spend a long time in each others company, for a chunk of the distance we will get by on conversation and banter but this will dry up, we will get irritated by annoying habits of our team mates, we will have low points and will need our other team members to pick us up to get us through it. It is as much a mental as a physical challenge.

With time left for some group photographs at the end, we said our thanks and goodbyes to our amazing Gurkha hosts and if you are reading this with a view to doing Trailwalker in the future we would strongly recommend you do this if you get offered the opportunity - it's inspirational and motivational (and the aches and pains will soon be forgotten)

Thank you 250 Gurkha Signals for a great day