The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is the largest Officer Training Institution in The United Kingdom and arguably the best in the world. The Academy turns out about seven hundred and fifty (750) young officers per year of which 10-15% are from foreign countries, for example, Brunei, Malaysia, The Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. In any given graduation (Passing Out Parade) there are at least 20 countries represented.

The Commissioning Course is structured in three terms, each lasting fourteen weeks. The first term is used to teach the basic soldiering skills as a priority, with an introduction to tactics. The second term places emphasis on tactics and leadership skills. The final term is used as the "polishing off" term, here ones leadership skills are tuned to perfection and the Officer is made. The first term is spent in Old College and the Second and third terms in New College.

The first term at Samdhurst is difficult to explain to anyone who has not been through it. We ironed and polished things we has never even realised needed ironing and polishing. We ran across streams and rivers, crawled through tunnels, jumped over walls, climbed ropes and scramble nets, marched to the Skill at Arms Wing at the pace of one hundred and forty steps per minute and did about every and anything you can think of. However we quickly devised our own theory of how to deal with Sandhurst; just accept that you’re there and make the best of it. If you spent each day moaning and asking yourself whether a career was worth such degradation, you would not be suited for the army anyway.

The Second term saw the move to New College. This meant new directing staff, accommodation and a whole new lifestyle. We were now being introduced to new concepts, and it was no longer just memorizing infantry skills and tactics that was required. We now began to study various concepts of Military leadership. It was also the term when we were introduced to the two theory based subjects at Sandhurst namely War Studies and Defence International Affairs. Second term is normally nicknamed "The Exercise and Leadership term". In the army the term Exercise has several meanings. At Sandhurst, it often meant sitting in a trench full of water that’s just beginning to freeze-over, while squinting through a respirator, into a stormy night and trying to stay awake for the 100th Consecutive hour.

Of all the leadership qualities that were taught Integrity was always highlighted. Nothing will end a budding career so quickly as being found to lack integrity. Dishonesty will never be tolerated in the army. However, no Cadet has ever been commissioned from Sandhurst without having bent the rules once or twice thereby displaying the sort of initiative that helps make a first class officer. The crucial thing was always to know where to draw the line.

We thought of the remainder of the winter which was yet to come. There were still a few field exercises to go, but nothing could break our morale as the countdown had begun. The final term was when all the Essays were due, oral presentations were to be made and the Range Management Qualification was to be done. What this meant was that we were guaranteed to have no free time. It was a very busy schedule and attention to detail was the order of the day. The highlight of this term was the Sovereign’s Competition where Platoons competed in various physical fitness and military dexterity competitions. 2Lt Lewis’ and 2Lt Cheverria’s platoons tied for 1st Place.

The final exercise in Germany carried mixed emotions. We were deployed to the field with the temperature at four degrees. This temperature was maintained for two days, then it dropped to a low of negative fifteen degrees. It then rose to twenty-five degrees for three days and finally dropped again to two degrees for the final days. To compliment this, the weather was mainly rain and snow. In moments like those it helped to have a bit of string tied to your zipper because fingers just don’t work at negative fifteen degrees.

Despite the many challenges that tested our will, there were actually some events and times which every Cadet cherishes. What arguably must be the greatest moment in our lives, was our graduation. 2Lt Lewis won the overseas cane, the prize awarded to the overseas cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of his course. He was also awarded the Academic Award. 2Lt Spence was chosen to be the Adjutant’s Stick Orderly on the Parade, she also received a prize for adding humour to the Course. 2Lt Cheverria was chosen to be the Commandant’s Stick Orderly, a highly coveted position on the parade.

After writing this article we all asked ourselves, why is it still so difficult to answer the one question our friends always ask, "What did you actually do at Sandhurst?" Most people have not the faintest idea what is involved in the training to become an Officer. Reactions range from the admiring "Gosh! I wish I were as brave as you" to the plain dumb "Did you shoot anyone?" Of course, not all our friends approve of our career choice, but all of them have one thing in common, none has a clue what we really went through at Sandhurst.