EXERCISE JTM-2026-03 Weekend Diary.

Our 3 latest candidates joined us on Friday evening, to do introductions and initial kitting. And there was plenty of that to issue!

Following a “Day One” briefing, the candidates were then tasked to prepare their kit ready for deploying to the training area, at a farm on the outskirts of Worcester.

None of the candidates had any previous military experience, so there was a lot to take in, with things like the names and what the functions of the kit were, to what’s in a 24 hour ration pack – these will likely seem like really basic things to those who have served, but totally alien if you haven’t.

With the kit prepped, it was time to load up into the vehicle and deploy to the training area, ready for their first evening and for a breakdown of “morning routine”, something that everyone has to enjoy (endure?) as part of basic training. It consists of multitasking heating water, cooking a meal, preparing a hot drink, washing, shaving and changing underwear / clothing as necessary.

Then it’s the dreaded inspection by the Directing Staff (DS).

With only some minor “advisories” for the candidates, everything was then “squared away”, ready for a return to HQ, for a quick change into PT gear and an 11Km run.

Run complete, back into “rig” and time to get a brew on, as well as cook lunch. Following lunch, the lads had a guest speaker, in the form of a previous JTM candidate, now a member of 4 Mercian (Army Reserves), who spent time discussing his journey and what he might have done differently – all really useful information for potential recruits.

Coursework completed, it was time for a TAB out into the field for some introductory patrolling, radio procedure skills and to work through the infamous “Seven S’s“, then back to HQ for dinner (cooked on the stove, of course) and an introduction to battlefield first aid, learning such skills as how and when to apply a tourniquet and how to treat casualties – expertly delivered by our Army surgeon, Ewen. Civvies would pay thousands for this, as the saying goes!

2000h was the scheduled departure time to redeploy to the main training area, so back on the “bus” with all of the kit, then straight out into the woods to put BASHA building into practice.

The candidates were positioned on high ground, in woodland in a position that would enable them to see anyone approaching their “harbour area“.

And then it was time to “stag on“. Oh the joys!

This is where sleep deprivation kicks in, as you’re having to stay alert throughout the night, in case of getting “bumped” – and they were told to expect it. With the introduction of a drone by the DS to get their attention, no-one was going to fall asleep while on stag that night!

Sun up and 0530 was reveille.

Time for the guys to get a wriggle on ahead of the morning inspection by the DS, who were themselves also up – and feeling mischievous, they decided to send up the drone again, just to apply a bit more pressure.

0645, it was time for the DS to head up to the harbour area and inspect the candidates. And the results were outstanding, the lads had excelled with their morning routine, so no need for “encouragement”, just some top-tier teaching and advice from serving Royal Marines Commando Piers Kontic-Coveney – does it get any better than this!?

Having worked in the training sphere, Piers has a natural ability to inspire people and offer relatable gems of experience, something that the guys will eventually come to realise and draw from, when they’re up against it.

Kit packed away, ensuring that no “signature” was left, it was time to deploy to the PMF Fitness Solutions training area, for some more fieldcraft, rifle lessons, working through the Marksmanship Principles and of course, MORE PHYS.

But that’s a story for another time…