Move, move, move! The simple philosophy in the OTS was while moving from point A to point B, run. Just run. If you did not, there were HIs hiding in bushes along side the road who would ensure you did. It did not matter whether you were on parade or off parade or whether you have just had your meals after a long and hard day or you were even sick. It was ingrained in our minds that during the first half of the course, running was our religion and we were actually expected to be very religious in this. What could be the motive behind this planned torture, we often wondered? What does all this have to do with discharge of our duties once we became officers? But then is there any logic in the Army? Just sample this:​

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“If it moves, salute it.​
If it doesn’t move, pick it up.​
If you can’t pick it up, paint it!”

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“I have been in the army for nearly five years and I cannot see how polishing brass, floors and anything else the NCO thinks of, makes a man of you, nor jumping to attention all the time, and marching round like a load of chorus girls and asking permission to go to the toilet. The truth is when you join the army, you give up your freedom, both physical and mental, you are just to obey orders.”

 

A regular British soldier, quoted in “On the Psychology of Military Incompetence”

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But let me admit it, whatever it was, it was the best. We were fully transported from this world of indiscipline and casual attitude to the other world where disciplined life, a set of principles, hard work, physical fitness, mental robustness and many more qualities and virtues were embedded in our personalities. And all those small but significant activities over time made us men. Men of resolute and courage, of decision, of guts.

 

 

 

 

"Nobody ever drowned in sweat."