Well the next two weeks of training were strenuous but I actually enjoyed every moment of it, towards the end of the second week I get a message that the Camp Commander want to see me ASAP. I head for his office and show the letter I received to his clerk. This guy simply gets on the phone and is suddenly getting up please come this way, and as we walk along a corridor he says how do you get called in I've never known a new guy get pull in unless they have something wrong and you don't look the type either.
I'm now wondering what is really happening, we reach an office door and the clerk knocks and enters and says Private Roger Rider Sir, thank you Clarence you may go and please shut the door, Private Rider please take a seat.
Well Private I have been hearing a lot about you from my officers and they are very impressed with your attitude and the way you handle yourself on the training field. I'll tell you the first report I had came from our barber, because you did something I have never heard before by telling him to shave your head completely and from your present appearance it is obvious you have maintained that clean cut appearance so you are a credit to the service.
Now you still have some time to complete your training but I am going to offer you the chance to join our crew here as part of the camp crew, would you like to try that out, if you say yes then you will rise in rank and that will also allow you to live off base if you so wish, of course there will a rise in pay as well. Mind you, we will need you to spend at least one week a month on base assisting keeping an eye on the raw recruits. So what do you say to the offer, well Sir I feel very privileged to be considerd and will not let you down.
Before we go on the one thing I expect is total honesty from you whether it is army actives or even private activities.
So Roger what did you do over your three day pass period, I quickly think and said I meet up with a friend and stayed with him and also went out to his club, however I was lent some suitable clothing for our outing and basically had a great time. Hum nicely put, thanks for being honest -- I was also at the Rubber Club and yes you were very professional there. Oh bye the way our conversation here is confidential so keep it under wraps please.
Thanks Private I will be contact again later, I offer my hand and say thank you sir I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. With that I saluted turned and left the office.
I guess I was on cloud nine as I got through the corridors passing the clerk saying thanks Clarence -- he says you seem happy -- oh yes and I departed.
The rest of my basic training went by very quickly including a three day out in the woods on an exercise that turned out to be very wet and muddy. Well I guess I must have really got into that mud because I had more mud than clothing showing -- I basically I was a mess but laughing to myself, some of my mates were not at all happy with the conditions. On the last day we finished up alongside a small river and I decided to find a sheltered spot and went in with all my gear on and washed the bulk of the mud off. I was no wetter but felt good, the Corporal in charge of our group saw me coming back and asked how you get cleaned up private, I told him -- good. The rest of you dirty guys can do the same thing and don't waste anytime either. Standing around I was starting to feel cold and started jogging around. I next heard our Corporal shouting for the guys to get moving and he then made us all jog back to camp some three miles ahead.
Once there he said I'll give all one hour to get your gear cleaned up, showered and shaved. So head over to the outside showers first, strip right off dump your clothing into the laundry tub give it a good scrubbing let it soak, get your shower and shaving over, get your arse's back here and rinse out your clothing and hang it up to dry. Then get dressed in clean gear -- move it now.
Some of the crew were pissed off about having to be out in the cold and bare arsed. Anyway some didn't care and just got on with it, I headed for the shower but grabbed a gel pouch from my locker and used that to clean up my excess hair, Kerry one of my mates saw me using this stuff and asked what it was, and I simply told him what it was. Now I generally get two sessions out of one pouch so I said do you want to try it out, yes please as I really like the way you shave your head.
Ok then first I would like you to use my face cloth and give my back a good scrub because I'm sure it's still got dirt there. Kerry did as requested and I did the same for Kerry, as I handed Kerry the Gel I said don't get it on your eye brows other wise you will loose them but you can use it on your beard.
I left the hot showers, headed back to the outside and got my dirty gear rinsed out and hung up for drying, my boots were soaking wet so I stuffed them with newspaper to help with the drying.
Finally I back at my bunk and getting clean dry gear back on as the Corporal came into our barracks, he calls out Private Rider after everyone gets back here and dressed everyone will be dismissed but you are to report to the Commander's Office so you had better make sure you're all clean and tidy as he cannot stand sloppy solders so don't keep him waiting either.
Slowly the rest of the crew returns and get dressed, Kerry returns the Gel pouch saying Roger I can't believe how good my head feels since using that stuff thanks man -- you're welcome.
Corporal has returned and brings the crew to attention; and does an inspection and he spot's Kerry's well shaved head. Men look at Private Kerry he has even managed to give himself a good shave as well you're a credit to your crew keep up the good work private.
Ok men you have the rest of the day off, take it easy and if any one needs to go into town make sure you are all back by 11:00pm to-night, all your names are at the Guard House so no passes are required -- Dismissed.