In order to be considered for promotion from Trooper to Lance Corporal, you have to complete the Junior Non Commissioned Officers' Cadre.

The cadre is a short, intensive course. It consists of:

1. •lessons in what makes a good leader
   

2. •what is required of a JNCO
   

3. •command tasks
   

4. •a night navigation exercise
   

5. •a combat fitness test (CFT)
   

6. •the confidence course
   

All of these come in quick succession.  The course is a test into how well you handle yourself and the people around you in a mentally and physically demanding environment.

I could mentally and physically prepare myself, as the WDs had already given me an idea of what to expect.  The others from my squadron who were also taking part had been members of the University Officer Training Corps before joining the WDs as troopers, so they were already familiar with the tasks which a JNCO has to perform.

The WDs have a proud reputation of coming first in the regimental JNCO Cadre.  Last year saw two members of the WDs take joint first place and be awarded instant promotion to Lance Corporal - a first, I believe.  So all WDs taking part had a lot to live up to and the expectations were high.  It became obvious that not everyone in the rest of the Royal Yeomanry had completed the same preparatory training as candidates from the WDs.  Perhaps for this reason, we were divided into teams composed of members of the regiment's five squadrons.  Despite the differences in ability in my team, we quickly began working together to achieve our tasks.

At around 0530 on the Sunday morning, after the night navigation exercise and with not much sleep or food, I looked at my bergen and thought, "There is no way my shoulders are going to carry that thing again!"  The others felt just as tired.  But we cracked on regardless and I managed to complete the combat fitness test with some people trailing behind.  This is not to say I breezed it, rather I was shouting to myself and knew I had but one thing to do ... not stop!

It is well known that the winner of the JNCO Cadre is considered for immediate promotion and this is what was always talked about.  Knowing that I was not the favourite, I was comfortable knowing that I could give them a run for their money!

During the Cadre, one thing was clear: we were no longer considered as junior troopers, but potential leaders.

At around 0530 on the Sunday morning, after the night navigation exercise and with not much sleep or food, I looked at my bergen and thought, "There is no way my shoulders are going to carry that thing again!"  The others felt just as tired.  But we cracked on regardless and I managed to complete the combat fitness test with some people trailing behind.  This is not to say I breezed it, rather I was shouting to myself and knew I had but one thing to do ... not stop!

We then had a much-welcomed shower followed by a passing-out parade practice.  During this time, people had their interviews with the Cadre staff and found out if they had passed.

Thirteen out of the 15 candidates who had started the course made it to the passing-out parade.  Everyone who had passed became a potential Lance Corporal.  I was chuffed to be called out as the winner of the Cadre and I marched out to collect my trophy and have my first stripe put on my uniform by the newly-appointed Commanding Officer of the Royal Yeomanry.  The Westminster Dragoons not only came first - but first, second, third and fourth out of the whole regiment.  This again shows how well the squadron's soldiers perform.

Although it was great to have done so well, I was just pleased to have finished the course knowing that I did my best.  It is a memory that I will not forget.