Task One: DisciplineGuardsmen in attendence:- Hoagie, Dragoon Sergeant
- Dalamar, Regular Scout
- Tyrael Styx, Junior Grenadier
- Sean Greyson, Recruit
- Moran Altheim, Recruit
- Drydan Novak, Recruit (Left after the drill)
On Sunday, I gathered the required number of guardsmen onto the roof of the barracks, and explained to them our task. Not one of them complained or even flinched when I said we'd be doing a parade drill immediately followed by a fitness training session. Good old Covian endurance!
Parade DrillTo begin, I gave the men present a standard, yet comprehensive parade drill. First I went over the basic parade commands; Sound and Number off, and arming commands for example. I then explained how good a parade looks when directional commands are carried out swiftly and simultaneously, and had the guardsmen practice them.
Then I went on to explain battle formations, including the Box formation (which the guardsmen performed flawlessly), and battle targetting. I made a point to go over commands that might be given to an individual squad and instructed them what to do if they were not part of that squad.
All the guardsmen did very well and were very alert during the entire drill. We were not done however and instead of dismissing the troops as was customary after a drill, I ordered them downstairs.
Fitness TrainingOnce we were all lined up downstairs in front of the barracks, I ordered the guardsmen to remove their armour and prepare for physical exhaustion. I had set up three seperate tasks to train their bodies and explained to them that each task would be revealed as we went along.
The first task I set to the men as a warm-up was to run four laps around the barracks. Not only did they have to run though, I had them retrieve a stone on the back side and return it to the front, at my feet, for every lap.
By the time the men were finished, I had a neat little pile of stones and they were sufficiently warmed-up. So we immediately went onward to task number two!
For the second task, I took the men on a tour of the Baronship's Headquarters of the three main squads. At each HQ, I had them do a different exercise which not only trained their bodies, but also served to help them remember the precise location of each HQ much more easily.
Once we were finished with our exercises at the Grenadier HQ, I ordered the guardsmen to jog swiftly back to the barracks and line up. They were still eager for more, so I prepared a task that would use every ounce of strength and stamina they had left.
For my third fitness task, I set up two points 30 yards apart and a very heavy pile of hides. I then instructed the guardsmen that they would each in turn lift and carry the pile of hides from one point to the other. Each man did very well and was able to complete the task, though many wobbles and droplets of sweat were seen. Regular Dalamar even came up with a clever way of dealing with the awkwardness of the hides by tying his sash around them.
Being exhausted and having completed both the drill and the three fitness tasks without so much as a groan, I dismissed the guardsmen and directed them straight to the pub.
*Signed intricately*
Zoie Hayden
Officer Cadet
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