Free Sabre Six : File 51 by Jamie Fineran Page A

important. Take your salt tablets, and if any of you twats get sunburn you will be charged for self-inflicted injury, and once you’re on a charge you will have my size 9’s up your arses.”
    “Does this mean no shagging down the local boozer, boss?”
    “That is a negative , Stan! There are women on the base, Stan, but leave them alone!” We all laughed.
    “No, gentleman, we’ll be running training programmes for the rest of the week , such as ‘weapon drills, radio training, physical fitness, and first aid! Do you have any questions men?”
    We were happy enough.
    “There will be a briefing at 18:00hrs so get sorted: grab what crap you need, and be there on time. Especially you, Stan, you dirty bastard!”
    We all cracked up , apart from Stan. He was left bewildered.
    When the boss left we got on with our admin. I got my kit sorted out and we paraded at 16 :00hrs so we could pick up our weapons from the armourer. I was handed an M16, with a 203 grenade launcher. The magazine took a 5.56mm bullet and carried a maximum of thirty rounds per mag. I was also equipped with four grenades, two flares, and two smoke grenades. I got into my combats, my spare boots looking like they had been crushed from the journey over. The wind was picking up outside and a gust of sand and wind blew past my head. It stung like hell when it hit my face and I cursed it like hell. My admin was all complete.
    Keith sparked up a f ag and sat down next to me in the hangar for the boss’s 18:00hrs briefing. Stan let out a massive fart: it fucking stank!
    “Hi, m en! Are you all ok? Got any problems so far, guys?”
    Pete put his hand up. “Where is the nearest bar, Sir?” The guys cracked up, including the boss.
    “I’m sure we will find one soon, Pete.” He smiled.
    “Please, Gentleman, on a more serious note. We have been in country now for several hours and it looks like we will be here for a while. I will confirm dates tomorrow morning, gents.” He looked in his notebook for questions.
    “Tomorrow I will find out what the big boss wants with us. I already know that we’ll be shipping out by helicopter in six days after acclimatization training to an outstation about eighty kilometres from here.”
    “What kind of jobs, Boss?” Stan shouted out.
    “I will let you know when I know Stan. I am sorry but this is a cluster fuck and it is out of my hands for now until the big-wigs pull their fingers out of each other’s arses.”
    “Good answer, Boss; I am well impressed!” The lads laughed.
    “As of 06:00hrs tomorrow , lads, there will be lots of weapon training, ok! I don’t want any bickering, just get on with it and get the job done.” We all nodded in agreement.
    I made my way to my pit and got my head down. It was very fortunate that we were close to a satellite phone. That night I rang Hannah , telling her that I was all safe and well. I was not to mention about where I was, or what I was doing. She was a good girl. I rested my eyes and I was gone: out for the count within minutes. I had the best night’s sleep in ages, and I felt great when I woke up. It was freezing in the night, though, but I slept through the worst of it with my weapon in my sleeping bag and my helmet within arm’s reach.
     
    Breakfast was amazing: a complete full English! The RAF always knew how to treat its men and women. The army had a lot of improvements to make to catch up with this standard. Lunch was even better, cod and chips – real chips and a real piece of delicate fish! I had definitely fucked up joining the army.
    Now I had to put my Sergeant’s head on and lead my men. We had to get serious.
    “Right, m en, let’s head off to the range and shoot up some shit.” My guys moved without any moaning.
    I had a good team with Stan as my Corporal, and Keith and Nig. I could not have asked for better really. They sat down in front of me as I briefed them about the range and the daily tasks for the next day or so. Everyone seemed happy