One of a Kind (2nd Edition)

OFFICER CADET TRAINING

212

ELEVEN

IV. PHYSICAL TRAINING

Routine physical training was essentially the same regime as was practised since the recruit

training: the obstacle course and cross-country running. The latter was a random mix of

three and four mile runs which no longer intimidated the cadets, many of whom were

getting something of a high from the running by this stage, given that the runs were in PT

kit and not battle order. The PTIs were always fit, as were several of the younger officers

whose duties kept them in the same trim as the cadets, but some of the older officers with

considerable sedentary work would have had problems keeping up with the cadets on the

longer runs. Cadets continued to display a general weakness in the arms, compared to their

legs as was evident in the problems encountered with the ropes and the six-foot wall. SAFTI

was not yet littered with chin-up bars outside dining halls and it was up to the cadets to do

what they could to improve things in this regard.

A total of 25 periods of Physical Training was allotted to Unarmed Combat, a subject that

had not been included in the basic and section training phases. Conducted mainly by the

PTIs, the programme was supervised by MAJ T.E. Ricketts, who had been OC ‘B’ Company.

MAJ Ricketts had been seconded from the Police Force, in which he had earned a reputation

for his fighting spirit and sheer guts. He was a tough burly Eurasian who spoke deliberately

The second instance of an exercise casualty occurred during the battalion attack demonstration

on 11

July, 1967. While assaulting one of the objectives, Officer Cadet Martin Choo of

Platoon 1 happened to be skirting an Amonal field that was used to simulate mortar fire

when it was activated. He sustained second-degree burns on his arm and was unable to

participate in the Commissioning Parade five days later. Dressed in ceremonial uniform with

his hand in a sling, he watched from the sidelines.

Some esoteric lessons like immobilising prisoners of war were slipped into the eclectic officer cadet syllabus.