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throughout the week, pre-checking those reporting sick, accounting the parade strength,
ensuring that tasks assigned to members of his platoon were done, etc. All except the Cadet
PMC could order other cadets to perform tasks within their purview.
It is tempting to view these appointments as a planned exposure of cadets to the roles of key
players in units so that they would be better able to empathise with them when they became
Second Lieutenants. But, actually that would have been a bonus to the actual appointment
holders only, because not everyone had a chance to hold appointments and no cadet got a
chance to hold all of them. The main purpose was to get the cadets to administer themselves
as much as possible and have in place a management structure after working hours. It also
was a means of placing individuals who were of interest, for assessment purposes, under a
microscope.
Once again, for the most part, the other cadets cooperated with the appointment holders.
But, there were officious appointment holders, or those who were out of their depth in
man-management. Such personalities would have usually demonstrated their tendencies in
Even as officer cadets, there were still times when detachments had to be marched from point to point. A good
view of Platoon 3 barracks with ‘B’ Company in the background.