The french mechanic p4 and end by thadeusz

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The next day I went back to work and by that, I mean that I went back to my classical studies. But the day after that, shortly after Mess 2 (our lunch), a well known figure entered my studying space: Bernard appeared in civilian clothing. He told me that he found his family boring and that he preferred to stay with me. Corporal Mareuil was present and simply said:
"In that case, you must respect all disciplinary rules. Disappear to your room and be back in less than 10 minutes but in uniform."
Bernard started to salute, remembered that you never salute when you are not in uniform and disappeared to be back, in perfect uniform, after 7 minutes (I timed him).
We started to exchange our memories of our respective Christmases but Corporal Mareuil reminded us that we were there to study and not to exchange idle talks.

Later that day, Marvin joined us. He had phoned the Barracks and was already in uniform. Moreover, he told us that he had traveled with a soldier’s ticket, which meant a 75% reduction. Bernard was jealous, but I told both of them that I had not had any possibility to travel, so we kept working.

At the end of the week, when the winter leave was finished, the three of us were called to the Colonel’s office. There, our chief told us that we had worked well and that a special exam session would be organized for our "BAC oriented" courses. That exam session was to take place as soon as the classes started again. That meant that we had just a weekend to review what we had (joyfully) learned with one of the three of us as teacher for the two others. We were rather anxious and spent the whole weekend reviewing what we had explained to one another !

The tests were not easy and during a whole week we were questioned, but only when we had no military exercises to perform and no theoretical courses on "gears".

The most wonderful thing is that we did it ! At the end of this dreadful week, I had all the credits I needed for a 10th grade and some for an 11th grade. Bernard and Marvin only got their 10th grade credits, but that was already a great achievement for these two who were labeled "failures" until that day.

The Colonel explained the whole thing to our group of 32 and told all of us:
"As of this day, Bernard, Marvin and Louis are promoted to Private First Class, which means more free time and a better pay. Those who want to have the same can join this group and study under their direction."
Four other Junior Soldiers joined our group and started to study the way we had done, with the three of us helping them in our respective favorite domains. The Colonel decided that, as far as studying was concerned, I would lead the group because I had the highest results. This was a great contrast with my previous results. I tried to make my chiefs forget the period when I had done everything I could to be considered a failure. I was a soldier now and I wanted to be a good soldier … as long as my father did not know what my results were.

I wrote a long letter to my parents, my first letter since I had been forced to join the Military Academy. I naughtily signed: "Your son Louis, 9th grade cadet in the ASST".

Apparently my father knew all about it since he sent me a letter of congratulations addressed to "Private First Class VANDERVELDE L., ASST".

During the Spring holidays, the Junior soldiers had again a two weeks leave, including those who had chosen to study with our trio. I had to stay in the barracks, by order of my father. My two friends decided to stay with me. We kept on studying: my hope was to bring our trio, together, to the end of the 11th grade. One day, Corporal Mareuil told us to put on our best uniform. He took us then, in uniform but marching as normal individuals, to a cinema and to a restaurant "by order of the Colonel". It was a great outing which respected my father’s orders (remember he was a General) since we were "administratively" in the army and under the orders of a Corporal.

The rest of the year continued as it had started. Our trio was confirmed in its new rank (each of us was now a Private First Class) and in its function: learn for the scientific BAC and also for the professional BAC in mechanics, while helping others to learn. We also learned what we came to the ASST for: the basics of the theory of engines. At the end of the year, we had a great camp which lasted 3 weeks, with only military exercises. After that nearly all Junior Soldiers had a three weeks leave. Of course, I had to stay in the Barracks, "by order of the General", my dear father.

I assume that he had not imagined what happened then: Bernard and Marvin asked to be allowed to have the benefit of what they called "additional military training." The Lieutenant asked each of us if he really wanted that, saying:
"If you start it, you must go through it till the end, and it will be tough."
My friends and I confirmed our choice. Some Young Soldiers who had failed the theoretical tests joined us. Adrian was among them. We started a new 3 weeks military camp where Bernard, Marvin and I played the role of leaders and were treated by the other Young Soldiers with the respect a Private owes to a superior. It was fun and useful simultaneously.

I had already discovered that I liked to study. During that special military camp, I discovered that I really liked the structured military life … especially when I was in the role of superior !

During my second year at the ASST, I had to do lots of practical exercises on all possible types of engines. Our trio continued to progress rapidly and well, including the four junior soldiers who joined us after Christmas. Several Young Soldiers who were initially with us at the start were oriented towards more basic tasks necessary for mechanics, but not necessary for the leader: this was the case of Adrian who was really unable to "think" about what should be done, although he could perfectly perform the necessary tasks once they had been explained to him in order to make him do something useful. That created a separation inside the initial group of Young Soldiers.

Some of us were also considered as being "never able to become a good technician" and were immediately sent to a regiment as a Private, without real hope for a rapid promotion.

During my second year at the ASST, I also got my scientific BAC with high notes. On that occasion, I was promoted to Lance Corporal by the Colonel. Bernard and Marvin also had good grades, but not yet in all subjects. They thus had to work slightly longer on these purely theoretical courses. I was appointed as "leader" for the small group formed by my two friends and by the four Young Soldiers who joined us later.

I was now in my third year at the ASST where I felt very comfortable except for one point: the lack of free walks in the city since my father had forbidden these "outings" and he could do that since I was not 18. The comfortable part of our situation was that the three of our group were now in a new room, just for the three of us since my friends were already Private First Class and I was now Lance Corporal ! But the discipline remained as strict as previously.

I started to work on all possible types of engines. This included very specific and new types of engines based on new combinations of gears. It was really great now: we were really working on what I wanted. I was also told that we would learn to drive cars, trucks and heavy trucks as soon as I was 18.

On the very day before I turned 18, I went to the Corporal barber despite the fact that I didn't really need it. I asked him to give me a real induction cut. He reacted negatively:
"Lance Corporal Vandervelde, why do you want to destroy the High and Tight I had so much pain to erect on your head ?"
"Corporal, tomorrow I will turn 18."
"And then ?"
"Well, I will come of age and my father will no longer be able to give orders about me."
"Your father will remain … your father. And a General also. You don’t think about a desertion ?"
"Certainly not, Corporal. On the contrary: I came to love studying and I love the type of Army life I lead now. But I would like it to be MY ARMY LIFE, I would like to be able to say that it is my choice Corporal. So I really want this life to start tomorrow."
"What has that to do with the destruction of MY High and Tight ?"
"Corporal, I would like to have a real INDUCTION cut today."
"You mean that you want it as a sign that you start a new life ?"
"YES, Corporal. And also that I do it voluntarily."
"I understand. But now, you are only 17. It is too early to start a new and independent life."
"Is it, Corporal ?"
"YES, Lance Corporal Vandervelde," and the Corporal-Barber was now speaking very seriously. "I suggest something different. We don’t change anything today. Tomorrow morning, first thing after Reveille, you come here and I will change the boy you are into an adult soldier. You might dislike some aspects of this change, but you should be confident."
"Corporal Mareuil will not let me do this during a morning hour foreseen for sport and military training."
"That’s why I suggest that you come immediately after hearing the bugle calling for REVEILLE, my boy."
I did not like the last two words mentioned by the Corporal, but I knew I could have confidence in him, so I accepted his suggestion.

The next morning, I was awake before the usual bugle call. I got hastily dressed and I rushed to Barber’s office, not even asking the authorization from my Corporal. There, the Corporal-Barber told me:
"So you want to mark a change in your life. Take your vest off, immediately."
"My uniform, Corporal ?"
"YES, but only your vest, not your undies, SOLDIER VANDERVELDE."
I did not notice that he let the "Lance Corporal" fall !

The Corporal-Barber told me to sit in his chair. He caped me and suddenly, as if in a frenzy, he started to shave my head. He was usually very kind and never brutal. This time he changed his attitude. He shaved my head as if I really had been forced to have an induction cut, a real one and a fast one. At the end, he let me pass my hands on my skull in order to notice that there was not a single stubble left. I had been shorn to the woods, in the best military and brutal way. I don’t think that’s exactly what I had in mind.
The Barber looked at his destructive work and simply said:
"So you did not like my work anymore, well you got what you asked for, Private."
Once again, I did not react at this unexpected "Private" and I simply said:
"Thank you, Corporal"
"You must now go to the Colonel. Put on this vest."
And he showed me a vest which was not mine: it did not have my Lance Corporal Stripe !
"Sorry, Corporal, but this is not my vest. It does not have my Lance Corporal chevron on the sleeve."
"But, I thought you knew. You are no longer a Lance Corporal. You are a plain Private by order of the Colonel."
"A plain Private ? But why Corporal ?"
"By order of the Colonel, to let you really start a new life. Go to his office, now and on the double"
That meant that I had to go immediately to the Colonel’s office, without putting my "elegant" uniform on, and also that I had to march in step very rapidly, nearly running. I hated this type of march but a Colonel’s order was not something one could refuse to accomplish.

Once in front of the Colonel’s office, I arranged my uniform looking with displeasure to my now empty sleeves, but I knew I had to obey. I entered this office according to the rules. I saluted and took the position of attention, looking only in front of me, my eyes straight towards the Colonel or even better, looking to the horizon.

The Colonel looked at me. He examined closely my new haircut and simply said:
"So you wanted a recruit’s haircut to start the day ?"
"YES, COLONEL," was my immediate shouted answer.
"Well, there are other ways to start a military career as a Private, Vandervelde."
I said nothing, not knowing what I should do. I was sad for my lost rank, but I knew that it was my fault. The Colonel let me simmer during a few minutes and suddenly said:
"Happy Birthday, Corporal Vandervelde", and he put, on my sleeves, Corporal’s stripes.
From behind me, the well known voices of Bertrand and Marvin, repeated : "Happy Birthday, Corporal." Corporal Mareuil was also present and also wished me a Happy Birthday, adding:
"Now there will be two Corporals to lead the section. Please respect the eldest one."
The Colonel then explained that he considered that I was the best Young Soldier of the whole lot. I had all the possible credits for my theoretical and my practical courses. I had also helped Bernard and Marvin who were now ready to reach the same level as I had. He wanted me now to keep helping the four Junior Soldiers who had joined us later and let them get their theoretical BAC with my two best friends. This way, the Colonel could send the 7 of us to the Sergeant course immediately after graduating from the ASST.

The Colonel added something very important for me:
"Now that you are 18, you can go out of the barracks whenever you have some Liberty. Your father cannot block you inside anymore. He might be a General, but I am your Colonel. DISMISS, all of you".

After this great event, I learned to drive cars, trucks, big trucks and buses. I got a special permit for each of them. I took my last technical exam while helping my friends and the Young Soldiers who were with us. I am proud to say that my friends got their BAC with high notes and that 2 others also got their scientific BAC: they represented half of the late comer, two of the "Young Soldiers" who had joined our little group later than when we created it.

As a consequence of all that, our Colonel could proudly send 5 new technicians to the Sergeant course. The first thing that happened there was the loss of all previous rank. Then came the signing ceremony: each of us had to sign an additional contract of 5 years, which made 20 for me but I did not mind any more.

The Sergeant course lasted only 4 months since we had had a strong military training. Bernard chose a paratrooper regiment using lots of trucks and situated in the South, Marvin chose an infantry regiment in the North and I was lucky enough to be able to choose a regiment using very modern computerized trucks, my regiment was situated in the center of France.

Very quickly, I was considered as a valuable element for my regiment and I was ordered to be in charge of all the "garage", that means of all the types of cars and trucks we had. There, as a Sergeant, I felt like a king in his domain.

But my chief, another Colonel, was not satisfied: he considered that I could be used in a better way. So he sent me to a university to learn more about the theory of modern engines. I came back with an additional diploma and a girlfriend. I had abandoned my "induction cut" and I went back to the very short High and Tight the Corporal barber had created for me.

When I came back from the University, my Colonel wanted to send me to an officer school. I was in love and I did not want to abandon my girlfriend, certainly not in her "situation". The Colonel told me to get married immediately and then to leave for what he called:
"That f***ing officer school".
I obeyed him on all counts.

I came out of this officer school after one year only, thanks to my studies in a University. I was a father now, my own father was also present during graduation: he was holding his only grandson in his arms while my wife was kissing me. My mother was also present and she was radiant.

I had to quit my regiment and start working as technical officer and head of a study office of the Army. I was thus an officer, in uniform, doing scientific research for the Army.

I now realize that I have done, my way, what my father wanted me to do. But I don’t mind anymore: I have a job I love, with the discipline I like, and with a great wife and, now, two kids. Both boys who want to join the Army like Daddy and Grandpa.

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