My name is Ben Folkes (part 5) by thadeusz

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During my first night in this institution, I slept well: after all despite the rigors I had what I had dreamed of: I was now in uniform, a Junior Soldier, I had started giving orders because my CPL considered me as a good "Junior Soldier", and moreover I had now a pay ! I was no longer a little boy.

Basic training continued for several weeks and The CPL in charge of our group remained severe: he was of the punishing kind. He did it to such an extent that several of us asked to be sent home. They were always sent back to the civilian world, without any question. I remained: I really felt at home, despite the punishments I received, like several others.

One day, the CPL in charge of our group called the most "punished" Junior Soldiers and asked them:
"JS, do you like being punished ?"
All of us said "NO".
"Are you sure, new JS that you want to continue this training ?"
Each of us was questioned by name and two said "NO", they were immediately sent back home.

When my turn arrived, the CPL simply said:
"JS Fowlkes, are you sure you want to keep training with me ?"
I simply replied : "YES, SIR"
"That’s exactly what I expected of my best trainee. I will thus be harder with you now, since you seem to like it."
"At your command, CPL," was my automatic reaction.
"So you want me to be harder with you, Fowlkes ?"
"SIR, If you do so, it will certainly be to make a better soldier of me, SIR"
"That’s what you think, JS 27.548.932 ? In that case give me 100 immediately. And count aloud."

It was hard, but I obeyed without any comment.
When I was done, the CPL continued:
"Well done, JS. I heard that you hope to join the Royal Marines. As CPL I hope. For the time being, I appoint you as leader of this section."

This was the end of our day and I was really happy.

Training continued. There were leaves, also JS who chose to quit. We got a small pay and when we had a leave we went to a bar (where we did not drink alcohol) or to a cinema.

Finally we heard that we had our first leave. I went to my father, despite the long trip. There I was mighty glad to be "home" and to be far from my Corporal for a few days. I made a complete report to my father who simply said: "You have been appointed as leader because you were punished: I cannot congratulate you for that, my son." And there was a big smile on my father’s face.

During this short leave, I visited my father’s regiment. Or more precisely, I visited as a real Private the men of the team where I trained as a young student. I loved that visit which ended in a bar.

I had one more leave after that one and then we had the passing out ceremony. Father, Jennifer, Alex and Louisa were present. I became a full Private and I was mighty proud. I believe my father was also proud.

After a short leave spent at my father’s home, I was sent to my assigned regiment: the Royal Marines. There the discipline was a lot more strict and exercises were often painful. I met again the SGT who was the father of my friend Andrew, SGT Dillingham. He promised to make my life miserable, especially if I did not keep studying. He also told me that his son, my friend, had successfully passed all the exams for his new school. I congratulated this happy father who continued as follows:
"Private Fowlkes, I know you have a good head. If you don’t keep studying I will personally make your life miserable, despite your father’s rank. But if you study, I will help you."

I chose to keep studying and I got the equivalent of my highschool diploma. Then again Father and Jennifer were mighty proud, but I did not get a leave for that.

I was enlisted for 9 years instead of 3, because of my choice of regiment. I knew that I could not be promoted to CPL before having 8 years of service, but I loved my regiment. Moreover, I would not become SGT before 15 years of service in my regiment. But I was happy there and, I repeat that I was in love with my regiment and the missions assigned to us.

I had hoped to become LCPL after one year, but because of the time I had to devote to my studies, that could not be the case. But after 18 months of service as a Royal Marine, when I had obtained my diploma, my SGT told me that I was now promoted to CPL for "positive action".

That arrived at a good moment: I was now in love with a superb young girl named Louisa. In any case it was too early for me to get married: I still had progress to make in my regiment.

After 3 years and 4 months of service, the situation became such that a marriage became necessary. When I asked my COL for his authorization to get married, as is compulsory, he congratulated me and added:
"I have a surprise for you. You are an excellent soldier and you are promoted to SGT as of this day, but you are transferred to your father’s regiment."
"But, Colonel, I love this regiment and I don’t want to change. If a change of regiment is necessary for my promotion, I choose to refuse this promotion, with your authorisation, SIR."
"Listen, my young man, do not refuse such a good promotion: it might never come back. So accept the promotion but refuse to change to another regiment. In fact, your father organized all this: he does not want his grandchildren to be sons or daughters of a plain CPL. So as of this day, you are a SGT but you remain in MY regiment."
"SIR, at your command, SIR."

Louisa was mighty pleased and we visited my father during my next leave. I then had Sergeant's stripes on my sleeves. My father was really pleased despite my refusal to join his Regiment.

We rapidly organized the wedding. It was, of course, a military wedding: Father was dressed in his Colonel’s uniform, I was in my (fresh) Sergeant uniform, my Grand-Father had put on his military distinctions as retired Colonel. My brother Alex and my sister Louisa were both marvelous in their DYRMS uniforms.

My friend Andrew remained near his father who was proudly wearing a Sergeant uniform: Andrew was now a student in an Army medical school and wore a Junior officer’s uniform.

The only civilians were Jennifer, my future wife's parents and of course Louisa herself dressed in a beautiful white dress.

There was one absent: my Grandmother. She told us that she was ill, but Grandpa told us that she did not come because she disapproved of the fact that my future wife was a Roman Catholic. There was nobody else to disapprove of this, and certainly not the priest who married us !

I had invited my mother, but she did not react to this anouncement.

We rapidly had two children: two boys. George was born 7 months after our marriage and Patrick was born 18 months later. I was 21 when my first child was born and I kept studying regularly. I also went every week to the regimental barber and I asked him to leave me with only very short hair on the top of the head and to shave everything else to zero. Louisa loved to play with what she called "my crown".

When I was 27, I was ordered to go to Welbeck 6th form College in order to graduate in one year as a young 2nd Lieutenant. This was not my Father’s decision, but my Colonel’s decision based on the credits I had acquired after I left the AFC and on my good work as a young SGT. I entered the corps of officers when I was 28, later than others, but already married, a father of two and with a solid experience of military life.

I am still married and my children study well in what I hope is a good familial atmosphere with a caring mother and loving grand-parents.

My brother Alex is now learning to become a lawyer while my sister Louisa is learning to become an elementary school teacher. My friend Andrew is now a Captain and a Medical Doctor in one of our regiments.

Father was very happy with my promotion to junior officer. He nevertheless asked me during our first meeting after my recent promotion:
"My son, are you going to send your children to a military school ?"
I replied maliciously:
"Unless you object to that choice, Colonel, they will also go to the DYRMS where a place has already been reserved for these sons of an officer. But, it will be done as you order, Colonel."
I was smiling and so was Father who gave me a big hug.

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