Which training was harder, Sandhurst or the subsequent bomb disposal training?
Sandhurst training is very physical. It’s intellectually demanding as well, but big emphasis on the physical side of things. Lots and lots of living out in the field, lots and lots of speed marches and runs and physical exercise. They try to put the pressure on you. It’s very difficult to simulate the pressures of combat unless you physically practice combat. You can’t do that in a training environment because it’s far too dangerous, and people would obviously get killed. So the way they simulate the pressures of that, in order to test someone’s leadership ability, are to deprive them of sleep, make sure they’re exhausted. That’s when you see the true caliber of a person. So they do so much physical exercise and so much… not sleep deprivation, as in standing on your tiptoes with water dripping in the background and that sort of stuff. But physically, you’re constantly on-the-go all day long. And when you’re not on military exercise or military maneuvers, you’re learning how to shine
