Six months of grueling exercises, six months of endless lectures and tests, four months of intense weapon and combat training, and a last week exam which everyone was still feeling hurt from. But they made it, all five of them. At the formal ceremony in Montreal, they proudly received their official white trillium badge and their private rank patch.
The day before, they received their formal ceremonial uniforms from Sergeant Tiu in their little hotel room, who summarily congratulated them with a bottle of rye whiskey. "I know how you foreigners like liquor," he grinned as he poured into paper cups. "Here's to earning your place here! To honour and soldiery!"
The drink was much needed, they were still very much sore and batter from the 200 km run from Fort Jolen to Montreal city with fifty pounds of combat gear. After their small party, all five of them fell asleep the moment the Sergeant left. It was the first time they had slept in for months.
After the ceremony, squad 81 received their end-of-training report cards, overall evaluations by the exam instructors and training officers.
Dalibor was found "proficient" in the enemy suppression field, and was recommended for the squad machine gunner position.
Viktor dominated the marksmanship tests and exam segment, and received his designated marksman badge. He was promptly given his DMB attachment and scope for his rifle. It was a proud achievement, but he still had to go through a two week advanced marksman course before he could cash into his DM bonus. More training for him...
Aaron received top scores in his physical examination, and received a Physical Achievement badge for his efforts. He was also recommended to get his medical certificate for his good understanding of battlefield first aid.
Sancho's success in specific fields of study and training got him recommendations for squad demolition role. As one officer comments "I'm still amazed at how he manage to blew that steel hatch with half the recommended amount of C4."
Lastly...Aulrene, while he scored near last in both marksmanship and physical training in the training division, he scored fifth place in combat and military studies. He was recommended for the Signal and Communication (SAC) position, and was promptly promoted to Sergeant two weeks later by impressed instructors.
Out of the 9,300 recruits that went through training that six month alongside Squad 81, 203 were kicked out, 3,238 quited before completion of their training, and 329 failed examinations or were disqualified for medical reasons. That left 5,530 fully qualified and combat-proficient recruits to make up the first divisions of the LOL. Critics back in Loyan were still casting their doubts on these foreign troops, could they really serve effectively and loyally? These mercenaries without link to Loyan, citizens of other countries, men who have given up the sanity of civilian life for the grist and sweat of Army life. How dependable can they be? Nothing is clear until the time comes, perhaps these skeptics will be proven wrong?
