Ghurkha.

This is coolbert:

While looking over the wiki entry for the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst [RNMAS], this particular item caught my attention.

"A small number of regular army units are based at the RMAS to provide support for the college and its training operations"

Among those regular army units is the:

Gurkha Company (Sittang), Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

"Gurkha Demonstration Company (Sitang): This is a company sized unit drawn from all units of the Brigade of Gurkhas, to provide realistic battle training for the cadets."

[this Ghurkha company is named after the Battle of Sitang, World War Two [WW2], [Burma 1942]. Following a tradition within the RMAS.]

"There can be as many as ten companies within the RMAS at any one time, each commanded by a Major and named after a famous battle in which the British Army has fought.

The Ghurkha Demonstration Company:

"The Company's roles are to demonstrate tactics, to act as enemy on exercises and to provide security for the Academy, particularly during the recess periods."

Old traditions seem to die hard in the military. Especially if the military is the British Army. During the period of British colonialism, the Raj, the Victorian era, etc., the British Army maintained regiments of Ghurkhas. The Ghurkha has not been a neglected item within this blog. A number of entries have dealt with the Ghurkha.

Still serving proudly to this day as a brigade size force within the British army.

To serve as a British officer in a Ghurkha regiment was considered a great honor and a career building measure. Those officers selected for duty in a Ghurkha regiment were NOT generally of noble stature or landed and independently wealthy gentleman. Rather the contrary. WERE IMPECUNIOUS MEN [poverty stricken], but of recognized high caliber. Officer positions were reserved within the Ghurkha regiments for them, in a premeditated fashion. Talent was not only NOT wasted, but those officers of ability got probably the finest military training and experience in the world. Work with the best material [Ghurkha enlisted] and see a LOT of combat.

[the Viscount Slim of WW2 fame is one such officer.]

I guess the attitude at Sandhurst is, "the Ghurkhas will more than test the mettle of our cadets. If the cadets can do well with or against Ghurkhas, they will do well with or against anyone!!"

Well thought out and reasoned idea, has merit!!!

coolbert.