I just gotta say, that in hindsight, the paths and decisions someone makes are always clear.
Was opting out a bad decision? Yes.
Did it have anything to do with me loosing the cover of "Grey Man"? No.
Would I have gotten the title of "Grey Man" after training? No. I did everything that I thought was right. I didn't go boasting to the training team that I had done JNCO course for the reserves here in Ireland before I joined up and didn't boast anything else ....in your eyes if that makes me a bad recruit so be it.
Yes, I had some previous, although limited military experience, I chose not to go around advertising it, although I never denied it if it was brought up. If my oppos needed help or advice on something I would without a question, it's not as if I denied knowledge of my limited experience, most guys that go in have no military experience, so those of that did got around those who struggled and helped them along. Did the training team see this? No. The training team are only with the troop for percentage of their time, they don't see half of what goes on I think everyone will agree.
During the first 15 weeks almost everything is done as a troop, there's no individuals so to say. During that period I chose not to advertise myself, like some others do. Did this mean I didn't give 100% at everything I did? No.
At week 15 you have your first test ex. I did everything the same as I had done, during training, went for it 100%. The difference is that test ex is an individual test. Stalking, solo navexs, map reading, fire control orders etc. I gave 100% like usual and came out near top of my troop. I didn't regret it one bit and because I didn't choose to advertise myself during the first half of training it was maybe a surprise for the training team. They thought I had improved the most, but in reality I had done most of the test activities already before I joined....... I prefer to impress people by my actions, rather than gobbing off and saying how good I am then f**king up when it comes down to doing something.
Now, I first replied to this thread to give my opinion and have ended up trying to justify myself, my motives for leaving, during training etc. I wouldn't honestly give you guys this advice if I didn't think it was right. I would do exactly the same if I did training again.
It might SEEM that I was giving an extreme view about being a "Grey Man" in my previous posts, I don't know why. I NEVER said you should try and coast through training ....fact is you would never make it through training if you did so, the training team would kick you in first couple of weeks. What I AM saying is keep your head down and do everything that is asked of you, don't gob off, don't f**k up and training will be alot easier. That my good sirs is my
OPINION.
There are alot of proponants of this "Grey Man" method. Alot of SF people have given their opinions on this in books etc and support it, and I'm sure some don't. But at that level I wouldn't accuse any of them as not having determination or being underhanded.
Arameis, the training team aren't there for alot of the time at CTC. Training is a 24/7 job when you're down there and the training team are there maybe 8-9 hours each day. Unless they install cameras in the grotts they can never get an in depth examination of every recruit. Hence, alot of stuff happens that the training teams never sees or knows about.
Dolly Gray:
Your choice of employment is shown as a labourer (to me the most important job on a building site) how do you manage to keep low profile here? you cant exactly walk around telling people you are ex Corps! so you must still be in GM mode.
I lift bricks and shift dirt. I don't go around telling people that i'm an ex-nod. If someone asks me my life story I will tell them, if they speak with a deep NI accent and are drinking guinness in a local dundalk pub I probably wouldn't.