The Firing Drill

I got myself registered for the one day refresher’s course (firing drill) at Deothang after consulting with my husband since I didn’t have any other important work at that time. I was apprehensive because I knew that most of the Desuups were busy with “Wang Duty” in Phuentsholing and I hardly knew the Desuups listed for the refresher’s course. To my dismay I could see only three female Desuups listed when the final list was uploaded in the Desuung group page in facebook. Nevertheless I kept my hope high because I knew I was going to make new friends and gain some more practice in firing drill.

I boarded a taxi to Samdrupjongkhar on 10^th morning and reached Samdrup Jongkhar before lunch. My friend who is my permanent host at Samdrup Jongkhar had come to pick me up at the taxi parking after having prepared lunch. After a hurried lunch, I changed into my field uniform and made a few calls to the fellow Desuups since we had the reception in the RBA campus at 4 O’clock in the evening. It was a great feeling to wear the dress that had remained shut in the closet for almost a year and greater still to see the comrades in the same dress.

The one day refresher course began with hurried breakfast and a ride at the back of RBA Gypsy (Jeep) to the cold windy firing field which soon began to get warmer as the demo drill began. It was memorable with lots of humour and fun with each of us trying to see who had made the highest hit. It was even more fun since we could get more ammunition to practice since some of the friends who had listed couldn’t make it for the drill. For me, the day was enriching with lots of fun and experience though with few bruise on the right shoulder from handling AK-47 and INSAS. But like all the things that must end, our fun filled day also came to an end with dinner with the officers of RBA Deothang. Thanks to the Director- Desuung, commandant-RBA Deothang and Coordinator Mr. Tashi Wangchuk, we had good meet (though small in number) and very enriching and fun filled firing drill on 11^th Jan 2014.