The day started with uniform and equipment preparation before concurrent inspections. The first was by the Academy Master Tailor to ensure their uniforms, buttons and badges were correctly tailored so that any imperfections can be corrected before they take part in the Sovereign’s Parade in August. The second was by the staff to ensure they had correctly polished their boots and brushed and pressed their uniforms.

The platoons then marched onto Old College Square where they were drilled as a formed body by their instructors in front of the beady-eyed assessors. Next the cadets marched past the inspecting officer in threes before the final, most nerve-wracking, part of the process. Each cadet marches, as an individual, up to the officer, halts, salutes and states their name and number before being questioned on Academy personalities, history and general military knowledge and perhaps a personal question.

Upon successful completion, the cadets are released for a long weekend, the first time they have been allowed off site since their arrival in week one. One cadet, when asked what he was doing this evening said he was going for a meal at a Chinese restaurant. The follow up question was “what will you have from the menu?” The cadet replied “everything!”