The Cadet Sergeant Major

by Christopher Cummings

After a pause he looked up and met their eyes. “Let’s be honest. What teenager isn’t driven by those urges?”

  “Not just teenagers either!” Lt Hamilton added with a faint smile. This remark helped to noticeably lighten the mood.

  Capt Conkey went on, “I shall certainly take what I believe to be appropriate action, but I, for one, do not wish to crucify some kid for a foolish mistake.” He turned to Graham. “CSM, what do you think we should do?”

  “Brown can’t stay as a sergeant Sir,” Graham replied. “He has betrayed his trust. He must be removed from the platoon and I think he should be demoted.”

  Capt Conkey stroked his chin. Lt Hamilton and Lt McEwen agreed with Graham. Lt Standish wasn’t so sure.

  “Brown will still have to explain to his parents why he is no longer a sergeant when he gets home. It will all come out then and could all blow up if people suspect we have tried some sort of cover-up.”

  “Yes, you are right,” Capt Conkey agreed. “He will have to explain; and it will come out. However I think demotion is probably appropriate for such an incident. But we must make sure that what we do can be justified. We must follow the correct procedures as laid down in the Policy Manual and make sure that justice is both done and seen to be done.” He shook his head sadly and went on, speaking from deep in his heart, “What a devil of a situation! Whatever we do can cause untold harm to these kids, if we aren’t careful. It is such a fine line we have to walk! It was all so easy in my day. When I was a cadet there were no girls in the organization. All we had to worry about were queers of various kinds, paedophiles and the like- sorry ladies. Now! Where do we draw the line? Sexual intercourse? For sure- if it can be proved. And what a can of worms that might be! If the girl is under sixteen it becomes a police matter. What about a bit of passionate petting? How do we prove what went on? Who would want to?”

  Capt Conkey sighed and paused, then went on. “Just think. Do we destroy someone because they have a quiet kiss? What if they are only holding hands- or touching? At what point do we say the behaviour is inappropriate or wrong? I’ve seen the CSM here give young Margaret a hug and to me it seemed the most natural and loving thing I have ever seen.”

  Graham blushed. He was already squirming inside from darts of guilt. Lt Standish answered the captain.

  “You have hit the nail on the head. The issue is not so much what is done; it is how and why. If Margaret walks up and gives the CSM a hug, as we have all seen her do, nobody thinks anything of it because everyone in the company knows she loves him.”

  “Aw Miss!” Graham said. He blushed even redder. Did the whole company think that? Was he just deluding himself over girls like Allison?

  Lt Standish went on. “In their case there is no deceit. That is the issue. And nor does she get any apparent favoured treatment to cause jealousy. But trust is at the heart of the matter.”

  “You are right there!” Capt Conkey agreed. “If it is true romance then a bit of physical contact is neither here nor there; except it can cause jealousy so we don’t allow overt displays. It’s when people sneak away that the thing becomes serious. So, I have made up my mind. Brown must be removed from Three Platoon. Who could replace him?”

  Capt Conkey looked at Graham who replied, “Well sir, we can’t just move a sergeant from another platoon like musical chairs; although Sgt Bronsky could move over from HQ.”

  “Hmmm. Maybe. But you didn’t say that with much conviction.”

  Graham shifted to a more comfortable position. “Well sir, it’s not that Sgt Bronsky wouldn’t do a good job. It just that I think HQ needs a tight hand controlling it. We’ve got a few candidates for the same sort of behaviour amongst them.” As he said this he thought of Allison and blushed, hoping no one would notice in the firelight.

  “Costigan is there,” Lt Maclaren pointed out.

  Graham shook his head emphatically. “No sir. He is away a lot doing ‘Q’ jobs. And he is not a particularly strong sergeant.”

  “What about moving Crane over from the Control Group?” Lt Hamilton suggested.

  Graham strongly opposed this. “No Sir! Crane is a troublemaker.”

  Capt Conkey tugged at his chin. “Hmmm. That only leaves the option of promoting a corporal. Which one?”

  Graham ran through his mental list, but this was only to check what he had already thought through. “Corporal Rankin sir. He did half the sergeants course, before he swallowed the top of that pen and had to be taken to hospital. It would be wrong to push up one of the other corporals. Besides it could harm them. If they get pushed too fast they can lose confidence if they feel they don’t have the experience or the knowledge. And it causes a lot of resentment among the others.”

  Capt Conkey asked, “Do you think Rankin can do the job?”

  “Yes sir. If he is spoken to properly and given firm guidelines and support,” Graham replied.

  Capt Conkey nodded. He looked at his watch. “Alright, it is nearly midnight. I will sleep on this and make a decision in the morning. I need to talk to CUO White to get his opinion. CSM, take Sgt Brown back to his platoon and warn him to be ready to see me after check parade.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Right. To bed. I’m tired,” Capt Conkey said. He stood and stretched. The others did likewise except Lt Maclaren. He was now rostered as the Duty Officer. After Cadet Dibble’s escapade Capt Conkey had decided to roster the staff on two hour shifts, so that one officer was awake at all time.

  Graham strode out to where Sgt Brown stood waiting. “OK, Sgt Brown, back to your platoon, and be up by 0530 dressed and ready to see the OC after Check Parade.”

  “What’s going to happen to me?” Brown asked. He was noticeably more anxious.

  “I can’t say,” Graham answered. He and Graham then walked back across the open ground in silence. Graham stopped on the edge of the 3 Platoon area. Brown walked on to his hutchie. Graham stood for a moment considering. He heard Brown and CUO White murmuring to each other.

  As he did he sighed and shook his head. ‘What a shame!’ he thought. ‘It spoils all our efforts.’ Simmering with anger he turned and walked slowly back towards HQ. As he did he examined his own actions to try to decide what else he could have done to have prevented the incident. He was annoyed with himself as much as with Brown.

  ‘There but for the Grace of God go I!’ he mused. He had the good grace to flush with shame over his flirting with Allison. He could understand the temptations but was annoyed Brown had lacked the will-power to withstand them.

  But try as he might Graham could not single out any specific action he could have taken to prevent the incident. That didn’t make it any easier. He still blamed himself. ‘I knew Brown was weak as a sergeant; and I did suspect him. I should have been more alert,’ he told himself. He considered this then muttered angrily, “Blast it all! I have to depend on the sergeants!”

  Back at HQ Graham first went to the toilet, then to his hutchie. Thankfully he crawled in and unrolled his bedding. As he unlaced his boots Peter spoke to him, “What was all that about Graham?”

  “Sorry Pete. I didn’t mean to wake you,” Graham replied.

  “That’s OK. I wasn’t asleep. You don’t have to tell me if I shouldn’t know,” Peter replied.

  Graham tugged off his boots. “Oh, you will know soon enough just from the gossip,” he answered. He then outlined the incident but not its probable consequences.

  “What will happen to Brown?” Peter asked.

  “I can’t say. I recommended that he be demoted and replaced. I tell you, I am mighty disappointed. He has let us all down badly. He has undermined the reputation and discipline of all the sergeants,” Graham said.

  Peter lay in the darkness, glad that Graham could not see his face. He felt as though a white hot knife was being driven through his conscience. Long after Graham was asleep Peter lay awake, racked by an agony of guilt, and to a lesser extent, fear.

  ‘What will happen to me if Kate talks?’ he speculated. He cons
idered making a clean breast of it by confessing. The thought of having to tell Graham and then Capt Conkey sent hot waves of shame through him. He had a long, miserable night, riven by remorse; cursing himself for being a weakling and a fool.

  --------------------

  Graham’s subconscious woke him at 0520. He groaned and stretched, wishing he could sleep for a few more hours. It was cool but not cold. With an effort of willpower he sat up and began pulling on his boots. As he did so the sour memories of the previous night came flooding in. He swore quietly before shaking Peter. Knowing it would be a rushed morning he rolled up his bedding straight away before striding off to ensure the sergeants were awake.

  Sgt Brown was. In the grey half-light he looked haggard.

  “Be ready to front the OC straight after check parade,” Graham instructed. He did not linger but strode on.

  Check Parade followed its usual course, enlivened by the sight of Clayfield shuffling off towards the latrine, his trousers noticeably wet, even in the semi-darkness. Graham watched closely but it seemed that word of Brown’s actions had not spread beyond 4 Platoon. Brown’s own platoon seemed quite normal.

  No-one was missing and everyone had the correct equipment. Graham handed back to the sergeants and headed for the officer’s fire. As he approached he saw all the officers and the four CUOs standing around it. Capt Conkey was speaking to them. Graham halted ten metres short, not sure if he should intrude or not.

  A moment later the group broke up. Graham saw that CUO White had a sour look on his face. Capt Conkey called Graham over. “I have just told them. CUO White says he will accept Rankin. Go and get him please, and keep it quiet. If Rankin won’t accept the job we will have to select someone else.”

  “What happens to Sgt Brown sir?”

  “I am going to demote him to corporal and move him to the Control Group in Rankin’s place,” Capt Conkey replied.

  Graham nodded. “I think that is best sir. He could not be in any of the platoons.”

  Five minutes later Graham stood beside a mystified (and worried) Cpl Rankin while Capt Conkey explained to him the situation.

  “So,” the OC concluded. “That is the position. Three Platoon needs a new sergeant and the CSM has recommended you. Will you accept the position?”

  Graham watched Rankin’s reactions carefully. He did not particularly like him and suspected the feeling was reciprocated. Like Graham he was a Third Year Cadet, and a Year 11 at school, though in another class.

  Rankin did not immediately answer. He considered the offer carefully, biting his lower lip. Then he nodded. “Yes sir. I will accept it.”

  “Good. You are now a sergeant. I won’t, in the circumstances, be making any presentation on parade so go and see the CQ as soon as he gets back with the breakfast and get some stripes. Then get your gear and come to HQ. You will take over Three Platoon as soon as I have spoken to Brown.”

  “Make sure you get the platoon Roll Book,” Graham added. He didn’t know whether he should offer congratulations or not, but decided not to. It didn’t seem right somehow. Brown was one of Rankin’s friends.

  Rankin turned away, his face a study in disbelief and the beginnings of pleasure.

  Capt Conkey turned to Graham. “Well, Mrs Standish has spoken to the girls. They admit Brown was with them the night before when they weren’t at the platoon campfire. They did not implicate CUO White but I suspect he was with them as well. So that is a real worry for us.”

  “Yes sir,” Graham replied, his mind exploring the ramifications.

  Capt Conkey went on, “The girls admit Brown arranged to meet them last night. So it was no accident.”

  “He admitted it to me as well sir,” Graham added.

  “So there is no doubt of his guilt. I am not going to dig into the sordid details. The girls have been severely cautioned and I am going to split them up. Ramsey is being moved to HQ where she is more under our eye.”

  Graham agreed but groaned inwardly. ‘Another girl in HQ! As if there aren’t enough problems already. Poor Pete!’ he thought. “Yes sir,” he replied.

  “Now go and get Sgt Brown for me.”

  Graham headed for 3 Platoon, aware that dozens of eyes were now following his progress with intense interest. From 50 paces out he saw Brown looking his way so he stopped and beckoned. Brown walked over to join him and they marched back to the OC in silence. Even though they were in the field Graham saluted. It seemed appropriate in the circumstances.

  The other officers, except the QM who was collecting breakfast, were nearby packing and preparing for the day. Capt Conkey met Brown standing, his face stony and a copy of the Cadet Policy Manual in his hand.

  “Sergeant Brown, the two girls admit to being alone with you and another cadet two nights ago. They add that you met them last night by prior arrangement. You were caught in a compromising position by CUOs Bates and Sherry. Is this true?”

  “Yes sir,” Brown replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “Is there anything you want to say in your own defence?” Capt Conkey asked. His tone was distinctly chilly.

  “No sir.”

  Capt Conkey nodded grimly. “Because of your actions I can no longer trust you. You have let down the whole unit. You have deceived and hurt another sergeant. You have failed in your duty to your own platoon; and knowingly undermined the discipline in another. Do you understand?”

  “Yes sir.”

  Capt Conkey’s voice rose slightly as deep anger took hold. “What really hurts is the personal lack of loyalty, both to me, and to the unit. Your actions will cause harm to the unit’s reputation for years. Parents and teachers will hear of it. Parents of good kids, especially those with daughters, will hesitate to let them join; or keep them out. Your actions have been selfish and reflect poorly on your own morals and self-control.”

  Capt Conkey paused and looked hard at Brown who visibly blinked and wilted under the steely glare. He went on. “From a personal perspective your actions stink of ingratitude- of biting the hand that feeds. I’ve bent over backwards to make allowances for you, to give you chance after chance. And all along you have been flinging it back in my face. If it wasn’t the bowie knife it was the earrings; or the headbands; or the foreign uniforms. Well, I’ve had enough!”

  There was another uncomfortable pause before the OC went on. “The Policy Manual says that a cadet may be demoted for a breach of the Cadet Code of Behaviour. I believe you have broken the code in several important ways. This is the main one.” He paused to open the manual at a marked page. Then he read, “Recognize, prevent and report unacceptable behaviour, and it lists them and ends with or abuse of positions of responsibility.”

  He looked hard at Brown who swallowed and broke into a sweat. Capt Conkey went on, “There is also the bit about staying true to the Cadet values of honour, courage, integrity, loyalty and teamwork, not to mention the ‘No touching’ rule. You have really let down your platoon and Sgt Griffin. So, as of now you are demoted to corporal. Go and hand over Three Platoon to Sergeant Rankin. Then take yourself off and join the Control Group. And no more trouble or I will just ship you home and discharge you. Is that clear?”

  “Yes sir,” Brown replied. He swallowed and set his jaw but Graham noticed his lips trembling slightly. Brown’s eyes went misty but he restrained the tears.

  Capt Conkey continued, “You may contest this by the proper means; ask for a review by a higher authoirity. The manual is here if you wish to study it.”

  Brown nodded. “Yes sir. Sir.. er.. sir, will my parents be told?”

  “Yes, and the army. That is my next unpleasant task,” Capt Conkey replied.

  “Sir.. er.. do you have to?” Brown croaked. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes and at that moment Graham felt genuinely sorry for him.

  Capt Conkey nodded. “Yes. That is all. Dismiss! Carry on CSM.”

  Graham marched Brown away. His own feelings were mixed: satisfaction that decisive, and to his mind, just action h
ad been taken, and sympathy with Brown in his downfall.

  He stopped after fifty paces and pointed to Sgt Rankin, already wearing a brassard with three stripes on his arm. “There is Sgt Rankin. Hand over to him. And have those stripes off by morning parade.”

  Graham returned to mark the Company Roll. Capt Conkey sat down with a weary sigh and studied the day’s program. Graham did not have time to complete the Roll. The return of the breakfast vehicle had him moving. He saw Rankin still talking to Brown near the parked vehicles. Standing up he called, “Sgt Rankin. Go and collect Three Platoon and move them to breakfast. They will be first. Sgt Bronsky, get HQ over to set up.”

  As the QM’s vehicle pulled up Graham marched over to it. On the way he rubbed the stubble on his chin and realized he had not shaved.

  ‘There goes the leisurely breakfast,’ he thought.

  CHAPTER 19

  PETER’S DAY

  As soon as Peter woke he was assailed by fear and remorse. He did not look at Kate as she crawled out of her hutchie. By listening to their conversations while they formed two ranks it was apparent HQ had not yet heard about Brown. Peter marched them over to parade and called the roll, hardly daring to look them in the eye.

  ‘Won’t be long before the word spreads,’ he mused. As he stood in front of HQ to report he burned with shame. He knew Kate’s eyes would be on his back and that made it worse. As he marched them back after parade he wrestled with his conscience.

  ‘What a hypocrite I am! I should just tell the OC and get it over with,’ he thought. He ordered ‘Halt’, then ‘Fall out’. His eyes met Kate’s. What was she thinking? She did not smile and appeared to pointedly look away. Peter tried to determine her mood. Was she sad? She looked it. Did she feel regret? Will she talk? His stomach knotted in fear at the thought.

  As he rolled his bedding another thought came to him. ‘I can’t just admit to the OC. It doesn’t only involve me. Kate is part of it. She will get into trouble too. She could lose her corporal’s stripes- or worse, be sent home in disgrace. I can’t tell just to ease my conscience.’