The Cadet Sergeant Major

by Christopher Cummings

“Be finished in about twenty minutes Sir.”

  “Thank God! We will have a full parade and then dismiss the company. In the circumstances I want us to finish properly. The parents can wait a bit longer. There are things I need to say to everyone, to set the tone. If we go wrong at this moment then the long term future of the company could be in jeopardy.”

  “I agree sir.”

  Capt Conkey nodded and sighed. “What an ending to a camp! And what a camp! Just one damned thing after another.”

  Graham felt an urgent need to re-assure the OC; to express his sympathy and support. “It could have been worse sir. I think that, overall, the camp was a real success. All the training went off well; and nearly all the cadets enjoyed it most of the time. Besides, we did catch the murderers.”

  “Yes, I know. But what a nuisance! There goes the rest of my holidays. I will be writing blasted reports to the army and the Education Department for days.”

  Graham hadn’t thought of that. It gave him an unpleasant insight into the realities of the adult world.

  “Well sir, I’d like to say thank you. I appreciate very much the effort you and the other officers make to keep the unit running. And I think I speak for most of the cadets when I say that.”

  “Thank you very much CSM. But it’s the future I am now worried about. I don’t want a sour ending to mar next year’s retention and recruiting. Somehow we have got to turn a bunch of negatives into a big positive. We must end on a high note. What do you think?”

  “I agree sir,” Graham replied. His mind raced. Capt Conkey was obviously grappling to come up with the best action to take over the suspended cadets. To demote or expel them at this juncture, on top of the other drama, could cause serious damage whose effects would be felt for years. On the other hand, to take no action would also have serious long-term consequences. As soon as the cadets were dismissed they would start to tell their parents and siblings the stories. It would all come out. It could not be covered up.

  ‘What a cruel dilemma!’ Graham thought.

  As though he was reading his mind Capt Conkey nodded towards the suspended cadets and pinned Graham right to the spot. “What do you think we should do with them CSM?”

  Graham hesitated, his mind furiously weighing the pros and cons. Capt Conkey prompted him. “I know that is not a very fair question; but remember the final decision is mine. I just want a cadet’s opinion; a gut-reaction.”

  “A conditional amnesty Sir. Let them all off, but ensure they understand why. And make them renew their promises to behave, in front of the whole company.”

  “Hmmm…” Capt Conkey tugged at his jaw. “But then we have injustice. Brown was demoted for far less than what some of the others have done.”

  Graham had an answer ready. “Restore his rank for bravery sir. He rushed in and grappled with that gunman without hesitation. When the chips were down he did the right thing. In fact he and Crane both did a good job.”

  “But White and Costigan slunk off,” Capt Conkey pointed out, “While Stephen and Gwen were both in there boots and all; and she was disobeying your specific orders to withdraw.”

  “I know it’s not a perfect solution sir,” Graham persisted, “But it is the sort of glory that can wash away a lot of the earlier mistakes, to everyone’s benefit.”

  “What about Peter?”

  Graham bit his lip. He had hoped to convince the OC without too many individual cases, especially Peter’s. He now realized that, in his heart, he really wanted Peter to be saved- and wanted him still to be his friend.

  “Well sir, his case is different. To start with he wasn’t caught doing anything wrong. He came and confessed because he believed it was the right thing to do. He didn’t do it out of a guilty conscience, although I know he had that. When I think back over the camp I can see he was crucifying himself over his lapse. And he didn’t try to implicate anyone else. He wouldn’t say who the girl was. And he did help the police. He went to identify that dead body and I know he was terrified of that.”

  “Hmmm. You think we should be like the ancient Spartans, who used to punish their youth if they were caught doing something wrong, not for the crime but for getting caught?”

  “No sir. We should weigh the right and wrong.”

  “Yet he let you down,” Capt Conkey replied.

  “I know sir. And he broke his promise to you. As I think you know, I did something very similar when I was a corporal, yet you gave me another chance and promoted me,” Graham answered.

  “You want him saved then?”

  “Yes Sir, and not just because he is my friend. He is a damned good sergeant.”

  Capt Conkey turned to Graham and clapped him on the shoulder. “Well said CSM. Now, I will go and discuss this with the officers. After that I will speak to the miscreants. I want you there when I do. And have the company ready to form up for dismissal parade.”

  “Yes Sir.” Graham came to attention and saluted. As he watched Capt Conkey walk over to where Lt Maclaren and Lt Standish were sorting Personal Qualities Reports he felt confused. Was the OC going to accept his advice or not? He saw Lt Hamilton and Lt McEwen, plus the other three CUOs called over. The officers went into earnest discussion. Graham watched anxiously, unable to hear, but aware that the OC was doing most of the talking. There was some argument and then a general nodding of heads. Capt Conkey looked around and caught Graham’s eye. He jerked his head in the direction of the suspended cadets. Graham guessed, by the expressions on most of the officer’s faces, that it must be generally good news. He hurried over to join the OC and the officers.

  Together they marched over to where the suspended cadets sat in two dejected groups. CUO White had the good sense to call them to attention before they arrived. Capt Conkey returned his salute and looked at his watch, then ordered crisply.

  “CUO White, stand there. Remainder, form one rank. Move!”

  There was an edge to Captain Conkey’s voice and they moved. Graham halted just to his left, facing the group. The other officers stood on his right.

  “At attention!” Graham growled.

  Capt Conkey looked hard at each in turn. Some were defiant: White and Crane; some sulky: Brown and Goltz. Peter’s face showed he was desperately unhappy and ashamed.

  “Now listen you lot. I have made my decision. The officers and the CSM agree. The sum of it is this. The other cadets are more important than you are. And we are concerned with the long term good of the unit. Because of your actions what should have been a very successful camp is ending on a very sour note. Do you understand?”

  They replied “Yes Sir,” with varying degrees of conviction. Graham thought Peter was going to burst into tears and prayed he would not. He did note tears running down Cadet Smart’s face.

  Capt Conkey went on, his voice conveying his anger and disappointment. “I was depending on you people- and you let me down. You promised me to behave- and you broke your word. You betrayed my trust.”

  The words made some of them visibly flinch. Peter seemed to wilt and shrink. Capt Conkey continued, “One of the problems is that whatever I do is going to cause damage to the unit, to its reputation. Another is that what I am going to do will not appear to be entirely just. That is because each case is different.”

  He had their entire interest. All were looking at him, hanging on every word. He explained: “For example, CUO White, you are a Cadet Under-Officer- yet I find you down in the river in discreditable circumstances; and with the suspicion it was not the first time you had been up to mischief.”

  Capt Conkey paused and Graham saw White’s face mottle with shame. Capt Conkey went on, “Staff Sergeant Costigan, you are discovered sitting in the dark a thousand metres from where you should have been with a girl whose shirt was unbuttoned- even if you were only talking.” That last delivered with a savage irony which prevented even a hint of a smile on their faces.

  “Sergeant Crane, I find you kissing and cuddling Cadet Ramsey- and both of you knew it was inappropriat
e behaviour.” Capt Conkey glared at each in turn.

  “But sir we...” Crane began.

  “Silence! Let me finish; then you can speak,” Capt Conkey snapped. “And Sergeant Bronsky, in charge of HQ and its girls, admits to having taken one of the girls down to the river for a swim. He won’t say who so we have to speculate. Swimming he said. Wearing what? Their uniforms? Not likely. They returned to camp dry.”

  Graham winced with Peter at that. ‘Now I know what our English teacher meant when she said “biting sarcasm”,’ he thought.

  Capt Conkey moved on to Cpl Goltz. “And you Corporal Goltz. Your name has been linked to a dozen rumours since the camp began. Don’t you care about your reputation? Don’t you care what people say?”

  Goltz had the grace to blush and lower her eyes, although her upper lip was curled defiantly. Capt Conkey paced up and down then turned to face them.

  “Now we come to the inequality and injustice. I happen to believe that at least one other girl in this unit did similar, or worse, things than you girls here are accused of. But she wasn’t caught, and I have no proof.” He held up his hand as several mouths opened. “I know it’s not fair. And there are the sergeants. Corporal Brown lost his stripes for kissing a girl in another platoon after ‘lights out’- and thereby undermined that platoon’s discipline and let down his fellow sergeant.”

  He paused and glared at them, then went on, “So, in fairness, you should all be demoted a rank.”

  “What about Kirk sir? He was gropin’ the girls in swimmin’,” Costigan cried.

  Capt Conkey marched over to stand close to him. “I witnessed the alleged incidents. My impression was that they were indulging in harmless horseplay! And besides, everyone in the unit knows that Cadet Lake thinks he is wonderful- although I can’t imagine why!”

  Graham tinged pink with embarrassment and concern, but Capt Conkey gave a thin smile. He went on. “The issue, Staff Sergeant Costigan, is not whether the CSM hugged or kissed his girl friend in front of the whole company. It is one of honesty, of trust. That was all open, above board, no deceit!”

  Several of them hung their heads at that and Peter bit his lip. Capt Conkey resumed, “But, as I said, the unit is more important than the individuals. As well as that other things have happened which overshadow your discreditable behaviour. Bravery in action you might almost call it. For the good of the unit I am going to take an action which I trust you will not misinterpret as weakness.”

  He paused. They all looked up.

  “The action is this. If each of you will offer me a genuine apology, and make me another promise to behave, here and now, then I will take no direct disciplinary action.”

  Graham saw hope light up in several faces. He felt his own chest go tight with anticipation. Capt Conkey continued, “I do not promise to forget. I will take your past record into account when we select who is to be promoted next year. But you will all be spared the public humiliation of being demoted, or of being dishonourably discharged. You will not have to face angry parents, although there will obviously be rumours. You will have to live with that.”

  He paused again. “So, no discharges. No demotions. And, for your courage in grappling with an armed murderer Corporal Brown; you are promoted to sergeant.”

  There was a moment’s stunned silence while this sank in. Then the OC stepped forward with his hand out. Brown gaped and took it in his own. Smiles began to erase the despair and disbelief. Capt Conkey shook Brown’s hand and said, “You will have to stay in the Control Group. Sgt Rankin keeps Three Platoon. And CQ, make sure Sgt Brown has some stripes on when the company is dismissed in a few minutes time.”

  Capt Conkey stepped back and looked at each in turn. “Now, who is willing to apologize and to make another promise?” He looked at CUO White, who nodded.

  “Me sir. I’m sorry.”

  Each in turn apologized, then repeated their promise. Graham could hardly contain himself. He felt he must burst with joy. As the realization sank in the others began to grin and laugh- all except Peter. He looked anxiously in Graham’s direction.

  Graham felt his heart swell as though his chest would explode. He marched over and thrust out his hand. Peter met his eye then took his hand. Graham grinned. They both did. Neither could speak.

  Capt Conkey saved them from a display of excess emotion. “Alright, you are all restored to your positions. Rejoin your platoons and we will hear no more of this. CSM put the company on parade!”

  “Sir!”

  As the reprieved cadets marched over to where the company sat waiting in their parade position Graham sensed an instant change. The huddled whispering stopped. The sourness evaporated. People began to smile. Before he had taken position out the front the news had spread. He sensed instantly that Capt Conkey had made the right decision. The company seemed to erupt with joy. As he called the platoon sergeants to form up their platoons the cadets were grinning and bubbling over with relief.

  ‘It was a good camp,’ he decided as he watched the ranks being dressed. ‘And it is ending well.’ Then, as an afterthought, ‘And I enjoyed being the Sergeant Major!’

  ---------------------------------

  Six weeks later Graham again stood in front of the company at night with hundreds of parents watching. But this time they were happy parents, pleased with what they had just witnessed.

  The unit had just completed its annual Passing-Out Parade. Prizes had been presented. The flag party had marched off; the CUOs had fallen out and the command of the parade had just been handed back to Graham.

  He stood there, rigidly to attention, slouch hat at just the right angle, uniform immaculate, brass gleaming, polished boots shining in the floodlights, scarlet sash a bold splash of colour. He knew he had done well; with confidence, not conceit. He also knew he looked good, and looked the part (a bit of conceit there!).

  ‘It has all ended well,’ he thought. He ran his eyes over the ranks. ‘Good! No-one moving- except for Cadet Lake smiling at me!’ With a conscious effort he managed to restrain himself and not to smile back. He breathed in deeply.

  “Compane-e-e-e-e. Atten.....shun! Compane-e-e-e. Move to the right in threes- Right- turn! Company, by the right, Quick- march!”

  Later, after supper, there was a presentation by the OC to those cadets who were leaving: all four CUOs, plus Sgt Crane, Sgt Griffin; SSgt Costigan, Cpl Goltz and a few cadets. At the end of it Graham found Margaret on his left side and Capt Conkey on his right.

  “That went well CSM. You did a good job.”

  “Thank you Sir,” Graham replied. He glowed with pleasure. He also fretted with impatience. Beyond the OC’s shoulder he could see Patricia Taylor of 10B and she had been making eyes at him all night! ‘I wonder?’ he speculated.

  “Now the bad news,” Capt Conkey went on.

  “Sir?” Graham felt a gulp of worry. He wrenched his gaze from Patricia’s delightful figure to meet the OC’s eye.

  Capt Conkey smiled. “We have to pick out who is to be sent on the Promotion Courses in December. I have discussed it with the OOCs, and with the CUOs. We have rank-ordered everyone by their marks according to their Personal Qualities Reports and Leadership assessment. But we still want your opinion. Are you free at Monday lunchtime to discuss it?”

  “Yes Sir,” Graham replied, pleased at the compliment; and relieved by the implication that his own name must certainly be on the list.

  It was.

  He was first on the list of potential CUOs.

  On Monday he settled himself in a chair opposite the OC on the F Block veranda and tried to read upside down. But Capt Conkey thwarted this by holding his clipboard up so he could not see the other names.

  “OK CSM, we can only send five people on the CUOs Course. I have six names. Yours is the top of the list, and I don’t expect anyone to dispute that ranking. You have done very well.”

  “Thank you Sir,” Graham replied. He enjoyed the praise, but had his doubts. ‘I couldn’t prevent all those pe
ople getting up to mischief,’ he thought ruefully. ‘I couldn’t even see that my best friend was causing problems!’

  Capt Conkey went on: “Two others we are agreed on. They are Gwen Copeland and Stephen Bell.”

  Graham nodded. His mind raced. So Peter had slipped. ‘He was second place in the middle of annual camp,’ he remembered. His fears were confirmed by the OC’s next statement.

  “That means a choice between Peter Bronsky, Sgt Brown and Sgt Rankin for the last two positions. Which two do you recommend?”

  Graham answered without hesitation. “Peter sir. And not just because he is my friend. He is a better sergeant; and has been much more reliable in attendance. And Rankin, even though he is only a temporary sergeant.”

  “Rankin has done well. I think he should get the chance,” Capt Conkey agreed. “So, Bronsky or Brown?”

  “Peter sir. Brown is a surly troublemaker,” Graham answered.

  “So what do we do with Brown? Make him CSM?” Capt Conkey asked.

  Graham’s heart leapt. Did that mean that the OC agreed that Peter should get the fifth position?

  “No sir. Definitely not. If he stays he could be a staff sergeant but in Control Group.”

  “Hmmm. So who replaces you as CSM?”

  Graham had thought hard about this. “Barbara Brassington sir.”

  “Hmmm. She is only a corporal. I don’t like pushing a corporal up to CSM. I prefer them to go corporal- sergeant- warrant officer.”

  “I was pushed from corporal to WO,” Graham reminded. “Besides, I think she is the best person for the job. And you don’t want your worst sergeant to be your CSM, better to have your best corporal.”

  “So who is to be CQMS?”

  “Bert Lacey sir.”

  “And what about sergeants? We have postings for six and can send eight on the course. Who do you think we should select?”

  Graham took out his notebook and consulted it. “Lofty Ward, Fiona Davies, Roger Dunning, Allison Broadfoot and Charlie Cox definitely. Maybe Cpl Scott and Anne Hopewell.”

  “Hmmm. What about Laidley?”

  “Maybe.”