Attention to detail Navy recruits undergoing the 15 to 17week Basic Common Training course will participate in four levels of kit musters, where they demonstrate their ability to fold, arrange, roll and ultimately wear several different kinds of uniform kit to a very high standard. BCT 22/01 Divisional Officer Lieutenant Sam Mayhew says once the recruits move from coveralls to wearing General Work Dress (GWDs) at about week 6, it’s time to start testing their ability to present themselves in Navy uniforms and show pride in the variety of uniform kit issued. The first is a Leading Hands’ Kit Muster, involving all items of kit laid out, beautifully folded and spaced,
28
|
Navy Today #266
on their beds. Later, there’s a Senior Rates’ Kit Muster; the same thing, but with a different set of eyes. LT Mayhew gets involved in the Divisional Officers’ Kit Muster, which is a ‘Change Parade’ for the recruits. They present wearing six different kinds of uniforms within a set time frame, each marked on presentation and attention to detail. As each change takes place, the recruits help each other, checking uniforms for dirt and ‘train track’ creases – a crease that has been ironed with another crease alongside. Recruits with lint rollers take turns to go over hard-to-see places on their classmates.
