We were properly checked before entering the luxurious bus, it was my first time entering it as i have not embark on a long distance journey before. We go to kaduna after about 16 hours drive, we all form one single line as we moved into the training premises with out bags on our head.
Inside there was a different world entirely as we are going to spend our 6 months of training without stepping out till we finish. The first training we received was the removal of our civilian mentality and replacing it with Military mentality, that day wasn’t funny at all, it was that same day i realized why soldiers are always wicked and the reason why they don’t take nonsense from any bloody civilian. We were been addressed as recruit, that’s the general title giving to everybody in training and not until you pass out before that title will be lifted and replaced with your rank.
Two months gone and it still looks like i have just spent 2 years and i will still have to spend another 4 years, it was hell but i kept on enduring because i have to make a lot of people proud, making my mum proud remains my number 1 priority. I kept on following the adage that says to be a man is not a day job and that nothing good comes easy. These words keep moving me and pushing me beyond my limit even wen i felt i can’t meet up with one or two task given to me. One day i said to myself, truly! WHO NO COME NO GO KNOW!
Five months gone and i started seeing my self as a soldier because we are been treated like a soldier. No more beating, we dress well to class, we now putting on Camouflage, everyday Rehearsal on our passing out parade (POP). I can’t just imagine myself becoming a soldier in one month time, it’s a dream to come true.
At last! I’m a soldier! I can’t believed what my eyes are seeing, If u have ever gone through what i went through then u would know what i meant. Victory is from God alone, I said to myself while i change to civil wears. I wanted to go and explore the town for the past 6 months. The next day, those of us that were posted to the corps of Artillery were ordered to pack our belongings as our vehicles are ready and we will be moving to Kachia LGA there in Kaduna State. We got to the barracks and were welcomed to the corps school. The Admin Officer told us that where we are now is the Corps of Artillery school and here is where we will be attending all our courses throughout our carrier as an artillery soldier. He further explained that we will be here for the duration of 3 months and all we will learn is the basic things about the corps. From the way am seeing things, it all getting interesting as i am now expose into new life entirely.
Lecture and training begins with immediate effect but this time around, not as a recruit but as soldier. Learning continues day by day, always putting in my best in everything as the best student will be determined at the end of the course. All this while, i called my mum only when am less busy and when i felt like talking to her including my twin brother. I did not permit anyone to call me at his or her own time because i might be in class or probably be engaged in one or two things. I continue like this for one month and two weeks. In the third week of the second month, it was announced that we are going to have a course break. Having course break simply means we will be given passes to travled to our destination of choice for a period of 7 days.
By the time we come back, we will round up with the remaining one month and pass out. When the issue of pass came up i was very happy because it an opportunity for me to see my family after about 8 months that i have left them. I decide to make it a surprise to them as I’m not going to inform anybody about my coming home. It was on Tuesday, the week we will be given passes, they brought forms for everyone to fill with a column indicating our place traveled intended. Here comes Friday, our passes are ready, i left Kaduna that very day and arrived at lagos the next day. I proceeded to sango that morning and everybody was surprise to see me, to them it looks like a king has just arrived. My mum was very happy on seeing me, i hugged her and she started crying, my twin brother was a little bit afraid of me, we all laughed while we moved into the sitting room where they all welcomed me. Did my dad just laugh and welcomed me? i greeted him but it wasn’t coming from my mind. I was still angry about the fact that he did not contributed anything as a father to my success. After i spent two days at home i wasn’t happy and comfortable with my dad as i always feel like giving him frog jump or forward roll anytime i set my eyes on him. My mum kept persuading me that i should forgive and forget but i told her i will only forgive but i will never forget. He wasn’t even ashamed of himself, he boasted up and down that he has a child that he’s a soldier.
He wanted me to visit some of his friends and his boss but i turned him down, making him to realized his worst mistake ever of not been caring and not taking is due responsibilities as a father on me and the rest of his children. The next day i pay a surprise visit to bode, he was very happy to the extent that he called all his friend ask them to touch him if they will not die within a tinkle of an eye, we all laugh together. I asked him to dressed up so that we can at least have go out and have fun. All this while, i was putting on my camouflage up and down as i was proud of who i had becomed.
We entered a relaxing cool spot where pepper soup and beer are been sold, i ordered plates of pepper soup and beers for all of them, bode was surprise and at the same time afraid of who is going to pay the bill, i told him to calm down that the bill is on me. We then enjoyed ourself, it was all fun when all my friends are drinking beer but a soldier is drinking Coke. I paid the bill and we all left the place for our various home. On going home, i gave bode the sum of 15,000 Naira just to compensate the effort and help he rendered when i needed him back then before i left for training. He was so happy, he was thanking me and i told him if not for God and for him, i wouldn’t have been where i am today. We departed along the road when he got to the junction to his house and i also left for my house.
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