Our Girl and its characters belong to the bbc and were written by Tony Grounds.
Week 1- Attestation (Formal ceremony to join the British Army), kit issue, administration, and exercise icebreaker (the first night out on exercise).
Matthew, Molly, Luke and Kara watch from the upper windows as their recruits arrive to their new home for the next 14 weeks. Some recruits say goodbye to parents dropping them off; while others arrive on the bus from Brookwood station.
The boys are dressed in suits and dress shoes. While the girls are dressed in a nice blouse with trousers or a skirt and leggings. Adhering to the dress requirements for arrivals day.
"Look how young they all look. Were we really that young when we went through basic?" Molly asks as she takes in the bright eyed, baby faced recruits below them.
Matthew smiles as he remembers Molly as a recruit. A young gabby blonde, with a constant challenging smirk, a questioning tongue, and a jokester clown always ready to give her fellow recruits a good laugh. She was the most frustrating recruit he ever had, but she was also the most caring and compassionate.
"Yes Molly. You were that young, but you did a lot of growing up in your 14 weeks here. By the time you left here you were a very different woman than the girl you were when you first arrived."
"I know what you mean. It feels like a lifetime since my own phase one days. We had to grow up very fast in this army life." Luke agrees.
"And now it's our job to help these inexperienced children learn the skills to survive and help turn them into proper soldiers." Kara reminds them of their purpose and pulls them from memories of the past.
The group straightens up and marches down the stairs to watch the recruits attest.
The lecture theater is packed with recruits preparing to take the oath of allegiance. Matthew heads to the front of the room to lead the oath as Molly, Luke, and Kara stand off to the side observing the recruits.
"Can you please put your hands up if you don't want to attest today?" Matthew eyes the group and no one raises their hand. "So you're telling me in front of me I have a whole group of incredibly motivated people ready to dedicate their lives to the British Army?
"Yes, Sir!" The recruits chorus together. Although Molly notices a few of the recruits stay silent and stare down at the floor.
"Alright then. Everyone stand up please. The oath. I, say your name, swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, And that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and of the officers set over me."
The recruits repeat the oath and are officially sworn in to the British Army.
Molly inspects the recruits of 3 section which consists of 12 recruits; 8 males and 4 females. They stand before her trying their best to make good first impressions.
"Hello. I am Corporal Dawes and I am you section commander. For the next 14 weeks, I will be your new mum. I say jump, then you jump. The things you learn here could save your life someday. If you are willing to listen and learn, I promise to do everything I can to help you pass out. Now please step forward as I read out your name so I can put faces to names." Molly glances down at her roster. "Private Jones" She calls.
A very pale, dark haired, blue eyed male steps forward. "Private Stephen Jones, Ma'am." His weak frame does not inspire confidence and Molly worries that he isn't the right fit for army life.
"Private Gordon" a caramel skinned male with warm brown eyes steps forward. "Private Howard Gordon, Ma'am." Molly's breathe catches in her throat at the sight of this young man. He bears a striking resemblance to her old mate Elvis Harte. A pang of sadness strikes her heart at the reminder of her old mate. She quickly averts her eyes and continues reading the roster.
"Private Finnigan" an auburn haired female with a face full of freckles and shining blue eyes steps forward. "Private Abigail Finnigan, Ma'am." She comes up to Molly's height and the determined glint in her eye reminds Molly of herself at that age.
"Private Shepherd" a dark skinned female with chocolate brown eyes with her dark hair pulled back in a bun steps forward. "Private Leah Shepherd, Ma'am." Her posture screams military upbringing and Molly has no doubts this recruit will make the grade.
"Private Jackson" a blonde haired muscular male strides forward with a smirk on his face. "Private Ryan Jackson, Ma'am." Molly eyes the recruits cocky smirk and knows this one will be her class clown.
"Private Addison" a tall, lean male with light brown hair steps forward. "Private Mark Addison, Ma'am." He is another recruit that reflects a military upbringing as he snaps to attention in front of her.
They go through the rest of the names and then Molly leads the recruits to their quarters. The females to one room and the males in another further down the hall.
"Ok ladies, this is your quarters for the next 14 weeks. You are expected to keep your lockers in an orderly fashion. There will be random inspections at different times so always be prepared. Your uniforms need to be ironed each night and hung up properly in your locker. Molly shows the ladies how to properly hang their uniforms and how to organize their lockers to pass inspections. She then shows them how to properly make their beds.
Molly notices that Private Shepherd already has her bed made in military fashion and her locker is in order for inspection. She's very impressed with this recruits preparedness.
"Alright ladies you have 20 minutes to get into your uniforms and meet me on the line. Then we'll go get your kits together." Molly informs them.
With that she leaves the female quarters and goes to check up on the boys.
Most of the boys are unpacking but a few are roughhousing in the back. "Jackson, Gordon this not a playground. Act like the soldiers you are supposed to be and come get your lockers in order." Molly calls out to the two troublemakers.
Gordon immediately snaps to attention and marches over to his locker to comply. Jackson eyes her in a way that makes her skin crawl before he lazily walks over to his bed and starts unpacking.
Shaking off her discomfort, Molly gives the boys the same demonstrations as she gave the girls. As she finishes showing them how to properly make their beds, Jackson crowds her back and rumbles out, "Are you going to tuck us into bed at night too?"
Molly turns sharply and gives Jackson a hard look. "You would do well to remember, Private Jackson, I am a Corporal and the commander of 3 section. I have the power to make or break your future here. You will respect my authority or you will be cut from the program." Molly holds his gaze until he backs down and steps back into line with the rest of the boys.
"Alright now we have to go and get your kits together. Get your uniforms on and assemble on the line." Molly commands and marches out into the hall.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story so far. This story is a prequel for my story Happier. I hope you are enjoying what I have written so far.