Track change: Cpl Andy Crew (CAMUS) made his mark on both recruits and his peers during a two-year tour at the Army Training Regiment in Winchester

Report: Cliff Caswell
Picture: Mike Weston

CONCEALED deep in the woods and feeling the chill of the early morning, a squad of aspiring soldiers are experiencing the cold reality of infantry life.

The recruits have just spent their first night out of barracks, learning the skills and drills that will become the building blocks of their careers. Field
craft, personal hygiene and stagging on are the watchwords around camp.

Cpl Andy Crew is their instructor for this early introduction to the British Army. Gaining the respect of his charges with a natural authority
and commanding manner, he is every bit the consummate infantryman.

But you would never have known, had you not been told, that the NCO has never served with the teeth arms of the Service. Just two years ago he was playing clarinet, saxophone and guitar with the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals.

In a pioneering move for the Corps of Army Music, the 29-year-old volunteered to take a two year posting as an instructor at Army Training Regiment Winchester to deepen his knowledge of the wider military.

The opportunity, which is now being offered to other musicians, meant having to complete several tough courses and immerse himself in the culture of front-line infantry work.

Despite the shock therapy of being pushed to his limits, the NCO rose to the occasion and has since won the respect of students and peers alike for his leadership in supporting the training of a new generation of troops.

“It has been brilliant here from day one,” an elated Cpl Crew told Soldier as he prepared
to leave ATR Winchester for Blandford after successfully completing his two years in the job.

“I have achieved what I wanted, gaining a much better knowledge of the military as a whole.

“There were a number of reasons why I wanted to do this – for some time I’d had a yearning to do more of the green Army stuff and had asked if there was any way that could happen. Generally I wanted to prove a point to myself that I could do this work and succeed in it.

“At first it was hard getting on the right courses simply because they tend to be oversubscribed – completing them was also difficult, especially the All Arms Basic Tactics Course which is very physically demanding.”

Having passed through his testing preparation package, Cpl Crew found himself back on familiar territory in Winchester – the base where he completed his basic training before beginning his music career.

“After arriving as an instructor I found myself getting quite a lot of salutes from soldiers who
didn’t recognise my cap badge or stable belt,” the NCO said with a smile. “But there are people here from all around the Army and you are surrounded by a capable and talented bunch.

“In terms of job satisfaction, it is great to see how the recruits progress from learning
their initial skills and drills to taking part in a demanding exercise in the Brecon Beacons.

Seeing the difference in them compared to the beginning of their training is quite rewarding.”

But Cpl Crew, who is married to fellow Army musician Heather, admitted the daily grind of
training could be draining and he was looking forward to returning to band life.

“As well as days sometimes starting at 0400 and finishing late, one of the issues here is that
you go back to square one every six months when each intake passes out,” he said. “Having said that, I would consider doing something like this again as long as it was at another location. I’d really like to go to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.”

Cpl Crew should not have a problem in picking up his instructor mantle again should he wish to do so – his superiors at Winchester were glowing in their praise for his natural ability in coaching would-be soldiers.

His troop commander, Capt Jude Montgomery (RLC), said the NCO had been a huge asset and that his colleagues would be sad to see him leave.
“Cpl Crew has done really well and is one of the best instructors we have here at Winchester,” she added. “He is thorough and professional and is a very worthy ambassador for the Corps of Army Music.”

CAMUS spokesman Capt Guy Booth was equally delighted with the way the young NCO had acquitted himself. “It has been a fantastic opportunity to widen his career and he returns to us the better for it,” he said.

Cpl Crew’s success certainly proves an important point. While there are many diverse trades and roles within the Army, every Serviceman and woman has the same fundamental ethos, standards and values at their core. Whatever they do, they are in every sense very much soldiers first.