LOCAL girl Nancy Porter spent several months in the newsroom at the Cornish Times last year as she waited to join the Navy. Follow her progress each week as she sends us her latest bulletin...

Four weeks have passed like lightning and HMS Raleigh is strangely starting to feel more and more like home. The last week has left me absolutely shattered, but it has easily been the best so far. Military training has taught me how to safely handle and fire a 5.66mm rifle. Not being used to firing a rifle, it didn't come naturally to me, but I had lots of extra help. After three attempts, on my last chance, and over 300 rounds later, I eventually passed my Naval Annual Weapons Test. If I hadn't passed the test, I would have had to join another class to re-do the week. But thriving on the pressure, I struggled on. On a positive note, I'm sure that any threat would easily be deterred by the sight of myself, on a gangway duty, sporting a fetching eye patch in the style of good old Black Beard the Pirate! The week has also introduced us to the dangers of improvised explosive devices, showing us examples of the destruction they cause. We were also given an overview of global terrorist groups, and learnt how to carryout car searches to prevent bomb components being smuggled into military establishments or near to ships. This put into reality is the reasons for why it is necessary for us to know how to protect ourselves. It has been a very intense week, and a lot has been squeezed into each day. We have been introduced to the assault and obstacle courses, getting wet and muddy whilst working on our tactics to hopefully win a trophy this week. Now all our class has passed military training, we will be heading back to the parade ground to try drill with rifles-but don't panic, they won't be loaded!