The last day at my desk

Today is Friday, June 6, and it's the last day that I'll be spending at my desk at the North Devon Journal for quite some time, because on Monday I become a full-time soldier training to go to Afghanistan.

It's going to be a culture shock: although I've been in the Territorial Army since the end of 2004, you can keep yourself going through wet, horrible training weekends on Salisbury Plain or in the Brecon Beacons by consoling yourself with the thought that in less than 48 hours, a warm shower, a hot meal and a comfortable bed await you.

But now, I'm facing the prospect of several months of early mornings, late nights, hard physical work, sleep deprivation and all the pressure and stress of doing the job for real.

Why put myself through it? Imagine training in your civilian job for three years and never putting it into practice. It would make you feel like a fraud. Being given the opportunity to go out and serve my country is something I've wanted to do ever since I first decided to join, and now the adventure begins.

So on Monday, after a weekend of packing my kit, spending some time with my nearest and dearest and probably popping to the pub for a couple of beers with friends, I'll stop being Simon Vannerley, sub-editor on the North Devon Journal, and become Lieutenant Vannerley, Corunna Company, 6th Battalion The Rifles.

We've got three months' full time training in the UK: for the first couple of weeks we will take and pass our annual military tests in shooting, fitness, first aid and many other subjects and from there we will begin a round of field exercises, honing our teamwork and skills so that when it comes to landing in Helmand Province, the team will be ready for any mission our superiors throw at us.