since being in the Air Force
was very early on into my career.
When I was in basic training at RAF Halton,
four weeks in, so I was in my regiment phase,
I sadly received the news
that my great grandmother had passed away
which was my idol for joining the Air Force.
It came as a massive blow
and it was the first close relative I'd ever lost,
so not only being so far away from my family
and having to deal with that was hard enough.
I spoke with my sergeant about going to the funeral,
who, at the time,
was very condoning but also had to explain to me
that I wouldn't be able to go to the funeral
unless I was willing to sacrifice
the four weeks I'd already committed
and start back at day zero.
I was put in a really difficult situation.
That weekend, I went home and I had a chat
with my mum who I'm very close with
and I said to her, I was like,
what do you think I should do?
And she was like, your nan would be so proud of you.
You should stay, you should do it.
And I knew in the back of my head,
my nan would be saying, no, stay, stay, stay, so I did.
I stayed and I got through the nine weeks
and I passed out and here I am today.
