episode 612 PRIVATE JACKSON SKEOCH SHOWS US HOW TO MAKE A CANADIAN ARMY BED
alan skeoch
July 20, 2022
Keeping Jackson Skeoch under the microscope. How would army life change him?
On July 19, 2022, Jackson Skeoch became Private jJackson Skeoch of the PPCLI.
(Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry). Jack’s Parents, Julie and Andrew Skeoch
and his grandparents, Marjorie and Alan Skeoch caught an Air Canada flight to
Edmonton, Alberta and from there to CFB Edmonton where the official ceremony
was held complete with a military marching band.
A SURPRISING LESSON
“Where will we stay?”
“There’s a hotel on the base”
“How much will that cost?”
“$57 per person….no frills”
“What does the Canadian army consider a frill?”
“No towels, TV that only a sapper could understand, no air conditioning….”
“No cool air”
“None”
“This is the hottest day on record…temp in high 30’s…and we re expected to sleep
without air conditioning.”
“That’s not the big problem, Alan.”
“Something worse?”
“Take a look at the bed”
“What’s that big lump in the plastic bag?”
“Our bedding…we have to make our own bed.”
“What?”
“True….the army is making a point.”
“A point?”
“We must make a regulation army bed….45 degree corners…”
“Get serious.”
“I am serious.”
And there on our bed was a big lump of textiles….our bedding
“Hi grandma….greandpa…what’s up?”
“Our bed”
“Thought you would be surprised.”
“You joined the army to make your own bed?”
“Surprised me too, grandpa.”
“LIke this?” and Marjorie made the bed…tight sheets.
“Not good enough…corners had to be exactly 45 degrees””
“How would you know ?”
“The sergeant would tip the bed over if corners were not precisely 45 degrees….
measured with a ruler.”
“How are my corners”, said Marjorie.
“37 degrees,,,not regulation, grandma….do the bed again…or would
you rather I did it for you?”
“You do it, jack”
And he did.
That was the first big change I noticed in Jack.
This week end we experienced a rite of passage …. a stage in the life of Jackson Skeoch.
All of us were changed as a result. The little boy is gone.
alan skeoch
July 20, 2022
Sent from my iPhone