A/N: Spent a lovely couple of nights exploring Ludlow and surroundings. Food and medieval history in one luxurious package … what could be nicer? I'm burnt to a crisp, though, especially my face! Ah well, back to work and back to writing and this diary entry is based off a news article stating that recruits completing basic training now won't have their families at the completion ceremony or be allowed to leave their base. Which has to be extra hard!

The next round of basic training is coming to an end and we're told we're due some newbies. A week sooner than expected, too, since - of course - all leave has been cancelled. And no family visits are allowed for the completion ceremony, either.

I know it's not been that long for me yet, but the guys all say they also remember how much everyone was looking forward to seeing their families at the end of those five weeks. How much it helped to get through the tough last days.

Seeing colours was what threw me the most, I think. Bright reds and blues. Anything that wasn't drab green or black really stood out. Hairstyles caught my eye a lot, too. And skirts. Lots of little things. And news, of course. We sometimes joked that aliens could land in Seoul while we were in basic training and we'd never even know.

Our newbies won't have any of that. They'll step from one base into another without that chance to just breathe for a moment. So we've all agreed it's up to us to make them welcome. Turn an unplanned hardship into something special. That does sound corny, I know, but the brass are fine with it. As long as we stick to the rules, anything that boosts morale is a good thing.

Meet Private Kim Jaejoong - party planner…