They were given new tasks: the cadets, some of whom had never had a license before they joined the service, were trained as drivers. Since they would be chauffeuring high-ranked officers, they were obliged to become familiar with the operation of huge staff cars, big off-road personnel carriers, and any other type of vehicle that their General might ride in. Moreover, they did not merely need to drive; they had to learn radical emergency evasive maneuvers in the event that the vehicle they were driving was attacked from the air or was subjected to a kidnap attempt by terrorists. The course was exciting, but dangerous. Several of the vehicles suffered serious body damage in high-speed collisions, and some of the cadets were banged up in accidents. The worst mishap involved Merriweather, who suffered a concussion when she rolled over the staff car she was driving to avoid a head-on crash, and was put on limited duty for two weeks. Winter came early to the Academy, and the cadets were put through exercises in the snow while carrying full packs and rifles (the rifles were loaded with blank cartridges.
