This saying in the Army is something that were there all the time in my time as a soldier. When soldiers tells a story then you will find them saying " no names no pack drill"
This mean that they want to tell about something that happened but they do not want to give the names of people and then use the words "no name no pack drill". They try and avoid getting into trouble because if they use the names someone can say "he said that" and they can get into a situation of doing pack drill.
Now what is pack drill? This is where you do something wrong and are disciplined and receive drill to get your discipline up. Normally you have to put on your backpack or the skeleton webbing with your helmet and go and do drill on the parade. A rifle is added for good measure.
It can become even nastier and you can get into a summary trail or even a court martial if you say things that is not true.
So if you want to tell a story you add the inevitable " no names no pack drill"
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Radio Amateurs - A short Tribute
The Radio Amateurs is a special group of people and now and then we had some in the intake.
Way back we had a person that landed up at the School of Signals and he made a big contribution to our training of troops and Permanent Force (PF"s)members due to his specialised knowledge.
These were the days before cellphones. We had to work with High Frequency(HF) and VHF radios.
Now this particular individual was also a "car" man. I always remember him as a Jaguar man and when I see a Jaguar then I think of him. He drove a Jaguar but for us that were pretty impressive as our salaries were not of such a nature that we could afford such vehicles.
Back to the radios - to be a radio amateur you needed to be able to do the Morse code and that was not a easy thing to do. You also had to write a technical exam which were pretty though.
Their passion is radios and I can imaging with all the technological advances it is just improving.
I loved to listen to them talking all over the world with their contacts. They are a group of people that made a huge contribution to our Society that to my mind is still today not recognised.
To the young man of that time who taught us about radios and frequency prediction we salute you - you are one of the best.
Way back we had a person that landed up at the School of Signals and he made a big contribution to our training of troops and Permanent Force (PF"s)members due to his specialised knowledge.
These were the days before cellphones. We had to work with High Frequency(HF) and VHF radios.
Now this particular individual was also a "car" man. I always remember him as a Jaguar man and when I see a Jaguar then I think of him. He drove a Jaguar but for us that were pretty impressive as our salaries were not of such a nature that we could afford such vehicles.
Back to the radios - to be a radio amateur you needed to be able to do the Morse code and that was not a easy thing to do. You also had to write a technical exam which were pretty though.
Their passion is radios and I can imaging with all the technological advances it is just improving.
I loved to listen to them talking all over the world with their contacts. They are a group of people that made a huge contribution to our Society that to my mind is still today not recognised.
To the young man of that time who taught us about radios and frequency prediction we salute you - you are one of the best.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Lost in the desert
When I was working as the Signal Squadron Commander in the then South West Africa it was requeired from me to visit the commandos. On this particular trip I went down to Luderitz and visit the local commando. We departure from Eros airport with a light aircraft with a young pilot at the helm.
When the inspection/ visit was completed we reported to the airfield to fly back to Eros landing strip just outside Windhoek.
On take off the front window suddenly turned black with oil coming from the engine. The pilot had to brake hard before getting airborne. We were shaken by this incident. What happened was that the oilcap come off for some reason and the oil started to cover the front window.
After refill we did take off.
Now we were flying back to Windhoek but I observed that the pilot were nervous about something and he was looking at the map often. Eventually I realised the he was not sure about where he is flying to.
The end result of this was then that we pointed him to the east and told him to fly until he hit the main road to the north and then he just followed the road.
Eventually we found the main road and turned north. At the first big town we flew low over the buildings and everyone was waving to us. We were actually trying to read the towns name so that we know were we are. It turned out to be Keetmanshoop so we turned north towards Windhoek.
Beacuse of all these little incidents it was getting late and we realised that we will not make Eros airfield in daylight. They did not have landing lights and we had to go to the international airport to land because by the time we will arrive it will be dark.
The problem was that the airport were like 50 km plus from Windhoek and there were no transport to take us to Windhoek. We departure that morning from Eros and had to land there on our return.
On that part of the flight we saw many wild animals like Gemsbok. We also saw the round circles in the sand that some people call the "fairy circles" in the sand.
A safe landing were executed at the international airport. All the lights were switched off and we waited for our transport over an hour.
Eventually we crawled into our beds that night after this eventfull day. I can still feel the vibrations in my bones of that long flight. I still wonder about the fuel situation as the straight trip would have been much shorter.
It later turned out that the pilot were flying there for the first time while he done his tour of duty. He was well trained but just out of pilot training.
I suppose that is how you get experience!
When the inspection/ visit was completed we reported to the airfield to fly back to Eros landing strip just outside Windhoek.
On take off the front window suddenly turned black with oil coming from the engine. The pilot had to brake hard before getting airborne. We were shaken by this incident. What happened was that the oilcap come off for some reason and the oil started to cover the front window.
After refill we did take off.
Now we were flying back to Windhoek but I observed that the pilot were nervous about something and he was looking at the map often. Eventually I realised the he was not sure about where he is flying to.
The end result of this was then that we pointed him to the east and told him to fly until he hit the main road to the north and then he just followed the road.
Eventually we found the main road and turned north. At the first big town we flew low over the buildings and everyone was waving to us. We were actually trying to read the towns name so that we know were we are. It turned out to be Keetmanshoop so we turned north towards Windhoek.
Beacuse of all these little incidents it was getting late and we realised that we will not make Eros airfield in daylight. They did not have landing lights and we had to go to the international airport to land because by the time we will arrive it will be dark.
The problem was that the airport were like 50 km plus from Windhoek and there were no transport to take us to Windhoek. We departure that morning from Eros and had to land there on our return.
On that part of the flight we saw many wild animals like Gemsbok. We also saw the round circles in the sand that some people call the "fairy circles" in the sand.
A safe landing were executed at the international airport. All the lights were switched off and we waited for our transport over an hour.
Eventually we crawled into our beds that night after this eventfull day. I can still feel the vibrations in my bones of that long flight. I still wonder about the fuel situation as the straight trip would have been much shorter.
It later turned out that the pilot were flying there for the first time while he done his tour of duty. He was well trained but just out of pilot training.
I suppose that is how you get experience!
Tsetse Fly Control
Once I have read a book telling the story of a tsetse fly control official on the Angola border area.
What happenend is that the armoured combat group were ready to cross the border into Angola. Nearing the border the Tsetse Fly control official stopped the first vehicle and asked them to alight their vehicles so that he can spray the armoured vehicle.
To make a long story short - the official sprayed the whole armoured coloum.
My story of such a person is that I encountered such a person near our base at that time. He was responsible and he exercised his duties to perfection. Everytime I passed the control point I had to get out of the car and he sprayed the vehicle. He insisted very politely to do his work and there where no possibility of bribery and corruption.
Today thinking back on those days I realised that he was proud of his work and he displayed good discipline - in short he had a good attitude towards his work. He was always neat on his appearance wearing a tsetse fly control uniform. There were no supervisors etc only him but he was a person you could trust doing his work. It was in the early 1970's
Lastly I bought a sombrero type of hat from the roadstall vendor and up until today I remember that official due to this sombrero that I bought at the Tsetse Fly Control Post.
I understand why the Tsetse Fly official brought the armoured coloum to a standstill - they were people that insisted to do their work the right way as they were trained to do.
What happenend is that the armoured combat group were ready to cross the border into Angola. Nearing the border the Tsetse Fly control official stopped the first vehicle and asked them to alight their vehicles so that he can spray the armoured vehicle.
To make a long story short - the official sprayed the whole armoured coloum.
My story of such a person is that I encountered such a person near our base at that time. He was responsible and he exercised his duties to perfection. Everytime I passed the control point I had to get out of the car and he sprayed the vehicle. He insisted very politely to do his work and there where no possibility of bribery and corruption.
Today thinking back on those days I realised that he was proud of his work and he displayed good discipline - in short he had a good attitude towards his work. He was always neat on his appearance wearing a tsetse fly control uniform. There were no supervisors etc only him but he was a person you could trust doing his work. It was in the early 1970's
Lastly I bought a sombrero type of hat from the roadstall vendor and up until today I remember that official due to this sombrero that I bought at the Tsetse Fly Control Post.
I understand why the Tsetse Fly official brought the armoured coloum to a standstill - they were people that insisted to do their work the right way as they were trained to do.
Urban /Military legends
You hear along the grapevine of urban legends. People repeat thses legends as if it is the truth.
In the military you hear about the legends of the military. I call it the military legends.
One such a story is the one of the corporal that phoned a number and then to his surprise it is a general answering the phone.
He then asked the general if he knows who is speaking and when the general answer in the negative he say something like " good for you" and then rings off without identifying himself.
In the military you hear about the legends of the military. I call it the military legends.
One such a story is the one of the corporal that phoned a number and then to his surprise it is a general answering the phone.
He then asked the general if he knows who is speaking and when the general answer in the negative he say something like " good for you" and then rings off without identifying himself.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Receiving a letter
While we were busy with staff training at the SA Army College we stayed in a officers mess and one of the paintings in the coffee room where of a soldier sitting in a tent reading a letter.
Everyday there were somebody that made a comment of what were written in that letter.
The most pouplar comment were that the troop were given the "bloupas" or the sack. It meant that his girlfriend wrote him a letter telling him that it is over between them.
In those days when you received a letter in a blue envelope then it spells out that your relaitionship were taken a nosedive.
Everyday there were somebody that made a comment of what were written in that letter.
The most pouplar comment were that the troop were given the "bloupas" or the sack. It meant that his girlfriend wrote him a letter telling him that it is over between them.
In those days when you received a letter in a blue envelope then it spells out that your relaitionship were taken a nosedive.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Black Car
In the old days (1971) the Officer Commanding of the School of Signals had a black Chevrolet as his official car(ampsmotor).
As young Candidate Officers we were very impressed with this car. We thought when we become a Officer Commanding (OC)we will also have such a black car.
When we become OC's years later we had Toyotas - that was before the "subsidie motors" - he system of subsidy cars.
Every morning we watched the OC come into the unit with his Black Car. It was not a nobody pitching up for work - it was a grand entrance. The guard on duty were turned out with rifles etc and they present arms when the car entered.
This were really the days.
For some reason I become hospitilised during those days at the old 1 Mil Hosp. The OC were required to come and visit the sick - it were the drill and it were required frorm the officers as well.
He visisted me and ask about my health and so on. He were standing in his tunic with his red cap and I were the envy of the other troops lying in hospital. I was not someone special - he was doing his work but later years I tried my best to also visit my troops and staff when they were in hospital.
When I looked out the window I saw him climbing in his black car driving off to the School of Signals. I was really impressed with him.
As young Candidate Officers we were very impressed with this car. We thought when we become a Officer Commanding (OC)we will also have such a black car.
When we become OC's years later we had Toyotas - that was before the "subsidie motors" - he system of subsidy cars.
Every morning we watched the OC come into the unit with his Black Car. It was not a nobody pitching up for work - it was a grand entrance. The guard on duty were turned out with rifles etc and they present arms when the car entered.
This were really the days.
For some reason I become hospitilised during those days at the old 1 Mil Hosp. The OC were required to come and visit the sick - it were the drill and it were required frorm the officers as well.
He visisted me and ask about my health and so on. He were standing in his tunic with his red cap and I were the envy of the other troops lying in hospital. I was not someone special - he was doing his work but later years I tried my best to also visit my troops and staff when they were in hospital.
When I looked out the window I saw him climbing in his black car driving off to the School of Signals. I was really impressed with him.
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