Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:53:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rubber Rider <rubber_rider07@yahoo.ca>
Subject: Army Boy 4

Finally we cool off and eventually get dressed, have a drink in the bar
before heading back to Sid's home. Well asks Sid who is Frank, oh that's my
boss the Camp Commander! You're kidding aren't you -- no I'm serious, it
was a surprised to me.

So tell me what does membership cost for the Club $50 /year, gee that's
reasonable however you have to be sponsored and I don't see any problems
with that however you will have to approach Frank to see if he is willing
as of course you have my sponsorship. We arrive at Sid's and see another
truck parked there just out of sight, and then I see it has a military
license plate and so I head over to see who it is. As I get closer the cab
light comes on and believe or not it's Frank (I think this weird). Hi Roger
can we talk please, sure come on in -- no not at the moment but I want you
to know I will sign your application form for the club -- thanks very much,
I was wondering how I was going to approach you on this matter but knew It
would have to be done privately.

For your information there are several of us on base that are members of
the club but like me they generally either wear a toupee or a wig to hide
the fact that we have a totally shaved head.

Sid calls out is everything OK Roger, yes please ask your friend to come on
in for a night cap. Franks says that's the best offer I've had to-day come
on follow me, we enter through the mud room and go through into the living
room. Please take a seat and Sid calls out naming several different liquors
what your choice the B&B sounds really good, great that going to be easy so
three B&B's coming up.

Well sit there shooting the breeze and Frank gets up saying I better get
back had a great time this evening see you guys next time.

Well I decided that I had better be back in camp in time for the evening
meal on Sunday so that I could get any information I might need for Monday
morning and also to located Kerry and give him the address for the gel plus
some pouches.

On return to camp, signed in back in and headed over to my new room, on the
way I spotted Kerry and gave him a shout remembering just in time to call
him private Kerry one moment please, he turns and heads to-wards me. Once
we are at close range I say Kerry I have the info you need for the Gel. His
eyes really lit up as I handed him the address chit with some pouches to
carry him over.

I'll tell you Kerry I think that is what drew some of the officer's
attention my way because if you remember I was the one asking the barber to
shave me clean when we got our regulation haircuts and I maintained that ay
ever since. You do the same and I believe you will do ok mate, see you
later.

With that we went our own ways I headed for my room and found several notes
pinned to my door. I grab these and sat down to read them two of them
welcome notes to the Officers Quarters the other was from Frank saying I
hope you are back in time for chow Sunday evening as I would like to talk
with you -- see you in the Mess Hall -- Frank.

I freshen up and make my way across to the Officers section and spot Frank
already there. I head over, he sees me coming and says glad you could make
it Roger lets grab some food and then we will take a table over there in
the corner so we are out of eyeshot.

Frank briefly ask how my weekend was I said it was great relaxing time meet
a number of great people at a club, so how about you sir -- cut the sir out
corporal <grin> sorry Frank and he laughs. We have a new intake coming on
Monday and I want you to assist in getting those raw folk into some sort of
order you will be with John & Kevin who will show you the ropes. Meet up
with them at breakfast, I'll introduce you to them as soon as I spot them
in here. We talk for quite a period but neither show up so we both decided
to hit the bunk, see you in the morning 6:0 am in the mess hall -- sure
thing -- night Frank.

Well the next morning I'm early to the mess hall Frank is also there and he
puts me in contact with John & Kevin and its Kevin that took out on that
three day in the woods trek. Congratulations Roger and welcome to our group
and they both shake my hand and give me a slap on the back. Over breakfast
John explains what I will be doing, basically I will be watching and
helping to move along the new recruits through there induction help out
where see its required neither of us will make any comment in public if you
make any errors but will discuss it with you privately. We never let anyone
think we are not solid in our view, basically we are a team in the same way
you seemed to have had made an impression some of your mates during boot
camp.

Well the next couple of weeks went well and I was happy how things were
going and it was Kevin said he felt he was coming down with a lousy cold
and he was asking me to take charge of the three day out in the woods
exercise and suggested I should go and have a look to-day at the basic
course and see if I could come up with some new idea's for changes. Look
book yourself out an ATV and go searching. Do you have any rain gear if not
get some from the supply stores it will help to keep you clean, yes and I
know you don't mind a bit of mud or water. Thanks Kevin I'll checkout the
area and perhaps we can all get together late this afternoon and I will
explain my thoughts and ideas.

Go for it Roger and enjoy your day, take a radio and a food pack. So I get
myself ready and I find the raingear is a tough PVC or Rubber with the
standard forest green camouflage matching our regular gear - I choose the
rubber.

I go over to the motor pool and book out an ATV then head back to my room
to get my note book and some other gear. I check out the raingear again and
decided to basically strip off and wear just the rubber raingear with only
a tee shirt. I am thinking of making more use of the water so I also grab
some chest waders as I want to checkout the water depth making sure it's
not too deep.

Well I found some good water plus a great muddy area where I could
hopefully have some culverts that were laying near bye put into the mud and
we bring all the recruits through the culvert which was 30" diameter just
enough room to crawl through with gear on, I also found a fairly steep
rocky bluff that could be used for climbing.

Returning back to camp, I hose down the ATV and then use the outside
showers to wash off my gear. As I head for my room to get cleaned up I run
into Kevin and we talk briefly, he says I think you enjoyed yourself to-day
slaps me on my back and heads off laughing. You know it sure feels nice to
be made so welcome to basically a new recruit

I strip off and shower and dressed again in regular gear and head for the
office where all the staff sit down and meet up with there fellow officers.

Arriving there Kevin is already there, hi Roger come and fill me in on your
ideas. I give Kevin the general basic idea, very soon Kevin ahs a big smile
on his face as I finish he says you're a real dirty dog, so you're going
lead the crew right -- I said YES because you ask don't crew to do
something that you would not do, you must lead by example. Man I like that
comment I must remember that says Kevin, Kevin calls out to others in the
room I don't think you have meet Roger here and I would like you all the
hear his idea for the three day woods section.

By the time I've gone through it again everyone is laughing, hey Kevin
where did you find that dirty dog oh I do like that idea, I bet the O'l man
will enjoy this idea.

I see Frank enter the room, I heard the laughing so what is the dirty story
guys fill me in. Kevin speaks up and explains what has been going on; now
Frank has a smile on his face.

So Roger I understand this is your idea is that correct yes it is --
good. Then to-morrow morning I'll get you to take me through the course and
I think we can run short handed so that 50% of you guys will accompany us
and find out for yourself and your thoughts. So guys be dressed for the mud
and all being well we can get back by midday and the rest of you can go
through the course during the afternoon.

Roger any special instructions?  No other than you will all get wet and
rather muddy, I'm sure you all know how to dress for those types of
conditions, I guess we should al carry our riffles in the same way as the
recruits will be doing.

For myself I will be taking a radio and a food pack as I don't plan on
returning while the change over takes places. Thank you Roger says Frank
good thoughts and you have covered safety with the radio and staying there
is your choice but I think I can understand your reasons for doing that.