Conference repair::reserve_forces

    Hi Dave,
    
    How are you? I've managed to catch up with the notes at last, here goes
    my first reply.
    
    re. Anything interesting happening - Last weekend I had my most
    enjoyable weekend yet with the T.A. Our Company was asked to supply 6
    volunteers to play enemy on a FIBUA training weekend with 21 SAS
    (T.A.), I was asked to volunteer by my Platoon Sgt. I thought it would
    be a good experience (and I couldn't think of a good enough excuse to get
    out of it) so I went. I was expecting to be quite badly treated and to
    have a dog of a weekend in reality it was quite the opposite.
    
    We arrived at the training area at midnight on Friday to find we had
    beds, we had gone prpared for the feild, and there was no stag. On the
    Saturday we had a 2 hour briefing at 08:00 and then went our seperate
    ways. While the SAS were doing their FIBUA training we spent the morning
    abseiling. After lunch a Scout helicopter arrived and we abseiled out
    of that (I hate hights). When we finished mucking about with the
    helicopter they put us in a mock embassy and the SAS abseiled onto the
    roof to clear us from the building, lots of smoke, thunderflashes and
    smallarms fire. We had Gimpy's so we managed to contribute quite well
    to the noise. In the evening we had a few beers and watched a bit of
    telly including videos of us abseiling. On Sunday we went to anoher
    building, a kind of 3 storey Hotel, which they did another airbourne
    assualt on pretty similar to the day before. About the only thing I did
    that weekend that I hadn't done before was to abseil out of a
    Helicopter. The reason I enjoyed it so much was I got to see the way the
    SAS guys operated. I was impressed.
    
    These guys do not have any bulls**t, everyone is known buy there first
    name or nickname, no rank. There was no whinging, whatever they were
    asked to do they just got on and done it. They are encouraged to use
    the initiative, we don't do a thing unless we are told to in my unit.
    They are all mates and were very friendly towards us. They weren't
    supermen, I could pick a section that would have equalled them from my
    platoon, but they are completely committed.
    
    If I could pass the recruit training and if T.A. was more than just a
    hobby for me I would love to join them. Oh well I can only hope that
    the oppurtunity to train with them comes up again,
    
    regards,
    
    Lawrence. 

    Re .1:
    
    Larry,
    
    A translation of some of the terms (like "abseiling" = rapelling
    (?)) in your reply for us Yanks would be helpful.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Mark
    Chief Radioman
    US Navy Reserve

    re .1:
    
    Mark,
    
    sorry about the confusion I will try and translate a few terms, if
    there are any you still don't understand just ask.
    
    FIBUA = Fighting In Built Up Areas, house clearance,street clearance
    etc.
    
    Abseiling = Well er, this ones a bit difficult, it's like sliding down
    a rope using a metal ring shaped like an 8 to slow you down and is used
    for getting men and equipment down cliff faces, out of helicoters when
    they can't land, onto the roofs of houses and things like that. It is
    also a civilian sport, part of rock climbing.
    
    Gimpy = Genral Purpose Machine Gun, 7.62mm belt fed machine gun.
    
    Whinging = Whining, moaning, complaning etc.
    
    Bulls**t = Can't rember what I meant by that.
    
    See you,
    
    Lawrence. 

    Re .3:
    
    Thanks for the translation....truly the British and Americans are
    one people, separated only by a common language! :-)
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    
    Leaving Feb. 25 for 2 weeks annual AT with RNMCB-12 (SEABEEs) in 
    sunny southern California to build/rebuild a scout camp in the
    mountains north of San Diego.
    
    Bob
    

    Re .5:
    
    It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it, right? :-)
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    
    Just rec'd my ADT orders....Ship departs Newport, R.I. 12 March...
    
    I'm supposed to ride it to the sunny Carribean and fly back to Boston
    out of San Juan.
    
    Sunshine after a cold day like today sounds real good...Only one
    problem.
    
    My daughter is due to become a young mother 15 March...Can't let her
    down on this one...So....I have to cancel the orders...
    
    Boy...that sun would have felt good...
    
    	sk2
    
    
    
    

    Re .7:
    
    Congratulations, grandad! :-)
    
    Sounds like it would have been a good cruise however....
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    I passed an NCO's assesment course last weekend which means I can
    attend the NCO's cadre I have been booked on for May.  I have also been
    accepted to attend a two week camp in the Ascension Islands in June. 
    I'll keep ypu posted,
    
    Lawrence.
    
    p.s. My next note will be an intro. I promise.

    That's one Officer, one Sergeant, and now an almost Corporal in
    the same building. And me a mere Leading... 
    Methinks I should keep my head down.
    
    Well, done Laurence.
    Dave

    Re .9:
    
    Two weeks on Ascension Island? Did you have enemies somewhere in
    the MOD? What do you do for liberty on Ascension (assuming there
    is some)? :-) :-)
    
    For us in the USNR that's equivalent to pulling two weeks active
    duty for training on Diego Garcia in the IO.
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    
    Hi fellas,
    
    Lawrance, did I hear that you are going to the Ascension Islands
    in June, 2 Wessex are going to the same Island at the same time,
    but unfortunately, girlies are not allowed.
    
    That is one thing that really P***es me off (excuse the French),
    but as a girlie, I am trained as well as any male solider and am
    capable of doing most of the things they do, and we are not allowed
    to go, and enjoy 2 weeks of range work, ambushes etc as well as
    the social side of windsurfing, skiing absailing etc.
    
    I think its a pretty poor deal.
    
    I've never been abroad with the TA and I doubt that I will ever
    be given the chance, and I've never met any Girlies that have, is
    it different in the states, because if it is, I will be out on the
    next plane.
    
    Chocks away
    
    Dustie

    re .12 Dustie
    
    It ain't there yet, but, its headed that way.
    
    Only place women aren't allowed in the US military is where the
    actual shootin' is going on, otherwise they train right alongside
    their male peers and that would include any away-from-base 
    exercises.
    
    
    Dave

    Re. 12
    
    Hi Dustie,
    
    Welcome back.  I was going to Ascension but unfortunately because of
    the NCO cadre I have just completed, a holiday at the end of June and
    my better half I have had to cancel it.  I was actually going with 
    2 WESSEX, I am a member of 11 pltn D coy (previously 9 pltn C coy) in 
    Basingstoke.  Sorry you can't go, I don't see why they can't take a few
    girls down there as medics, or radio ops. Who knows next time they may
    change the rules.  Keep smilling at least you have the World Cup Finals
    to look forward to,
    
    Lawrence.

    
    re .12
    
    Dustie, come to Canada.  We regularly take females on exercise,
    if their positions are required ie: QM, driver
    
    Also Canadian female reservists have served with UN peace keeping
    forces in Egypt, Israel and Cyprus. Although not in a 'shooting'
    situation it could be pretty hairy.
    
    Roger

    Re .12:
    
    Dustie, sounds like you got the better part of the deal....now if
    they deployed 2 Wessex (I think that means 2nd Bn. of the Wessex
    Regiment but correct me if I'm wrong) to Bermuda in January, then
    you'd definitely have a gripe.
    
    My last deployment before transferring to the Individual Ready Reserve
    of the US Navy was in Morocco and this was after the order went
    out that units of that type were combat units so no WINs (Women
    In The Navy) made that trip.
    
    However, I made a deployment to Norway in 1986 when women were still
    authorized billets and they did fine. We even stayed in the same
    tourist camp (not together of course - the males had their cabins and
    the females had theirs).
    
    In the American military, if a woman holds a billet and the order
    comes down to "go", she goes.
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    
    Well, it looks like I will be emigrating to the States or Canada,
    to find some real action........
    
    No doubt, one day the Wessex will pull their finger out, and we
    will be allowed to join the lads, but until then, I'll just have
    to make do with 2/3 glorious weeks in Greece. 
    
    Not quite the same, but just as much fun.
    
    TTFN
    
    Dustie

    Re .17:
    
    Dustie, it's a tough job but somebody has to do it! :-)
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    
    Re:.17
    
    Difficult and demanding, but I know you'll show them what you're
    made of....it'll separate the men from the boys.
                         
    Don't forget to keep your head down..
    
    

    
    
    GUESS WHAT CHAPS..........
    
    
    
    
    
    I've done my first lecture and it was a success....
    
    
    
    
    Yeeeeeehhhhhaaaaaarrrrr
    
    
    
    
    Dustie is well on top.
    
    

    Re .20:
    
    I'll leave a reply to the last line for a braver soul! :-) :-)
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    
    With her 36 inch inside leg measurement( now who told me that..)
    she can catch me easily, so...

    After you with the cheese please Mark....
                                  
    What we need is an Officer to take her in hand, don't you think?
    
    Dave

    
    
          CHICKENS...........
          
    
    
    
    Dustie

    Well, I was all set to spend 4 weeks at the reserve Intel school
    at Ft Devens, the end of July. Even received the welcome packets.
    But that's all gone now. The unit I was in 2yrs ago, got reorg'd.
    Part of that was to downgrade the rank of the section Sgts. In
    looking for a new unit, I decided to apply for the First Sergeant
    position in the MI unit and try to get qualified in the job. Wasn't
    able to go to school last year, because the security investigation
    wasn't completed. The E8 selection board was held last month and
    someone with an Intel MOS made it. So, he will be promoted and
    assigned as the First Sergeant of the company I'm in and they're
    busily hunting for a position for me in my primary or secondary
    MOS within 50 miles. I certainly hope they come up with something
    equitable, I'm waiting for my 20yr certification letter to show
    up and can't retire or go inactive without it.
    
    Bob Mc

    Jeez, that's too bad, Bob.  There seems to be a lot of that sort of
    thing going around these days.  Part of the wonderful "Peace Dividend"
    we're all supposed to be enjoying I guess.  (I don't know if this
    calls for a happy face or not.)
    
    I'm still mucking around, waiting for orders for the Mortar Platoon
    Sergeant job in Rochester, NH.  It was taking so long to get my 201
    transferred out from CA that I went ahead and took the Army enlistment
    physical over again at the MEPS in Manchester plus the battery of
    aptitude tests.  Boy, did I feel strange sitting there at 0630 with
    a room full of 20 year olds!  But, being the well preserved old fart
    that I am, I passed everything with flying colors.  
    
    Good luck in your job search.  BTW, what are your secondaries?
    
    Len
                                   

    Len,
    This is part of the 'new' Sr enlisted personnel 'management'
    system. Some times I think it was designed to cut down on the
    number of people qualifying for retirement. I'M not looking
    for a new position, THEY are looking for a new position FOR
    me. 8-(. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.
    
    Hey listen now. No fair going and taking a test you already
    passed once. 8-) Keep the pressure on, the longer it takes,
    the more likely it becomes that someone will get promoted into
    that vacancy and you might wind up coming in on 'overstrength'.
    
    Bob Mc

    Bob,
    
    I'm not familiar with the Sr enlisted personnel management system.
    Could you elucidate a bit?
    
    My actual status is that I've been transferred from the CA NG into
    the IRR.  I have a letter of acceptance from the unit in Rochester
    and have been loaded into "the system" against that vacancy.  All
    that is needed now is for the assignment orders to be cut.  The
    recruiter NCOIC at Manchester told me that it could take as long as
    90 days due to backlogs and resource problems in St Louis.  That's
    OK with me because I've signed up for the Highpower matches at Camp
    Perry and they conflict with the unit's AT in August.
    
    Even though I already took the aptitude tests (long, long ago in a
    land far, far away) it was taking so long to get my records into
    the IRR system that I agreed to take them again.  As far as the
    physical goes, I was due anyway.
    
    My MOS's are 11B, 11C, 13B, and 13E.  As you can see, I like to get
    dirty.  8-)
    
    So, let's keep in touch.  The way things are going these days, who
    knows where we'll end up!  Hang in there for that 20 year letter!!!
    
    Len
    

    What has happened to me over the last few months I consider quite
    strange, so I figured I 'd tell the story.
    
    I left active duty and went directly into the AF reserve at Westover
    AFB, Ma.  They were begging for people to join.  When I arrived
    in Oct. 87, they had just made the change over to C-5 Galaxies (the
    Pig) from C-130's ( a real A/C).  I  was a Jet Engine Mechanic however
    I took a position in Job Control.  Two years of not having enough
    people, an increase from 2 to 16 C-5 made matters worst, but we
    survived.  
    
    Then 6 months ago, rumors of something called EL-COM went around
    Job Control.  It was going to eliminate all of the reservist slots
    in Job Control.  However we were assured that it wouldn't happen
    from probably two years.  And it certainly wouldn't happen like
    you come in April and you have to go back to you primary shop.
    
    Well, I came in March and guess what?  All the reservist slots were
    gone and we all had to go back to our primary shop.  Not to bad
    I thought, I liked working on engines.  Well EL-COM also affect
    the Jet Engine Shop.  We had until April to find new job slots,
    and the only job slots open on base were for AGE mechanics. :-(
    
    Well, to make a long story short, I joined the NHANG as a Jet Engine
    Mechanic,  took off a stripe and lost my 7-level to do so.  But
    at least I am doing what I want for a base and unit that wants me!!!
    
    :-)  :-)                                                       
    
    Kevin

    Glad to see you're making the best of a bad situation, Kevin.  I can't
    figure out why the Reserves would be reducing/downgrading slots at the
    same time as the active forces.  The sensible approach would be to
    strengthen the Reserves to offset reduced active numbers.  After all,
    it's much less expensive to have a strong Reserve force than a large
    standing Army (AF, Navy, Marines, CG, etc).  It's clear that there is
    much more involved in these decisions than pure economics.
    
    Len 
    

    I really never understood why either.  Another interesting question
    I have is if the ART's job is to train the reservists and there are
    no reservist, what will become of them?  Civil servants ??  Then
    who will cover the base over the weekends??  Pay them overtime ??
    Big $$$
    
    Kevin
    

    re .26
    
    I'm not sure if I'll be able to report on what happens to me. The
    promotion and assignment orders for my replacement will be cut
    effective July 1st. I have accepted the 'buyout' and will be 
    leaving DEC on June 29th. If I should get notified of a new
    position before then, I'll post it here. But don't hold your
    breath waiting 8-).
    
    Bob Mc

    Hey Bob,
    
    I hope that things work out to your satisfaction and sorry to see you
    go.  You must be feeling kind of funny about the effects of the two 
    systems (USAR and DEC) that you're caught up in right now.  Hopefully
    you're not taking all this personally and can turn the situation to
    your best advantage.
    
    Hang in there and keep smilin',
    
    Len
                                                          

    re .24
    
    Bob 
    
    befor you try to go inactive be sure you have done the time 20 yrs.
    
    I have a close friend  that is being forced to retire (60 in december)
    
    and he has all the points he needs to retire but he is 6 months short
    of doing 20 yrs.  he lost some time due to re- enlisting early.  so as
    of now he has lost all retirement  because he has not put in in his
    time.  
    
    jerry.
    

    Believe me, I'm up on that, since my primary is Personnel Sr. Sgt.
    The application is in for the 20yr letter. Should have 22 good ones.
    And, I think, I can use the fact that the application is in as a
    swinging point. I don't want to, accidentally, give my plans away,
    but I know my rights and will become quite unpopular if they push
    me. But I am hoping that they either come up with a good assignment
    or leave me overstrength. The other routes are messy.
    
    Bob Mc

RE: Note 71.24 by MPGS::MCCLURE 

I have a hunch the 187th Infantry Brigade may be interested in you if you
have a 96B MOS somewhere among your others. That is located at FT Devens
and they go to some neat & some not-so-neat places.

Your other choices include the MI Reserve school at Ft Devens, and doing
correspondence courses for a year to make your manadatory 20.

Look me up sometime, there are a few other options available.

Regards,
    
Rollyn

    
    OPERATION "JOB STORM"
    
    Army * Navy * Marines * Air Force * Coast Guard
    
    THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1991	10 AM - 4 PM
    Naval Air Station South Weymouth, MA
    
    -	A one day job fair for New England veterans of "Desert Storm"
    -	Reservists and veterans from other eras are also welcome
    -	Over 850 of New England's major employers have been invited.
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    -	Take Route 3 to Exit 16 to Route 18 SOUTH, 2 miles, on left
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