Foreigners
Code4
May 21 2012
I was serving in the Australian RAAC in 1981 and did an exercise in Qld. where we acted as umpires. A Marine Amphibious Unit was to attack the central Qld coast.
A platoon got lost on day two advancing through the scrub (it seems only the lead Sgt reads a map). We found them after a couple of hours and radioed their position to the mother ships off shore. The soldiers had no food or water left.
What got choppered out to them ? Two pallets of Ice cream and Coke (only). Probably more lethal than no food and water in their condition.
The marines were very a very happy lot but not too bright. The white kids were all uber patriotic southerners and the black kids, neighbourhood types who would probably never have travelled without joining the marines.
We swapped head gear as their peaked caps were very suitable inside our M113's and they seemed to love our black berets.
That year we also did a 5 nations exercise.
1) The Singaporean national servicemen were very small in build. Mostly poor fishermen's sons who couldn't dodge national service. You could fit 14 in an M113. Their rations were dry fish and rice (no joke).
2) Malayan Rangers. These were really tough and mean mothers who were (and probably still are) fighting communist insurgents from the north. I would not like to F*#@ with them at all. It was Ramadan and despite being tactical fires would spring up after dark as they cooked their food.
3) New Zealand Infantry. We could only fit 8 in an M113 as they were mostly Maori extraction and huge in build. Two had to ride on top.
4) Poms. We had a Geordie unit with. We could not understand a thing when they spoke. It was the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Di while were we out bush and the Pom officers had a formal dinning in night (in the Aussie bush) with generators and TV's so they could watch the wedding. It was incongruous to watch the Ruperts in formal red mess kit watching the wedding in the bull dust while swatting mosquitoes.
5) Gurkhas. Very professional and real silent. They deserve their reputation. Their officers are all from the UK and after 6 months the Gurkhas get to vote if the officer gets to stay or not. It is professional death if they get voted home. They had come from Hong Kong and even at 20 deg Celsius they froze. We would RV at 06:00 and they would appear out of the sub-tropical jungle with beanies and scarves and every stitch of clothing on shivering with the cold.
Edited by Code4, May 21 2012 - 11:01.
A platoon got lost on day two advancing through the scrub (it seems only the lead Sgt reads a map). We found them after a couple of hours and radioed their position to the mother ships off shore. The soldiers had no food or water left.
What got choppered out to them ? Two pallets of Ice cream and Coke (only). Probably more lethal than no food and water in their condition.
The marines were very a very happy lot but not too bright. The white kids were all uber patriotic southerners and the black kids, neighbourhood types who would probably never have travelled without joining the marines.
We swapped head gear as their peaked caps were very suitable inside our M113's and they seemed to love our black berets.
That year we also did a 5 nations exercise.
1) The Singaporean national servicemen were very small in build. Mostly poor fishermen's sons who couldn't dodge national service. You could fit 14 in an M113. Their rations were dry fish and rice (no joke).
2) Malayan Rangers. These were really tough and mean mothers who were (and probably still are) fighting communist insurgents from the north. I would not like to F*#@ with them at all. It was Ramadan and despite being tactical fires would spring up after dark as they cooked their food.
3) New Zealand Infantry. We could only fit 8 in an M113 as they were mostly Maori extraction and huge in build. Two had to ride on top.
4) Poms. We had a Geordie unit with. We could not understand a thing when they spoke. It was the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Di while were we out bush and the Pom officers had a formal dinning in night (in the Aussie bush) with generators and TV's so they could watch the wedding. It was incongruous to watch the Ruperts in formal red mess kit watching the wedding in the bull dust while swatting mosquitoes.
5) Gurkhas. Very professional and real silent. They deserve their reputation. Their officers are all from the UK and after 6 months the Gurkhas get to vote if the officer gets to stay or not. It is professional death if they get voted home. They had come from Hong Kong and even at 20 deg Celsius they froze. We would RV at 06:00 and they would appear out of the sub-tropical jungle with beanies and scarves and every stitch of clothing on shivering with the cold.
Edited by Code4, May 21 2012 - 11:01.
SpyGuy999
May 23 2012
Gent in the pink jacket is Mr. Russ Mott, then-Head of the IMSO organization at the Armor Center at Fort Knox. I believe he has deployed to Benning and has the same job. Russ is a former First Sergeant (may have rank wrong) and a tanker. IMSO = International Military Student Office: they support the international students during their training (in this instance, that would have been the international students on what is now the Maneuver Captain's Career Course).
The US officer in the center of the photo is Lt-General Donald Campbell Jr, then-Chief of Armor and Commanding General, US Army Armor Center and Fort Knox. He moved over to command the USAREC shortly after that photo was taken. He recv his third star and is now commanding III Corps, Fort Hood Texas.
The US officer in the center of the photo is Lt-General Donald Campbell Jr, then-Chief of Armor and Commanding General, US Army Armor Center and Fort Knox. He moved over to command the USAREC shortly after that photo was taken. He recv his third star and is now commanding III Corps, Fort Hood Texas.
HatsuneMiku
May 29 2012
sholvr
May 29 2012
ememwo, on May 02 2012 - 22:17, said:
I have 38 years service in the Cdn Army. still serving and we used to call you Yanks, "U-alls". 
I have noticed over the years, that my son, also a serving member has more friends in the US military while I from an older generation have more acquaintances in the British Army. I guess, it is probably related to the fact that I specialize in target rifle and my son served in Afghanistan. The Brits are very fond of target rifle shooting. Many of our Army customs are taken from our British military heritage. In my experience, Americans find us a little different.
I have noticed over the years, that my son, also a serving member has more friends in the US military while I from an older generation have more acquaintances in the British Army. I guess, it is probably related to the fact that I specialize in target rifle and my son served in Afghanistan. The Brits are very fond of target rifle shooting. Many of our Army customs are taken from our British military heritage. In my experience, Americans find us a little different.
a little... after 18 years in and teaching M60 and M1 crews how to run for cover in my Leopard C1.. way too much fun. I have friends still in the German army and planning on going next year to visit them. Some really good freinds are still active duty US and getting ready to retire still bow down to me and some of my crews.. I think it just where you were posted... being in Europe you tended to make friends with the units posted close to you.
sholvr
May 29 2012
sholvr
May 29 2012
Forvet, on May 02 2012 - 23:23, said:
In the US Coast Guard, being just south of vancouver I have met acouple Canadian CG members, and served with other shipmates who have had more in depth relationships.
Unlike the USCG, the Canadian CG is infact pretty much nearly a fire department, it is mostly civilian and the more military like boats are even then insanely relaxed. One of my chiefs told a story of being up in alaska, and when the bar he and a number of canadians were at had last call... the canadians invited him back to thier ship and it's onboard BAR. Suffice to say he came back to his 110 foot patrol boat utterly s***faced after having the party of his life.
Don't get me wrong, the Canadian Coast Guard is a wonderful organization. Oftentimes better equipped and better maintained by the government than our own thinly stretched, outdated, and falling apart USCG. However, it is quite the culture shock to come from a straight laced military organization with no alcohol onboard and no beards and military haircuts to looking at our CG brothers across the strait and seeing the Brawny man touting beer around the fantail as it were.
Long story short, I have never once had a bad experience... or heard of bad experience from the Canadian CG or the RCMP, both of which we work closely in tadem. This is just my little tidbit of culture shock for you fellows. ... I believe I am the only member of the USCG on these boards anyhow.
Unlike the USCG, the Canadian CG is infact pretty much nearly a fire department, it is mostly civilian and the more military like boats are even then insanely relaxed. One of my chiefs told a story of being up in alaska, and when the bar he and a number of canadians were at had last call... the canadians invited him back to thier ship and it's onboard BAR. Suffice to say he came back to his 110 foot patrol boat utterly s***faced after having the party of his life.
Don't get me wrong, the Canadian Coast Guard is a wonderful organization. Oftentimes better equipped and better maintained by the government than our own thinly stretched, outdated, and falling apart USCG. However, it is quite the culture shock to come from a straight laced military organization with no alcohol onboard and no beards and military haircuts to looking at our CG brothers across the strait and seeing the Brawny man touting beer around the fantail as it were.
Long story short, I have never once had a bad experience... or heard of bad experience from the Canadian CG or the RCMP, both of which we work closely in tadem. This is just my little tidbit of culture shock for you fellows. ... I believe I am the only member of the USCG on these boards anyhow.
not given away too much but we are allowed beer allotments on postings.. and not ever ammo rack spot in a tank was full.. (cough cough..)
