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.
The next day went well, Frank made a quiet comment to me saying I see you are wearing the good raingear -- I looked at him and smiled. By the time all the morning crew had completed the course I felt really wounded up with a sort of excitement.
After the morning crew had left, I went into the river and washed down I also had a major hard on so that was taken care of as well. Lucky for me the sun was shinning and I soon dried off while I had me lunch, I barely had time to finish when I heard a call on the radio asking exactly where I was located, I said right ahead as the truck came around the corner.
Much to my surprise Kevin was in the crew, I hadn't expected to see him as he was complaining of not feeling to well. Kevin said you give the orders please on what you want us to do. They all completed the course without problems so I inspected all the rifles to make sure the barrels were dry and still capped.
We all returned back to the cold shower area, Kevin said to me think of these guys being raw recruits and tells them what is next.
Your attention gentleman, get stripped right off and get that mud and grime off and put your dirty gear into the laundry tubs and get them scrubbed. After that you will head for the showers and get clean, you may have mud on your back get a mate to check and scrub it for you. Once well scrubbed get out here and rinse out your gear and hang it up to dry -- then you can get dressed you have got 45 minutes to complete. I will see you all in your barracks for inspection -- now get with it. Thank you men you have done well.
I leave them and returned to the officers quarters get cleanup and changed myself, while in the showers some of my fellow officers come in for there clean up and I over hear some of the comments like I'm sure glad I'm not a recruit these days the Roger is going to be a real hard task master but you know that good -- but hey did you here his last comment not sure if I did -- well he said Thank you men you have done well. So although a hard task master he shows compassion which is important -- I agree.
I returned to my room got dressed and just about to leave when someone knocks on my door -- come in oh hi Clarence how can I help. Would you go and see the O'l man when you're ready, he is in his office. Thanks I was just about to head over to the offices I'll come over with you.
I go down to Frank's office, his door is wide open which is normal and he hears me coming down the hallway. Hi Roger come on in, he gets up from his chair and shakes my hand saying I really like the changes you have made in that course they are great much more strenuous and that is important because we try and make all our course far stiffer than normally occurs. Let's go down to the officer's office and see is there and start discussions.
On entry to the office, the cheers went up; I was sort of embarrassed by all this attention. Frank held his hand up ok guys this is to be a real friendly discussion and I want all your inputs on what you think to the changes to that part of the course. While these discussions were going on the rest of the second half showed up, so how was your experience this afternoon? One of the officers who I don't know as yet said, where did you find this man, he's good! A real hard task master but has compassion for his crew and I like that.
So what I'm asking now says Frank do we change the course -- yes, yes.
Frank backed way and I think all the officers came and shook my hand some slapping me on my back.
A couple of those present asked me how I get cleaned up between the two sessions that I had done. Kevin was laughing by saying you going find this hard to believe but knowing Roger as I do already he went back into the river to wash off -- I'm I right Roger? -- Yup quite correct. So you were sitting around in wet pants yes but they were the older type raingear so they dried very quickly in the sunshine, and actually I was glad to get back into the water to cool off.
Well discussion were over and come on guys said one of the officers we should all go over to the Club and we all need a drink -- lets call it anti-freeze, someone should let Frank know.
Once there I was not allowed to buy a drink, it was a good meet and greet session because I got to know more of the officers and was starting to put names to the many faces. A couple of the officers came over to me and said did we understand you correctly when you said you used the older style of rain gear yes that's correct. Ha ha now we know how you have such a good haircut, we will see you at the club no doubt -- well I hope so that would be nice. I get big smiles and a slap on the back -- are you coming over to the mess hall, yes I think I should for some reason I'm feeling a little hungry this evening.
Once we have got our meals we take a table all together, we were well out of earshot of anyone else, and however I was very cautious on what I said. So one of the guys asked me so you were using the older type of raingear may I ask why? Sure when I looked at both especially the pants I found the rubber ones were much better made and also the material was thicker so they would stand up to more shirt and abuse. Then one of the guys spoke up and yes there is also another adanvatage this type of gear looks just like our regular gear so you can get away with wearing on many occasions and I will tell you several of us do including me. Oh bye the way Roger we hear you are already a member of "The Club" that was sure quick but seeing how you work I think I can understand it -- you know doubt earned the first year free the same as I did