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 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.