Forward Observation Officers Course, Shilo MB
24 Aug 1990
24 Aug 1990
A tale that should be told from the FOO course is that of a commissioned Regimental Sergeant Major taking his first course as a student. Day 1 set the tone as the instructors were gathered at the front of the classroom and identifying the students from the nominal roll. Overhead, amidst their whisperings were the words, “Which one was the RSM?” Never to be one that holds his sarcastic tongue (or should that be – one that is always helpful) I spoke up, “That would be me, is there a problem with that?” Sigh, always good to make friends with the instructors and I am now the class senior,(again!)
The tale continues as we get into Troop Commanders’ fireplanning. I’m sure that they said a maximum of three targets and then the objective. Unfortunately, I was reading back the fourth target and the Instructor was still not identifying it as the objective. Final outcome was five targets and the objective to be engaged by the battery in the fireplan. Sheesh, it was messy but all targets were on time and on target. (Okay, I admit I did have to request H hour be amended by 15 minutes in order to adjust all targets.) Instructor comment at the end – well, that wasn’t totally successful. Sigh, oh well at least I get another try later.
The course finished off with an overnight exercise of illumination targets until we got into the next morning when those that had failed their initial attempt were re-tested by another instructor. The Franco student was given an all French crew and passed, one other student was given a second attempt and passed. It was then announced that there was one member of the tech course that required another go and was there a volunteer from the FOO course that would like to shoot again? “Hang on a sec,” I said, “What about my second attempt at a Troop Commanders’ fireplan?” “Well,” he said,” that wasn’t really necessary, you did good enough.” It might have been the I hour of sleep out on the prairie the night before, or it could of just been my usual obstinate self, but I said, “Hang on Buddy (or words to that effect, I don’t like leaving it at ‘not totally successful’ so I want to take another shot at a good one.” “And I want you to be the one to re-assess me as you found the early one at fault.” So there I was, my Bombardier tech was on his last attempt, my instructor gave me six targets plus the objective and the school Commandant came out to watch the last shoot of the course. I passed, the tech didn’t.
After coming in from the field we were advised that we had been ordered to attend a function in the Officers’ Mess immediately after washing up. The Germans were going to make a presentation, provide an excellent German meal and free German wine. We were needed as we were the largest collection of Officers on the Base (six?). Sometime during the evening Lieutenant Grayson McCready (Basic Tech Course Officer) shows up; one thing leads to another (one bottle of wine leads to another?), and there we were; patio furniture tossed onto the roof of the Officers’ Mess; Grayson and I watching the stars from that excellent vantage point. Grayson comes up with the classic line from his experience as a subaltern when I was the RSM, “Leon, you’re the last f….ing guy I would ever expect to be up here drinking wine with!” Fortunately, the Adjutant left me a note authorizing our activity (I guess?)
I suppose Grayson was the ‘young gentleman” while I was the “senior staff present.” Oh, and I only had to pay for one broken plastic patio chair.
As provided by Captain Leon Jensen, CD
The tale continues as we get into Troop Commanders’ fireplanning. I’m sure that they said a maximum of three targets and then the objective. Unfortunately, I was reading back the fourth target and the Instructor was still not identifying it as the objective. Final outcome was five targets and the objective to be engaged by the battery in the fireplan. Sheesh, it was messy but all targets were on time and on target. (Okay, I admit I did have to request H hour be amended by 15 minutes in order to adjust all targets.) Instructor comment at the end – well, that wasn’t totally successful. Sigh, oh well at least I get another try later.
The course finished off with an overnight exercise of illumination targets until we got into the next morning when those that had failed their initial attempt were re-tested by another instructor. The Franco student was given an all French crew and passed, one other student was given a second attempt and passed. It was then announced that there was one member of the tech course that required another go and was there a volunteer from the FOO course that would like to shoot again? “Hang on a sec,” I said, “What about my second attempt at a Troop Commanders’ fireplan?” “Well,” he said,” that wasn’t really necessary, you did good enough.” It might have been the I hour of sleep out on the prairie the night before, or it could of just been my usual obstinate self, but I said, “Hang on Buddy (or words to that effect, I don’t like leaving it at ‘not totally successful’ so I want to take another shot at a good one.” “And I want you to be the one to re-assess me as you found the early one at fault.” So there I was, my Bombardier tech was on his last attempt, my instructor gave me six targets plus the objective and the school Commandant came out to watch the last shoot of the course. I passed, the tech didn’t.
After coming in from the field we were advised that we had been ordered to attend a function in the Officers’ Mess immediately after washing up. The Germans were going to make a presentation, provide an excellent German meal and free German wine. We were needed as we were the largest collection of Officers on the Base (six?). Sometime during the evening Lieutenant Grayson McCready (Basic Tech Course Officer) shows up; one thing leads to another (one bottle of wine leads to another?), and there we were; patio furniture tossed onto the roof of the Officers’ Mess; Grayson and I watching the stars from that excellent vantage point. Grayson comes up with the classic line from his experience as a subaltern when I was the RSM, “Leon, you’re the last f….ing guy I would ever expect to be up here drinking wine with!” Fortunately, the Adjutant left me a note authorizing our activity (I guess?)
I suppose Grayson was the ‘young gentleman” while I was the “senior staff present.” Oh, and I only had to pay for one broken plastic patio chair.
As provided by Captain Leon Jensen, CD
