Iltis gone in Sept

[TonyM]

Just got the word our unit is to turn in our Iltis's in Sept. Anyone know what the replacement is? Hummer or Land rover is the rumor. Probably wind up being Honda CRV.
Also, just got back from SEAHAWK in the US. Did boat ops with US Navy EODs. Found that webbing is BIG liability on small boat ops. I used my chest rig only. Much better.

[recce_o]

Are you sure that the Iltis' aren't being turned in so that they can install the new radios? I think that is a more likely scenario.

Members of my unit participated in a user input session with the project office for the recce configuration. As of the spring they hadn't decided what the replacement was going to be and were still at the brain storming stage. They are learning toward a Hummer clone manufactured by GM in London. This will not come into service for a couple of years.

BTW, only the recce units will get the recce configured version with MK19/C6/M2 mounts and armour. All the rest of you pogues get a civilianized version, with seat warmers and air conditioning, but no weapons mount. Sorry! http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/wink.gif

Please tell re. webbing liability.

[TonyM]

Yeah, you're probably right. I guess they forgot to tell us that the new Hummers will show up loaded with all the new clothe the soldier gear, in camo, in sizes that fit, with lots of extra gore-tex.

Anyway, back to planet earth; as for the webbing being bad on small boat ops. Guys are crammed in tight, can't get mags out to reload, butt packs in the way (there's a useless item in a zodiac, you'd never get anything out of them if your life depended on it) Chest rig/vest are much better, you can stay low, relaod fast without fumbling, all your gear is up in front. Quicker exits as you're not tangled up in the next guys pouches/LARS cables. The higher load center of gravity was far better for boarding / exiting. Seemed you could move a lot faster. Most of this was done in the dark so having everything accessable with one hand was a definite plus. The US Navy EOD guys use the new tac vest from Blackhawk with the built in life vest.

[garett]

Tony did I mention that I hate you. My unit doesn't do a 1/4 of the exercises that I hear other units doing. The second battalion of our regiment (which should be another regiment since we don't ever see or do anything with them) is sending a platoon to Belgium in September and both the PLF and Newfies have gone to Florida to do FIBUA. What is it the determines what kind of training a battalion does. Is it totally the responsibility of the CO to co-ordinate these things.

[recce_o]

It depends entirely on having imaginative officers who know how to do staff work and are motivated to get off of their asses and do work above and beyond the regular administrative requirements.

[Enfield]

garret - Rumour has it that this year PLF and the Newfs are going to the US again, either Florida or NY State. Have fun on Arcon!

TonyM - which unit are you in again? And what exactly is "Seahawk"?

Enfield

[TonyM]

I'm in the Cdn Scotttish, out on the Island. SEAHAWK is the Cdn Navy/US Navy/USMC annual harbour defense and anti-terrorism ex in Washington. It's a great go, not all high-speed, but enough to call fun. Our unit is typically taked with provided a QRF force for the US Navy / Marines. We get to go compliments of the Pacific Fleet HQ here in Esquimalt. I don't think our unit would put out the money themselves. As for exercises with the US, push for NORTHERN EDGE, in Alsaka each year. It's one of the biggest. You get to play with Force Recon, FAST, SF, etc..

[jw]

TonyM,
How'd you like working with the Navy EOD Techs? Also do you know what Blackhawk vest they were using?

[TonyM]

Great bunch of guys (and one girl). During our down time, we wandered over to their compound. They were set up real nice, all kinds of slick gear and even a portable decompression chamber. I'm a civvy diver, so I was quite impressed with all the neat stuff. I had my fireteam partner and our C6 gunner with me, and their medic (corpsman?)took the time to to give us a full hands on class on IV's. We even got to stick one of them. We brought 2 of them with us for the final boat assault and raid on the enemy camp. Unfortunatly, we also had some guys from a unit back east (I won't name) and one of them fell asleep and started snoring in the ORV. The platoon WO freaked, and I thought he was gonna kill him, but the damage was done. You can only make a first impression once. The look on the EOD guys faces said it all. Next year they said to bring my dive gear. Can't wait.

[TonyM]

In addition to my post above-
I didn't get the model or name of vest, but they said it was supplied from Blackhawk Industries in the States. Nice bit of kit. I prefer the mesh ones, but I don't think they make floatation models in mesh. I really liked the pocket on the lower back, it fit a radio and looked like it would fit the LARS perfectly. That brings up a good question. Where / How's the best place to wear the LARS and is it just me or does anybody else hate that stupid headset.

[recce_o]

But Tony, you look so cute wearing that chin strap!

[TonyM]

I hate that frigging thing. Looks like some kind of S&M getup for the Gimp from Pulp Fiction. On the top of the webbing yoke there's a loop, I stick the boom mic thru that with the ear piece facing up. Not too bad, you just tilt your head a bit to use it.

Anybody hear about the drug smugglers? They were using a HL to haul dope down to the US. They got nabbed the same day we were coming back from SEAHAWK. Just what the CF needs, more bad press.

[Cree Warrior]

Man, your unit does sound good!! We train here like madmen, but its all shit stuff like MTSC and MLOC training. We really only have time for one or two "fun" exercises. That is with nearly three weekends a month from Sept to April. Gets pretty tiresome.

Sua SPonte

[TonyM]

Hey Cree, how wuz phase training? I hear phase 3 is the best training in the Canadian military.

No, our unit dosen't do all fun stuff. In between the (few) good times there's miles and miles of concertina-coated bullshit, like MLOC and MTSE. Oh yeah, and can't forget section attack drills with no ammo,etc...BANG,BANG,GRENADE...Rata-tat-tat..TRENCH CLEAR! Big fuckin fun. Things are looking up, we've got a new CSM ex-Reg, ex-Airborne, sniper qual'd.

[recce_o]

How the hell do you guys afford 3 week-ends a month? We can barely afford 1 per month. Plus the obligatory diversity trg, legal trg, SHARPE trg, and assorted other communist party indoctrination.