RDF and what to do with them...

[GoneToTheCanner]

hi all
Given the season that's in it, let's do something for the unwashed in the Reserve. I propose the setting up of a Reserve outfit for the Don. I mean, if the Navy and the Army can have 'em, why not the Corps? Say, of company strength,on the lines of the RAF Regiment. Give them a few Bofors, a SAM, a truck full of Steyrs and shovels for hole installation. They could do guard and patrol the fenceline, giving hard-pressed techies a break from the grind of the guardroom and they could go to Gormo in summer and shoot drogues full of holes and even frighten a PC-9 or two. It would also be useful for getting the anoraks off the fences of our international airports.Every now and then, you could let them sniff a PC-9 exhaust pipe or lick a CASA tyre, as a reward for not scaring real passengers with their excessive love of Dunnes Stores anoraks. They could even be detached to Shannon to fend off axe-wielding protesters. Suggested names on a crumpled 101, please.
regards
GttC

[Airman Stall]

Hello All,  Thats actually not a bad idea,  it would give members off the great unwashed something to do on there weekends.  The fresh air and the canteen food would do them all a heap of good.  I'am just surprised that the techies are still doing time in the guard room.  When I went on my much deserved ticket they were bringing in a platoon of new recruits to do such tasks.  I presumed that the techies were well off the guard room and fire picket duties by now.                              
      After all these years in the guard room on them lonely weekends holding my old trusty FN keeping a careful watch for the duty officer I am sorry that I never let go a magazine in the direction of one of the blocks.   In the investigation afterwards just say that you thought you saw someone with a weapon running and you panicked and let rip.  Just stick to your story despite all the pressure they would but you under and it would be the last time you would do guard duty.  Well thats what I should have done but never did.
                                                           Stally.  '>

[Imshi-Yallah]

I presume you're unaware of the reserve infantry company thats moving out to the don in the new year then?
Given the amount of airframe strainers and chronic Bricin's dwellers in the IAC Id have to say your not in much of a position to throw stones.

[Fouga]

are you all serious? are they serious?

[GoneToTheCanner]

But,Imshi,you're missing the point! I'm talking about forming an Air Corps reserve, not just importing cannon-fodder from outside.There are enough square-shouters and gunslingers about the place already!...Stally, how many times did i wish i had the nerve to let off a burst from an FN, whilst on an endless guard!! No doubt I'd be still writing reports on the loss of the ammunition.One time, a clown from Adm. Wing lost a round under a chair and we practically had to dismantle the place to find it, resulting in a late offgoing guard and a pair of pissed-off O.Os....the guardroom is just the place for enthusiastic baggers.What could we call the new outfit? AerBagger na HEireann?
regards
GttC

[Imshi-Yallah]

Eh, your low opinion of reservists is based on what? Like I said people in glass houses...what makes you think that reservists are going to be qeueing up to do guard.
A 20 will be getting stung for duties around the don no doubt, but since the IAC doesnt have any real tactical role theres absolutely no need for a specialised airfield defence unit.
Reserve infantry already know how to do area defence, often I suspect to a higher standard than the IAC.

[Turkey]

From what I have seen lately of 'A'coy 20th they could make bits of anyone in the current IAC.
Our 2 IAC peeps posting on this thread have shown a huge degree of  ignorance, thankfully, many members of the IAC have a more enlightened and intelligent attuide to the RDF.
It has been my experience that people who referr to the FCA/RDF as 'baggers are just about capable of reading 2-3 words from the sun newspaper and are of little use to the defence forces of this country.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
I did three years as a bagger in the 23rd Battalion, in Cork, and truly, I saw every size and shape of enlisted and commissioned human being known to man.Naturally us baggers could run rings around the Regulars, when it came to shooting, tactics, mortars, 84s,etc, purely because we did little else except train.We thought we were great,altogether, not realising that there is far more to being in the Military than shooting,marching and getting dirty up in Kilworth of a weekend.When I entered the Don straight out of the Baggers, boy, did I get a severe culture shock! There were four in my Class, who had been baggers and we soon learned to keep it quiet.The attitude to the FCA ranged from mild,amused contempt to outright hatred.Why? Because the raw enthusiasm of weekenders has very little to do with the reality of Military life.Being in the Military on a full-time basis is very hard on one's enthusiasm, especially for tedious shit like going up to Kilbride to get wet, cold, hungry and dirty to fire a hundred bullets into a piece of canvas.We much prefered being in the hangars, doing what we joined up for, that it, fixing aircraft, occasionally flying in them and letting others do the "real Army" stuff.99% of Military life is made up of doing endless, boring, tedious tasks, with sod-all glamour or thanks, pay that is often below par and all wrapped up in getting earache from rockapes who hate techies.So when some weekend warrior takes me to task for slagging the baggers,nah,sorry,pal.Been there, both ways, and baggers simply don't know. So you can outshoot us on any given Saturday? So what?! The Air Corps do things every day of the week that you couldn't even begin to emulate, unless you're an avionics geeker or a skilled pilot or a good machinist......Incidentally, we, in the 23rd,didn't take ourselves at all seriously.We won range competitions every now and again, but we didn't fret if we lost....as for the Air Defence thing, what is the point of having an anti-aircraft system if you don't use it to protect a vital installation in the national defence network, such as it's only active airbase? Slagging is an integral part of the Don culture and the Army and Navy's culture as well. Get used to it.
regards
GttC

[Imshi-Yallah]

Ah look  who wrote the manual

[sealion]

You know of course that the 23rd are the biggest shower of walters in the RDF? The rest of the Brigade refers to them as "the paras" due to the abundance of gucci kit,most of which is unneccessary.
I Heard of one officer who had the neck to correct regs on their dress while wearing US OG trousers and Combat boots. More wear non issue berets,with embroidered badges, and shoulder holsters...

But you are right. Only recently the RDF are beginning to see that there is more to the DF than shooting and marching. The day when there is a PDF/RDF admin competition will we see who can really do the job better '>
Elements to this competition should include:
(a)Use of tippex on computer typed documents
(b)Marathon carry of the clipboard in the pretending to work routine(Extra points gained for the carriage,and use of biro while walking)
©Endurance test: This will involve constant complaining of how you hate the PDF commencing at 9.30am every morning,and ceasing at 4.30pm. (Those involved in CIT are handicapped to the above time)
(d)Admin test:Combination test to involve losing,or not processing all paperwork recieved over a 24 hour period.
(e) Technical test: Demonstrate the use of mechanical equipment in the maintenance and modification of the subjects personal vehicle.(Points will be deducted for all work done to officers vehicles,including washing,as this is considered work)
(f) Military driving skills: This test involves driving in the main gate in own vehicle,parking outside MAP,convincing doc that you are sufficiently sick,and then driving vehicle to appropriate Golf course.

PDF would kick the RDF ass in this competition every time.
 '>

[Frank]

Guys,

This topic is heading in the wrong direction totally, not that it was ever going in the right direction in the first place.

We all know how this thread would develop so that's it, topic closed.


Happy Christmas,

Frank.