Planes, Pains, and Automobiles

By MCpl Boland

11 Apr 03

There we were, flight day minus one.  Report time was 0800 at the SQ shop to pick up our flack vests, then we were off to the LTF for a departure assistance group (DAG).  Some soldiers were accompanied by their family members, and they were well received and were able to get their fill of sandwiches and doughnuts while their significant other spent some time getting their baggage checked.  All went smoothly with the kit verification and the requisite paperwork, and then it was time to head home for the rest of the day in order to spend the day with the family and friends.  Cpl Dave Thompson was spotted at the West Edmonton Mall Waterpark in the last few days.  He claims that he went there because quote “My son really likes this place” end quote, but we all know the reason he goes there is because of the local scenery.  Most married soldiers chose to spend a quiet evening at home, while the younger ones spent some of their upcoming tour money at the local hot spot.  They would be slightly more uncomfortable on the trip over than those who chose to take it easy the day prior to the flight.

Flight day; the soldiers of C Sqn LdSH(RC) report to the SQ’s Shop in order to draw magazines, bolts and barrels and get some final words of encouragement from our CO, LCol Jamie Cade and our RSM, CWO Dave Beiner.  Of note was the unexpected promotion of MCpl Alex Graf by the CO.  Following another short parade by the Brigade Commander Col Stu Beare, we said so long to our families and after a few tears and final hugs, we went through the security check, grabbed a bag lunch, and hopped on the bus.  According to the itinerary, we were to eat the bag lunch on the bus because the plane had no way to deal with all the garbage, so the half-hour drive was spent munching and crunching.  We did not know when the next time we would be able to eat would be, so most of us ate all of the bag lunch.

We jumped onto the plane, got another meal, and made a quick stop in Winnipeg where we were welcomed with some hot coffee in the hangar.  When we got back on the plane, we were treated to yet another meal, and then it was off to Trenton where we made a three-hour stop for fuel.  Again we got back on the plane, received another meal, and we were off across the pond with some help from the German Air force who escorted us through Germany.  With a meal being fed to us every time we entered a new time zone, the last thing any we were thinking about was food, so what did we get when we landed in Zagreb?  You guessed it, a bag lunch.  With barely enough time to roll up our sleeves and use the washroom, we were stuffed on a bus and driven to Camp Black Bear, Valika Kladusa.  Let’s just say that if ‘Hurry up and wait’ wasn’t an Army term, then we wouldn’t be in the Army.  All in all the AAG went off pretty well.

Finally tired and sore we arrived at our new home for the next six months.  I do have to send an honest thank you out to B Sqn LdSH (RC).  They met us at the bus, gave us a tour of the camp, and fed us a hot meal.  But even before the hot meal, we were issued one of the most important documents we would need while we’re here.  The Beer Card!  Over the next few days, we were treated to a very well prepared handover, complete with tours of the area of operations, and well-organized files and folders.  Thank you, B Sqn.  The soldiers of C Sqn LdSH(RC) have now all settled into a rhythm and are performing well.  For some, this is old hat and they are just here to check on their time shares, and for others it is their first tour.  There is no doubt that we will have a great deployment.  One of the goals of many soldiers is to return to Canada in better shape then they are now, but if we keep getting fed like we did on the trip over, our shapes will all be round.