RAOC Gazette - page 58
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
SCHOOLS LIAISON VISITS OR RECRUITING — KINETON FASHION By CAPTAIN S. R. BROWN LIFE in a depot becomes tedious at times and CAD Kineton is no exception to this rule. When the opportunity for our lads to do something out of the ordinary arises our immediate reaction is to grab it with both hands. So it was, that when the ACIO at Worcester asked if we could provide some assistance for a visit to a local school we were only too happy to oblige. Little did we know this gesture would snowball and with what success. To capture the attention of school children, we reasoned, would require more than just a soldier in combat kit with a happy smiling face. Something out of the ordinary was needed and the obvious interest-grabber in the ammunition world is Wheelbarrow. Some of the t e a m — w i t h friends. Photographs by Captain Brown. Corporal Robbo Robinson, Corporal T a f f W i l l i a m s , Staff Sergeant Nobby Clark, Lance Corporal Chris Starbuck and Private June Pickard pose w i t h Wheelbarrow at Harris High School, Rugby. Everyone has heard of RAOC ' Bomb Disposal' but few have actually seen the equipment up close. It was decided that this, and a few items of ammunition would spark off the interest we were after. It was on a wet Wednesday afternoon that Staff Sergeant Nobby Clark and Lance Corporal Bob Little, our EOD Store- man, made their way to Myton High School in Warwick. Both they and the ACIO, were totally unprepared for the effect that their appearance would have. The novelty value of Wheel- barrow was expected but what was not was the reaction of the children to the two soldiers themselves. The interest shown and the barrage of questions, many of them surprisingly technical and detailed, took everyone by surprise. The half an hour allotted to Staff Sergeant Clark rapidly stretched into an hour. Not only were the kids im- pressed but so was Staff Sergeant Clark who summed up the experience in one word—marvellous! (actually he used two words but my boss says the first one is unprintable). The ACIO and the Careers Master were also pleased, a letter full of praise from the school bore witness to that fact. The word also got round to other schools in the area who began to specifically ask that Staff Sergeant Clark should accompany the ACIO on future visits. Faced with such enthusiasm how could we refuse? This 'one-off' visit has now become an almost regular commitment. Fourteen schools in Coventry, Warwick, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Rugby, Leamington Spa and Stratford have been visited over the last five months or so. The reception in these — 41 schools has been as enthusiastic as that at Myton High School. The team has expanded from two to five and the display itself has also increased in size and scope. The team now takes along ammunition items (kindly lent by the Army School of Am- munition), weapons, radios and the full CES of an EOD team. These recruiting visits can be broken down into two main phases, as any good military operation should. Phase one is in support of the ACIO who talks to children in their last year at school. This is an organised part of their careers syllabus and takes the form of a general introduction to the Army. The team is then able to bang the RAOC drum and the AT trade in particular, as the kids have an opportunity to ' play' with the kit and ask them questions. An opportunity is often taken by the team to dress an unsuspecting young lady in the bomb suit during this phase, much to the amusement of all concerned. The second phase of the visit is an ' open ' display to the rest of the school. This is the most difficult part of the visit as five harassed soldiers try to control six or seven hundred in- quisitive children (and teachers). It normally takes place during the lunch hour, so at least the time available is limited. It is during this phase that the less savoury aspect of school recruiting is experienced. After fourteen visits, those who have participated are staunch supporters of Mrs Thatcher's attempt to abolish school lunches! Needless to say they high- light the excellent standards of catering in the Armed Forces as an incentive to prospective recruits. It was during this second phase at Manor Park Grammar School in Nuneaton that a nasty experience occurred. Wheel- barrow was stolen. The culprit was an eleven year old boy who, taking advantage of the general confusion, switched it on and drove it onto the school stage. Unfortunately, the school orchestra was practising there at the time. Luckily no one was injured in the ensuing mayhem though the Music Teacher's sense of humour received an almost fatal blow—as did the boy's right ear. These visits are not looked on as simply a ' jolly' or an escape from boring routine, however, either by us or the ACIO at Worcester. Recruiting is growing ever more important as we strive to attract the right sort of people in the right numbers into the Army, and we all have a responsibility in that direction. The ACIOs, Mobile Display Teams and other organisations who are full time recruiters are our front line troops in this battle but we should all be offering our support to them. (Continued on page 46) |
| Book number | R0404 |