RAOC Gazette - page 77
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1977 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1977 |
| Late date | 1977 |
| Transcription |
Sports Report" {continued from paxe 43). THE ARMY PARACHUTE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1977 ° - J H Sergeant Keith Jones after the presentation of his Long ' rvice and Good Conduct Medal with Staff Sergeant Br agger, SQMS Jackson and Sergeant Barr. Private Phil Harriott is also the recipient of our good wishes for, although he's not posted as yet, he is attending the Commando Course. From his letters he does seem to be enjoying himself (mad fool) and we're all certain he'll pass with flying colours (green preferably). Two new arrivals are Corporal Taffy Thomas from BAOR and Lance Corporal Tim Kelly (plus wife and little ones) from Bicester—the shock is just about wearing off now. In fact ance Corporal Kelly has just returned from his packaging course with an 4 A' Grade which deserves congratulations, On the indoor sporting scene, Pete Jackson confirmed the mis-spent youth theory by reaching the finals of the Units Darts League Individual Championship only to be pipped at the post by Roddy Johnston, one of the local firemen, Well that's all for now, so I'll say " Failte agus beannachd dhuibh" (Oh really!!). IT te SULTANATE ARMY OF OMAN APPOINTMENT Applications are invited from suitably qualified officers of the R.A.O.C. who have recently left the British Army or are due to retire shortly, to fill a uniformed contract appointment in the Army of the Sultanate of Oman as DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ORDNANCE SERVICES. Applicants must have a background of general ordnance, with experience in provision control and accounting and in unit accounting procedures, and former service as a formation ordnance representative. The post would be particularly suitable for an ex- ammunition technical officer with Depot experience who has also at some time commanded a stores section. The appointment carries the rank of Captain on engage- ment, with prospects of promotion to Major on success- ful completion of 3 months probationary service, and is unaccompanied (although short family visits to Oman may be possible). The maximum age limit is 50. Conditions of service include annual emoluments amounting to the equivalent of £9,000 on engagement at the current rate of exchange (tax free), increasing to £11,000 on promotion; a generous end-of-contract gratuity; normal Service mess facilities with bachelor accommodation and services free of charge; and 60 days home leave annually (usually taken in two periods of 30 days) with air passages paid. For further details, write giving a brief summary of your qualifications and experieice, and quoting ref: 52/B, to: - Senior Personnel Officer © AIRWORK SERVICES LTD. Bournemouth (Hum) Airport Christchurch Dorset BHZ3 6EB THE Corps entered a team into the Army Parachute Cham- pionships which took place at Netheravon. The team consisted of:—Captain Paddy O'Connell, 7 Ordnance Field Park; Sergeant Davy Hogg, CVD Ludgershall; Lance Corporal Steve Slater, Headquarters 6 Field Force; WOl Ron Lutz> REME, JATE; Major Jim Steele, School of Ordnance (Reserve). {Major Jim Steele was team reserve because he could only be released for the weekend \4th/\5th May and in no way reflects a lack of form). The competition got off to an excellent start and at the end of the first day everyone had completed five jumps in the team accuracy event. The scoreboard reflected a high standard of precision with thirty seven * dead centres ' (the target being a disc ten centimetre in diameter) out of some three hundred jumps. The Corps team was in a very respectable fifth position out of thirteen teams. Low cloud halted the competition for the next two days with jumping recommencing on Friday the 13th(!) in the form of the Relative Work event. Briefly, relative work is the link- ing-up and execution of predetermined manoeuvres, by a group in free falL It should be appreciated that it is a skilled and demanding activity which takes place at vertical speed in the order of one hundred and twenty miles per hour. Teams exit the aircraft at eight thousand five hundred feet and have thirty seconds 'working 1 time in which to complete the manoeuvre required, Teams were given the option of entering either four-man speed or four-man sequential. The latter being slightly more complicated, and requiring a good deal of training beforehand, we decided to opt for four-man speed as we had not had the opportunity to train as a team prior to the competition. Round one saw a very smooth, 13.75 second, four-man link- up from the RAOC, putting us well ahead of the next team who scored twenty six seconds. In round two we scored 16.00 seconds with our nearest rivals scoring 24.50 seconds. Our success continued in round three with an extremely slick 13.09 second 'star/ However, a minor tragedy occurred at the end of round three when Lance Corporal Steve Slater twisted an ankle on landing. We were fortunate in being able to talk Major Jim Steele into leaving his Sunday morning gardening at Deepcut, to come down to Netheravon for the final round of four-man speed. We embarked on round four in the happy position of needing only a three-man link to win the event. Ten seconds after leaving the aircraft in round four we had secured first prize in the four-man speed event, with a very quick three-man link. Another minor drama then occurred when a very eager Major Jim Steele came in to the three-man link, like the proverbial train, and inadvertently pulled Captain Paddy O'ConnelFs ripcord, The latter had the dubious pleasure of a long ride down under his parachute from six thousand feet (the normal opening height is two thousand feet, the team motto is now 'Pull your own!'). Winning the four-man speed event was of course the high spot for the team but in addition we came a commendable fifth overall in the competition. The first four places went to full- time teams namely:—1st, Red Devils; 2nd, Joint Services Para- chute Centre (Lippspringe); 3rd, REME; 4th, Joint Services Parachute Centre (Netheravon). Individual placings were as follows (out of eighty five com- petitors):—Sergeant Hogg, 13th; WOl Lutz, 18th; Captain O'Connell, 28th; Lance Corporal Slater, 34th. This was a very successful competition for the Corps and shows that we have the ability to do well, in the face of professional opposition, in this demanding and exhilarating sport. P. O'C. RED JERBOA THE Corps Yacht is a four berth twenty six foot South Coast One Design (SCOD) Bermuda Sloop She is berthed at JSSC, Gosport and is fully equipped for Coastal and Channel sailing. She is available for family charter at a reduced cost of £6 per day which is a remarkably cheap holiday. Those interested In chartering her are asked to contact Captain Carl Hoe on Bicester 3311 Ext 2764. |
| Book number | R0246 |