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RAOC Gazette - page 69

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Corps RAOC
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1978
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Early date 1978
Late date 1978
Transcription J5eto£ from &broab
Allied Forces Central Europe
HAVING been out of THE GAZETTE for so
long, it's difficult to know exactly where
to begin the AFCENT saga. However, we
hope to introduce most of the personnel
from our seven-nation international military
headquarters during the coming months.
A good place to start is at the top,
and we can report a change in the position
of the Army Executive Officer and senior
Corps representative here. Major Robin
Lee has left us for the delights of Andover
and Headquarters DGOS, and his place has
been taken by Captain Colin Robinson,
from 6th Field Force.
Another interesting arrival is Sergeant
Brian Rider who will represent the Army in
the Families Office of our RAF sponsored joint support Unit.
Brian served for nine years in the Navy and six years in the
RAF, before transferring to the Corps, Having now joined
NATO, he can presumably claim to be a fully qualified * service-
man/
The rest of the thirty five Corps members here have recently
returned from an eight day exercise in Germany, just in time to
participate in the first of the bi-annual BFTs. The pass rate was
very satisfactory. So much so, that the Army Executive had to
pace the course with a pedometer before he was convinced that it
really was the statutory one and a half miles. The Corps did
extremely well, with no failures and the fastest time overall by
Sergeant Alan Ward in 8 minutes 04 seconds.
We have also been well to ( the fore in the British Team
which competed in the five nation Mini-Olympics ' recently held
here. Germany, UK, USA, Canada and France/Belgium com-
bined played each other at soccer, basketball, European hand-
ball and volleyball. The German team won the competition
with the * Brits * in second place just one point behind. Corps
members in the UK team were W02 Colin Bawden, and
Sergeants Alan Ward, Mick Morgan, Paddy Stanway and Roger
Evans.
Postings in: Staff Sergeant J. Rowley, Sergeant B. Rider,
Corporal D. W, Wawton, Lance Corporals J. Allan, L Balfour
and P. A. Newton.
Postings out: Sergeants R. Bate, D, C. Beynon and T. P.
Tesseyman, Corporal C. P. Hands, Lance Corporal J. Cooper and
Private S. B. White.
BAOR Ammunition Inspectorate
HAVING virtually cracked the revised BE test Staff Sergeant
Taff Preece organised a range day for us, as a result of which,
approximately sixty per cent of the Unit managed to pass
their annual weapon classification test.
This figure would
have been considerably better had thirty six per cent of the Unit
not found mare entertaining tasks to undertake—well it was
raining! As to the other four per cent, suggestions that he was
blind were dispelled the following week when he managed to
teach us some map reading techniques.
There has been little activity on the sporting scene this
month as our very own gladiator, Staff Sergeant George
Ferguson, is away on leave and a pre-ops course. However,
Sergeants Alan Riches and John Anderson attended the Dum-
mersee Yacht Club (which the Unit now is a member of) Whit-
sun Regatta. They finished second, third, last (?), and third
in their four races which gave them third equal overall, until
a protest relegated them to fourth. Oh well, if you must
cheat boys? !
Much to the relief of the rest of us WOl Dandy has finally
settled his differences with the suppliers of his can It's been a
long hard struggle for us all. Since his return from UK
Corporal Mick Stripe has returned to the rallying scene, and in
two events has managed one class win and one retirement
Photo Tom Kilcrease.
Sergeant Alan Ward, left, in action for the British team in the
European Handball competition of the AFCENT "Mini-Olympics/
RAOC Assurance
Association
18 Chequers Square, Uxbridge, Middlesex
Tel. (STD 0895) 53444
20fo Discount - special scheme
Motor Insurance. Available to all
Corps members,
Life Assurance — protection for
your family or saving for the future.
House Purchase — buying now or
in the future. Which Building Society
to choose and how much to save.
Preferential Interest rates available
to regular savers.
Book number R0247