Page 20 - March2020

After Gagetown Service Bn, I was assigned as Deputy B Gen Gerry Edwards, was the Comd, Grant
Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master General Nichols the Deputy, Russ Roane my boss, Pete
(DAA&QMG) to HQ 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group (3 Armstrong in Tac Eval and many more.
CIBG). A great job and again the experience of working My first task was to develop a field-refueling
with a variety of Commanders, Brigadier Milroy, Brigadier
concept for Army Aviation. It was an interesting
Guimond, Brigadier Drewry and all the CO s of the units
challenge and I learned a few lessons, the
in 3 Bde. I still had a desire to get back to the flying side
government procurement process was unwieldy,
of the Army and after Gagetown was transferred to HQ
cumbersome, and expensive and has only
Mobile Command.
increased in its ineffectiveness to this day. I visited
My first task was to develop a field-refueling concept for a manufacturer of tank trucks who provided very
Army Aviation. It was an interesting challenge and I efficient effective units for the construction
learned a few lessons, the government procurement business and forestry operators in Quebec. The
process was unwieldy, cumbersome, and expensive and only real changes we needed to make was the
has only increased in its ineffectiveness to this day. I inclusion of adequate filtering systems. He quoted
visited a manufacturer of tank trucks who provided very a very reasonable price and early delivery etc. It
efficient effective units for the construction business and looked great to me and was a real practical and
forestry operators in Quebec. The only real changes we economical solution. When I asked about tech
needed to make was the inclusion of adequate filtering drawings, he said forget it. It would cost more
systems. He quoted a very reasonable price and early than the equipment to prepare the papers for the
delivery etc. It looked great to me and was a real practical Army requirement. If something breaks down he
and economical solution. When I asked about tech said, get a cutting torch and throw away the
drawings, he said forget it. It would cost more than the debris and start from scratch. Not good enough
equipment to prepare the papers for the Army for us, we need detailed tech drawings, repair
requirement. If something breaks down he said, get a manual, (all in two languages, etc) He said forget
cutting torch and throw away the debris and start from it, it wasn’t worth the frustration. Good common
scratch. Not good enough for us, we need detailed tech sense approach to the logistics of small
drawings, repair manual, (all in two languages, etc) He operations, which are as valid today as in 1967.
said forget it, it wasn’t worth the frustration. Good
In my first year at Mobile Command (MOBCOM),
common sense approach to the logistics of small
the HQ had an Aviation cell, the Chief of Tactical
operations, which are as valid today as in 1967.
Aviation, part of the Force Resources and
In my first year at Mobile Command (MOBCOM), the HQ Development Branch (FRD) The boss was G/C
had an Aviation cell, the Chief of Tactical Aviation, part of Amos Pudsey, later to be killed in Africa
the Force Resources and Development Branch (FRD) The demonstrating a Twin Otter. Buzz Borland was the
boss was G/C Amos Pudsey, later to be killed in Africa LCol in the Org and Establishment and wrote the
demonstrating a Twin Otter. Buzz Borland was the LCol in Tactical Aviation Force Structure. It was a sizeable
the Org and Establishment and wrote the Tactical paper outfit, including Mojaves, Buffaloes, Attack
Aviation Force Structure. It was a sizeable paper outfit, Helicopters, Transport , Utility and Recce. They
including Mojaves, Buffaloes, Attack Helicopters, were euphoric days to say the least. I had finished
Transport , Utility and Recce. They were euphoric days to my stint at the refueling study and went over to
say the least. I had finished my stint at the refueling study the Senior Staff Officer Transportation (SSO Tn)
and went over to the Senior Staff Officer Transportation shop with Chuck Read and Dan Danyluk. Always
(SSO Tn) shop with Chuck Read and Dan Danyluk. Always remembering Blain Bartley’s quips about happy
remembering Blain Bartley’s quips about happy hour hour career planning, I knew there was an
career planning, I knew there was an opening in the Tac opening in the Tac Avn cell, and went in to the
Avn cell, and went in to the position of Staff Officer position of Staff Officer Exercises. It was an
Exercises. It was an invigorating time. invigorating time.