Kashluk wrote:The reason is purely hygienic.
PiP wrote: pediculosis
The Army Diary
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Kashluk
Well, see this picture?Redeye wrote:
I'm intrigued by this.
With only a little reinforcement you could cover that with earth or snow and in the forest it would be invisible.
Too bad there's not enough snow in that picture to "iglooify" that thing.
Find us a pic like that ? pls?
That's the same spot from the outside. Pretty good camoflauge, eh?
Kashluk wrote:Well, see this picture?Redeye wrote:
I'm intrigued by this.
With only a little reinforcement you could cover that with earth or snow and in the forest it would be invisible.
Too bad there's not enough snow in that picture to "iglooify" that thing.
Find us a pic like that ? pls?
That's the same spot from the outside. Pretty good camoflauge, eh?
I thought that was the same place, but without snow all over it it does kind of stand out.
Of course, I was looking for it.
Someone worried about guys hiding behind trees with guns might miss the sleepy place.
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Kashluk
Date: January 20th 2008
Progress: 54 % (166/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Student
Situated at: 2nd Company, Infantry reserve officer training course, Reserve Officer School
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choo-choo! The morning train has changed direction, we're heading home now, lads!
(= less than 50 % of service left) My days as Officer Student are soon coming to an
end as I begin my service as an Officer Cadet in Kainuu Brigade on 24th. Some of the
fellows here bought an extra chocolate calendar during Christmas time and have been
opening the hatches in reverse order, ie. how many days or "mornings" there's left
of Reserve Officer School. Exciting times, indeed.
These last weeks have been rather harsh. We had this some sort of a Reserve Officer
School tradition called "Kirkkojärvi march". 22 kilometers of running in combat gear
with tasks on the way. The tasks included map-reading, coordinates, calculating distances
and such. Around the middle we also had a shooting competition at the firing range.
Screwing up any of the tasks, missing the targets or breaking the march's rules would mean
a time punishment in the total time. Our platoon was 7th of 30 platoons, best in our
company, and our company was third out of the 10 companies that participated.
We received the Officer's Knife at the end of the march
To make things worse, less than a week after the march began our JOHA, johtamisharjoitus,
or Leading Exercise (LEEX?) in English. Three days with practically no sleep, very little food,
marching in combat gear (20 kg) and full gear (45 kg), completing various
tasks on the way. All the tasks were graded and depending on the points you received
during the leading exercise we received our final grades on Leadership a couple of days
ago. I even managed to break my leg, sort of. "Left knee's ligaments' and supporting leg
muscles' distension" the doctor said. I'm fine now, but God damn it, it hurt back then.
In the end I did pretty well and my final grade seems to be excellent on the scale failed -
satisfactory - good - excellent. I think we'll be told tomorrow who got the company's best
scores and will recieve all the gold and glory that comes with it.
Captain "Sharkfish", our Company Chief, revealed where I'll be situated next. On 24th
I begin my service as a rookie trainer in Kainuu Jaeger Battalion, molding those raw recruits
into fine-ass soldiers. Or not. After a few weeks of basic training I'm transferred to the
NCO school, teaching those corporals-and-sergeants-to-come a lesson or two about leading
troops in the battlefield. Once the first phase of NCO school is over, I'm going back to
Hamina's goold old ROS. My job is to train the best of the best in all-around leadership and
commanding a platoon-sized organization. Three months of training future officers and I'm
free, free I tell you! 4th of July (how convenient) I will be promoted to second lieutenant
(podporucznik, eh Pip?) and I will finally recieve my military passport with the stamp
"On reserve" on it's first pages.
I actually had some time to take photos around the barracks. Here are a few selected
shots that give a pretty good picture of how's my life been for the past three months.
I'll get back to you guys soon and let you know how life as a shouting army officer works
for me. Wish me luck. Tà -tá!
Progress: 54 % (166/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Student
Situated at: 2nd Company, Infantry reserve officer training course, Reserve Officer School
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choo-choo! The morning train has changed direction, we're heading home now, lads!
(= less than 50 % of service left) My days as Officer Student are soon coming to an
end as I begin my service as an Officer Cadet in Kainuu Brigade on 24th. Some of the
fellows here bought an extra chocolate calendar during Christmas time and have been
opening the hatches in reverse order, ie. how many days or "mornings" there's left
of Reserve Officer School. Exciting times, indeed.
These last weeks have been rather harsh. We had this some sort of a Reserve Officer
School tradition called "Kirkkojärvi march". 22 kilometers of running in combat gear
with tasks on the way. The tasks included map-reading, coordinates, calculating distances
and such. Around the middle we also had a shooting competition at the firing range.
Screwing up any of the tasks, missing the targets or breaking the march's rules would mean
a time punishment in the total time. Our platoon was 7th of 30 platoons, best in our
company, and our company was third out of the 10 companies that participated.
We received the Officer's Knife at the end of the march
To make things worse, less than a week after the march began our JOHA, johtamisharjoitus,
or Leading Exercise (LEEX?) in English. Three days with practically no sleep, very little food,
marching in combat gear (20 kg) and full gear (45 kg), completing various
tasks on the way. All the tasks were graded and depending on the points you received
during the leading exercise we received our final grades on Leadership a couple of days
ago. I even managed to break my leg, sort of. "Left knee's ligaments' and supporting leg
muscles' distension" the doctor said. I'm fine now, but God damn it, it hurt back then.
In the end I did pretty well and my final grade seems to be excellent on the scale failed -
satisfactory - good - excellent. I think we'll be told tomorrow who got the company's best
scores and will recieve all the gold and glory that comes with it.
Captain "Sharkfish", our Company Chief, revealed where I'll be situated next. On 24th
I begin my service as a rookie trainer in Kainuu Jaeger Battalion, molding those raw recruits
into fine-ass soldiers. Or not. After a few weeks of basic training I'm transferred to the
NCO school, teaching those corporals-and-sergeants-to-come a lesson or two about leading
troops in the battlefield. Once the first phase of NCO school is over, I'm going back to
Hamina's goold old ROS. My job is to train the best of the best in all-around leadership and
commanding a platoon-sized organization. Three months of training future officers and I'm
free, free I tell you! 4th of July (how convenient) I will be promoted to second lieutenant
(podporucznik, eh Pip?) and I will finally recieve my military passport with the stamp
"On reserve" on it's first pages.
I actually had some time to take photos around the barracks. Here are a few selected
shots that give a pretty good picture of how's my life been for the past three months.
I'll get back to you guys soon and let you know how life as a shouting army officer works
for me. Wish me luck. Tà -tá!
-
Kashluk
Date: February 23rd 2008
Progress: 64 % (132/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Cadet
Situated at: 1st Separate Truck Company, Kuopio Battalion, Kainuu Brigade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heya, fellow patriots, over a month without updates! Time to change that.
Four weeks of training rookies at northern latitudes, teaching them the basics of
surviving in the woods, skiing in forest terrain, handling an assault rifle and other
skills of a soldier. I'm back at my home unit, but this time I'm doing completely
different things than before. The amount of responsibility can get a bit overwhelming at
times, because the cadre often give minimum instructions on what to do and when.
Luckily there's three officer cadets, including me, in our unit, so I'm not all alone with
my responsibilities.
It was funny when we arrived back at Kainuu Brigade - the amount of legends and rumors
that corporals and other squad leaders had passed around about us and our arrival
had done their job. The rookies nearly shat their pants when they saw us. We've tried
to "keep up the masquerade" and not get too close with the men, but of course there's
been some ice-breaking from our side. Me and my comrades don't believe in the saying
"let them fear as long as they obey". Showing example in wearing the same, annoying
battle gear everywhere the rookies do, running and skiing with them and eating from the
same field cutlery they do (squad leaders use disposable plates and forks, since "they've
earned it"). I believe we've earned their trust and it's a shit-load easier to lead men who
know that they will be lead from the front.
Life has been good so far. We've had equal proportions of life in the barracks and camping.
Them rooks are actually learning things real fast. We already had a four-day battle
firing at Vuosanka firing grounds where rookies learned the basics of a two-man defence
and attack with live ammunition. I lead one of the attack firings for three days, which was
quite a job, but truly rewarding in the end. Because the firings went real well, among
other things, I've befriended some members of the cadre, including the Depyty Company
Chief and one of the training lieutenants.
Unfortunately I have no photographs to show you at this point, but I hope my next update
will be out soon and that I have some photos to show you then. Feel free to ask questions,
I'd be happy to answer them. Cheers!
Oh, and P.S. Currently my station at the outbreak of war is a Deputy Chief of a Jaeger
Company in South-Eastern Finland (Karelia). Woe is me if Mother Russia goes cuck-a-loo again.
Progress: 64 % (132/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Cadet
Situated at: 1st Separate Truck Company, Kuopio Battalion, Kainuu Brigade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heya, fellow patriots, over a month without updates! Time to change that.
Four weeks of training rookies at northern latitudes, teaching them the basics of
surviving in the woods, skiing in forest terrain, handling an assault rifle and other
skills of a soldier. I'm back at my home unit, but this time I'm doing completely
different things than before. The amount of responsibility can get a bit overwhelming at
times, because the cadre often give minimum instructions on what to do and when.
Luckily there's three officer cadets, including me, in our unit, so I'm not all alone with
my responsibilities.
It was funny when we arrived back at Kainuu Brigade - the amount of legends and rumors
that corporals and other squad leaders had passed around about us and our arrival
had done their job. The rookies nearly shat their pants when they saw us. We've tried
to "keep up the masquerade" and not get too close with the men, but of course there's
been some ice-breaking from our side. Me and my comrades don't believe in the saying
"let them fear as long as they obey". Showing example in wearing the same, annoying
battle gear everywhere the rookies do, running and skiing with them and eating from the
same field cutlery they do (squad leaders use disposable plates and forks, since "they've
earned it"). I believe we've earned their trust and it's a shit-load easier to lead men who
know that they will be lead from the front.
Life has been good so far. We've had equal proportions of life in the barracks and camping.
Them rooks are actually learning things real fast. We already had a four-day battle
firing at Vuosanka firing grounds where rookies learned the basics of a two-man defence
and attack with live ammunition. I lead one of the attack firings for three days, which was
quite a job, but truly rewarding in the end. Because the firings went real well, among
other things, I've befriended some members of the cadre, including the Depyty Company
Chief and one of the training lieutenants.
Unfortunately I have no photographs to show you at this point, but I hope my next update
will be out soon and that I have some photos to show you then. Feel free to ask questions,
I'd be happy to answer them. Cheers!
Oh, and P.S. Currently my station at the outbreak of war is a Deputy Chief of a Jaeger
Company in South-Eastern Finland (Karelia). Woe is me if Mother Russia goes cuck-a-loo again.
-
Thor Kaufman
- Mamma's Gang member
- Posts: 5081
- Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 11:56 am
- Contact:
-
Kashluk
-
Kashluk
Date: March 19th 2008
Progress: 70 % (107/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Cadet
Situated at: 1st Separate Truck Company, Kuopio Battalion, Kainuu Brigade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's been busy times again, as usual. I was appointed as the leader of our Brigade's
CE1 military drivers' course. So all those who are to be trained to drive heavy trucks
and pulling big loads in war time have been under my supervision and responsibility.
Since I don't have a CE -driver's license myself, my job's been to take care of their
general military training, discipline and watch over their independent studying. It's
unbelievable how many "grownups" (generally 19 and up) still bother to play truant.
Besides that I've got long vacations on the roll here. 11 days in a row burning up
at this very moment, and another 9 days long vacation's coming right behind the corner.
After that I will be transferred back to the Reserve Officer School in Hamina. I will
finally get back to doing stuff that I've received training for and I'm good at. It's been
eating me quite a bit, that they situated me at the 1st Seperate Truck Company for my
Cadet season since I really know nothing about military trucks, about driving them nor
the supply line that they're involved in. It's almost completely different branch of service.
I must've already received the reputation of a hard, but fair trainer. I seem to get
more respect from my subordinates than most of the corporals / sergeants do. Could be
just that I demand only what I can do myself, I never look back or make compromises and
I always demand the same things from all of them. I believe many conscript leaders
misuse their status quite a lot. "Let them fear me, as long as they obey me" probably
fits for me for post parts. Remember that sergeant in Monty Python's Meaning of life who
screams his last breaths in front of the platoon about marching up and down the square?
That's me at my worst times, when things've gone fucked and some constructive criticism
is in order.
Yup. Life's been treating me fair so far. We'll see what sorts of aces Lady Fortune has up
her sleeves for me in the future. Here's a photographic treat from me and my fellow warriors
during our "evening-off" at the local Blues Cafe - beer pub. Blues is our regular place
and many nights there's only camouflaged patrons inside. I'm the bald guy on the right.
Progress: 70 % (107/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Cadet
Situated at: 1st Separate Truck Company, Kuopio Battalion, Kainuu Brigade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's been busy times again, as usual. I was appointed as the leader of our Brigade's
CE1 military drivers' course. So all those who are to be trained to drive heavy trucks
and pulling big loads in war time have been under my supervision and responsibility.
Since I don't have a CE -driver's license myself, my job's been to take care of their
general military training, discipline and watch over their independent studying. It's
unbelievable how many "grownups" (generally 19 and up) still bother to play truant.
Besides that I've got long vacations on the roll here. 11 days in a row burning up
at this very moment, and another 9 days long vacation's coming right behind the corner.
After that I will be transferred back to the Reserve Officer School in Hamina. I will
finally get back to doing stuff that I've received training for and I'm good at. It's been
eating me quite a bit, that they situated me at the 1st Seperate Truck Company for my
Cadet season since I really know nothing about military trucks, about driving them nor
the supply line that they're involved in. It's almost completely different branch of service.
I must've already received the reputation of a hard, but fair trainer. I seem to get
more respect from my subordinates than most of the corporals / sergeants do. Could be
just that I demand only what I can do myself, I never look back or make compromises and
I always demand the same things from all of them. I believe many conscript leaders
misuse their status quite a lot. "Let them fear me, as long as they obey me" probably
fits for me for post parts. Remember that sergeant in Monty Python's Meaning of life who
screams his last breaths in front of the platoon about marching up and down the square?
That's me at my worst times, when things've gone fucked and some constructive criticism
is in order.
Yup. Life's been treating me fair so far. We'll see what sorts of aces Lady Fortune has up
her sleeves for me in the future. Here's a photographic treat from me and my fellow warriors
during our "evening-off" at the local Blues Cafe - beer pub. Blues is our regular place
and many nights there's only camouflaged patrons inside. I'm the bald guy on the right.
It must be nice to love your country, your land, and your surroundings enough to have the willpower to achieve something like that, I wouldn't know the feeling. Or maybe my brain is just too complex, but all that stuff you're doing sounds like quite a life.
That's why I hate you and your kind, because you're alive, in shape, and active. Willing to take a bullet in the ass if need be, getting shot at and stupid/brave enough to through yourselves in that situation. Or maybe you just look at it as a job until shit hits the fan, than you're fucked.
Fuck you and your kind.
Continue your life journey though, successfully, make the world a better place because you're "contributing".
Ah, fuck.
That's why I hate you and your kind, because you're alive, in shape, and active. Willing to take a bullet in the ass if need be, getting shot at and stupid/brave enough to through yourselves in that situation. Or maybe you just look at it as a job until shit hits the fan, than you're fucked.
Fuck you and your kind.
Continue your life journey though, successfully, make the world a better place because you're "contributing".
Ah, fuck.
-
baby arm
- Strider of the Wastes
- Posts: 852
- Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: baby arm fantasy island
- Contact:
You know he's in Finland, right?That's why I hate you and your kind, because you're alive, in shape, and active. Willing to take a bullet in the ass if need be, getting shot at and stupid/brave enough to through yourselves in that situation. Or maybe you just look at it as a job until shit hits the fan, than you're fucked.
Yeah I know, but still.baby arm wrote:You know he's in Finland, right?That's why I hate you and your kind, because you're alive, in shape, and active. Willing to take a bullet in the ass if need be, getting shot at and stupid/brave enough to through yourselves in that situation. Or maybe you just look at it as a job until shit hits the fan, than you're fucked.
-
Kashluk
Date: March 29th 2008
Progress: 73 % (97/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Cadet
Situated at: 1st Separate Truck Company, Kuopio Battalion, Kainuu Brigade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh joy, oh sadness. The melancholic longing for the bittersweet times at the Kainuu Brigade
have struck me. I said goodbye to fellow officers and NCOs, gave up my equipment and
saddled my horse, after which I rode into the sunset swearing that I would never return to
the backwoods of Kajaani. South-Eastern Finland calls me once again, but this time it calls
with an entirely different tone: "This will be your last detachment during your military
career." It's time to return to the legendary halls of the Reserve Officer School's main
building, to teach the new generation of platoon leaders the basics of leading men in combat.
Oh woe is me, sniff!
So, long story made short, I left Kainuu Brigade for good and from April 7th onwards
I will be back at the ROS in Hamina, from where I will also be demobilized. Good times
they've been and the Finnish Defence Forces have treated me rather well. None of the
cadre really bothered to come and say goodbye, except our unit's "quartermaster", who
just wanted to make sure I had given up all the equipment that belongs to Kainuu Brigade.
I spilled out a few parting words before my last dinner in Kainuu and the company's overseer
gave me the honor to take the whole bunch to eat for the very last time. As always, the
the best part of military service in Finland is forming good relationships with your fellow
conscripts. I'm sure gonna miss them.
But at least I'm finally going to get back to doing the things I know best - leading light
infantry in battle through forest terrain. Or at least training new officers to do the same.
We're supposed to enter this Company Vice Chief course before the next reserve officer
course begins and otherwise prepare everything around the unit for the new officer students.
I'm spending the next week on vacation, but I have absolutely no idea what's going to
happen in the next two weeks. I hope it's full of action, the job of a jaeger platoon leader in
a truck company was quite a bore. There's a rumor circling around that the vice chief -thingy
involves playing video games, some shit about "strategic scale operations". Wait and see, I guess.
I was getting all sentimental and stuff, so I decided to take a few snapshots before I "left
town", so to speak. The first two shots are of me and the rest are random photographs I took
around the barracks.
Progress: 73 % (97/362 days left)
Rank: Officer Cadet
Situated at: 1st Separate Truck Company, Kuopio Battalion, Kainuu Brigade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh joy, oh sadness. The melancholic longing for the bittersweet times at the Kainuu Brigade
have struck me. I said goodbye to fellow officers and NCOs, gave up my equipment and
saddled my horse, after which I rode into the sunset swearing that I would never return to
the backwoods of Kajaani. South-Eastern Finland calls me once again, but this time it calls
with an entirely different tone: "This will be your last detachment during your military
career." It's time to return to the legendary halls of the Reserve Officer School's main
building, to teach the new generation of platoon leaders the basics of leading men in combat.
Oh woe is me, sniff!
So, long story made short, I left Kainuu Brigade for good and from April 7th onwards
I will be back at the ROS in Hamina, from where I will also be demobilized. Good times
they've been and the Finnish Defence Forces have treated me rather well. None of the
cadre really bothered to come and say goodbye, except our unit's "quartermaster", who
just wanted to make sure I had given up all the equipment that belongs to Kainuu Brigade.
I spilled out a few parting words before my last dinner in Kainuu and the company's overseer
gave me the honor to take the whole bunch to eat for the very last time. As always, the
the best part of military service in Finland is forming good relationships with your fellow
conscripts. I'm sure gonna miss them.
But at least I'm finally going to get back to doing the things I know best - leading light
infantry in battle through forest terrain. Or at least training new officers to do the same.
We're supposed to enter this Company Vice Chief course before the next reserve officer
course begins and otherwise prepare everything around the unit for the new officer students.
I'm spending the next week on vacation, but I have absolutely no idea what's going to
happen in the next two weeks. I hope it's full of action, the job of a jaeger platoon leader in
a truck company was quite a bore. There's a rumor circling around that the vice chief -thingy
involves playing video games, some shit about "strategic scale operations". Wait and see, I guess.
I was getting all sentimental and stuff, so I decided to take a few snapshots before I "left
town", so to speak. The first two shots are of me and the rest are random photographs I took
around the barracks.
-
Thor Kaufman
- Mamma's Gang member
- Posts: 5081
- Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 11:56 am
- Contact:
