Alan Skeoch

Month: August 2023

  • EPISODE 868 THE TRAINING OF PRIVATE JACKSON SKEOCH, PRINCESS PATRICIA CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY, AUGUST 2023

    Note: I have converted our notes into dialogue….easier to paint a picture of Jack’s experience.   

     Jack, send note to correct errors if 
    you have time.   I know you are heading to the mountains with your unit and likely willl be very busy.


    EPISODE 868    THE TRAINING OF  PRIVATE JACKSON SKEOCH, PRINCESS PATRICIA CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY,  AUGUST 2023

    alan skeoch
    august 17m 2023



    This is Private Jackson Skeoch, our grandson of whom we are very pleased.  He is now
    a private in the Canadian Army.     Assigned to the PPCLI. Marjorie and i only know
    part of what that means.  Perhaps you might like to know as well.

    Best to start by looking at this picture of Jack.  Look closely.  Note the rather 
    nondescript piece of material attached to his cap by velcro.  Nondescript is the right
    word.  When Jack arrived back home for his  two week ‘leave’ 
    in July, he showed me the badge on which are five letters….RECCE.  Initially 1 was
    unimpressed and I am sure  Jack was disappointed.   Now I know better.
    This little badge means Jack has qualified for Recon training in the Canadian army.
    It means he is now a member of a select subgroup of Canadian soldiers. 

    Jack has good reason to be proud of his achievement.  Let me record what I now know.

    1) FIVE ELASTIC BANDS ON HIS WRIST.   Strange to see Jack spring five wide elastic bands on his wrist.   I did not even
    notice them until Marjorie  explained their meaning.  “His sergeant major told the
    RECCE grads to always wear these five elastic band so you can pack up fast
    and move out even faster.”  Take only essentials. 



    BE READY TO MOVE IN AN INSTANT



    2)  Jack’s sister Molly organized a camping party for Jack shortly before he headed back
    to CFB Shiloh in Manitoba.   Marjorie and I were invited and were a little surprised
    that jack arrived with an army back pack.  “Everything I need is  in this 
    packsack and I am expected to have it with me everywhere I go.”  And he showed me
    how it is slung on his back.


    3)   “GRANDPA, there is a reason I feel good about this RECCE badge.  It means I have graduated from
    a very tough course.”  Some would call this course a TRIAL By ORDEAL.  Here are some of the courses
    he took and passed.  The order is random.  

     “One  of the worst, from my point of view, was the water course.
    All candidates had to spend an 8 hour night floating full clothed in a deep swamp.  The course was broken into two parts.  First
    part was to silently slide into the swamp fully clothed including gear.  Then to cling to a life buoy of some kind for
    four hours.  No talking except a whisper perhaps.”  Then Jack and his fellow Privates got a 40 minute break for sleep and 
    dry clothes.   Then they had to put on their wet clothes and spend another 4 hours in the water.  I believe this
    was a night course but could be wrong.   It most certainly was a trial by Ordeal.  Quit and you are out of 
    the course…failed.   He had no intention of failing. Pain he could take without whimpering.

    FRONT PORCH OF OR HOUSE:  INTERVIEW WITH JACKSON SKEOCH

    On Jack’s last day we invited him to open two hours with us on our front porch.  We wanted  to know about the
    course.  He was reticent to say much about it because no one back home had ever been in the
    Canadian Army.   Jack is not a boastfull person.   We knew he had stories to tell and this moment on
    our front porch was reserved solely for Jack.  Marjorie kept notes.  I asked a lot of questions.
    This is our record of those two hours spent on a July afternoon in 2023.  

      
    4)  “Grandpa, we had to jump from Griffin helicopters holding on to a rope and then rappel our way to the ground
    as fast as we could.    Helicopters only hovered for a few minutes…maybe seconds.   We had to be fast and careful with about
    100 pounds of gear on our back.  We did this many times in daylight or dusk.  To let go of the rope 
    was a sure injury and thereby removal from the course.   Our sergeants explained the difference between
    pain and injury.  Pain was to be expected.  Injury was not expected but did happen.  If one of us was
    injured then he was sent to hospital and removed from the course.  That was why Basic Training was so
    brutally demanding.. I can do 60 or 100 push ups on command now,



    5) “We simulated a Night Recon and potential  Assault training by boat.”
    “Who is we?”
    “My patrol .  We carried our weapons and gear but it was  a recon test.  To fire
    a weapon is risky…reveals both our presence and our location which could be fatal.”
    Alll  of us we’re in full camouflage gear….dark clothing for night assault.   The big rubber 
    assault boat had an outboard engine and the plan was to nose into the landing point
    and  immediately roll off the black rubber inflatable craft  For me the landing did not go
    well.”
    “What went wrong?”
    “There was a rope looped along water line of the assault boat.  Loops for men in water to grasp.
    My arm got caught in the loop.  No time for help as landing had to be fast.”
    “And?”
    “And so I reached down my leg for my knife….quickly sliced the roipe and joined the team.
    We did this simulation several times where all went well.”

    6) “Grandma, have you ever stayed wide awake for 72 hours?”
    “No.  That’s three whole days.”
    “We did it but staying awake was not easy. Here , smell this…take a good whiff.”
    “That is awful..”
    “I bought a can of these smelling salts just to ensure I was awake all the time. 
    To fall asleep is to risk the life of others.    Must be awake all the time.  Not easy
    even with the stink bomb.”




    7)  “Ever been in a fist fight grandpa?”
    “I avoided fighting whenever I could.  Anybody wanting to fight me was likely 
    going to win so I kept clear of conflict.   Most violent thing I did was knock
    ball carriers down playing football.   I was good at that.”
    “Well, we had to fight.  Had to know how to fight which meant getting in some good
    punches right away.  We had 60 second fights with each other.  Timed fist fights.
    For real.  Drew blood. “
    “I neer heard of that, Jack…news to me.”
    “who would want to talk about it?
    “Right”



    “You have that punching bag hanging the garage.  Was that the reason?”
    “No, I did not know about the fist fight training until we got to Camp Shiloh.”
    “How did you do?”
    “I ws OK but did not like hitting my friends….even for the 60 second time limit.”
    “Was that necessary?”
    “Recon stealth could go wrong….better a  fist fight than firing a un.  If the option was available.”
    “Violence expected?”
    “Yes.”

    8) “Grandpa, I did not say much about our weapons training .  I know you do not like guns.”
    “You remember how Marjorie and I turned my grandfathers rifle in to the OPP for destruction.”
    “That’s why I have not said much about our weapons training.   Lots of time spent
    on a firing range with different weapons.”
    “Any live firing situations?”
    “Big part of the training, Grandpa.”

    “Also  obstacle course…stealth…on our stomachs with live firing over head.   At least the
    sergeants said it was live firing.   Truthful or not we kept our heads dow.  No one died.”

    9)  “I would like to say something about the word ‘truth’…something that is very 
    important.  Sergents stressed truth.  Even iif the truth does not reflect well on
    a soldier.  Such as cheating by falling asleep on the 72 hour test…or doing only
     of 60 assigned push ups …or just plain lying about anything.   LIers are booted
    out of Canadian  army training.  No second chance.”
    “Surely tate is a little overdone?”
    “Nope.  The sergeant major says that any person who will tell lies is a person not
    to be trusted in a combat situation.   The lives of the whole team could be
    put in jeopardy by someone who lies.  Lyers are sent back…no room for them in the army”
    That’s how I learned the smelling salt truck.  My eyes got dosy…sleepy.   Hence the
    tin of smelling salts.   Nobody could trust a lier on sentry duty.”
    “Everybody tells lies now and then.”
    “Not me.”  (Probably overstated but point is clear.

    10)  “did you ever see wild animals during stealth training?”
    “yes, lots of deer, some moose and a few bears.”
    “How close?”
    “Very close.
    “How close…how many meters away,?”
    “One time a deer came right over to almost touchi  me with its nose.
    I lay perfidy still…camouflage clothes, green face paint, helmet with shrubbery…deer detected me
    with its nose and came over to check.   Same thing happened with kangaroos in Australia although
    they never got closer than a few meters.”

    11) “How did the stealth training work?”
    “We were given a compas reading then expected to report 
    what we found.  We must not be detected.’’’which is easier said than done.
    Also easier to do at night than in broad daylight.”
    “Were you ever detected?”
    “Not often.  Funny thing happened on my first stealth assignment.  As soon as I got the 
    compass coordinates I took off… found the object which  was a truck licence….then
    reported back the licence number to our sergeant who did not believe me at first.  “But you
    were not supposed to start the stealth test until I told you to do that,”
    “sorry”

    Now Jack is back in Camp Shiloh for a few days.   He expects to be sent to the Rockies for
    Recon training in a day or so.

    alan skeoch



    august 18, 2023

  • Fwd: EPISODE 867 JACKSON SKEOCH JOINED THE CANADIAN ARMY….AND LOVES IT…BUT IT IS NO PICNIC



    EPISODE 867 JACKSON SKEOCH…BASIC TRAINING IN CANADIAN ARMY  2023   Private Jackson 

    skeoch, PPLCI


    alan skeoch
    august 7, 2-2



    Our grandson, Jackson Skeoch, joined the Canadian army A  year ago  To be precise he is now Private Skeoch  in the  PRINCESS PATRICIA’S LIGHT CANADIAN  INFANTRY
    His sergeant and officers have put him through Basic Training that was designed to assure new recruits were physically fit.   We attended his graduation at CFB Edmonton alonng 
    with some 50 or so new rercruits . Today, August 11, 2023 that number has been reduced to 13.  How did this happen?


    STAGE ONE: GETTING INTO THE CANADIAN ARMY AS A POTENTIAL RECRUIT. ..BASIC TRAINING

    “Grandma I can now make my own bed?”
    “Is that part of Basic Training in the Canadian Army, Jackson?”
    “Training sergeants seem to think so.  If the corners are not perfectly square they make us do ouR  again and again and again.”
    “Seems joining the Canadian Army is basic housekeeping.”
    “Bet you can’t make youR own bed Grandpa?”
    “Correct.  I thought basic training was gruelling.”
    “It was. Watch this”
    And there on a street corner in Edmonton, Jack and his partner fell to the ground and began doing push ups
    with lightning speed.   In the time it would  take me to do one, they would do ten,  Then they stopped leapt to
    their feet…real for combat.
    “Sergeants make us do push ups for slight infractions or no infractions.”
    “Are sergeants tough on you?”
    “You bet they are.  Everything is a trial and failure followed by “Skeoch, give me sixty!”
    “Make yoou angry Jack?”
    “No I expected Basic Training to be tough.  Some guys were not ready and they quit”

    STAGE TWO:  THE HAIRCUT CAPER….SHAVED HEADS

    AN army barber shaved Jack bald ….all recruits wee  treated the same which marked them as army boys.  They became targets for
    the local tough guys in Edmonton which could have led to fist fights had not the sergeants  said 

    “If you get into fights
    in Edmonton you will be just let go by the army.” (my words)  
    “Why recjruits have their heads shaved?
    “lots of reasons.  Standardization for instance….everyone looks the same.   Sense of equality. Comrades.   Clean break with previous life. Originally 
     to ensure no recruit spread head lice.   





    And so Jack survived Basic Training at CFB Edmonton.  There was a graduation ceremony in an air force hanger
    which we attended.  We met the sergeants who were  easy to talk to but the recruits kept their distance from them.
    Jack had learned one of the fundamentals of army life.  The Chain of Command.  “That will keep us alive in combat.
    We back up each other and follow orders.”

    Not every potential army recruit is accepted.  A great number are turned away.
    Jack was accepted.  His friends were not.  There were 52 recruits in his Basic Training unit.  A little over a year later that
    number had fallen to 13.  

    It is a long story…stays with me.  

    florence bay,magnetic island,queensland,australia - magnetic island australia stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
    wwii bunker on magnetic island, queensland australia - magnetic island australia stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

    STAGE 3  AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE— CANE TOADS, DEATH ADDERS AND DEADLY SPIDERS

    “QUIET!  This is part of our stealth training.  Do not make any noise”
    “Imagine , the two of us are the only recruits sent to Austraia for stealth training.””
    “Hush!  For God’s sake shut up.”
    “And here we are crawling on our stomach through one of the most dangerous places on earth.”
    “If you keep talking we will fail.”
    “Damn scary place. Three deadly creatures are on the ground with us…”
    “I’d rather not be reminded,”
    “Did you know Australia has ten deadly spiders, one of which loves this tropical jungle.”
    “You mean the Death Adder?”
    “yes and others hanging from webs that we cannot see.”
    “Remember our Australian instructor who brushed a big spider from his shirt”
    “Paralysis  , but he recovered.  The spiders are awful but the CANE TOADS are worse.”
    “Right.   Never touch one of those sons of bitches…they are toxic.  Death Adders population on Magnetcic
    Island has been decimated by cane toads.   The snakes think cane toads are food…just touching the cane
    toad skin kills the snakes..  A good thing I guess but the cane toads are bloody dangerous for us. “
    “And they just stand there in the dark,.  We could touch one and not know it until we passed out,  The Aussie
    have an antidote thankfully. “
    “Invasive species from South America….In 1937 cane  toads were released to control insect pest in sugar cane fields…62,000
    released …now immense problem.  If a dog licks a cane tosd, the dog dies and the toad inflates itself but hardly moves,”
    “One of the Aussies says to also keep clear of the big Kangaroos…the males get huffy and can attack.”
    “Jesus,  We passed by several to night…they got in our way…heard one huffing.”






    “Do you think we can win this stealth competition Jack?”
    “yeah … think so …”
    “I think the Aussie patrol will win.”
    “They know this jungle .. know the dangers ,,, we are newcomers .. Last week we were in camp Shiloh in’
    the middle of a Canadian winter,, February.   How could we expect to win a stealth competition in the jungles
    of Magnetic Island/“
    “I wonder how the Aussies would survive if the temperature was 20 below zero?”
    “Snow and ice”
    “How about a summer filled with black flies, mosquitoes, blow flies, ground wasps, moose flies”

    Defences

    An adult cane toad with dark colouration, as found in El Salvador: The parotoid gland is prominently displayed on the side of the head.
    Specimen from El Salvador: The large parotoid glands are visible behind the eyes.
    The skin of the adult cane toad is toxic, as well as the enlarged parotoid glands behind the eyes, and other glands across its back. When the toad is threatened, its glands secrete a milky-white fluid known as bufotoxin.[52]Components of bufotoxin are toxic to many animals;[53] even human deaths have been recorded due to the consumption of cane toads.[31] Dogs are especially prone to be poisoned by licking or biting toads. Pets showing excessive drooling, extremely red gums, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and/or convulsions require immediate veterinary attention.[25]
    Bufotenin, one of the chemicals excreted by the cane toad, is classified as a schedule 9 drug under Australian law, alongside heroin and LSD.[54] The effects of bufotenin are thought to be similar to those of mild poisoning; the stimulation, which includes mild hallucinations, lasts less than an hour.[55] As the cane toad excretes bufotenin in small amounts, and other toxins in relatively large quantities, toad licking could result in serious illness or death.[56]
    In addition to releasing toxin, the cane toad is capable of inflating its lungs, puffing up, and lifting its body off the ground to appear taller and larger to a potential predator.[52]
    Since 2011, experimenters in the Kimberley region of Western Australia have used poisonous sausages containing toad meat in an attempt to protect native animals from cane toads’ deadly impact. The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, along with the University of Sydney, developed these sausage-shaped baits as a tool in order to train native animals not to eat the toads. By blending bits of toad with a nausea-inducing chemical, the baits train the animals to stay away from the amphibians.[57][58][59]





    “For God’s sake shut up….keep your eyes peeled for death adders, spiders or cane toads…and enemy spotters with guns”
    “I’ll buy you a beer if you will kiss a cane toad.”
    “What was that noise?”

    CONCLUSION OF PARTS 1,2 AND 3

    JACK RETURNED TO CANADA AFTER 3 WEEKS CRAWLING THROUGH  THE JUNGLE OF MAGNETIC ISLAND.
    HE HAD SVERAL HUGE WELTS ON HIS BACK WHICH WERE DIAGNOSED AS POISON IVY. NOT SO.   EVENTUALLY THE WELTS DISAPPEARED
    BUT THEY WERE NOT POISON IVY.

    IF YOU VISIT AUSTRALIA DO NOT SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY CRAWLING ON YOUR STOMACH
    THROUGH THE TROPICAL JUNGLE OF MAGNETIC ISLAND.  I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT 
    THE MEAT EATING ANTS.

    STAGE FOUR:  JACKSON WINS HIS RECCE BADGE NEXT EPISODE

    alan skeoch
    august 17, 2023


    POST SCRIPT

    “Cane toads have reduced the population of a deadly reptile by nearly 90 per cent in Australia, but on this island they are thriving.

    Off Townsville’s coast, Magnetic Island is a haven for holiday makers, backpackers — and death adders.

    Listed as Australia’s ninth most dangerous snake, the death adder has a distinctly stumpy look with brown banding and a peculiar triangular head and lives under leaf foliage where it sits and waits for its prey.

    Their numbers have dwindled on Australia’s mainland with scientists reporting one death adder population dropped by 89 per cent in the past 30 years.”

    CANE TOADS ARE TOXIC

    Nearly 25 tears ago, Marjorie, Andrew and I were touring Australia and thought it would begun to find
    some ofthes giant Cane Toads in a sugar cane field in Queensland.  We were naive,.  We were stupid.
    Thankfully some local people intervened.  “The damn things are toxic..stay clear of cane toads…an invasive 
    species that have made our cane fields actually any fields  dangerous to explore.”




    What is basic training for the army?

    Basic army training is training that army candidates undergo to enable them to succeed in a military environment. The training tests candidates on their perseverance and emphasizes basic military skills, weapons handling, ethical issues and first aid. A significant portion of the training entails physical fitness to prepare candidates to deal with actual war and harsh conditions they may deploy to during their active military service.

    How long is basic training for the army?

    The answer for how long is basic training for the army is 10 weeks, with class time taking 62% of the duration, field time taking 25%, and 13% of the time dedicated to physical training. The training takes place at different locations depending on whether you are a full-time or a part-time candidate. For full-time candidates, basic training takes place at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Ruchelieu, Quebec. Part-time candidates take their basic training at a Canadian Armed Forces training centre or a local reserve unit location. Here are the key elements of basic training you need to know:

    Physical fitness evaluation

    The physical fitness evaluation takes place during the first week of basic training. Candidates undergo a fitness test to establish their level of physical fitness. The fitness test comprises four components:

    • The sandbag lift: This test, which takes a maximum of three minutes and 30 seconds, involves 30 consecutive lifts of a sandbag weighing 20 kg from the floor to a height of one metre. The candidate alternates between left and right sandbags.

    • Intermittent loaded shuttles: This test involves performing 10 consecutive shuttles, alternating between loaded shuttles with a 20 kg sandbag and unloaded shuttles. The test is to be completed in five minutes and 21 seconds.

    • Sandbag drag: The candidate in this test carries a sandbag weighing 20 kg and pulls a minimum of four sandbags on the floor over 20 metres without stopping.

    • 20-metre rushes: In this test, the candidate starts from a prone position, completes two shuttle sprints, and drops back to the prone position every 10 metres for a total of 80 metres.

    Candidates who pass all four tests proceed with the other segments of the basic training. If you fail in any of the components, you may re-do the test within 90 days. If you still don’t pass all four tests after the 90-day period, they release you from the training centre.

    Physical training

    Physical training is among the dominant sessions of basic army training. Candidates undergo rigorous and regular physical training to prepare for the field exercises. Physical training also prepares candidates for the 13-kilometre march in full combat gear and the fitness standards of the army.

    Field exercises

    Candidates for the army undergo various field exercises to sharpen their military skills. Field exercise involves activities like firing weapons, using a compass, reading maps and full combat gear marches. Candidates also learn topics such as setting up personnel and communal living arrangements and cooking food in nonconventional ways.

    Confidence course

    The confidence course entails diverse physical tasks to enhance the confidence of army candidates to handle tough challenges. Tests in the confidence course may involve tasks such as scaling walls, climbing nets, and crossing ditches while hanging from monkey bars.

    Swimming

    Swimming is an important aspect of basic army training. The swimming test entails jumping into a pool of water and swimming for 50 metres while wearing a life jacket. Candidates also somersault into the pool without a life jacket, tread water for two minutes, and swim for 20 metres.

    Daily routine

    The typical daily routine during basic army training starts at 5 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. Candidates spend their daytime performing physical exercises, marches, classroom sessions, and practical lessons on various military aspects. They spend the evenings maintaining personal equipment, cleaning the living quarters and preparing for the next day’s activities.



  • Fwd: EPISODE 870 SMOKER, FARMALL H TRACTOR, ANDREW AND HIS BEES, AUGUST 13, 2023



    Begin forwarded message:


    From: Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch1@gmail.com>
    Subject: EPISODE 870 SMOKER, FARMALL H TRACTOR, ANDREW AND HIS BEES, AUGUST 13, 2023
    Date: August 14, 2023 at 10:31:30 AM EDT
    To: John Wardle <john.t.wardle@gmail.com>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>


    EPISODE 870    SMOKER, FARMALL H TRACTOR, ANDREW AND HIS BEES, AUGUST 13, 2023


    alan skeoch
    aug. 13, 2023

    This is a relaxing photo essay.  Needs no introduction…Andrew arrived with his BEE SMOKER and two jars of fresh
    red clover honey.


    Remember the Kilner farm sale?   Where we bought this Farmall 1953  Tractor?   Notice the honey jars are Kilner jars … and you have already
    seen Chelsee Bun our Kilner kitten.   Our lives move incircles.




    His new honey house has been built in the middle of his potato garden.


    /try to remember this sumner day next January.





  • EPISODE 867 JACKSON SKEOCH JOINED THE CANADIAN ARMY….AND LOVES IT…BUT IT IS NO PICNIC

    EPISODE 867 JACKSON SKEOCH…BASIC TRAINING IN CANADIAN ARMY  2023   Private Jackson 

    skeoch, PPLCI


    alan skeoch
    august 7, 2-2



    Our grandson, Jackson Skeoch, joined the Canadian army A  year ago  To be precise he is now Private Skeoch  in the  PRINCESS PATRICIA’S LIGHT CANADIAN  INFANTRY
    His sergeant and officers have put him through Basic Training that was designed to assure new recruits were physically fit.   We attended his graduation at CFB Edmonton alonng 
    with some 50 or so new rercruits . Today, August 11, 2023 that number has been reduced to 13.  How did this happen?


    STAGE ONE: GETTING INTO THE CANADIAN ARMY AS A POTENTIAL RECRUIT. ..BASIC TRAINING

    “Grandma I can now make my own bed?”
    “Is that part of Basic Training in the Canadian Army, Jackson?”
    “Training sergeants seem to think so.  If the corners are not perfectly square they make us do ouR  again and again and again.”
    “Seems joining the Canadian Army is basic housekeeping.”
    “Bet you can’t make youR own bed Grandpa?”
    “Correct.  I thought basic training was gruelling.”
    “It was. Watch this”
    And there on a street corner in Edmonton, Jack and his partner fell to the ground and began doing push ups
    with lightning speed.   In the time it would  take me to do one, they would do ten,  Then they stopped leapt to
    their feet…real for combat.
    “Sergeants make us do push ups for slight infractions or no infractions.”
    “Are sergeants tough on you?”
    “You bet they are.  Everything is a trial and failure followed by “Skeoch, give me sixty!”
    “Make yoou angry Jack?”
    “No I expected Basic Training to be tough.  Some guys were not ready and they quit”

    STAGE TWO:  THE HAIRCUT CAPER….SHAVED HEADS

    AN army barber shaved Jack bald ….all recruits wee  treated the same which marked them as army boys.  They became targets for
    the local tough guys in Edmonton which could have led to fist fights had not the sergeants  said 

    “If you get into fights
    in Edmonton you will be just let go by the army.” (my words)  
    “Why recjruits have their heads shaved?
    “lots of reasons.  Standardization for instance….everyone looks the same.   Sense of equality. Comrades.   Clean break with previous life. Originally 
     to ensure no recruit spread head lice.   





    And so Jack survived Basic Training at CFB Edmonton.  There was a graduation ceremony in an air force hanger
    which we attended.  We met the sergeants who were  easy to talk to but the recruits kept their distance from them.
    Jack had learned one of the fundamentals of army life.  The Chain of Command.  “That will keep us alive in combat.
    We back up each other and follow orders.”

    Not every potential army recruit is accepted.  A great number are turned away.
    Jack was accepted.  His friends were not.  There were 52 recruits in his Basic Training unit.  A little over a year later that
    number had fallen to 13.  

    It is a long story…stays with me.  

    florence bay,magnetic island,queensland,australia - magnetic island australia stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
    wwii bunker on magnetic island, queensland australia - magnetic island australia stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

    STAGE 3  AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE— CANE TOADS, DEATH ADDERS AND DEADLY SPIDERS

    “QUIET!  This is part of our stealth training.  Do not make any noise”
    “Imagine , the two of us are the only recruits sent to Austraia for stealth training.””
    “Hush!  For God’s sake shut up.”
    “And here we are crawling on our stomach through one of the most dangerous places on earth.”
    “If you keep talking we will fail.”
    “Damn scary place. Three deadly creatures are on the ground with us…”
    “I’d rather not be reminded,”
    “Did you know Australia has ten deadly spiders, one of which loves this tropical jungle.”
    “You mean the Death Adder?”
    “yes and others hanging from webs that we cannot see.”
    “Remember our Australian instructor who brushed a big spider from his shirt”
    “Paralysis  , but he recovered.  The spiders are awful but the CANE TOADS are worse.”
    “Right.   Never touch one of those sons of bitches…they are toxic.  Death Adders population on Magnetcic
    Island has been decimated by cane toads.   The snakes think cane toads are food…just touching the cane
    toad skin kills the snakes..  A good thing I guess but the cane toads are bloody dangerous for us. “
    “And they just stand there in the dark,.  We could touch one and not know it until we passed out,  The Aussie
    have an antidote thankfully. “
    “Invasive species from South America….In 1937 cane  toads were released to control insect pest in sugar cane fields…62,000
    released …now immense problem.  If a dog licks a cane tosd, the dog dies and the toad inflates itself but hardly moves,”
    “One of the Aussies says to also keep clear of the big Kangaroos…the males get huffy and can attack.”
    “Jesus,  We passed by several to night…they got in our way…heard one huffing.”






    “Do you think we can win this stealth competition Jack?”
    “yeah … think so …”
    “I think the Aussie patrol will win.”
    “They know this jungle .. know the dangers ,,, we are newcomers .. Last week we were in camp Shiloh in’
    the middle of a Canadian winter,, February.   How could we expect to win a stealth competition in the jungles
    of Magnetic Island/“
    “I wonder how the Aussies would survive if the temperature was 20 below zero?”
    “Snow and ice”
    “How about a summer filled with black flies, mosquitoes, blow flies, ground wasps, moose flies”

    Defences

    An adult cane toad with dark colouration, as found in El Salvador: The parotoid gland is prominently displayed on the side of the head.
    Specimen from El Salvador: The large parotoid glands are visible behind the eyes.
    The skin of the adult cane toad is toxic, as well as the enlarged parotoid glands behind the eyes, and other glands across its back. When the toad is threatened, its glands secrete a milky-white fluid known as bufotoxin.[52]Components of bufotoxin are toxic to many animals;[53] even human deaths have been recorded due to the consumption of cane toads.[31] Dogs are especially prone to be poisoned by licking or biting toads. Pets showing excessive drooling, extremely red gums, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and/or convulsions require immediate veterinary attention.[25]
    Bufotenin, one of the chemicals excreted by the cane toad, is classified as a schedule 9 drug under Australian law, alongside heroin and LSD.[54] The effects of bufotenin are thought to be similar to those of mild poisoning; the stimulation, which includes mild hallucinations, lasts less than an hour.[55] As the cane toad excretes bufotenin in small amounts, and other toxins in relatively large quantities, toad licking could result in serious illness or death.[56]
    In addition to releasing toxin, the cane toad is capable of inflating its lungs, puffing up, and lifting its body off the ground to appear taller and larger to a potential predator.[52]
    Since 2011, experimenters in the Kimberley region of Western Australia have used poisonous sausages containing toad meat in an attempt to protect native animals from cane toads’ deadly impact. The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, along with the University of Sydney, developed these sausage-shaped baits as a tool in order to train native animals not to eat the toads. By blending bits of toad with a nausea-inducing chemical, the baits train the animals to stay away from the amphibians.[57][58][59]





    “For God’s sake shut up….keep your eyes peeled for death adders, spiders or cane toads…and enemy spotters with guns”
    “I’ll buy you a beer if you will kiss a cane toad.”
    “What was that noise?”

    CONCLUSION OF PARTS 1,2 AND 3

    JACK RETURNED TO CANADA AFTER 3 WEEKS CRAWLING THROUGH  THE JUNGLE OF MAGNETIC ISLAND.
    HE HAD SVERAL HUGE WELTS ON HIS BACK WHICH WERE DIAGNOSED AS POISON IVY. NOT SO.   EVENTUALLY THE WELTS DISAPPEARED
    BUT THEY WERE NOT POISON IVY.

    IF YOU VISIT AUSTRALIA DO NOT SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY CRAWLING ON YOUR STOMACH
    THROUGH THE TROPICAL JUNGLE OF MAGNETIC ISLAND.  I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT 
    THE MEAT EATING ANTS.

    STAGE FOUR:  JACKSON WINS HIS RECCE BADGE NEXT EPISODE

    alan skeoch
    august 17, 2023


    POST SCRIPT

    “Cane toads have reduced the population of a deadly reptile by nearly 90 per cent in Australia, but on this island they are thriving.

    Off Townsville’s coast, Magnetic Island is a haven for holiday makers, backpackers — and death adders.

    Listed as Australia’s ninth most dangerous snake, the death adder has a distinctly stumpy look with brown banding and a peculiar triangular head and lives under leaf foliage where it sits and waits for its prey.

    Their numbers have dwindled on Australia’s mainland with scientists reporting one death adder population dropped by 89 per cent in the past 30 years.”

    CANE TOADS ARE TOXIC

    Nearly 25 tears ago, Marjorie, Andrew and I were touring Australia and thought it would begun to find
    some ofthes giant Cane Toads in a sugar cane field in Queensland.  We were naive,.  We were stupid.
    Thankfully some local people intervened.  “The damn things are toxic..stay clear of cane toads…an invasive 
    species that have made our cane fields actually any fields  dangerous to explore.”




    What is basic training for the army?

    Basic army training is training that army candidates undergo to enable them to succeed in a military environment. The training tests candidates on their perseverance and emphasizes basic military skills, weapons handling, ethical issues and first aid. A significant portion of the training entails physical fitness to prepare candidates to deal with actual war and harsh conditions they may deploy to during their active military service.

    How long is basic training for the army?

    The answer for how long is basic training for the army is 10 weeks, with class time taking 62% of the duration, field time taking 25%, and 13% of the time dedicated to physical training. The training takes place at different locations depending on whether you are a full-time or a part-time candidate. For full-time candidates, basic training takes place at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Ruchelieu, Quebec. Part-time candidates take their basic training at a Canadian Armed Forces training centre or a local reserve unit location. Here are the key elements of basic training you need to know:

    Physical fitness evaluation

    The physical fitness evaluation takes place during the first week of basic training. Candidates undergo a fitness test to establish their level of physical fitness. The fitness test comprises four components:

    • The sandbag lift: This test, which takes a maximum of three minutes and 30 seconds, involves 30 consecutive lifts of a sandbag weighing 20 kg from the floor to a height of one metre. The candidate alternates between left and right sandbags.

    • Intermittent loaded shuttles: This test involves performing 10 consecutive shuttles, alternating between loaded shuttles with a 20 kg sandbag and unloaded shuttles. The test is to be completed in five minutes and 21 seconds.

    • Sandbag drag: The candidate in this test carries a sandbag weighing 20 kg and pulls a minimum of four sandbags on the floor over 20 metres without stopping.

    • 20-metre rushes: In this test, the candidate starts from a prone position, completes two shuttle sprints, and drops back to the prone position every 10 metres for a total of 80 metres.

    Candidates who pass all four tests proceed with the other segments of the basic training. If you fail in any of the components, you may re-do the test within 90 days. If you still don’t pass all four tests after the 90-day period, they release you from the training centre.

    Physical training

    Physical training is among the dominant sessions of basic army training. Candidates undergo rigorous and regular physical training to prepare for the field exercises. Physical training also prepares candidates for the 13-kilometre march in full combat gear and the fitness standards of the army.

    Field exercises

    Candidates for the army undergo various field exercises to sharpen their military skills. Field exercise involves activities like firing weapons, using a compass, reading maps and full combat gear marches. Candidates also learn topics such as setting up personnel and communal living arrangements and cooking food in nonconventional ways.

    Confidence course

    The confidence course entails diverse physical tasks to enhance the confidence of army candidates to handle tough challenges. Tests in the confidence course may involve tasks such as scaling walls, climbing nets, and crossing ditches while hanging from monkey bars.

    Swimming

    Swimming is an important aspect of basic army training. The swimming test entails jumping into a pool of water and swimming for 50 metres while wearing a life jacket. Candidates also somersault into the pool without a life jacket, tread water for two minutes, and swim for 20 metres.

    Daily routine

    The typical daily routine during basic army training starts at 5 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. Candidates spend their daytime performing physical exercises, marches, classroom sessions, and practical lessons on various military aspects. They spend the evenings maintaining personal equipment, cleaning the living quarters and preparing for the next day’s activities.


  • computer trouble…

    My computer refuses to send stories.  

    alan

    EPISODE 870    SMOKER, FARMALL H TRACTOR, ANDREW AND HIS BEES, AUGUST 13, 2023


    alan skeoch
    aug. 13, 2023

    This is a relaxing photo essay.  Needs no introduction…Andrew arrived with his BEE SMOKER and two jars of fresh
    red clover honey.


    Remember the Kilner farm sale?   Where we bought this Farmall 1953  Tractor?   Notice the honey jars are Kilner jars … and you have already
    seen Chelsee Bun our Kilner kitten.   Our lives move incircles.




    His new honey house has been built in the middle of his potato garden.


    /try to remember this sumner day next January.