have two lists, one my preferences and the other the Colonel gave me the listing of those qualified to hold the rank. I made my list and hadn’t as yet compared the two. When we have all four I wouldn’t be surprised that they are identical,” Stan said, “As far as I know all experienced personnel have counterinsurgency experience; one reason some drifted off to sleep during those lectures.”
“You included perhaps?” Bill asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Damn I thought those glasses with the painted eyes were the go,” Stan responded, ”OK we detail off our best guesses to form sections and meet me back here with the lists and see if there are any surprises. With these in hand, we front the boss and deliver our recommendations.”
It wasn’t long before the boys returned with the lists in hand and settled down to compare. Common to each was the same dozen names and when compared to the original list this also matched. “It seems we are surfeit with riches. Now it only needs us to ratify the selections with the Colonel as he has his list. There are HQ jobs for the extras. You noticed that there were several qualified for Serjeant with all serving at corporal rank,” Stan stated, “With all in hand we now consult Colonel Roberts. He should give us some more information and the direction we are heading,” Saying that the trio adjourned to the Colonel’s office with the lists.
“Good, the new programme in action I see. Now how are the lists going?” Roberts asked.
“No surprises Sir; it seems whoever made up the list knew what they were doing,” Stan affirmed.
“I modestly thank you for the confirmation,” Roberts replied, “The latest intelligence is that we have about four months to position the troops before any movement is likely to happen from the ‘Orange force'. Best guess is about four weeks before the next wet as we wind down our exercises about then; comment?”
“Concur, in their shoes that would give nearly six months to establish a bridgehead with few chances of observation,” Stan said, with the others nodding in agreement.
“We will be quartered with by 3 Brigade for equipment and personnel administration, quartered with 1 Brigade for the headquarters and otherwise we belong to someone else depending on who is asking on a need to know basis. Tactical signs and number plates will be supplied and varied as required.”
“This is going to be fun hiding in the mud for months at a time; on the off chance that ‘Orange’ wants to do something.”
“We have fishing boats in increasing numbers in our waters over the last few years. The few caught claim that they were lost when interrogated,” Col. Roberts explained, “We lock them up for six months or so and burn their boat. We don’t see these individuals again; just becoming a bit too often to be a coincidence.”
“I suppose you have heard of the wall maps in their barracks, Irian Selatan in their national colours looks very familiar according to visiting techs instructing them in aircraft maintenance,” Roberts supplied, “Malaysia had several visits which we helped discourage.”
“To paraphrase, If anyone asks; we are Sgt Schultz ‘we know nothings’. If we need something, it will arrive ASAP,” Stan stated.
“Yes right in one,” Roberts confirmed, “I will keep you informed as soon as I learn something.”
The briefing having ended with the details for the next day and they adjourned to the sergeant's mess, where they had a quiet celebration for the promotions. While seven from one unit on the same day was remarkable, they kept it to a low-profile; not hard as all had done it before. Expecting a busy morning, it was off to bed for a good night’s sleep. As Stan and Bob had moved their kit to the senior NCO accommodation, they met in the bathroom first thing before breakfast. “G’day Bob sleep tight?” Stan asked, “The first job of the day after the parade; where I hand out the stripes to our corporals, is to conduct interviews with the troops.”
“Run them through a section at a time and just our platoon?” Bob grunted.
“Sounds like the go,” Stan confirmed, “Give them a platoon level drill, then split them into their respective section and have the corporals give a couple of basic lessons. With an hour per section, I expect that I can knock the interviews over before lunch.”
“OK boss, see you later,” Bob confirmed.
Later when the first interviewee arrived at Stan’s office; Corporal Brian Grant newly promoted. “Brian, Come in and sit down, relax this is just to let you know where I intend to do with this unit,” Stan said, “I expect that your third stripe will arrive before too long. For now; who is your first choice for two i.c.?”
“Private Thomas, then Wallace then Travis, though it’s hair-splitting for any of them,” Brian replied, “As I am used to an engineer section it didn’t occur to me that I had too many.”
“Right, Thomas for two i.c.; Wallace and probably Travis may be assigned to headquarters,” Stan confirmed, “I have seen your previous record, and like yourself, I am out of specialisation. This posting is no accident, and holds true for most of the platoon.”
“Understood, I had a short brief before I signed up; so I am all ears,” Brian replied.
'The unit will be doing a deployment exercise to test the feasibility of moving a large force into position without stirring up too much fuss,' Stan began the brief, '"Orange force" is expected to land a large group with intent to establish a bridgehead. Our battalion is to detect, engage and disrupt this incursion in concert with other units as required. Intelligence indicates that we have a window of 4 months to reposition our troops, to this end we attach each platoon to an existing company assigned to regular exercises, the platoon then remains behind, reforming each company as necessary.'
“I gather the scenario is that we will be matched manpower-wise and then depend on quick deployment to rebalance the strategic advantage,” Brian suggested.
“Yes, Flexibility will be required, as the likely window approaches we will have practised with these units acting as ‘Orange’ to exercise the regular units,” Stan finished the interview.
The following interviews went quickly until Private Travis came in on the last of the first section.
“Good morning Private. Care to tell me how you managed to get through the ‘short arm inspection’?” Stan asked.
A look of consternation came over Travis’ face, “What do you mean?”
“In the last hour, I was able to read the special dossier on yourself and have finally realised when I had seen you. While I was in Senoia, I had a visit from Mossad in the person of two Israeli lieutenants, Saul and Wendy Isaacs,” Stan informed, “You are now Wendell Travis?”
“And you were Lt Colonel Stan Mitty?” Travis asked then offered, “Apparently the Doc left her glasses at home that day.”
“If we had the same one, she had cold hands when checking for hernias,” Stan commented wryly.
“An arrangement for a separate examination and I have a marvellous prosthetic for other times,” Wendy grinned, “I am Aussie born. After Saul had died during an undercover operation, I returned here and was approached by Army intelligence for this exercise.”
“Welcome to the unit, you certainly had Bob and me scratching our heads trying to remember where we had seen you before,” Stan said, “Sorry to hear about Saul he was a good man.”
“Thanks, he was the best; I made sure that several families missed their men before I returned to Tel Aviv,” Wendy replied with a slight hint of satisfaction.
“Now what to do with you, the platoon commander requires a radio op; how does that sound?” Stan asked.
“Sounds good always wanted to walk around with an arrow pointing to a target on my back,” She answered with a straight face.
“As a cover for my intelligence officer; the latest gear we have is unobtrusive and only has a small antenna,” Stan