Walts, posers & wannabes (merged)

[Journeyman]

Isn't grad week at RMC?  All sorts of weird people wandering around. 

 

[Old Sweat]

Isn't grad week at RMC?  All sorts of weird people wandering around. 

Not all just newly commissioned.  ;D

 

[Danjanou]

Isn't grad week at RMC?  All sorts of weird people wandering around. 

Or he could have been a leftover from the Legion convention that ended Wed.

 

[MikeL]

Wasn't sure where to put this,  but figured this may be the best?


Anyways,  one of the submissions on this website seems suspicious to me.  The dates of his deployment,  being the only Canadian attached to US Forces, riding around in US LAVs in 2002, descriptions of his job, what he is doing, etc

First submission on the page,  by Tiny Timm
http://afghanistanacanadianstory.ca/content-accumulation/2002-2/

 

[OldSolduer]

Wasn't sure where to put this,  but figured this may be the best?


Anyways,  one of the submissions on this website seems suspicious to me.  The dates of his deployment,  being the only Canadian attached to US Forces, riding around in US LAVs in 2002, etc

First submission on the page,  by Tiny Timm
http://afghanistanacanadianstory.ca/content-accumulation/2002-2/

Seen, and after perusing a few paragraphs it seems to scream "Walt".

 

[Franko]

Yep, I call bullshit on that.

 

[Sythen]

Do sigs guys actually do combat patrols? (NOTE: Not trying to knock signals or the work they do) Outside of training, I've never seen one on patrol, so is this an American thing or is it just that this guy doesn't know what he is talking about? Radio was always carried by one of the section.

 

[Teager]

Yup, sounds like bs to me. How is someone attached to an American unit but not know anyone or talk to any of them? Very fishy.

 

[OldSolduer]

Do sigs guys actually do combat patrols? (NOTE: Not trying to knock signals or the work they do) Outside of training, I've never seen one on patrol, so is this an American thing or is it just that this guy doesn't know what he is talking about? Radio was always carried by one of the section.

In an Infantry Pl, the signaller is generally and infantryman, cpl/senior Pte that is trained and switched on.

Riding into combat in an MLVW was the part that sealed the deal.

 

[Sythen]

In an Infantry Pl, the signaller is generally and infantryman, cpl/senior Pte that is trained and switched on.

yea is how we did it, was just wondering if we did it differently then others because its not the first time I've seen someone saying sigs guys handle the radio on Infantry patrols. Guess not lol

 

[MikeL]

Do sigs guys actually do combat patrols? (NOTE: Not trying to knock signals or the work they do) Outside of training, I've never seen one on patrol, so is this an American thing or is it just that this guy doesn't know what he is talking about? Radio was always carried by one of the section.

Speaking with some Americans,  it sounded like their Platoon RTOs(Pl Sig) were Infantrymen.  Not 100% sure on who the Platoon RTOs are in the USMC,  but I believe the USMC has their Field Radio Operators(In Rifle Coys) out often with the Infantry.

In terms of Canadian Signallers in a Infantry Battalion;  you have Sigs in the Rifle Coy HQ, 9TAC, Signals Platoon and a Sig in Admin Coy(C/S 8 ).

Signallers in a Rifle Coy are with the Coy HQ,  and on large Ops a Signaller will usually come out with the Coy HQ, etc.  For mechanized patrols/operations a Coy Sig would usually be out in the OC's LAV,  and may dismount if required.  If you read the book "The Patrol" it will also cover this.  It was written by a Reserve Signaller attached to B Coy 2PPCLI(TF 1-08 BG),  book is about one dismounted operation he took part in, that has him carrying a radio and being out with the Coy HQ.

As well,  I know Signallers that went out with the FP Platoons in the PRT.  I was out in a COP with a RRB,  and I was able to go out on patrols with the OMLT that we were co-located with.  I've also been employed as a Platoon Signaller, etc.

On tour,  I was tasked to be part of a LO Team attached to 3PARA for a Air Assault Op,  but I would have been with a couple other Canadians with the Brit Coy HQ.  That ended up getting crap canned;  but later on in the tour it was back on and a buddy of mine got tasked with it since he was in KAF at the time.

Generally the Platoon Signaller is Infantry, but some Sig Ops have done that role on occasion overseas.

Sigs were in other Task Force units like the OMLT, C-IED, etc;  others here would be able to give more info about Sig employment in these units then I can.

Plus there are the Close Supporter/Specialist Signallers within CANSOF units. 

 

[Strike]

Wasn't sure where to put this,  but figured this may be the best?


Anyways,  one of the submissions on this website seems suspicious to me.  The dates of his deployment,  being the only Canadian attached to US Forces, riding around in US LAVs in 2002, descriptions of his job, what he is doing, etc

First submission on the page,  by Tiny Timm
http://afghanistanacanadianstory.ca/content-accumulation/2002-2/

As far as I know, each one of these stories is supposed to be thoroughly fact-checked.  I know the woman behind the initiative and will ping her on it.

 

[Ex Ranger Instructor]

yea is how we did it, was just wondering if we did it differently then others because its not the first time I've seen someone saying sigs guys handle the radio on Infantry patrols. Guess not lol

To add to what Skeletor said, I lost count of the times that I went out dismounted on my last tour.  Was that my primary combat function?  No.  Did I go as often as the dudes in the rifle coys?  No.  Did it happen though?  Sure it did.  I'm surprised that you're surprised that Sigs guys go out on patrol with you. 

I have no idea whether or not the guy who wrote the blog in question is a walt, but it's not unheard of for a jimmy to ruck up.

 

[Sythen]

To add to what Skeletor said, I lost count of the times that I went out dismounted on my last tour.  Was that my primary combat function?  No.  Did I go as often as the dudes in the rifle coys?  No.  Did it happen though?  Sure it did.  I'm surprised that you're surprised that Sigs guys go out on patrol with you. 

I have no idea whether or not the guy who wrote the blog in question is a walt, but it's not unheard of for a jimmy to ruck up.

yea didn't want to bag on sigs guys for number of patrols done or anything.. Just I had heard people say that they went out before, but I had never seen it so thought I'd ask.

 

[ModlrMike]

The timing seems a little off to me. He joined in summer 2001 and was on Apollo in 2002/2003. So Jul, Aug, Sep - BMQ. Oct, Nov, Dec - QL3. Then he's got predeployment trg of 6-9 months, and still a no-hook Pte. So now we're into fall of 2002. And he's go no more experience that when he graduated QL3, except for predeployment.

I can't speak for his Unit or leadership, but I wouldn't send a no-hook with no real experience out with foreign troops as his first operational detail.

 

[PuckChaser]

Considering SigOp QL3 at that time was around 6 months, and he'd be required to complete Driver Wheeled (3 weeks?) and SQ (5 weeks) before he started his QL3, unless CFSCE was deploying students on APOLLO, there's no way.

 

[Strike]

I've reported it to one of the creators and she's checking into it with her contact who's in the CF (she's retired so no access anymore).

What caught my eye as well was his use of abbreviations.  Pvt as opposed to Pte?

 

[211RadOp]

What caught my eye as well was his use of abbreviations.  Pvt as opposed to Pte?

Well, he was with US Forces, so maybe.... :nod:

What caught me the most was the four wheeled MLVW.  Maybe the US has them, but I have never heard of their 2 1/2 tons being called MLVW, nor having only four wheels.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Well, he was with US Forces, so maybe.... :nod:

What caught me the most was the four wheeled MLVW.  Maybe the US has them, but I have never heard of their 2 1/2 tons being called MLVW, nor having only four wheels.

True but ours had/have 6 wheels.....Yanks have 10.....

EDITED TO ADD

Can't seem to count properly......  :facepalm:

 

[fake penguin]

So is he a platoon signaler or company signaler, I cannot tell?. Also why is the platoon signaler carrying the radio?. Are there platoons that deploy that makes the platoon signaler carry the radio?.