Journeys with my Gun

(8) National Servicemen

Photo ©️🆎 Our Battalion 'mounting up' in variants of Huey (HU-1+) helicopters at the Bien Hoa Airbase chopper pad known as the 'Snake Pit'. It was not unusual for a hundred of these magnificrent aircraft to be seen in flight.

Before we move on with my Battalion it is best to address the subject of the Nasho's. Firstly, there were no Nashos in our Battalion in 1965, they came a year later with the relief 5th and 6th Battalions RAR and a task force HQ with support elements.

It is difficult to imagine the trauma that the draft caused to young men and their families during the Vietnam era however, after my tour of duty in Vietnam I was posted as a Recruit Training Instructor at the Kapooka base near Wagga NSW.
We had no mercy for these fine young men as our duties were simply to train them to come back alive and whether they liked it or not was not an issue.
So it was hard weeks for these lads in the freezing cold or burning heat. As Instructors we delivered 9 x 40 minute periods per day and 5 on Saturday mornings. Most were dedicated to small arms, field craft and drill sessions which were all to qualification level. Those failing a grade were 'back squaded' to try again.
I found this task challenging and rewarding as I never lost sight of the objectives of the task. There were also regular recruits involved in similar training and at one time we had 22 platoons in various stages of development. Although I enjoyed the challenge it was demanding work, physically difficult and regularly dangerous when dealing with weapons (live firing ranges required special attention for obvious reasons)

We carried long canes to threaten the recruits regarding where the rifles and machine guns should be pointed however, we never hit anyone, the threat was adequate.
Live grenade practice called for extra care, I used to inform the guy at the brick wall that if at any time he noticed I wasn't there, he shouldn't be there either ! (some through fear had a nasty habit of dropping the live grenade at their feet)
As well I would also say to them if the grenade was dropped in the throwing area with the pin removed then they had 8 seconds to do whatever they wanted to do.
All this in the Queen city of South West NSW,  Wagga Wagga - the locals hated our guts and I have never forgiven them for that.   Shame 🤔

I realised amongst my approximately 2.5 years plus at Kapooka that I had the ability to teach and that realisation led me to almost the rest of my work life in training, teaching, coaching, organisation development, management and supervisor development and advising in leadership led strategies at all levels in many private and public organisations across Australia. I also presented in public forums such as conferences across Australia. I have assisted in the development of thousands of individuals singularly and in groups at all levels in organisations public and private.

I never advised them that I had absolutely no civilian education qualifications 😳

More about the Nashos .....
I must say that although nashos were compelled to train, I was impressed with their attitude and dedication to learn, therefore my long term verdict of training was that during peace and war Nasho's were a good a soldier as a regular.
However, I must also note for the purpose of history as I see it, they did not think like regular soldiers even after the war seeing commitment as just a job and in the main returning to their former lives which of course was ok and expected.
They also unfortunately in my view march on Anzac Day as a seperate group, therefore having a narrow view of military life. Regulars carried years of experience and have a stronger view of cameraderie, army, the corps and career.
That all means that nashos today band together in their own association rather than banding with their unit, as well these guys have their own civvy 'uniform' and a medal from the government for 'Not Volunteering' or 'Being conscripted' all ok but the government should have given the regulars a medal for volunteering, or have I got that wrong. 🤔
I am not criticising these men but I am disappointed that they did not bond with their units. There is nothing famous about being conscripted or press ganged !
but I suppose being a volunteer like me in service of one's country was not a bright idea either.

Then there is the matter of the fairness and management of conscription, widely misunderstood and mis applied whether agreed to or not by inductees.

Union Resolution (1969) 300 Union officials representing 32 trade unions call on National Servicemen in Vietnam to lay down their arms

Photo - Three hours leave in Saigon with my inebriated mate Bob (Johnny Appleseed)
Our mission was to see how much we could drink in 3 hours. No out of country leave in our time. Another opportunity appeared later at Vung Tau ( big deal)
That second break was probably two days leave after flights to and fro Vung Tau. At this time there was no military occupation of Vung Tau and almost no disturbances, so this one time French resort town was straight out of the classics of the French romantic era.  🇦🇺