To me Prime Time was the best time (worst for some) for the
Regiment. Prime Time was held once every 18 months. Prime Time was usually
followed by operational duties and roulement to the border ops. There were also
other tough times like the CIV inspection, ARTEP, ADMIN inspection and the
dreadful unscheduled visit by the “Tim TAP”
from MINDEF.
It was the third year of my command of 1 ARTY and I loved
those times except for the tough times mentioned. But 1 ARTY had always
performed well in the CIV inspections, ARTEP and ADMIN Inspections. The terror
“Tim” never visited me except for
once and that was when I looked for trouble and invited the “Tim” to the Regiment. 1 ARTY was doomed,
with only one gun in the Regiment serviceable whilst in Asahan. I had caused
panic at 3 DIV and the Directorate.
1 ARTY could
not be deployed for operational duties. It felt like Doomsday and I was pretty sure
that I was at the exit threshold of my career. But I stood tall and resolved. I bravely fired a ZT target
in Asahan with only one gun left standing to prove my point. I had 23 guns from
4 gun batteries classified unserviceable (US).
AND Regimental morale was at its highest.
1 ARTY had the oldest 12 guns in the Corp. Our guns were
brand new when issued in 1963. It was now mid 1980s. We were kept “brand new”
through annual CIV inspections. Or were they?
Year in year out we did the same preparations for CIV
inspection. Borrow essential parts from other Regiments just before CIV. We literally
had to borrow everything except the gun barrel. The OC LAD and the QM TECH knew
the drill. No sweat. The CO was pleased and that matters most. I got wised to
it only in the third year of my command. This cannot go on. Not in my command. No
more initiatives. I bit the bullet and stuck out my neck for the Regiment.
We were going to Asahan for Regimental maneuvers and life
firing for our Prime Time training. This was to be followed by border ops and
the CIV inspection when we returned from the Malaysian Thai border.
The first part of the Prime Time exercise was for regimental
maneuvers and the gun batteries came in and out of the various gun positions in
the range. Then came life firing. I had ordered the OC LAD to classify unserviceable
for any gun that had inspection problems, even if the results were slightly out
of measurement tolerances. I want our guns out of action with a view to do
OPDEM demands for gun parts in preparing for the border ops. This would also augers well for our CIV
inspection later in the year. We will not borrow again for CIV.
The OC LAD understood my resolve and diligently classified
our guns US on a daily basis. Each time we fired he ordered the guns to be inspected
for tolerances and serviceability. Gun sights, cut off gears and other
essential equipment were condemned. Every day, three to four guns from the gun
batteries were down. On the last day of life firing exercise, we had only gun
left standing, out of 24 from the four gun batteries.
End of mission. I ordered all gun batteries to assemble in
PAPA Position before going back to Kem Terendak. I took the parade and
explained to the Regiment not to be worried or sad because all guns were out of
action, save one. We raised our morale by shouting Gempur Wira three times. We
then mounted and went home happy.
We returned most of the training ammo back to the Regiment’s
ammo dump.
The next day I reported to 3 Div and Arty Directorate that 1
ARTY was out of action and could not deploy for ops. The QM Tech flashed out
OPSDEM for new parts. 3 DIV and the Directorate flapped, all hell broke loose
and I was called up immediately. TIM TAP
came to the regiment the very next day. Unbelievable. The whole Regiment’s 23 guns
were unserviceable? Yes SIR!!
Allen Lai was in trouble AGAIN.
We laid out the guns on the square for inspection. We showed
the OPDEMS. OC LAD showed the inspection forms. Certified and stamped. We said we couldn’t go for border ops.
The ball was with 3 Div / Directorate for immediate action. News got out fast.
Other COs called me and said they would lend me this or that gun part. Arty
Directorate was at best sympathetic. I said thanks but no thanks. I could take
the heat.
OPSDEM demands works. We got all our parts and OC LAD
certified all our guns serviceable again. I had pulled it off. We went on ops
and we were alright for the next CIV inspections.
I never remembered if we had lent out our gun parts to other
regiments for their CIV inspections. My QM Tech never told me, and my 2IC only
smiled.
No comments:
Post a Comment