Strange holidays

The interesting thing with an organisation that runs on volunteers is how different we all are. And yet, with our NSRI hats on, we all strive for the same thing. To save lives at sea.Some of us choose to holiday in the mountains, some on a far away beach. One of the most unusual choice of holiday destinations is with out a doubt Hout Bay’s station commander Brad Geyser’s. Brad writes:My holiday this year was at Lohathla where I commanded the first Reserve Force’s only Mechanised Infantry Exercise in 10 years at the Combat Training Center from 1st September till 13th September. It was the start of a new beginning in training for the Mechanised Reserves.There were 4 Reserve Force Mechanised Infantry Units involved: Cape Town Highlanders, Witwatersrand Rifles, Regiment Noord Transvaal and Regiment De La Rey. They made up a Combat Team strength which is a Battalion HQ, Company HQ, 3 Platoons of Mechanised Infantry, 1 Fire Group of Anti-Tank (90mm Ratel) and 1 Fire Group of Mortars (81mm Ratels). The Combat Team was commanded in the field by the OC CTH.The Reserves participated in Section drills, Platoon attacks and a full Company attack, all initially dry but when confident of their ability, we did them all with live ammunition.A very successful exercise, so much so that we will be allowed to do another in September 2011 at full Battalion strength.So guess where I am going next September!