NEW SECURITY FOR RUSI

The Canadian Scottish Regiment, which has responsibility for security at the Armoury, has established security measures that affect our organization. Casual visitors must now have identification and sign in with the Commissionaire at the door. They must also obtain a temporary permit from him to use the parking lot. The fenced compound will no longer open to civilian vehicles.

The Adjutant has authorized the following special arrangements for RUSI:

1. All members show identity and sign in as above.
2. Directors and members may place their RUSI membership card on the dashboard for parking privilege. This will spare us running back and forth for temporary parking permits.
3. Directors who use the office regularly may obtain a decal from the Adjutant. *

HMCS VANCOUVER'S WHITE ENSIGN

Retired naval officers may have noticed that HMCS VANCOUVER was flying the White Ensign at the port yardarm, in addition to flying a large Canadian Flag, on her departure to the Arabian Sea.

That White Ensign was flown in the WW II corvette HMCS VANCOUVER. It came from the estate of the late Lieutenant-Commander Rodney H. Mullard. RCN(R) who served in that corvette during the war, and who was formerly a NOAVI member.

It was presented by his widow, Mrs. Gladys Mullard, to the Commanding Officer and Ships Company, on the flight deck, as part of the official ceremonies before departure. In addition to the gratitude she received from Cdr. Jim Heath, Mrs. Mullard also was warmly thanked by the Lieutenant Governor, MND, CDS, CMS, RAdm Eraser and other members of the official party. A moving sidelight was the gracious gesture of the Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour lona Campagnola, who gave Mrs. Mullard the rose that had been presented to herself to mark the occasion. — Nigel Brodeur *

AIR REFUELLING

The air force plans to get back into the business of long-range aerial refuelling. Treasury Board is expected to approve a $105-million program to modify two of the five Airbus military transports for a strategic tanker role. This will re-store a pivotal capability the air force lost after the Gulf War, when it retired its Boeing 707 transports. They had doubled as airborne regulars during military strikes against Iraq. Col. Pat Dowsett, manager of the in-flight refuelling project, said Canada would work with the Germans on adapting the Airbuses. *

MANPADS

For the aircrews of large military transport aircraft operating over-seas, the thought of being shot down by a shoulder fired, heat-seeking, anti-aircraft missile while flying at low altitude is probably their worst nightmare. Today, such man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), including the Russian SA-7. SA-16 and SA 18, US Stinger, and British Blowpipe, are readily available to Third World militaries, terrorists and drug cartels. The threat has been around since 1969 and will continue to affect military air operations for many years to come.

During the Soviet war in Afghanistan, Afghan rebels reportedly used 340 Stinger missiles to shoot down 269 Soviet aircraft. As a result. Soviet pilots began to fly at 10,000 feet, decreasing their bombing accuracy, and engaged in direct combat less often or flew low and fast over their targets. *

NAVAL PORT SECURITY

Forty sailors from Naval Reserve Divisions across Western Canada took part in port security training last month in the entrance to Victoria harbour. The training was coordinated out of HMCS MALAHAT on Huron Street and focused on developing and testing basic harbour defence skills in small boat handling, surveillance, command and control and communications.

The sailors operated five rigid hull inflatable boats in the approaches to Victoria harbour to practise small boat navigation, radio procedures, and security measures. The exercise took place during daylight hours and did not interfere with normal marine traffic.

Harbour defence is a designated mission of the Naval Reserve. Since Sept. 11, naval reservists from across Canada have been deployed to provide waterside security, surveillance and vessel control, in Esquimalt and Halifax Naval Dockyards. *

WASH YOUR HANDS

For U.S. Marines based in the Afghan desert, one of the secrets of waging war in this harsh climate is a lesson most learned from their mothers. Wash your hands!

The failure of the Soviets to follow that most basic rule of hygiene helps explain why they lost their war in Afghanistan, according to a U.S. military report. The report says that of 620,000 Soviets who served in Afghanistan, an astounding 75.76 percent were hospitalized, most of them — 88.56 percent — not from war wounds, but from diseases often prevented by basic hygiene. "No one ever washed their hands," said a U.S. Navy flight surgeon. Staying clean is a struggle, with no running water; sand everywhere and blowing dust storms. *

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