Well, that wasn't as unpleasant as I expected.

The previous times I've been on libo, I went out with the rest of the shop. This time that wasn't doable, for reasons I'll explain in a later post. So I went with three cats from Ordnance.

Flight E generally works closely with the Ordies, because, well, we're the two shops that deal with things that go boom. We both have explosive transport permits, ordnance handling certs, all that jazz. So I've helped them out dozens of times when they're shorthanded, and they get us back sometimes too. I can load a 2.75" Folding Fin Aerial Rocket with the best of them, I tell you what! We also are the only two shops whose personnel move between different aircraft types. An airframer (for instance) can only transfer between the seven different CH-46 squadrons in the Corps. Flight E and Ordies, we can move to any squadron with any aircraft in the Corps, and also to intermediate maintenance, where you don't touch aircraft at all. So what I'm saying is, the two shops have a lot in common.

A difference is though, that the Ordies are a lot more let-it-all-hang-out. In Flight E we are keenly aware that our gear will get one chance to work, period, and if it fails, then someone is going to die, period. So we take things very seriously, and get a reputation as pain-in-the-ass sticklers.

Ordies, on the other hand: there's 19 rockets in a pod, so if one's a dud, big deal! If a gun jams during target practice and the fliers bring back a half-full ammo can, the ordies are required to count every bullet. So they straight up tell the crew chiefs to throw leftovers into the ocean, and then claim with a straight face that the gun jammed on the very last round.

So I went out with Ordies. I stand behind what I said about Subic being a hellhole. They agreed. So they talked me into the obvious solution- leave Subic. We grouped with another libo fire team, and paid a taxi driver to take the eight of us over to a resort on the far side of the bay, where you can't even see our ships. It was a 40 minute drive over the mountain, then we sat in a cabana on the beach and they drank lots of fruity alcoholic beverages. I was designated non-drinker for my fire team, but they convinced me that, as long as we were willfully and fragrantly violating a punative order (the libo order) I may as well have a drink too. It being the tropics, I had about half of a gin and tonic.

In their cups, a few of them told me about my reputation in the unit, which was flattering. Remember what I said about Flight E being sticklers? I've had to tell off a couple of officers when they wanted me to do some maintenance that I thought was shady. I'm keenly aware that as an enlisted refusing a direct order (even though I have a superceding order), I'm in a rough spot, so I try to keep it private and low-key. But I guess word got out anyway. And because I kept it private, the dialog was kind of "punched up" via the rumor mill. For the record, I do not ever recall telling an officer "Go away. When you realize I'm right, come back and talk to me again." Although I must confess it does sound like something I'd say if I was sufficiently annoyed.

So anyway, we had a great time at the beach, where there were no other Marines (because it was off-limits, of course.) One of our guys had been night crew and was passing out, and I'm feeling a little queasy from some iffy food I had for dinner, so we made an early night of it. (We could be out for three more hours.) Still, tomorrow we'll probably go out again, and we're going shopping, probably out-of-bounds again. How quickly I become corrupted.

Also, these guys had a good way to deflect the attention of the ladies of the evening that would accost us from time to time. We'd offer them Cpl K_, who's a fresh-faced farm boy, blond, and blushed every time. "Nine hundred pesos ladies, and he'll do let you do anything to him!" That usually confused them enought that they backed off. One lady with better English skills than most thought this was funny enough to play along, and laughingly asked detailed questions about his skills. We elaborated extensivly on his dexterity, virility, creativity, utility, and gentility. During this discourse Cpl K_ turned so red I was afraid he'd pass out because all the blood that should be in his brain had ended up in his face.

I should cheer up, and remember that even in a third-world bar district, one can have good times.

Posted by: Boviate at 07:40 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 827 words, total size 5 kb.