Saturday, February 20, 2010 The unnofficial army watch A watch is essential kit for a soldier, and at the end of every orders group we synchronize watches, just like in the movies. The Canadian army doesn't issue the Timex Ironman, but they probably should. At least half of all soldiers wear it, for exactly the same reason I do - It has a stopwatch, an alarm, and a timer, all of which are useful, and it's rugged enough to take a beating, and cheap enough that when you finally do break it or lose it, it's no big deal to replace. It also has a hour chime with a distinctive beepbeep sound to it, and when I was a brand new officer candidate we all marched over to the auditorium to get the introductory address from the colonel of the infantry school. His speech crossed over the hour mark, and for a period of about four minutes the auditorium was filled with successive beepbeeps, because all the new officers had Timex Ironmen (or is it Timex Ironmans?). I had one too, but I was smart enough to have turned off the chime, so I just got to smile quietly to myself at this inadvertant interruption of the CO. That particular watch was torn off my wrist on the obstacle course later that summer, and my girlfriend at the time, a lovely blonde who was one of the first women to qualify infantry in the CF and who therefore understood the importance of having a watch, took the six hour bus ride from Halifax to get another one on my wrist within twenty-four hours. That one had the faceplate cracked against a truck tailgate as I was jumping off a few years later, and the one after that was lost, and then one I think was stolen. Back at the start of January I replaced the battery in the current version, and then a couple of days later it was also torn off my wrist as I was unloading gear from a truck. FR sent me a new one, and my timekeeping is happy again. Experienced soldiers all turn the chimes off on their Ironmans (Ironmen?), but the alarm gets used routinely, and so every morning I wake up before I really want to, because someone else in the tent has their alarm set, and I'm well conditioned to wake up to it. One I could maybe handle, but inevitably there are half a dozen or more going off over the space of half an hour or so. I've learned there's no point in fighting it, so I just get up, pull on my two-weeks unwashed combats and get up to greet the day. Isn't technology wonderful? Cheers all! Paul :: add a comment :: Latest five blogs: Bullwer-Lytton 7/17/2010 The unnofficial army watch 2/20/2010 Finding the water 2/3/2010 All beach, no water 1/16/2010 All beach and no water. 1/4/2010 Archives: 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 ________________________________________________________________ Paul. Ditch the rubbish and get a Traser, or H3 Traser. Swiss made with phosphorous tubes on the dials and hour markers - robust enough to endure Commando evolutions from recruit training through operations and beyond still got it having had it serviced this year. Now standard issue to British SAS & SBS on OPs. need I say more. ;-) Royal , UK, posted on 9/1/2010 8:43:56 AM ________________________________________________________________ how is the training going? training buddy, petawawa, posted on 3/29/2010 10:44:48 AM ________________________________________________________________ I used to have a combat strap, velcro with a strap to cover the faceplate, but that went with watch #3, and now I just use the plastic strap it comes with. Paul, Toronto, posted on 3/29/2010 8:40:27 AM ________________________________________________________________ I have an Ironman on my wrist as I write this. This one is my third. I'm looking at getting the Suunto X10 and being different. What about stap varieties? I use the clean rubber and avoid the velcro. CJCM, Shilo, MB, posted on 3/13/2010 4:27:19 PM ________________________________________________________________ Keep up the writing, have enjoyed your books for a while now, but just found your blog. Spent a bit of time reading and enjoying your archives. Keep your head down, keep writing, and I looking forward to your next book. Really nice to be able to enjoy a good book written by a Canadian writer. Kippereast, Nova Scotia, Canada, posted on 3/12/2010 9:04:42 AM ________________________________________________________________ Get a Life!! A reader, Nova Scotia, posted on 3/1/2010 8:53:42 AM ________________________________________________________________ Get a Life!! A reader, Nova Scotia, posted on 3/1/2010 8:53:42 AM ________________________________________________________________ Hooah Paul! I thought you were probably eating sand since you weren't around. Sam beat me to the keep your head and toosh down, so I will provide a few other tips. Trust your gut instinct, the little warning voices in your head, and don't second guess your decisions. Soldiers in some situations don't have the luxery of time to make decisions in some circumstances. Just remember your decision at the time was the right one..the I should have will make you doubt yourself (if that is possible..smirks) I actually learned something from your blog. I always thought grunts were superior to other solders in erecting their tents. I thought the trenches and sandbags were completed before a grunt crawled into their sleeping bags. My prayers are with you and your soldiers. Take care Paul and keep safe. Roxie, Virginia, posted on 2/22/2010 8:04:15 PM ________________________________________________________________