GMT was conducted in the 2 ARW HQ. In a period of several weeks in a classroom, our small group learned the basics of being a citizen soldier. Military Police (MPs) spoke to us about military law & our obligations as citizen soldiers, or as they called it "citizens plus", because of the extra rules that applied to those in the military in addition to all the laws governing ordinary folk. We were subject to extra provisions, such as obeying lawful orders. There were harsh penalties for desertion, AWOL, leaking secrets to enemies, etc. Rules & regulations, we came to know, were not short in supply. We learned about aircraft nomenclature and the history of the Air Reserve & RCAF.My favourite lecture was on ABC, also known as NBC (no this had nothing to do with American TV networks). This referred to Nuclear Biological & Chemical warfare (or Atomic Biological & Chemical). The Reserve Officer who was our instructor was a teacher in civilian life & really got into the topic. So did I, as a Strategic Studies student. I was already well versed on the deterrence policies of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction), which simply meant that if the Soviets nuke North America, the Yanks would nuke them back before we all fried. Anyway, the instructor gleefully enlightened us that the same good people who gave us Bayer aspirin also gave us such goodies as mustard gas or nerve gas. Not the kind of thing that was mentioned in their commercials! Both sides had nerve gas & chemical weapons in WW II but they were considered too horrendous to be used. These weapons were not new, as chemical warfare was used centuries ago. Such as when an enemy's water supply was tainted with dead animals, or a plague victim was flung over the ramparts. So, our ancestors were well versed in the art of war! Later on, our buddies in Baden, Germany would become familiar with working on aircraft while wearing the fully encapsulated NBC suits. But here at home, living under the protection of the U.S. nuclear umbrella, such threats were minimal, so drills were uncommon. Except the one time I remember a surprise alert at the Base. Personnel were running around with Geiger counters & we had to report to areas designated as "safe" and hide under desks.
There were practical drills during GMT. We learned about military rank & positions. It was kind of like poker - a Master Corporal beats a Corporal that sort of thing. There was dress & deportment. We had our dress uniforms & fatigues. There were also ties & RCAF tartan dickeys. Flat hats, berets, wedge caps - and for the ladies, bowler hats (which I thought were cute). All in any colour, as long as it was CAF green. Although I don't believe we were actually issued uniforms until well established in your Squadron. That way, the new kid really stuck out! We learned how to stand at attention, at ease, & to stand easy. Taught how & when to salute. And of course how to march. We'd march all around the Wing under the tutelage of Corporal Dorothy Rice. Dorothy would later be a fixture at 400 Squadron but this was my first encounter with her. Some of the trainees had problems with marching. Some would swing their arms out of sync & march like tin soldiers. As a one-time Sea Cadet, this was old hat for me. But we all passed GMT.
