Stan Mitty. Kevin Colbran

      Stan takes charge.

      The new intake of infantry joined the induction company having just completed basic training were doing what Infantry does best, standing in a line waiting for the next order. Among the line-up were several veterans having served elsewhere. These were nominally given corporal status to assist in the establishment of the company.

      Major Brian Roberts had seconded Stan Mitty to the office of the commander. Gaining the enviable job of the company runner, so when he turned up on the parade ground with a stack of paperwork, it was no surprise. What was surprising was that he was now wearing the rank of Warrant Officer second class, jumping over the top of the two ex-recruit course staff serjeants tasked with the carry-on training for assimilation of the troops. The quicker eyed men voiced their surprise, so Stan ordered, “Silence in the ranks.” Which received a harsh look from the two staff serjeants as the last time they had seen him he had been a newly promoted serjeant, and it was contra protocol for anyone to address a troop under the control of another NCO.

      The closer Staff Serjeant growled, “Something you need to say to me, Serjeant?”

      “Sorry Staff, I have several urgent messages to deliver from Colonel Roberts,” Stan apologised.

      “Hell, what’s that beetle doing on your arm and shouldn’t that be Major Roberts?” William asked.

      “Pretty isn't it, it is not the first time. Now if you are ready I can deliver some good news,” Stan said with a grin. “Roberts has just been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and has been tasked with raising a battalion.”

      “That’s pretty sudden all right, Sir.” The acknowledgement delivered through gritted teeth.

      “Yep lots of changes, first the good news, Corporals Jones, Samuels and Wentworth are now to be Serjeants, who will take charge of the three platoons then march them to the barracks to be ready for a parade this afternoon,” Stan advised, “If I may do the honours?”

      “Go for it, sir,” Staff William conceded.

      “Thank you Staff; Serjeants Jones, Samuels and Wentworth sort your men into three platoons, march them back to the barracks and get them in 'cams' for a parade in one hour. Carry on.” This drill completed; the troops marched off.

      “Now for the fun bit, your warrants will be presented at this parade, Congratulations Bill, Tony,” Stan grinned as he shook their hands. “The downside is that the colonel needs three temporary platoon commanders until the rest of the brass turns up, so guess who is that?” That took the smiles off their faces. So Stan added, “Only for a month when the rest of battalion arrives; so will we toss coins to see who gets which platoon?”

      William said, “I get on well with Jones.”

      Tony said, “Wentworth is a sensible man.”

      “Excellent since Samuels has been my serjeant before; so that’s perfect,” Stan smiled, “When the officers arrive and assume command, we will then revert to CSMs of the three companies.”

      “You seem to know a lot for a runner?” Tony commented.

      “Yep, Roberts found out my past misdeeds about the same time as his promotion and the orders for the formation of the Battalion; or just payback for my old sins.”

      “I had thought that your name was familiar, any relation to Colonel Mitty lately of Africa?” Bill asked. “And Warrant Officer Robert Samuels wouldn’t be our boy wonder of the same name?”

      “Perhaps, hard to live that down; though that one wore a moustache,” Stan laughed.

      “So why did you sign up as a private for Pete’s sake?” Tony asked incredulously, “If you had claimed a commission it would have set you up as a Captain at least.”

      “What and miss all the fun I had at recruit school?” Stan laughed.

      “You and Samuels were our biggest irritation; always two steps ahead and mentoring those twerps that usually gave us a reason for yelling,” Bill admitted then conceded, 'Besides making us the top company of the intake.”

      “I held a short-term commission in this army but chose not to remind them as I had been seconded to Africa and then transferred to the Rhodesian Army to sort their problems. This choice put me on the nose with our brass, so I only claimed the non-com part of my career. After getting my warrant, I went through Scheyville coming out as a second lieutenant pilot then was booted upstairs after I annoyed so many OCs. I was given all the shit jobs to get rid of me but since Lucky is my middle name; I somehow come up smelling of roses.”

      “If what is in the wind is for real, luck will be in great need. So we have a celebrity with us though I guess you are not ready to come out the cupboard just yet,” Bill said.

      “Hardly, I would appreciate keeping it on the QT for now. Though sooner or later it will hit the fan and then we will see what happens,” Stan conceded, “For now let’s get this parade on the road. Then we can have the fun of all that wonderful paperwork to convert this training company to a battalion.”

      “I suppose there is a manual for that, WO school Canungra has been a while for me, so I am a bit rusty. Though knowing the powers that be, whatever we do will be redone by the new RSM,” Tony said.

      “Get it right, and you will have the glory. If we stuff up, yours truly will get the blame. So you’re laughing either way,” Stan grinned, “I had to rebuild my battalion under fire when battalion HQ was taken out by a surprise attack. My company rescued the survivors, I then ran the Fire base as well until the dust settled. For my sins, their army promoted me to acting Lt Colonel, and I retained command until the UN handed the country to the rebels while I was away at Staff College in South Africa.”

      While this conversation was going on, they paced out and marked the parade ground as previously this had been set up as two large formations and now had to be remarked for three platoons. Lt Col Roberts only required an informal parade to announce the promotions and announce the changes to the unit. At the appointed hour Stan having briefed the new serjeants, lined everyone up in their places; assuming the role of CSM ordered, “Company, Atten-shun.” Then Stan about turned marched three paces saluted and announced, “Company on parade, Sir.”

      Colonel Roberts returned the salute, “Carry on Mr Mitty. Company, Stand at ease, Stand easy.” Stan retired to the edge of number 2 Platoon alongside Sergeant Samuels.

      “Men we are here to confer several promotions and to brief you on the immediate future; first the promotions; Staff Sergeant Addams,” Bill marched out saluted and was handed his Warrant, “Congratulations Warrant Officer Second Class William Addams, take charge of your platoon.” And so the process carried on until all the senior NCOs had received their promotions and retired to the new duties.

      “Men, over the coming weeks, reinforcements will bolster this company until re-established as a Battalion, at which time as part of an ongoing exercise will be redeployed to the North. The aim of this exercise is to simulate a clandestine deployment. Further briefings as required and any communication is to be done solely through company channels,” Col. Roberts concluded with; “Company Attention. Take charge of your platoons and dismiss.” Roberts returned the salutes and marched off.

      The three WO2s turned control over to the new serjeants who in turn dismissed the troops. Stan announced to the SNCOs, “Give them an hour to work on their kit, in the meantime let’s find a comfortable spot, and I will brief you on the next part of the programme.”

      When the new platoon commanders had settled down, Stan informed them, “First write a list of junior NCOs and have them march as sections for a while, interspersed with platoon and company drill over the next few weeks; that should get them on familiar terms with their counterparts.”

      “What is the big picture?” Rob asked.

      “Our neighbour and I don’t mean Tassie, has been eyeing off our ‘empty north’ so we have been selected to maneuver our troops somewhat clandestinely towards that area as part of routine exercises; by adding an extra platoon to publicised companies training in the area, our platoon is then remaining covertly on-station. You may have noticed that all of those present