Backing up military vehicles

[Jon Skagfeld]

What follows is, I hope, an amusing anecdote.

Both collectors of MVs, as well as present or past serving military members, are familiar with the typical conventions involved in acting as a ground guide in order to reverse a vehicle into a hide or other area.

My wife, Betty, after receiving instructions, managed to get my Chev CMP into the winter storage modular tentage, albeit slightly askew.

When Sunray came to visit this week-end past, I asked him to back me up and get the vehicle positioned correctly.

Having been involved with military transport and ground guiding armoured vehicles, etc. I expected Sunray to exhibit the usual forms of ground signals.

Imagine my astounded and totally pissed off feeling as Sunray wildly waved his arms as if he were flailing in a hot tub!

I backed up and went forward EIGHT(!) times until Sunray got it more or less right.

I learned later from Betty, who was watching this charade from the front window, that she thought Geoff was having a fit of St Vitus dance.

Such gesticulations!

Now I have to get Betty to do the job properly!