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Camp Raffalli, Calvi

Pink Floyd

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2REP, 3Cie 1ere section Djibouti Jan-July 1991. One bloke in the photo recently put a video on the net about rope climbing...I believe now deleted. That’s me centre (standing) with the shades. This was the company tour when the Ethiopian dictator Mengistu was overthrown. Our company was thrown into the thick of it...
 

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Joseph Cosgrove

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2REP, 3Cie 1ere section Djibouti Jan-July 1991. One bloke in the photo recently put a video on the net about rope climbing...I believe now deleted. That’s me centre (standing) with the shades. This was the company tour when the Ethiopian dictator Mengistu was overthrown. Our company was thrown into the thick of it...
Yes I recognize the major. Chef Drelon and my arch enemy Sgt Gilet. Is that Phil Hamilton squatting down in front of you?
 

Pink Floyd

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Sad news. Rich Sutter died in Mali (complications from malaria). You may remember him from the Bear Grylls doco... R.I.P.
 

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Joseph Cosgrove

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I've just gotten confirmation from Yanfolila, Mali. It is the same one who replaced me as Security Manager. I'd met up with him just before leaving in Bamako. We were both in the CEA together and although he did not recognize me, I recognized him. In order to prove to him that we had served together I mentioned a few people who were in his section, SML such as Al I'anson and a few others in the CEA such as Les Roque, whom I joined in Paris with and Malcolm McMillan who was in the CRAPs at the time which was attached to the CEA, whom I did instruction with.
Why go to such lengths to prove myself; I could not bear to be considered another Night Jumper o_O :sleep:
 

mark wake

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I've just gotten confirmation from Yanfolila, Mali. It is the same one who replaced me as Security Manager. I'd met up with him just before leaving in Bamako. We were both in the CEA together and although he did not recognize me, I recognized him. In order to prove to him that we had served together I mentioned a few people who were in his section, SML such as Al I'anson and a few others in the CEA such as Les Roque, whom I joined in Paris with and Malcolm McMillan who was in the CRAPs at the time which was attached to the CEA, whom I did instruction with.
Why go to such lengths to prove myself; I could not bear to be considered another Night Jumpero_O:sleep:
I think not Joseph. if that were the case me ossie. Volt. And any remaining greens around here would definitely call it a day!
 

Pink Floyd

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The big pink across from the main gate...many photos from inside the camp have the train station in the background
 

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Joseph Cosgrove

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Found this on Youtube. The CEA (acronym for in French Compagnie d’éclairage et d’appui, weapons and recce company) was my first company when I arrived in the REP. I was assigned to Milan 2, as there were two MILAN platoons in those days. Each combat company had a MILAN group also. It was in the days before the REP were issued with VABs. We sere still in Jeeps would you believe !
At the 34 second you will see a brass plaque. This is one of the questions that I helped expose the “Night Jumper”. On it is the name 1re Classe Dribar, with the date that he was killed in action (I forgot the date). The building is named after him in his honor.
I know this as, in according to tradition, I was put into the semaine as Cpl de semaine on my arrival at the company - followed by cpl de jour. Nothing like being thrown in the deep end to be accepted as a new Cpl in the REP from the “outside”.
One of my mates who I did my Cpl's course in Castel, Quartier Lappasset in those days, phoned the semaine and said he was from the B2 (regimental “gestapo”) and wanted to see the 1re Classe Dribar straight away. It took a bit of time, checking all the sections by lists and finally going to the bureau major to realize that it was a wind up :).

 

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The traditional sort of wind-up to “welcome” all new comers in most French military units. I don’t know if there are similar traditions in other armies. BTW, not sure if it’s a general issue, but I can’t read the video (I get a message “video not available”).
 

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The traditional sort of wind-up to “welcome” all new comers in most French military units. I don’t know if there are similar traditions in other armies. BTW, not sure if it’s a general issue, but I can’t read the video (I get a message “video not available”).

We do have similar traditions in the US, but it's usually just to send the FNG/Boot/Cherry off to find non-existent objects. Such as:

-100 feet of Flight Line
-The keys to the Drop Zone
-A can of squelch for the radio
- Chem-lite batteries
-A box of grid squares
-Blinker fluid for the HMMWV
-A box of Fallopian tubes*
- A "B.A. 1100 November " with a string (A balloon)

... And numerous other things.
 

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With the Merchant navy, I was told to get a compass wrench from the engine room.
However, a lot of my family members were sailors and I was aware of those things.
It took me all afternoon to find the wrench and they were pissing mad that they had to do my work as well their own.
I had a nice rest on the poop deck. (old description from the old sailing ships)
 

Pink Floyd

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Home 1989-94
 

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Joseph Cosgrove

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Great photos Pink Floyd, loads of souvenirs there. In the 3rd photo, I take it this was just before or just after a ceremony, seeing as there are red and green drapes on the PC (building in the background.

Just in case anyone is interested, the fanions , or in English the pennants which you see on the Halyard (not sure if that is the correct name) or the rope holding up the flag pole, shows which companies are present in the regiment. And on the other side which companies are on overseas missions. For the life of me, I cannot remember which side was which.
You can see a better example in the the 4th photo with the Legion pennant, green over red below the pavillon tricolore.
 
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Pink Floyd

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Great photos Pink Floyd, loads of souvenirs there. In the 3rd photo, I take it this was just before or just after a ceremony, seeing as there red and green drapes on the PC (building in the background.

Just in case anyone is interested, the fanions , or in English the pennants which you see on the Halyard (not sure if that is the correct name) or the rope holding up the flag pole, shows which companies are present in the regiment. And on the other side which companies are on overseas missions. For the life of me, I cannot remember which side was which.
Here’s a better photo showing more detail. I do remember you could not walk in front of that building during the day (especially if the CdCorps was in house). The Monument was transported from Algeria...
 

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Joseph Cosgrove

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Here’s a better photo showing more detail. I do remember you could not walk in front of that building during the day (especially if the CdCorps was in house). The Monument was transported from Algeria...
Unless you were a sous officer.
 

Pink Floyd

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Unless you were a sous officer.
I still remember getting my wings just in front of the monument, and down to the foyer for a few beers, then off to 3cie. It was only later I realised the sous officer who pinned them on my chest was the Major in charge of the CRAP
 
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Pink Floyd

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The para's best friend. He hasn't aged a day since I left...
 

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