1438 En Co (MRBC)
Missouri 2010
Once again a small group of us were given the chance to head over the water to the USA for an exchange with a similar unit from the US National Guard. The trip was a few days longer as we had to spend a couple of days in Washington DC.
Flights from Hannover to Heathrow and Heathrow to Washington Dulles together with an overnight in the salubrious accommodation at RAF Uxbridge all went well and we arrived at Andrews AFB quite late in the evening. Let us just say that the 'On Base' accommodation at Andrews made Uxbridge look like it was from the stone age.
An early start and having to be dressed in No2s, in weather that was far too warm was compensated by a very interesting visit and guided tour around the Pentagon. Followed by the celebratory meal in the 'executive dining room'. Being in the mix with Defense Attaches, Generals and lots of other 'brass', we were of course on our best behavior.
The rest of the day was spent seeing some of the sights of the Nation's capital. Arlington, the Whitehouse, Washington Monument, WW2 Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korea Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial were all on the list. The weather didn't get in the way and the trip's catch phrase was coined.
The next day we flew to St Louis and had a late drive across to Macon, the Armory for 1438 En Co MO National Guard. We were moved straight out on to the training area, squeezed into some room in a tent and given a trip down to the HQ in Jefferson City to get issued all the kit we'd need for our stay.
The next few days were spent in various weathers getting familiar with the Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB). Launching and recovery, bridging and rafting as well as driving their boats.
The lads and lasses of the company were all good guys and looked after us really well. They introduced us to the where's and wherefores of Missouri and we passed on the traditions of 'combat coke'.
As with the time spent in Dakota, an important part of their exercise was building a bridge from helicopter launched bays. This culminated in a bridge build with all the flashes and bangs you'd expect to make things really impressive.
At the end of the exercise the finished bridge was visited by the Brigade Commander an after some presentations and promotions there was a mass 'jumping off the bridge', which is apparently a bit of a tradition.
Not all the time was spent in the field. We managed a trip to see the sights of St Louis. The old Union Station is now a shopping mall/museum/hotel, which seemed to be a strange combination. We then went to see the 'Gateway Arch', which I had seen pictured of, but never quite knew how big it actually was.
After booking a place and sitting in very small 'pods' for the strangest 'lift' ride ever, we reached the top to be very impressed by the views from the small wide windows. One of the few times I have been impressed by such a 'modernistic' monument. I quite liked it.
