Appendix "L"
REPORT ON LIAISON VISIT TO
2416 AC&WU (AUXILIARY) Ottawa.
Toronto, Ont, 19 Nov 51.
Appendix "A" - Unit Organization Chart
Appendix "B" - Training Schedule
INTRODUCTION
The following officers visited 2416 AC&WU (Auxiliary), Ottawa, from 13 Nov to 15 Nov 51 inclusive
S/L N Burden, SASO 2 Auxiliary Group HQ, Toronto
F/L J Lasek, OC 2400 AC&WU (ASU), Toronto
F/O JA McCallum, OC Support, 2 R&CU (Aux), Toronto
F/O LW Norris, Adjutant 2400 AC&WU (Aux), Toronto
The purpose of the visit was to observe and discuss organization and training methods and attendance problems
Organization
2416 AC&WU (Aux), under the command of S/L FJ MacNamara, is responsible administratively and functionally to 1 Auxiliary Group, Montreal.
The unit organization chart is attached as Appendix "A".
ACCOMMODATION
Urban Headquarters
A private residence centrally located in the city of Ottawa was purchased to serve as an urban headquarters for 2416 AC&WU.
This building provides offices for the entire Adminstrative staff and as a social centre for both officers and other ranks.
Training Centre
All ground training is being conducted at Station Uplands. A standard GIS building has been set aside for both officers and other ranks.
UNIT STRENGTH
Auxiliary
Total strength as of 31 Oct 51
| Officers (Staff) | 7 |
| Officers (Trainee) | 36 |
| Senior NCOs (Staff) | 5 |
| Senior NCOs (Trainee) | Nil |
| Cpls and ACs (Staff) | 12 |
| Cpls and ACs (Trainees) | 132 |
| Cpls and WDs (Staff) | 3 |
| Cpls and WDs (Trainee) | 3 |
| Total | 198 |
Regular Support
The Regular Support is fully established at one officer and eight other ranks.
Attendance
The average attendance prior to Summer Camp was approximately 85 percent.
No figures were available since fall training commenced but due to organization and training schedules attendance has fallen off considerably to approximate 60 percent.
Roll calls are taken in class
Discipline
Strict discipline is maintained in this unit.
The unit is observing the attendance policy laid down in all Auxiliary Group directive. If any member is absent on one night a suitable explanation must be presented to the team captain. If he is absent two consecutive nights he is paraded before the unit Adjutant. After missing three consecutive nights he is paraded before the Chief Instructor, and unless a suitable explanation is presented, discharge action is taken immediately.
Personnel are required to fulfill the duties of Orderly Officer, Orderly Sergeant, and Orderly Corporal. The Orderly Officer is required to sleep at the urban headquarters during his tour of duty.
TRAINING METHODS
A unit training schedule is attached as Appendix "B".
With the exception of E and F, teams are comprised of the following personnel:
Five to six Fighter Controllers
15 Fighter Control Operators
Three to Four ComTechs
Three to Four RdrTechs
One Telecom Officer
The lectures for the Fighter Controllers in the recently formed teams (E-F) are conducted by Fighter Controllers from teams A to D. The majority of the lectures for airmen are conducted by Regular Force instructors.
Due to lack of equipment very little practical training has been accomplished to date.
STANDARD OF TRAINING
General
Training in all trades has suffered in varying degrees due to the shortage of equipment and training publications.
Fighter Controllers
Progressive training is further retarded in this trade because only partially trained Fighter Controllers from the older teams are used to instruct the Controllers in the newly-formed teams.
Fighter Control Operators
All Auxiliary Summer Trainees successfully completed the Group one syllabus but as yet have not been reclassified in unit DROs. These airmen are now undergoing Group two training.
A second class, consisting of newly recruited High School Students and three Airwomen, commenced Group one Fighter Control Operator training in October.
Communications Technicians
20 trainees in this trade almost completed Group one training during the summer period. However, this phase of the training was not considered too successful. In addition, the lack of equipment has further restricted their training during the fall period.
There are no Group one airmen in this trade at present but the instructor feels that one or two may reach this standard very shortly.
Radar Technicians
20 trainees completed Group one syllabus last summer. However, their instructor, an Auxiliary Sergeant, feels that only two or three could pass a Group one test at this time.
This group has had very little practical training because the recently acquired AMES II is being used continually by Fighter Control Operators.
As in the other trades there is a shortage of technical training equipment. The few small tools and motors, etc available have been supplied by instructors from personal sources.
Communications Operators
Of the seven trainees in this group, three Grade XIII students have been excused attendance for the fall perioid due to the demands of their school work. None of the remaining four has his Group one. However, two who were former radio amateurs should have no trouble passing a trade test.
The practical training in the trade is excellent in comparison with the other technical trades. Point to point CW signal traffic is maintained with three other stations in the group.
No summer training was provided for this trade.
Miscellaneous Trades
There is a total of six Auxiliary Clerks Administrative of which two are held supernumerary to the establishment. The trade establishment of PRTI is filled by a Sergeant who is currently employed maintaining attendance records. The Sqn carries out no parades of any kind, and no drill instruction is being provided.
There is a shortage of personnel in the remaining trades. No real attempt has been made to recruit personnel to fill the establishment vacancies.
HOURS OF WORK
The Auxiliary CO works approximately five hours per day, five days per week. At this rate he has worked 137 days since 1 Apr. The CO works almost exclusively at the urban headquarters.
Unit Adjutant works four nights per week. Assistant Adjutant, who is a mis-employed Fighter Controller, works two nights per week.
The CTO works five nights per week. All those personnel work exclusively at urban headquarters.
The Regular support officer works four nights per week at the GIS, Stn Uplands.
During the three days of the visit, classes commenced at 2015 hrs and ended at 2115 or 2130 hrs.
OBSERVATIONS
Attendance
The high attendance prior to Summer Camp and the present attendance still being maintained can be attributed to the following factors:
The attendance on Tuesday 13 Nov at GIS was as follows:
Fighter Controllers, one absent
Fighter Control Operators, 24 out of 29 present.
Radar Technicians, 15 out of 22 present.
Training
With the exception of the FtrCOps, training progress up to the present time has been slow. Sunday parades are planned to rectify this situation. Technical training has reached a peak due to the lack of equipment. Unless some equipment is forwarded soon, and unless a number of trainees obtain Group one, the morale and attendance will fall still lower. The unit has no VHF facilities whatsoever.
Administration
All administration is conducted by the unit itself, with the exceptions of the facilities provided by the Accountant Officer of Stn Uplands.
Most staff officers are able to afford considerable time to the unit above the quota demanded due to the nature of civilian employment, and their accessibility between their residence and urban headquarters.
Although the Regular Support officer works four nights per week, he does not work the mornings following parade nights. In addition, he does no administrative work whatsoever and is only concerned with lecturing.
Kitting
A scheme has been devised to aid officers in their kitting. Contacts are made by advertising, and uniforms and hats are obtained from ex-RCAF officers. These are placed in a moth-proof store-room, and newly recruited officers may choose and purchase items of kit which they need. The particular officer is personnel responsible to come to a mutual price agreement with the original owner and to forward the necessary money.
Social Events
Social events, usually stag, are held once every two months.
Members may bring lady guests to the Mess any evening they desire. High School students are allowed the privilege of the bar.
Morale
Morale of the unit is of a good standard generally, although an undercurrent of tension is apparent due to training at a maximum limit without proper equipment.
The majority of the officers dislike doing the duties of Orderly Officer.
Summer Camp
The general opinion of Controllers is that the last Summer Camp was a waste of time.
CONCLUSION
2416 AC&WU has advanced to a maximum state of training possible within the limitations of equipment.
Maintenance of discipline and order stemming directly from the Commanding Officer himself, is responsible for and necessary to the functioning of the unit under prevailing conditions.
(N Burden) S/L,
SASO
2 Aux Gp HQ
