From Cowboys To Cockpits

For any young person joining the service, their initial reaction to Manning Depot is one of utter confusion and awe.  People are milling around wondering what to do and wondering who will tell them where they should go.  It appears there isn't anyone in control, until a voice shouts over all the other sounds.

"Recruits! I am Corporal C. W. Morrow.  I will be your counsellor, mentor and guide for the next few weeks while you are in my care.  You will come to me with your every concern and I will put them at rest," he shouted.  He didn't need a megaphone, his voice was so loud.  Apart from the fact that he got red in the face when he yelled, he was a rather pleasant looking man in his late twenties.

We were in a large Airforce drill hall.  I think it must have been a hangar at one time. The building had hardwood floors and there were basketball courts and other sports facilities throughout the place.  We milled about carrying our suitcases and various other personal effects until Corporal Morrow started talking to us again.  We stopped in our tracks and listened, afraid that we might miss some vital information regarding our futures.

"Gentlemen and boys." (Already he was singling me out.) "You will form up in three lines in front of me on my command and place your luggage in front of you," he barked.  I only had one suitcase and it was heavy.  I heaved it around so it was in front of me.  With all the shoving and pushing I found myself in the back row.  My friend, whom I had met on the train from Winnipeg, was in the second row at the opposite end to me.

"From this moment on you will address me as Corporal Morrow and nothing else. When I speak no one else will talk.  Ever!  I can be a very pleasant and happy man or I can be most unhappy and make your lives hell on earth.  You will wish to be anywhere but near me.  Do you all understand?" he continued.

"Yes Sir, Corporal Morrow," we all answered, more or less in unison.

"You will not call me Sir under any circumstances.  Do you understand me?" he barked.

"Yes Corporal Morrow," we answered.  We were getting the hang of it already.  Two other corporals joined him as he walked along the ranks looking us over.  I stood, at what I thought was attention, and waited for the onslaught I knew would come when they got to me.  They passed right by me, looking over my head.  I could hardly believe my good fortune.  There were remarks made up and down the line, questions asked, replies made and even some laughter.  Things were very serious indeed.  I felt the tension in the air.  We didn't know what to expect or how far we could go with this new boss.  Most of us had never taken orders in such a formal manner before.  We were new and it certainly showed.  Our corporal knew it, that's for sure.

We came from every walk of life, from  ex-jailbirds, to city business types, to farmers and labourers.  We were all here ready to be moulded into a fine example of "Military Might".

"You are being allotted bunk space in the new billet facility nearby. You will take your luggage to these quarters where you will stay until I or my assistants order otherwise.  You will not shift your allocated bunk positions from one to another unless you are authorized to do so. You will then be sent for your medical examinations and your inoculations.  From there we will go to the supply depot where you will be outfitted with uniforms and all the necessary gear that you will require while in my care.  Do you all understand me?"