Late night arrival back at base. Low close downwind circuit at warp speed in a Chinook. (Just letting the lads know the last of the flock had made it back!) Taxxied into the revetment to see both the Company Commander and Battalion Commander waiting in a jeep. Being a WO-1, I considered it really a nice gesture for them to swing by and pick me and the co-pilot up for a ride to OPs.
It turned into an altogether different ride when my CO rather bluntly informed me that I had removed the Battalion OPs Center FM radio antenna from the roof of the TOC.
To say the Colonel and my CO were not amused is an understatement. I suggested said event was really just a youthful indiscretion but that seemed to fall upon some very deaf ears. My tea leaves as interpeted by the BnCo did not agrue well for rapid promotion. My stature amongst the other pilots did take somewhat of a lift as I took possession of the Grand Royal League of the Yo-Yo award for some time afterwards.
