>>On and off you see something flashing on you're tv,
that's the code words for each unit/company/camp<<
That's mobilisation manning, or mob manning.
"Standby" refers to standby forces. Every active unit, once
everybody has been posted in, will train together to be ops-ready.
Gradually from COY to BN level, in the form of field exercises
& then formal proficiency tests. The latter results will
dictate REDCON (Readiness Condition) status -- REDCON ONE being the
highest grade -- & the unit becomes ops-ready as a result. It
will re-train for the same tests during the second year of NS,
& also during every in-camp during reservist.
Every ops-ready unit will rotate to do standby, usually
contributing a COY (or equivalent) & on a weekly basis (before
passing the turn to another unit COY). During this particular week,
the COY shall be literally ready for war. Everything from fullpacks
to stores to tools to ammo is loaded up, & the vehicles parked
for immediate moveout (but otherwise surrounded by barb wire &
guarded by sentries when in camp). Standby troops have to be in
uniform, even when sleeping. The overall mood tends to be quite
jumpy throughout because commanders, both internal & external,
like to test for reactions by occasionally ("suddenly") activating
the men. Once such commands come down, there'll be lots of shouting
as everyone rushes to the armskote & then down to the standby
park to start up the vehicles!
Weekends are burnt; ditto holidays if they fall during that week.
My whole unit kena standby during CNY in 1987, in fact. Charlie BTY
was the standby force for the whole week, but my CO didn't want
them to miss all the festivities. So Alpha BTY replaced Charlie on
CNY eve (& thus missed out on reunion dinners at home). Bravo
then booked in on CNY first day to take over (& missed out
visiting relatives). Charlie returned on CNY second day after
getting the 2 days off, & continued standing by (inc. the
weekend later in the week).
Reservists also do standby (same preparations), but together with
field training (which is 90% of the time during ICT). I suppose Mob
Manning (both active & reservist) is also part of standby, but
those who're recalled are more like the second-tier of standby
forces.
I can remember one episode when the standby forces were activated
for real, but not for battle. It happened during the Hotel New
World collapse, when one of the NSF Combat Engineers units was
first to arrive on the scene. Goes to show that standby personnel
are ready for anything.
