Sporting Excellence

The 2022 RLC Sports Awards

While the 2022 iteration of The RLC Sports Awards was held only eight months following the 2021 event, the awards are now back on track following the hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The awards were held on Thursday 30 June 2022 at the at the Bicester Garrison Officers’ Mess, courtesy of the Garrison Commander. This year’s guest of honour was Steve Collins, a former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 1997. Steve defeated Chris Eubank in 1995 to win the WBO super-middleweight title. He successfully defended his title seven times including two fights with Nigel Benn. Steve is a member of the Army Reserves, has coached the Army boxing team and is a fervent supporter of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.The Pipers of 152 (North Irish) Regiment RLC and The RLC Corps of Drums provided musical entertainment.

The RLC would like to thank the following sponsors of the 2022 RLC Sports Awards

Army Sports Control Board (ASCB), Agility Defence Services (UK), Briggs Defence, Pearson TQ, Motif8, Silver Lady, Veolia Ltd, Squarcle Consulting Ltd, Peli Products, Edwin Doran Sports/Gullivers Sports Travel.

Sports Personality of the Year Pte Viliame Kotobalavu (Rugby Union) Sports Team of the Year RLC Ladies Cycling Runners up - Men’s Athletics, 4 Regt RLC Men’s Football

Sports Coach/Official of the Year SSgt Nick Hood (Athletics) Runners up - Capt Lloyd Diprose (Alpine Sports) SSgt Sarah Ness (Netball)

Young Sportswoman of the Year Pte Courtney Pursglove (Rugby Union) Runners up - Pte Fern Morrin (Swimming) 2Lt Kerenza Bryson (Modern Pentathlon)

Young Sportsman of the Year Pte Alfie Sprake (Nordic Skiing) Runners up - Pte Lewis Harvey (Boxing) Pte Bishal Babu Khada (Badminton) Runners up - Pte Chandra K Gurung (Various) Lt Molly Firth (Aquatics)

Sportsman of the Year Pte Viliame Kotobalavu (Rugby Union) Runners up - LCpl Binod Gurung (Powerlifting) Cpl Jack Halsey (Athletics/X-Country)

Outstanding Achievement Cpl Channon Heaney (Netball) Runners up - WO2 Kalem Hicks (Enduro) LCpl Liam Phillips (Enduro)

Lifetime Achievement Maj Andy Martin (Various) Runners up - Maj Tracey McKenzie-Rayner (Cycling) Lt Col Toni Gray (Netball)

The Pioneer Spirit Award 6 Regt RLC

Sportswoman of the Year Cpl Megan Reid (Boxing) The Hemming Belt LCpl Keeley Austerfield

8 LCpl Keeley Austerfield

8 SSgt Nick Hood

8 Pte Courtney Pursglove 8 Maj Andy Martin

8 Pte Viliame Kotobalavu 8 Cpl Channon Heaney

8 Pte Alfie Sprake

8 Sports Team of the Year - RLC Ladies Cycling

Images: Cpl McKenzie RLC VPT

YOUR CAREER, YOUR CALL

Career management team

RLC SOLDIERS

SO1: Lt Col Bratcher SO2: Maj McHugh SO3: Capt Jack WO1: WO1 Neilson QOGLR: SSgt Subba

In this iteration of Your Career, Your Call, the RLC soldiers team at the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow would like to give readers the opportunity to get to know them.

Lt Col S Bratcher MC – SO1 RLC Soldiers Hi I am Lt Col Simon Bratcher. I was commissioned into The RLC in 2000 and qualified as an ATO in 2004. Outside of work I enjoy outdoor sports, have just taken up archery and spend a lot of time walking with my dogs.

Units served in: 6 Supply Regt (Tp Comd and RSO), 11 EOD Regt (Tp Comd, SO3 and OC), OPTAG, 51 (Scottish) Bde, Defence Intelligence, DEMS Trg Regt, SJFHQ and APC. I have completed three tours of Iraq, one of Afghanistan and I spent a year in Kuwait.

Within the Army Personnel Centre I am responsible for supervision of all aspects of the RLC Soldier Wing and attendance on all Soldier Wing Promotion and Assignment Boards (less Pte – LCpl).

Maj L Polson – SO2 RLC Soldier Hello, I’m Maj Liz Polson. I was commissioned into The RLC in April 2007. Outside of work I compete in CrossFit and am an avid backcountry skier, spending much of the winter in the Alps.

Units served in: 17 P&M Regt –Port Op Tp Comd (Op TELIC 10, HERRICK 10), DTUS Birmingham –Instructor, 29 Regt – Sqn 2IC, OIC PC Sqn (Op HERRICK 20), Army HQ – SO3 PersOps, DCSU –Adjutant, [Career Break], 7 Regt –Plans Officer, Comd Wing –Instructor, ICSC(L).

Within the Army Personnel Centre I am responsible for cross desk policy co-ordination within Soldier Wing, RLC management planning, CSS No.7 Board co-ord, RSM & SSM Appointment Boards.

Capt AP Bannister RLC – SO3 RLC Soldier Wing Section 1 Hello, I am Capt Andy Bannister. I joined The RLC in 1997 as an Ammunition Technician. I spend my downtime motorcycle touring at home and abroad.

Units served in: Base Ammunition Depot (BAD) Kineton (Pte-LCpl), the Army School of Ammunition (ASofA) (LCpl), BAD Longtown (Cpl), Cyprus Service Support Unit (Cpl), British Forces Falkland Islands (Cpl), 521 EOD Sqn (Edinburgh (Sgt) and Chester(SSgt), HQ Land Command (Principal Ammunition Technical Officer’s Branch)(SSgt), ASofA / Defence EOD, Munitions and Search School IEDD Wing (WO2), Loan Service Oman (WO2), 321 EOD&S Sqn (Aldergrove)(WO2), HQ 721 EOD Sqn (WO1), HQ 29 EOD&S Gp (WO1), and the Defence Academy of the UK (WO1). Operationally I have deployed on Ops TELIC, BANNER and HERRICK. I was privileged to be appointed the Ammunition Technician Trade Conductor in 2018. My first assignment after commissioning in 2020 was 2IC of 721 EOD Sqn in Ashchurch and I arrived here in Glasgow in August 2022.

Within the Army Personnel Centre I am responsible for supervision and career management of the Ammunition Technician trade from WO1 – LCpl, and management of Ammunition Technician and Ammunition Technical Officer OCE staffing.

WO1 Neilson RLC - APC CSS 2IC of RLC Soldier Wing Section 1 Hello, I’m WO1 Neilson. I Joined The RLC in 1999 as a Driver Tank Transporter Operator. Outside of work I enjoy family time, deer stalking, fishing and walking with my dog. Units served in: 8 Regt RLC, 3 Tank Transporter Squadron as a Pte to LCpl, Army Training Centre Pirbright as a LCpl – Cpl, Trg Section Commander, Army Training Centre Bassingbourn as a Sgt Trg Platoon Sgt, 27 Regt, 19 Tank Transporter Squadron as a training and admin Sgt, 7 Regt 16 Tank Transporter Squadron as a Troop SSgt and SQMS, 7 Regt 16 Tank Transporter Squadron as a Warrant Officer Class 2 SSM, 154 Regt 221 Squadron as a Senior Permanent Staff Instructor WO2, Defence School of Transport as a Warrant Officer Class 1 RSM and finally Army Personnel Centre Glasgow.

Within the Army Personnel Centre I manage the following appointments: The Corps of Drums; Recruiting Appointments – Ranks Pte – SSgt; Training Appointments Basic & ITT – Ranks LCpl – SSgt; Senior Permanent Staff Instructor –Rank SSgt; Squadron Sergeant Major appointments; Regimental Sergeant Major appointments.

Responsibilities: 2IC of RLC Soldier Wing Section 1; assist in the Career Management of section 1 trades and appointments; maintenance of key appointments within Training and Recruitment Establishments; co-ordination and promulgation of VEng Fll and VEng Long boards; loading of RLC Personnel on JSWOC and RMAS Instructor Courses.

SSgt Subba GSPS – CM QOGLR Soldier Wing Section 1 Hi I’m SSgt Subba. I joined the GSPS as a RGR Clerk in 2006 before the formation of GSPS in 2011. Outside work I enjoy skiing, hiking and travelling.

Units Served: 2 RGR as a Despatch Clerk in Bn HQ as a Pte, 36 Engr Regt as a Junior Sqn HR

Carolyn Irwin

Charmaine Johnston Catherine Brown

Tracy Bryceland

within 70 and 69 Gurkha Field Sqn as a LCpl, 36 Engr Regt as a Senior HR Admin within 20 Field Sqn as a Sgt, 30 Sig Regt as a Staff Support Assistance (SSA) as a Sgt.

Within the Army Personnel Centre I am responsible for the following: supervision and career management of Pte to WO2 Gurkha Soldiers within 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment (10 QOGLR) including Gurkha Chefs within the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Implementation of Army Workforce Levers The purpose of rescinding ABN038/2021. ABN038/2021 was issued in Apr 21 when there was significant uncertainty about the future Army structure and a requirement to reduce the size of the workforce to 73,000 by 2025. Following the publication of Future Soldier, and subsequent analysis and workforce planning, it is now considered appropriate to rescind ABN038/2021.

The Royal Logistic Corps Association and Forming Corps Associations Membership

If you are keen to enhance your network, join a group of like-minded professionals who share a common purpose, or just catch-up with lost friends and acquaintances, why not join The RLC Association or one of The RLC’s Forming Corps Associations? If interested, please contact the Veterans, Families and Civil Engagement Officer (VFCEO) - Victoria Parkes at: Email - VFCEO@rhqtherlc.org.uk Telephone - 01962 887785 Alternatively, you can download the Membership Registration Form from the RLC website. https://www.royallogisticcorps.co.uk/who-we-are/the-rlc-association/

By Sgt Richard Wright - 25 Regt RLC and Dave Matthews - Learning Technologies

As the British Army transitions into new methods of training, DST is trialling and investing in technology to provide quality soldiers of the future. It enables the instructional staff to create tactical scenarios to practice and test the students in a ‘safe to fail’ environment.

While a significant part of military training is delivered using simulation within the Army, investment in the simulation of logistic vehicle operation falls short of other platforms. In comparison, the US military has for some time used simulation as an integral part of learning to drive, operate and maintain all classes of vehicles. Research indicates that analysis and training of key driver skills using simulator platforms could deliver savings of up to 9% in fuel consumption as well as reducing maintenance costs and in-life support requirements.

Technology is Driving Change at The Defence School of Transport

8 The simulators are PC based with

high end wheel/pedals/gear stick attached to a simulator ‘rig’ with a ultra-wide curved monitor

The platform DST initiated a driving simulation trial in Jan 2021. This work sits alongside the development of the existing VBS3 augmented training at DST to encompass planning and mission rehearsal requirements. The early results of the trial are encouraging, and the School is in the process of expanding the scope of the trial with the introduction of bespoke LGV simulators that deliver a more realistic driving experience by incorporating a motion platform. There are numerous types of specialist applications available that can be used to assist new drivers learning to cope with the demands of modern-day motoring. Simulation will not replace practical driver training, but it will augment the time spent on public roads and training areas and enable trainees to experience hazardous driving conditions safely. As a result, students will be better equipped to deal with real life situations having experienced them in the simulator.

As the use of driver simulation develops further, there is considerable potential to increase its use across logistic units.

The user experience The simulators 25 Regt use are PC based with high end wheel/pedals/ gear stick attached to a simulator ‘rig’ with a ultrawide curved monitor, using a variety of commercial based driving simulator and driving test preparation software. The VBS3 system has a state-of-the-art virtual training environment based on commercial gaming software with military application. The system was designed to be the most realistic training experience as the programme can imitate any arena; from peacetime town driving to tactical driving in operational theatres.

The local towns have been mapped into virtual reality and students are able to drive any chosen vehicle platform in any traffic conditions with any simulated weather environment, all in the complete safety of the classroom. Since the introduction of VBS 3, 25 Regt RLC has seen a decrease in RTCs and credits the time spent on the virtual system as a major contributing factor. At a cost of £160,000, this is money well spent.

The future The School is already upgrading the system to the next-generation VBS4 suite as well as increasing capacity to 24 terminals with global mapping included. The scope for improvement is fantastic, it will widen the possibilities of tactical awareness and allow us to train more soldiers to drive.

We have also found the driving simulators can be used in an Esports capacity (Sim Racing). Esports has several benefits and transferable skills like improved hand eye co-ordination, improved attention and visual acuity, improved decision making and problem solving, enhanced socialisation and leadership. This allows students to personally develop alongside their professional training.

8 The driving simulators can also be used

in an Esports capacity

For a number of years, the UK’s Specialist Military Units have had a small number of Ammunition Technicians (AT) and Ammunition Technical Officers (ATOs) working alongside them, providing a specific skill set which no other trade can do.

Approximately 18 months ago, a new position was created for an AT Warrant Officer (ATWO), after a need by the specialist units was identified.

The position was created to assist the HQ and to undertake the following: 1. Provide advice and guidance to the units in the overall management of Ordnance,

Munitions and Explosives (OME). 2. Provide unique skill sets to facilitate operations and training for the specialist units. 3. Provide a single POC for all OME related queries to external agencies where required.

Ammunition Technician ATs are expected to be the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in all aspects relating to OME. Within The RLC, the AT/ATO trade is small in comparison to other trades, with approximately 600 in total. All of the training received at Class 2 and Class 1, combined with the experience gained throughout your career, is considerable.

ATs though are best known for their ability to carry out the disposal of OME and is one of the main reasons why personnel want to join the trade!

The job – By the ATWO at MOD A Block As the first ATWO in this newly created position, it has been a privilege and a challenge to join this unique group of people. Being the first in post, in a new position, gives the individual a lot of responsibility to establish the role and relationships required to make it work. You are continuously working to prove to the units that you can deliver what they need with the minimum hassle, when it’s needed within tight deadlines, normally yesterday!

The team I work with daily are OF3s and above on average, consisting of other CSS trades which all contribute to enabling logistics for the units whether on operations, training or on unit sites. The emphasis is on delivery of the job so you are marked against your ability to deliver and not your rank.

Other postings available to ATWOs normally offer a reasonable degree of predictability when forecasting for the week or even month ahead. The nature of the community that we work within means it can be challenging. When something does not go to plan, you need to shift focus quickly and react to the issue noting that this may include a significant amount of travel, within the UK or abroad, which comes with the job. As the only ATWO, you are required to constantly review your workload, prioritise your efforts and deliver as there is on one else to hand the work over too.

This role encompasses many different subjects, some of which were my first exposure to the topic and thus, new to me. This can be daunting but also rewarding as there is plenty more to learn. Despite all of the training noted above, I have found myself learning new aspects relating to the management, transport and disposal of OME.

I can genuinely say that each day has been different, you need to face the challenges as they arrive and to be able to provide a solution quickly with limited time and/or resources. This will lift you out of your comfort zone and broaden your experiences which improves your ability to deliver.

One of the most satisfying aspects of my job so far has been the ability to provide tactical advice and seeing its strategic effect at a later date.

Managing Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives for Specialist Military Units

8 The training and experience Class 1 & 2

ATs receive is considerable

8 The new ATWO provides unique skills

sets to facilitate operations and training for specialist units

Defence School of Logistics and Administration

Commandant Gp Capt L Griffin RAF

The Defence School of Logistics and Administration (DSLA) hosted a reciprocal visit by Brigadier-General Nannt and members of the Command team of the Logistikschule Der Bundeswehr, following the School’s visit to Germany earlier this year. The visit provided an overview of the Realistic Working Environment of the DSLA at Worthy Down and included a visit to the Defence Movements Training Squadron at RAF Brize Norton where they observed a winching training serial and were introduced to the use of Virtual Reality. After moving to the Defence School of Transport, the delegation returned to Worthy Down where a Technical Agreement was signed between the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration and Logistikschule Der Bundeswehrundertaking to collaborate, exchange best practice and to explore partnership opportunities to help develop a Centre of Excellence. The visit concluded with a celebratory German BBQ!

The DSLA also held its inaugural awards evening to mark reaching the School’s first anniversary. Of the three awards conferred, Best New Trainer was awarded to Lance Corporal Cuzen, Logistics Specialist Training Wing and Instructor of the Year was awarded to Sergeant Kampela, Supply Training Wing.

Since the DSLA reached Interim Operating Model earlier this year, Training Support Wing is firmly embedded within the School and has expanded its remit to include Training Operations, Training Resources, Media and Technology Enhanced Learning. The Wing is supporting the School to optimise its training and to transform at the pace of relevance.

8 Casualty Extraction Drills on Ex TIMBER TRUSS 8 Major Theodorakakis delivers an abridged Ex MAGLITE to

officers of DSCOM

Command Wing – Chief Instructor Lt Col Andy Moss OBE

Field Logistics 1 has seen a massed change of personnel in recent months, but has continued to focus on the successful delivery of the RLC Troop Commanders’ Course. The culmination of the course is seen by many as Ex TIMBER TRUSS. In mid-July this was conducted on the Barton Stacey and Salisbury Plain Training Areas. It saw 23 young officers put through their paces as they conducted Troop Commander appointments focusing on Distribution Point and BLRV activity. The majority of the officers were returning trainees who had completed a ‘Virtual TIMBER TRUSS’ during their spring course as a consequence of operational support to the war in Ukraine tying up SET units. The benefits of conducting the training with troops cannot be overstated and brought the many months teaching and education to life.

In spite of the heat and the long days, the exercise flowed well. The exercise followed LWC direction to include UAS serials and Digging In as standard during field training and adhered to the “Train as we Fight” ethos. Actions On and TTPs were rehearsed multiple times ensuring swift and accurate responses from the officers being assessed and the exercising troops.

Field Logistics 2 has been busy over the last few months with the delivery of the Defence Logistics Contract Management and the International Logistics Officers’ courses. The requirement for contract management KSE-B on operations and the professionalisation of the capability within the RLC Strategy has meant that demand is growing rapidly for this training. At the forefront of training development, DSLA has been working with Defence Logistics to create contract management awareness and specialist training. These courses will provide Defence with enhanced generalists and SME that can be deployed to support operations world-wide.

On an international front, Command Wing hosted 11 trainees (Lt to Lt Col) from seven nations (Estonia, Ghana, Nepal, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Kuwait and Brunei) on the International Logistics Officers’ Course. A significant Defence Engagement activity, the course visited numerous RLC units to draw lessons for their own nations while

seizing opportunities to experience UK culture along the way. DSLA is now working to build on these new relationships with potential exchanges and symposia.

Field Logistics 3 has had a busy period since the last Sustainer delivering back-to-back courses, Conceptual Doctrine refinement and ongoing support to the RLC strategy.

JLOC 01/2022. In May, Capt Hobson organised a very successful Joint Logistic Operations Course (JLOC) which consists of one week of classroom-based lessons on Joint Logistics fundamentals and 6 Step Estimate Training. This is then followed by Exercise MAGLITE, a one-week exercise hosted by our Hungarian allies at their National University of Public Services in Budapest. Ex MAGLITE saw British Tri-Service Logisticians, Artillerymen and Infanteers, along with colleagues from Hungary and the Ohio National Guard, deploy to Budapest and conduct joint exercise planning acting as a SJFLogC. This exercise also had the privilege of Maj General Simon Hutchings OBE deploying as the VIP offering precious insights to the trainees. Information on the next JLOC and how to apply can be found in 2022DIN07-036.

RLC MC 01/2022. Following the JLOC, work developing the RLC Majors’ Course soon followed. The two-week course sees the first batch of newly selected Majors complete logistic support training and education to prepare them to meet the demands of subsequent SO2 appointments. The students cover a range of topics from logistic principles, doctrine revision and solutions to warfighting dilemmas. The recent course finished with Major General (Retd) Tim Cross providing an excellent presentation of his time during Operation GRANBY. Thanks must be extended to those external presenters who have set up this cohort for success.

DSCOM: Not to rest on his laurels in his final weeks before assignment, Major Theodorakakis was invited to provide logistic planning training to the DSCOM plans pillar in advance of a busy autumn season. This will help DSCOM continue their transformative work on the strategic base outload. 85 (Herring VC) Sqn was the first DSLA sub-unit to deploy overseas in its history to deliver training. The Sqn delivered the Army Leadership Development Programme to members of The Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Royal Engineers on ‘The Rock’. Alongside the usual RSOI activity, the Sqn made use of the superb training resources available to conduct Adventurous Training, Subterranean Warfare Training and a battlefield study. The highlight for the Sqn was learning from the SMEs in Subterranean Warfare on how to survive and fight inside the seemingly never-ending tunnels. A skill not practiced by many, the key to this activity is momentum combined with a continuous weight of fire to suppress and kill the enemy. A real leadership problem difficult to navigate, due to the limitations placed on the soldier from heat; difficult terrain; limited visibility; and deafening noise when in contact. It is not unreasonable to expect a CSS soldier, sailor or aviator to find themselves operating underground guarding vital CSUPS, so this was an outstanding opportunity.

Gibraltar’s spectacular terrain was exploited to the fullest to conduct some AT. Given the heat, it was refreshing to explore the coastline through bouldering, abseiling, swimming, cliff jumping and stand up paddle boarding. The activities presented an opportunity for the new members of the Sqn to integrate with their respective teams. It has been evident that AT is a tool that enhances operational effectiveness as it certainly pushed people out of their comfort zones and, for some, to confront their fears. The final activity was a tour of the defensive features built on ‘The Rock’ over a period of 400 years. There are more roads (34 miles) inside Gibraltar than on the surface, so under the expert tour led by a local historian, the Sqn covered over 12 miles; including an ascent to the highest defensive position built in WW2. The Sqn was sighted on positions preserved in time, including range cards from WW2 and kitchens and hospitals that were in the same condition as when they were last used.

8 ILOC at Number 10

8 ILOC at RMAS

Maj Alex Mortimore RLC (OC 85 (Herring VC) Squadron) said: “It was an absolute privilege to be able to represent the DSLA overseas and deliver some ground breaking activity to our colleagues in Gibraltar. This was the first time that the ALDP syllabus has been delivered overseas and the efficiencies that this model offers to the Army are noticeable. It also offered a superb chance for my team to become better instructors as they were certainly placed in an environment that they were not used to and had to quickly adapt to their new surroundings”.

Supply Training Wing (STW) - Chief Instructor Lt Col Devendra Ale MVO MBE QOGLR

STW has continued to deliver supply training to the Tri-Service community at pace across the full suite of Logistics Specialist Supply courses to ITT and STT; Regular, Reserve, RFA and Civil Servants.

Quartermaster Divison (QMD) is conducting course development, along with the Training Requirements Authority and Log RST, re-designing the courses in compliance with the DSAT process. RQMS course instructor WO2 Jamie Davis, Royal Signals, received 11 Sig Bde Comd’s Commendation at an awards ceremony in York for his heroic life saving actions on a local football player by administering timely CPR. West Midland Police commented that the casualty would not have survived without his intervention.

Supply Chain Division (SCD) started off the quarter with four trainers, Capt Lucy Thindwa and Sgts Anna Kampela, Prince Yeboahasuama and Kamal Thapa Magar, taking part in the Forces March. A gruelling challenge that saw them complete a marathon a day for four days. Sgt Natasha Pavlou won the female High Gun Trophy at the RLC Clay Shooting Championship and SSgt Otabil volunteered as a Service Steward at the AELTC Championships. SCD delivered their first RLC LSS Class 1 Course in the external Realistic Working Environment deploying the trainees in the field where they conducted the duties of an RLC LSS Class 1 in line with the “Train as you Fight” concept.

The Royal Engineer Logistics Division has seen a workforce churn, with a farewell to the Senior Instructor Maj Sam Osbourne and QMSI WO2 Mark Higgins and a welcome to their replacements Maj Shaun Montague and WO2 Matt Murphy. The Division delivered a sucessful 0-2 ME Engineer Logistic Specialist Course, the first complete course post pandemic, with LCpl Martin Laberth from 22 Engineer Regiment being awarded Top Trainee. SSgt Afriyie volunteered for Service Steward at the AELTC Championships while WO2 Matt Murphy renewed his boxing coach qualification and advances towards the next generation of coaches for the Royal Engineers and Army.

Royal Navy Division (RND) had PO Kenny Young join the team, he hit the ground running as a trainer and has successfully taken a promotion course with excellent results. The Div bade farewell to Sgt Cai Britton who left on promotion and welcomed Sgt Lloyd Kelly. CSgt Rosey Rose

8 85 Sqn experiencing subterranean warfare training

8 WO2 Davis receiving his commendation

assigned to 42 Cdo RM in September on promotion to WO2. RND delivered CTU training to CLR with CSgt Rose and PO Donovan teaching 11 ratings/ranks. CPO Jack took part in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Martial Arts Championships 2022 and earned a Silver Medal. Sgt Keiran Johnson took part in the Royal Navy & Royal Marines UK Training Camp in North Wales.

RAF Div has undergone a couple of Senior management changes, with the RAF Senior Instructor, Flt Lt Neil Madigan being replaced by Flt Lt Emmanuel Molai. WO Ian Stocker arrived from RAF Marham on promotion into the WO RAF Logs Training post replacing WO M O’Mahony. Good news for the Div, two of the RAF JNCOs, Cpls David Venn and Dan Davidson, were selected for promotion to Sgt.

Food Services Training Wing – CO Commander Tom Shaves RN

As we emerge from the Covid period and return to normality, the Food Services Training Wing has been working hard to re-establish relationships with catering colleges in the local community as part of its new Outreach programme.

Brockenhurst College visited the Wing for a ‘Look at Life’ day during early June, bringing a small group of their catering students to tour the training facilities and to meet the Tri-Service and Civil Service instructors.

The aim of the visit was to show the skills and experiences trainee Chefs and Air Stewards will gain on courses whilst at the Wing, and to observe the delivery of lessons by instructors. At the Wing, training is delivered to trainees (and staff) which develops confidence, knowledge and the skills needed for a successful career as a caterer in Defence. The Wing works together to build a learning culture founded on equality of opportunity that celebrates the rich diversity of trainees and staff and supports the Wing’s ambition to be an international Centre of Catering Excellence.

As part of the reciprocal relationship, in early July, the Wing’s Chef Instructors were invited to Brockenhurst College to attend a masterclass session hosted by Allan Collier who was previously a pastry chef at the Ritz Hotel, London. The session was focussed on chocolate work, with instructors teaching different techniques to create a chocolate centre piece. Stretching the capability of the instructors and as part of their continuing professional development, the masterclass broadened the skillset of military chefs and will enhance the training at the Wing.

The Wing’s ambition is clear; to build its engagement with the local community and to strengthen links within catering colleges to share best practice and information, to raise awareness of the Wing, of military chefs and to enhance the capability of the instructors.

8 Sgt Pavlou receiving her award at The RLC Clay Shooting

Championships

8 Brockenhurst College students attending FSTW