The Defence School of Transport

Net zero carbon accommodation at DST

The Defence School of Transport (DST) continues to make strides in reducing its carbon footprint whilst modernising its aging infrastructure. 2023 saw the delivery of the building modules which will provide two new net zero carbon course accommodation blocks at DST.

These new student accommodation buildings will provide 112 bedspaces in two to three-person rooms, ablutions, drying and utility rooms. They are made up of a total of 36 modules, which are transported from Reds10 Yorkshire factory to site 90% complete.This allows for a 70% quicker onsite construction timeline and a significant reduction in disruption to DST as an operational site. Overall, the project will take just nine months from instruction to handover.

Both buildings will be fitted with rooftop solar panels, air source heat pumps, under floor heating and heat recovery systems in the showers and drying rooms. Reds10’s SMART building technology system will be installed in each of the buildings and will provide detailed information on their energy usage to understand trends as the buildings are being used. This information will be fed across all camps using these accommodation blocks within half an hour, increasing the efficiency of the buildings.

Brig Richard Brown, Head of Army Infrastructure said,“It’s great to see this project moving along so quickly. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) allow us to be able to deliver the much-needed accommodation for the DST significantly quicker than we could have ever hoped for, had we used a traditional construction method.”

Rob Vining, Deputy Head of Major Programmes and Projects (Army) at Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said:“It’s great to see such rapid progress in the DST Leconfield Carbon Net Zero Student Accommodation project, realising the benefits of 3D offsite MMC to deliver high quality accommodation for our Service Personnel (SP).The DIO is committed to delivering infrastructure

Commandant: Colonel Chris Henson QGM COS: Lt Col Ben Aumônier RLC

GSM: WO1 M Hickey community and leading up to it, DST military personnel visited Leconfield, Skirlaugh and Flamborough primary schools, where children had the opportunity to engage and ask questions with the SP and shared their thoughts of Remembrance. Students from Leconfield Primary school also took part in a special Remembrance service at St Catherine’s Church, where over 40 aviators from several nationalities, killed during WW2 and in subsequent operations whilst operating from RAF Leconfield, rest in peace. On Remembrance Sunday, over 100 SP from DST paraded for the Remembrance Day Service at Beverley Minster, before marching to the Hengate Memorial Gardens, for a wreath laying ceremony. Similar contingents from DST attended services in Driffield and Sledmere with smaller groups and individuals providing representation at locations across the East Riding. that enables the British Army to deliver against its strategic objectives and this project is another example demonstrating DIO’s ability to respond to that demand.”

With the units on site, assembly and internal fit out is on schedule with completion projected for March 2023.

Remembrance and community engagement

Remembrance is an important event in the military year and last November, DST’s workforce and students paid their respects on 11 Nov 22 during a service conducted by Rev Father Paul McCourt CF (RC). Many of the contractors and civil servants on the Staff at DST are veterans and the campaign and service medals they wore on parade demonstrated the depth of their experience to the trainees starting out on their career.

The Armistice commemoration also provides an opportunity for the School to reinforce its links within the

Whilst most of the staff and trainees at DST are serving in the Army, Remembrance reminds us that joint operational effect requires inter-Service co-operation and understanding. Cpl Appleyard of Training Delivery HQ co-ordinated a Force Development Event for military and civilian personnel to further this. The group visited the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon, followed by a visit to the Houses of Parliament, where they received an impressive guided tour by the Senior Door Keeper of the House of Lords.They finished the trip by visiting the Royal Naval College at Greenwich and the Royal Hospital Chelsea.The event was a great success and achieved the aim in developing a wider knowledge and appreciation of service ethos and shared history.

Road safety demonstration

Prior to Christmas, DST’s road safety team, in partnership with Humberside Police, Humberside Fire and Rescue and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service conducted a road safety demonstration for DST trainees.This annual event highlights the dangers of driving and the far-reaching consequences.The effect is not just felt at the scene, it extends to all those involved, from the immediate first responders through to family, friends, hospital staff, physios and beyond.

As Defence’s centre for driver training, DST repeatedly and unashamedly highlights not just the dangers of drink driving, but also how inclement weather and other factors can affect the drivers’ control of a vehicle.Traffic incidents remain one of the biggest causes of off-duty deaths and injuries to SP and the School wants to encourage RLC drivers to lead the way in demonstrating what safe and skilled driving looks like, both on and off duty.

National Tree Week 26 Nov – 4 Dec 2022

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration and 2022 saw the country’s conservation sector, volunteer groups and tree-lovers come together to plant thousands of trees to mark the start of the annual tree planting season.

Trees and hedgerows are some of the most powerful tools the UK has in the fight against climate change, so with the winter planting season in full swing, members of DST’s conservation team and trainees from 25 Regt RLC planted 15 fruit trees, 13 of which have created a new orchard on DST’s impressive driver training area and the remaining two were planted in the garden of Ladysmith House for all to enjoy.

These trees will provide much needed forage for bees and will enhance the wider conservation and wellbeing effort at Leconfield. It’s a small start but will be followed by much larger plantings over the next year or so, creating new rural training environments, heritage planting and habitats to encourage biodiversity.The Conservation Team and 25 Regt volunteers should be proud of their contribution towards making DST a greener environment.

Sport

The Gymnasium staff recently arranged a successful sports fair, during which they showcased the many sporting activities on offer at DST.

From canoeing, kitesurfing and boxing to basketball, there was something for everyone. Several sports clubs and teams were able to highlight their activities and recruit new members.The day also offered staff and students the opportunity to take part in a number of sports games and activities.

The team has also been busy with the Commandant’s Physical Development Shield (CPDS).The CPDS will run for 12 months and consists of six sporting events.The aim of the competition is to promote team cohesion and departmental interaction in a physically challenging sporting event whilst encouraging healthy sporting competition within DST.Watch this space for an update in the next edition!

DST is regularly recruiting for a variety of Civil Service roles throughout the year.To receive regular updates, please register your details at: https://www.civilservicejobs. service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

The RLC Foundation continues to go from strength to strength, developing an ever-expanding network of links to the commercial and academic logistic communities. The Foundation’s core aim – to promote professional development in the Corps through engagement with industry and academia - remains at the heart of all that it does.

A DHL sponsored event on 28 Feb 23 focused in on Automation and Digitization of logistic supply chains. The event was held at DHL’s East Midlands Gateway Logistics Park, Kegworth, Derby.

Supply chains will continue to optimise efficiency in the coming years through the use of robotics, automated processes and innovative technologies. DHL’s East Midlands Gateway operation demonstrates how this vision has been made into reality, with many fully automated processes supported by automation and integrated systems. A facility tour followed the initial presentations.

On 9 Mar 23 the RLC Foundation hosted a ‘Women in Logistics’ event in Theatre 1, DCLPA Worthy Down. The event followed International Women’s Day on 8 Mar 23, which celebrated the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide.

There were three distinct threads to the event: women serving in The RLC, women who have left The RLC and forged new careers in the commercial sector, and women