162 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps

Nottingham

CO: Lt Col W Steel MBE • Adjt: Capt O Lewis • RSM: WO1 D Teal

The RLC Military Skills Competition

162 Regiment RLC successfully fielded two teams for this year’s competition; a mixed team and a male team. The Regt started the training for this event before the summer and completed three successful training weekends. The weekends were well attended and each included a morning on the ranges, an afternoon of revision for the six theory stands, a loaded march and RFT training, followed by more revision.

The event itself was really well executed and the obstacles were tough and ensured that teams were muddy from head to toe right from the start of the march. The 25m range was much more challenging than anticipated and the RFT exercises much more tiring! Both teams came home with medals, the mixed team winning its category and the male team winning both the male Reserve as well as the overall Reserve category.

Ex AUSTERE WOLF

Five members of 162 Regt deployed to Cyprus on Ex AUSTERE WOLF in Oct 22, supporting their Regular counterparts in 17 P&M Regt with the important task of running the Port Task Group. During the exercise more than 1,700 linear meters (LiMs) of vehicles and equipment from 17 different units were safely transported between the Sea Mounting Centre, Marchwood and Limassol.

All members of 162 Regt thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities this presented, putting their movement operator trade knowledge to the test whilst deployed on a large-scale, joint exercise. On successful completion of the exercise, all the participants were rewarded with the opportunity to make the most of the beautiful and magnificent landscapes of Cyprus: be that paddle boarding at Kyrenia Beach, a cultural visit to the fabulous Paphos or an entertaining day at the Akrotiri Go-Karting track.

Community engagement

282 Sqn has been very busy within the local community in recent months with Remembrance parades at Middlesbrough

Cenotaph, Middlesbrough football stadium and the clean-up of Victoria Cross recipient Sgt Morley’s grave. 282 Sqn’s main effort in the build up to Christmas was collecting donated food and personal hygiene items for the Riverside Care and Support Hardwick House for ex-servicemen and women. The Sqn collected over 20 bags and boxes of food, which was dropped off by WO2 Copland, Cpl Kearns and the Sqn’s newest reservist, Pte Haddley. Pte Haddley said: “I was very proud to be giving back to veterans within the community and am looking forward to more engagement with Hardwick House in 2023.”

Exercises KNEES BEND and KNEES STRETCH

162 Regt sent two teams to the RLC skiing competition this year, one Nordic and one Alpine. After a week of training both teams took part in the second week’s competitions. The cold made competing a challenge, but both teams represented the Regt well by conducting themselves to a high standard and overcoming the difficulties laid out by the weather. In Alpine, Cpls Heath and Palmer won awards and the Nordic team won second placed Reserves team.

165 Port & Maritime Regiment RLC PLYMOUTH

CO: Lt Col G Symonds • Adjt: Capt L Hunter • RSM: WO1 Liguari

This quarter, 165 Port & Maritime RLC has concentrated on achieving certificates of efficiency and the overall increase of deployability within the Regt, while maintaining key outputs such as providing personnel to Op ILKANE.

Additionally, there has been handover of Regimental Command. The Regt said farewell to Lt Col R Williams, who takes up his post as Chief Instructor at DCLPA and who has brought many positive changes to the Regt. The Regt extends a very warm welcome to Lt Col G Symonds on her assumption of command.

This edition concentrates on a project conducted by 232 Port Sqn, followed by some of the opportunities offered to those serving across the Regiment, and the critical service the OH Squadron provides to the Armed Forces.

232 Port Sqn - Penhale Dunes’ Dynamic Dunescapes

The project took place on Penhale training area to assist Cornwall Wildlife Trust with dune rejuvenation and scrub clearing. It was a great opportunity for both training and engagement, with lots media coverage, and the project is scheduled to take place again in Oct 23.

The work, which involved clearing the scrub and the long grasses back to bare sand, has helped improve Port Operators’ skills, enabling them to become more confident manoeuvring a JCB, with work very different to they’re used to. The other bonus was that the exercise was local to 232 Port Sqn so the reservists were able to develop their skills while benefitting both the local community and environment.

710 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) OH Squadron

The importance of operational hygiene is never far the front of a commander’s mind during a major conflict. OH is the means to provide a deployable laundry and shower service, primarily to support field hospitals but which is also available for the general use of all troops. It is important to the maintenance of health and morale, especially during a period of rehabilitation.

165 Regt holds the British Army’s only Sqn dedicated solely to the provision of OH. Located in Aylesbury, the OH Specialist is an RLC trade open to reserve soldiers only and involves a two-week Class 3 course and Class 2 Workbooks that are completed in subsequent years, before progressing to the OH Detachment Commander level. If you are about to leave the Regular Army and considering joining the Reserves, opportunities exist to join the Sqn right now. Email: 165RLC-710PSAO@mod.gov.uk

At

Ex CARIBBEAN EXPRESS took place in January and offered 10 members from across the Regt a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct AT in an environment which was both challenging and adverse. For two weeks, expert skipper WO2 Pat Audas, supported by a first and second mate, ensured that the crew was able to develop the skills it needed to efficiently and safely crew the Challenger 72 “Discoverer”.

Covering just over 600 nautical miles, the islands visited included St

Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Isles des Saintes, Dominica and Martinique. Winds reached over 30 knots and ensured the abilities of the (mostly novice) crew to put reefs in the sails were perfected! These demanding conditions, alongside seasickness and tiredness, helped develop team building skills and resilience while offering a real reward at the end.

Other upcoming AT opportunities, in March include skiing in France and rock climbing in Greece. This will be followed by MTB in Mallorca, offshore sailing in the Arctic and kayaking later in the year.