TWO-SIX
Fly the flag for effect
Proudly flying blue and white flags featuring hippocampi (the half horse/half fish symbol of the Surface Fleet) as 2017 begins are the best warships of the past 12 months. Rear Admiral Alex Burton – Rear Admiral Surface Ships – and his team considered the deeds and efforts of more than 70 vessels from the smallest ship on the RN’s books (HMSML Gleaner) all the way up to the largest (HMS Queen Elizabeth), as well as the work of some RN units before passing judgment. The winners are: n Capital ship: HMS Bulwark; n Destroyer: HMS Defender; n Frigate: HMS St Albans n RFA Ship of the Year: RFA Mounts Bay; n Offshore Patrol Vessel: HMS Mersey; n Mine Countermeasure: MCM2 Crew 5; n Survey ship: HMSML Gleaner n Inshore Patrol Vessel: HMS Ranger; n Naval Capability: RN Role 2 Medical Team. Rear Admiral Burton said every vessel recognised in the Fleet Effectiveness Awards could reflect with pride on “a successful and demanding year”. The prizes will be formally presented at the Surface Ships Symposium taking place this month.
Where to look RNTMs 358/16 Implementation of the Lock-Off TagOut (LOTO) System 356/16 Upper Yardmen and Corp Commission Seniority 353/16 Annual Marine Engineer Officer’s Dinner (March 17) 352/16 Introduction of the Diving Responsible Officer to SURFLOT and SUBFLOT 349/16 Domestic Abuse – Raising Awareness and Encouraging Reporting Galaxy briefs 18-2016 A hard-working and stronger Navy DIBS 32/15 New Employment Model: Flexible Working Options - Flexible Duties Trial 37/15 Update on the Combined Accommodation Assessment System (CAAS) for Service Family Accommodation 39/15 New Employment Model – Programme Update DINS DIN 2016DIN04-219 Required logistics information to support compliant UK customs declarations on RN and RFA vessels DIN 2016DIN07-140 Expedition slots at the Joint Service Sub Aqua Diving Centre in 2017 DIN 2016DIN07-142 Joint Service Adventure Training (JSAT) Air Activities (paragliding, parachuting and gliding) Course Schedules 2017/18 DIN 2016DIN07-147 Exercise Channel Express 2017 DIN 2016DIN10-054 Royal Navy and Royal Marines Orienteering Championships 2016 [Supersedes DIN 2015DIN10-049] DIN 2016DIN10-056 Military Participation in the Invictus Games 2017
From here to maternity
Since being set up back in 2013, the RN Maternity Support Services have grown substantially to embrace much of the Naval Service within the Waterfronts and Air Stations and in future there is an aspiration to forge links with Northwood and Lichfield so that all pregnant Servicewomen in the Naval Service feel equally included and valued. HMS Nelson (✆ 9380 23711/ 23892) HMS Nelson Maternity Cell continues to thrive, providing support to new and expectant serving mothers in the Portsmouth area (including Collingwood, Sultan, QA Hospital and Excellent). RN PTIs at Nelson provide ante-natal/post-natal fitness sessions – which means Servicewomen are in the best physical shape during pregnancy and equipped both mentally and physically to return to work after giving birth. Those women who have attended feel better prepared for motherhood and for the rigours of Service life. Also available is a ladiesonly swimming session in the Temeraire pool on a Wednesday morning. And Nelson provides a nursing mother’s room where ante- and post-natal Servicewomen have a quiet rest area equipped with comfortable furniture, baby changing facilities, nursing room for breast feeding as well as enabling mothers a private area to express and store milk. There is also a toddlers’ room which is equipped with toys. Nelson maternity cell has also continued to forge links with the Chaplaincy and RNRMW staff and their team of support workers who continue to provide support and enhance both the Service and family ethos. HMS Drake (✆ 9375 65074) Drake Maternity Support Service is part of the Devonport Personnel Support Group (Dev PSG) in Seymour Block and is co-ordinated by CPO Miriam Charlton.
or maintain contact with the maternity desk in HMS Heron. The women arrange a monthly ‘meet and greet’ at the on-camp Costa coffee. Expecting and new mums meet and discuss pertinent topics (childcare, concerns and issues and processes of returning to work). Costa has been very supportive in providing baby mats and toys. They have regular links with the local family support workers and are visited by the maternity leading writer, who ensures that their administration requirements are complete. Midwifery and GP arrangements are dealt with through the local community where there are parenting classes, breast feeding advice and NCT classes.
centre has offered to provide baby massage classes, parenting skills, and baby/toddler early years techniques, breastfeeding advice/teaching techniques and providing guidance, first aid for babies and many other valuable resources, all offered free of charge. Along with the links with the local community, important links have continued to be forged with RNRMW (both the Family support elements and also Information support). Regular bespoke ante-natal and post-natal fitness classes will also be available from this month on a weekly basis. HMS Neptune (✆ 01436 674321 3558/4433) HMS Neptune’s Maternity Support Services are coordinated through the Recovery Cell by CPO McCrae who is the divisional officer for Servicewomen on maternity leave. Women are administered via the main UPO and the main point of contact is Pauline Jackson who is able to provide direction and guidance and signpost to support resources for support. Meetings and coffee
afternoons have recently been introduced, co-ordinated by LMA Edwards. Meeting in the Cosy Coffee House in Churchill Square, Helensburgh, the coffee afternoons are organised by the local ‘Aggies’ pastoral worker, who provides ladies with coffee, cake and a comfortable location for group discussions and a natter. The coffee afternoons are open to all pregnant Servicewomen, those on maternity leave and partners/spouses. This is important so that we include all Naval Service families and ensure a large support network which is accessible to all who are assigned to the entire Northern Region. Although there are not as many women on the books as at larger waterfronts, we endeavour to reach out to everyone on our books, but the greatest challenge is the distances involved with linking with the women (who are often dotted around Scotland and Northern England). The team are keen to encourage more interest by making its programme as varied as possible. This includes guest speakers for the coffee afternoons such as visiting senior midwives, experts from for Baby Sensory, a local ‘tots’ swimming group, baby yoga, massage therapists, feeding specialists and NCT Volunteers. With the arrival of a newlyqualified LPT to the fold, there are plans to introduce a provision for ante-natal and post-natal fitness in the near future. RNAS Yeovilton (✆ 93510 4018/ 5209) Administered by the maternity desk within the main UPO, Servicewomen’s JMES requirements are co-ordinated through the POMA in the CMC. During their pregnancy and also while on maternity leave, women remain under their divisional chain within their own unit or parent Squadron. If Servicewomen choose to take their maternity leave away from the air station then they will also be able to link in with any other local maternity support group (in any of the waterfronts),
Herbert Lott Efficiency Award. According to the team’s citation: “Whilst each task can seem small in isolation, it is the overall effect achieved which is so worthy of this modest recognition. “The bottom line is that without the above-and-beyond personal efforts of each and every member of the team, it would not have been possible for the Royal Navy to achieve the strategic intent it wished.”
An interactive electronic chart designed by experts at Navy Command to prevent the activities of ships, submarines or helicopters from disturbing marine life has been singled out as the MOD’s best environmental project of 2016. The Environmental Protection Guidelines (Maritime) – EPG(M) – provides advice on the suitability of military activities close to Marine Protected Areas. The system was developed by
a team led by Navy Command with the UK Hydrographic Office and supported by various statutory nature conservation organisations. It’s the only tool available for Naval commanders to rapidly identify designated Marine Protected Areas and access specific military guidance to mitigate their activities in those locations. It earned a Sanctuary Award by the DIO, which looks after the UK’s military sites.
l Reservist Leanne Robertson and she is a Naval Reservist, offers advice on the virtues of pregnancy massage at the weekly Bumps and Babies meet and greet session at the Haven in HMS Nelson’s chaplaincy Currently providing direction and guidance for pregnant Servicewomen in the Devonport area, she also provides outreach to other establishments within the South West of England (HMS Raleigh and CTCRM Lympstone). CPO Charlton also acts as the maternity divisional officer for Servicewomen whilst they are on maternity leave. Regularly conducting home visits for women in the area, she also provides a drop-in service for those who visit Drake during their maternity leave. The ‘Bumps and Babies’ organisation has undergone a complete revamp, and a new location has been found in the WOs and SRs Mess for regular meetings and the coaching and mentoring classes. The group has recently been granted £500 by the RNRMC to buy equipment. Valuable links have been forged with the local City Council, which has assisted with priority bookings for Naval Servicewomen so that they can attend ante-natal appointments en masse. The local children’s
A Lott of VIP hospitality CHEFS, stewards and caterers who serve the nation’s senior Naval and Royal Marines officers have been rewarded for their efforts. The Retinue Support Team comprises just ten personnel whose primary role is to provide official hospitality to the 11 residences in Portsmouth Naval Base, aboard warships and responding to any requests the Naval Secretary receives. In the first six months of 2016,
the team was called upon on no fewer than 155 occasions – from the supersession events surrounding the First Sea Lord and Fleet Commander, to HMS Duncan’s visit to the capital in May hosting MPs, Second Sea Lord’s annual garden party (attended by 500 guests), and even flew out to Bahrain to support a week of events organised by the RN’s HQ east of Suez, UKMCC. All this work resulted in a
RNAS Culdrose (✆ 93781 2491/ 01326 552491) Like Yeovilton, RNAS Culdrose Maternity Services are coordinated by a tripartite team. Seahawk is currently developing as it adapts to the needs of Servicewomen in a busy and vibrant air station. Administered through the maternity desk at the main UPO, their administration is also supported by Sally Hillier, while LMA Gayle Challoner in the medical centre deals with JMES requirements. During their pregnancy and also whilst on maternity leave, ladies remain under their divisional chain within their unit or parent squadron. At present, the ‘Bumps and Babies’ group is in its infancy but there are efforts to find a viable location for regular meetings. Additional support is provided by a community support worker in the local community centre by providing parenting classes and also links with all other resources in the area for expectant and new parents. A strong link with local GPs, midwifery teams from Treliske and health workers ensure that all of the ante-natal and postnatal care is available
Chart success for Navy HQ
Always all-go in the Allgäu The Naval Outdoor Centre Germany (NOCG) is the Royal Navy’s Adventurous Training Centre situated in the beautiful Allgäu area of Bavaria, Germany. Its aim is to provide serving members of the Naval Service the opportunity to participate in adventurous activities, exposing individuals to risk overseen by experienced instructors, in order to develop more robust sailors and marines, building confidence and teambuilding skills. The personal contribution is £0. Your unit provides travel to Dover on a Saturday evening and from there NOCG arranges everything else, returning you to Dover the following Saturday morning. The training is delivered at a level according to an individual’s prior experience and attendees are grouped by ability and fitness levels to ensure they are stretched out of their comfort zones, but have an enjoyable week. In the winter, we deliver Distributed Training 32 : JANUARY 2017
(DT) Ski Foundation 1, 2 and 3 courses to account for novice, intermediate and expert skiers. In the summer, we offer multi-activity packages giving you the chance to try mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing and klettersteiging (via ferrata). We also offer week long DT courses; Mountain Bike Foundation (MBF), Kayak Foundation (K2F), Open Boat Foundation (O2F), Rock Climbing Foundation (RSF) and Summer Mountaineering Foundation (SMF). We also offer the civilian Mountain Bike Instructor Qualifications (MIAS1+2) and self-led road cycle touring. Booking is extremely easy: Google ‘Naval Outdoor Centre Germany’; the top link takes you to the website just check the ‘Availability Calendar’ then click ‘Book Online’. An application takes about two minutes. Alternatively, if you are looking for last-minute places, phone the booking office directly on 0049-8324-933-74220. www.navynews.co.uk