8 minute read
A Year in the Life
A Year in the Life of…
Equipment Support Group
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Equipment Support is part of REME’s DNA. In this month’s edition, we are given an insight into the group that provides the policy and direction for such a crucial part of our Corps’ role in the Army. ES Gp Mission: “To provide Equipment Support policy advice, direction and the coordination of Engineering and Technical Assurance across Regional Command and it’s dependencies in order to support the delivery of GOC Regional Command’s intent.”
Headquarters Regional Command Support Branch (HQ RC SP Br)
Scribe: WO1 (ASM) Cameron
Montgomery House is home to the Headquarters of Home Command (HC), Regional Command (RC), Standing Joint Command (SJC) and 29 EOD Gp. It was built in 2014 on the grounds of Hammersley Bks in Aldershot, the old Army Physical Training school accommodation in Aldershot.
RC is primarily responsible for delivering the Firm Base for the Army and consists of several branches, with the Equipment Support Group (ES Gp) sitting within the Support Branch of HQ RC. The HQ element of the ES Gp comprises of a team of 11 military personnel, two Civil Servants and three Aspire staff. The team provides ES direction and guidance across all RC OPCOM responsibilities to Nepal, Cyprus, Brunei and Gibraltar along with UK based training establishments under the Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command (ARITC). In addition to this, the ES Gp also support the Army Cadets. The Branch also has responsibility for several niche areas such as the Inspectorate of Engineering Resources (IER), Carriage of Dangerous Goods inspection (“Accord Dangereux Routier” (ADR)), Land Equipment Audit Teams (LEAT) and the delivery of contracts with organisations such as Babcock (BDSG).
As the Staff Assistant (SA), I report to SO1 ES and SO1 ES (Reserves), providing advice on ES policy, along with various G1 tasks, and I directly report to SO2 ES Ops Plans for Technical Assurance and ES liaison between Cadets Branch and Babcock BDSG for the repair and inspection of Cadet weapons. With a variety of service and non-service weapons, this has given me the opportunity to work with Army HQ, DE&S and other outside agencies, helping to create a more robust activity that delivers a first-class service. With
ER Estonia
some 30,000 weapons across 400 sites throughout the UK, it is a challenge and there are always areas to improve.
After spending a very busy period in the field force, a major benefit of this role is to be able to create space to conduct personal development. During the past 12 months, I have been able to complete the TECHEVAL assessors’ course, attended the ISO 9001 Lead Auditors course, registered and gained my Incorporated Engineer and I am currently studying for my Engineering Management Degree. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was also able to attend organised sport on a regular basis.
Inspectorate of Engineer Resources (IER)
Scribe: Mr C Winstone
The inspection and certification of bridging and associated equipment is conducted by the IER teams. Due to the complexity of its design and/or function, many items of Royal Engineer Infrastructure Equipment are subject to periodic technical inspections. These examinations detect faults beyond the remit of the equipment user, identify and provide assurance to ensure that the equipment remains fit for purpose, available and is safe for use. Command, planning and performance management of these detachments’ rests with the ES Gp in HQ RC.
The IER team comprises of 1 military role and 8 Civil Servants based in the North at Dishforth, the Midlands in Ashchurch, and the South at Minley. During the year, the IER team conduct over 150 equipment inspections in 10 different countries worldwide.
Having transferred into the MOD from the Department for Transport in September 2018 and taking up my position as an IER examiner, I have had the good fortune to travel to a variety of different locations including Brunei, the Falkland Islands, Canada, Kenya, Germany, Jersey and Cyprus.
IER M3 Inspection Germany
As a team, our main taskings involve the examination and inspection of Royal Engineers bridging and trackway equipment. This ranges from man portable equipment such as the infantry assault bridge, all the way up to the Automated Bridge Launching Equipment (ABLE) launched 44 metre General Support Bridge (GSB). Typically, however we spend most of our time supporting units operating no. 10 and 12 Close Support Bridges. This equipment is designed to be launched from the Titan armoured bridge layer and can be deployed in hostile or CBRN environments with the deployment and recovery managed from within the hull of the vehicle. We also inspect the launching gear of the Titan and the ABLE.
This year, we assumed additional responsibility for the inspection of the M3 amphibious bridging equipment which is located in Minden, Germany. This forms a key part of the UK’s commitment to NATO in Europe as the British and German Armies have the only Wide Wet Gap crossing equipment capability.
In order to carry out these inspections, we use several nondestructive testing methods. Specifically, we employ ultra-sonic examination for the detection of sub surface defects in metallic objects, and, magnetic particle and dye penetration for detecting surface breaking defects. These are new skills I have acquired since my arrival at the MOD and reflect the training opportunities the MOD offers to Civil Servants.
Other equipment we support includes tactical fuel handling equipment on behalf of the RAF and JHC, certain small boats and diving tools and we audit water safety equipment stores for units required to hold life jackets and other similar apparatus.
As previously mentioned, I have been fortunate to travel to several different countries, but our visits are normally very busy and short in duration. I was, however, able to visit one of the Penguin colonies in the Falkland Islands, which was an incredible experience and one I would not have had were it not for this job. Being part of the IER team has provided me with some great experiences and, although we are busy, it still allows for an excellent work / life balance.
International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)
Scribe: SSgt Philbrick
AUTHORISED BUSINESS UNIT 1 (ABU 1), commonly known as the ADR Team, is tasked with the responsibility to undertake ADR training. We are also authorised to conduct tank testing and degassing of vehicles on operations. Within the team, there are 3 ASMs and 2 SSgt Artificers who deliver the ADR function on behalf of the MOD to Tri-Service units, both within the Firm Base and abroad, such as Belize, Brunei and Germany. It includes support to units on operations in Afghanistan and Mali and also supports UK units with non-compliant vehicles, such as RAF aircraft refuelers in the UK. During 2020, the team have been working at a high tempo in support of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ADR Manager was able to create a bespoke package, allowing the team to deliver ADR support to UK garrisons as Civilian DVSA testing sites were closed. This has enabled units and brigades to continue delivering the output required to carry out their commitments to MACA as well as preexisting tasks. This has been in addition to an already hectic overseas inspections and audits program, which saw the ADR team cover over 700 inspections in the UK, Belize, Brunei, Poland, Estonia, Germany, Canada and Kenya.
The role of an ADR examiner offers a lot of travel to locations all over the world, as well as allowing time for professional and personal development. Due to the current ADR demand, the team have been on task conducting inspections throughout. Despite just returning from three weeks in Estonia and a short trip to Northern Ireland, I have still found time for personal development, both physically and academically. Most importantly, I have been able to find the right work/life balance regardless of the long periods away. The key to the job, is to be motivated and grasp all that it offers, making it work for you. The team looks forward to taskings away to Brunei, Op TORAL, Op CABRIT and Belize in 2021, as well as individual commitments to Corps sport and academic progression. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of ABU 1 within Regional Command, as it’s totally different from previous experiences in my career. Working in this team delivering this vital function, enabling units to operate legally is refreshing, but not without its steep learning curve in understanding ADR policy and doctrine. During my short time on the team, I have re-discovered a job satisfaction, which is the genuine highlight for me. I would encourage any Artificer Vehicles to consider this, as a first-choice job in the future.
2020 Key functional events, achievements and outputs
During 2020, COVID-19 brought about many changes to the group’s dynamics and ways of working, which we have very quickly had to learn to adapt and overcome. Travel restrictions affected our support to British military overseas deployments, with some waivers and dispensations having to be applied to maintain operational effectiveness. The positive outcome from this, is that it has allowed all of the functional areas (LEA, ADR, IER) to conduct internal reviews in order to further professionalise the delivery of engineering and technical assurance, and thus, engender a value-added approach in the pursuit of excellence. This has been achieved through accreditation, training and recruitment, which has resulted in enhancing competencies and alignment between the teams.
Although the ES Gp functional areas find themselves travelling throughout the UK and around the globe on a regular basis, we are proud to highlight that there is also representation, both administratively and physically, at Army and Corps level in a range of sports including skiing, golf, cricket, football, rugby and karate. It was also with great pride that Lt Col LT Williams (SO1 ES Reserves) from within the ES Gp was awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
