Issuu

SU M M ER 2022

E AZIN G A N M NITY G STATIO U M LYIN COM THE ISHAM F ATT OF W

Here, children remain just that. They experience, they learn, they grow, but they do so within one of the most idyllic environments imaginable. Brettenham Park

Brettenham

Ipswich

Suffolk

IP7 7PH

Admissions - 01449 740252

www.obh.co.uk OBH - Summer issue 2022.indd 1

08/06/2022 11:58:53

Wattisham Flying Station

Families Fun Day Thursday 25th August 2022 1300 – 1730 hrs

Save the date in your diary and register your interest here.

If you are a Veteran or a Guest, please register here.

The programme and activities continue to grow, but include so far; Static displays on the theme “What we do at work” Static and flying displays including the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and F35 Lightning • Entertainment and activities for children and Young people • Craft and commercial stalls • Bring your own picnic or, purchase it at the food and beverage stands

Free entry to all WFS based Service, Defence Civilian and Contractor personnel and their families £5.00 p/head for AAC and REME veterans, their families and any additional guests. Veterans and guests should apply for tickets at WFSHQ-Groupmailbox@mod.gov.uk

THE EAGLE CONTENTS

06 I Foreword Introduction by Col DCJ Amlôt MBE Commander Wattisham Flying Station.

07 I Community News Latest news around the community.

10 I Station Welfare Departments If you need help, advice or just a chat you will find all the contact details in Clare’s Welfare notes.

13 I Hive Information Service.

18 I Military Wives Choir Celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

20 I 3 Regiment AAC News and updates from 3 Regiment Army Air Corps.

24 I Army Air Corps Enduro Enduro Championship is in full swing with riders competing in the Inter Corps Cross Country Championship.

26 I 4 Regiment AAC Exercise Sabre Strike.

31 I Headquarters Company News and updates from Headquarters Company.

32 I 71 Aviation Company News and updates from 71 Aviation Company.

37 I 70 Field Company News and updates from 70 Field Company.

38 I 132 Squadron RLC News and updates from132 Squadron RLC.

Major 'Neil' O'Brien achieves a hugely impressive 4000 hrs flying the Apache.

THE EAGLE | 4

EDITOR'S NOTES

From the

Editor:

Martin Kinsey Station Staff Officer Wattisham Flying Station

How quickly the pulling together of the next edition of the Eagle come around, it hardly seems a couple of weeks since I put to bed the Spring edition with the publisher, yet here I am drafting notes for this, the Summer 2022, edition.

nd what a busy few weeks it has been. There has been a significant change of roles within the Station Headquarters following the departure of some longstanding personalities, covered elsewhere in the magazine, the culmination of a number of headcount savings made

under a number of different reviews. Inevitably the loss of individuals will be missed, the division of work they used to do will be absorbed by those that remain and there will be an element of work that will no longer take place as the resource is lost and not replaced... time will tell.

For those living or working on the Station you will know that we have recently had to close the Junior Ranks kitchen, coffee shop and for a short period, the shop as we continue to deal with a number of very unwelcome furry visitors. Works are in hand to eradicate the visitors, but it has reminded all that we must take care of our environment, particularly in the careful disposal of rubbish and food waste. Please do follow the guidelines, pick up dropped food stuffs, wrap and secure any leftover or out of date food that you are getting rid off. Place in the appropriate waste bin and ensure the lid is closed. Please ensure you are using the correct waste bins and don’t over fill them. If the bin lid will not secure, you need to find an alternate! For those living off Station, please do not bring items to dispose of into camp, the bins here are provided (and paid for by the MOD) to dispose of domestic waste from the Single Living Accommodation or trade waste generated around the workplace… your old bed should really go to the local authority recycle facility. The unauthorised use of the waste bins on the Station is not only a nuisance – someone has to remove your domestic waste from the bin before the contactor will take it – it

is fly tipping. Fly tipping is prohibited and offenders identified will be reported to the appropriate authority. On a much brighter note, I was fortunate to represent the Station at the Suffolk Show, an opportunity after 2 years absence to get amongst the wider community of Suffolk once again… it was great to engage with so many, and to hear the very positive / supportive statements made about the Apache community. We do not perhaps necessarily appreciate the high regard the local community has for us. Finally, I mentioned in my last notes the Stationwide Families Fun Day on the afternoon of Thursday 25th August 2022. The afternoon is free to all Service, Defence civilian and contractor personnel at WFS and their immediate families and £5.00 p/head to AAC & REME veterans and extended family guests. There will be a number of static educational - themed on What we do at work – as well as entertainment and activities for children and young people, some commercial stands as well as plenty of food and drink concessions, although we are encouraging all to bring a picnic. Alongside the stands will be a flying display programme, as well as static aircraft.

Editorial: HQ Wattisham Flying Station, Wattisham Airfield, IPSWICH, Suffolk IP7 7RA Tel: 01449 728210 Email: martin.kinsey500@mod.gov.uk

Articles should be sent by email to the Editor at WFSHQ-Groupmailbox@mod.gov.uk The views expressed by the contributors to The Eagle magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor; MOD, or the publishers and do not reflect Station policy. All precautions are taken to ensure accuracy. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that they conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. This magazine is published by the kind permission of the Station Commander.

Advertising by: Jayne Bailey - Tel: 01536 334219 Designed by: Lance Print Ltd Published by: Lance Print Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, Kettering, NN16 8NL Tel: 01536 334226 Email: mike@lanceprint.co.uk

Printed by:

Lance Print Ltd - Tel: 01733 390564

THE EAGLE | 5

FOREWORD

Foreword by Colonel DCJ Amlôt MBE Commander Wattisham Flying Station

ARMED FORCES WEEK PARADE Images are from the Armed Forces week parade held at Hadleigh, Suffolk on Thu 23 Jun 22, in the presence of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Leader of Babergh District Council and the Mayor of Hadleigh.

n a break from tradition, I’m handing over the space ordinarily used for my Foreword to make way for images taken at the recent parade in Hadleigh. This was one of many events attended by Station personnel in support of events in June marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Armed Forces week. Thank you for the effort put into these important, National, Regional and local events, whilst concurrently supporting the routine and transition activity at Wattisham. To all, after a very busy Spring, have a great break over the Summer. Finally, I look forward to meeting many of you at the Station’s Families Fun Day on Thu 25 Aug 22.

THE EAGLE | 6

COMMUNITY

Wattisham Flying Station

Forest School The weekend of the 21st and 22nd May you could find the Hadleigh Explorer Scout Unit building the WFS Forest School.

he Explorers have designed and built an area for military families and local youth projects to use on camp to improve the

Wattisham living space and help with outdoor education. The build includes a waterproof admin area, sleeping space (with room for people to add more), a cooking area and the unit took the time to add three bug hotels on the forest walk. The two-day survival camp started with a 15km hike from Hadleigh to WFS. They had the opportunity to select various tools and kit that may

or may not have helped them survive the night. They had four opportunities to grab kit on the hike but had to carry it with them. From axes to extension cables, matches to mallets, they made (mostly) great choices. Once in the forest all safety was taken care of, they made a start on the sleeping area and were supervised sorting out their BBQ dinner (which they were only allowed because they selected the rations on the walk in!). After a few minutes of relaxation and planning they got on with building an area to sleep and start the evening admin.

A campfire and marshmallows rounded off a great day. The next day they were up at 0430 with the sun and were continuing the building of tools for the forest area using a settler’s wrench. The leaders were less enthusiastic about the early start… After breakfast they made short work of building several different bug hotels (although with the size they are more like bug cities!). These serve several purposes; firstly, it clears the area on the forest floor which allows for new growth and fresh greenery. Secondly it gives a space for insects and bugs alike to multiply which is great for biodiversity. Finally it centralises a few bird feeding areas! To finish the weekend the team were treated to a presentation by the RAF Survival Equipment Section which gave them further insight into survival equipment and techniques. Many thanks to the team that supported this visit. Their positive attitude and knowledge helped our young people continue to be engaged throughout. All in all, a great couple of days for the unit. The Hadleigh Explorer unit would like to thank all those at WFSHQ that made the visit possible. The Station QMs department for the assistance with the facilities, The Fire and Rescue for their help with the fire assessment and site visit, RAF Survival Section and finally 70 Coy 7Bn for the fire pit cooking grid made by the metalsmiths.

THE EAGLE | 7

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Finborough is an independent day and boarding school for children ages 2 to 18 located in the beautiful rolling Suffolk countryside. Our recently renovated boarding house is a wonderful place to be, with great common rooms and spacious ensuite bedrooms. Our students make exceptional progress, learning in incredible facilities including our brand new Science and Art building with outstanding teachers. Our boarding family of staff and students would love to welcome you to their school home to share with you why Finborough is such a great place to live and learn.

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STATION WELFARE DEPARTMENTS

3 Regiment/WFS HQ Welfare Team

UWO: Capt Joe Wilson

WO2: Meacher S

You can speak to a member of the Welfare Team or make an appointment during office hours by calling 01449 728321 or using the QR code below. Scan code to complete questionnaire a member of the team will get in touch.

728220. In the event of an emergency, the emergency services should be contacted on 999 in the first instance.

For urgent enquiries outside of normal working hours the Welfare Team can be contacted via the Wattisham Station Guardroom on 01449

4 Regiment Welfare Team Office Number 01449 728421 Emergency Number 01449 728220 Email Welfare4AAC@gmail.com UWO: Capt AL Davis-Smith

UWWO: WO2 Minter T

4 AAC Facebook Page

7 Aviation CS Bn Welfare Team Office Number 01449 728721 Emergency Number 07976 176732 Email sevenwelfare@gmail.com 7REME-WELFARE@mod.gov.uk UWO: Capt G Burdon

UWWO: WO1 Maycock D

Reception Number 01449 728621

Welfare Coord Team

WISC Coordinator 01449 728358 or 0300 163 0986

WISC Centre manager: Mrs C Morrin

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WISC Receptionist: Mrs A Douglas

Clare Morrin is also the supporting Welfare Officer for Wattisham Flying Station (WFS), 1 Avn Bde, 653 Sqn, MPGS and 534 personnel. Between the hours of 0830 – 1700, please contact Clare via Telephone 01449 728358 or Skype on 0300 163 0986 Out of hours, the Welfare Team can be contacted via the Wattisham Station Guardroom on 01449 728220.

COMMUNITY

Wattisham Information & Support Centre (WISC) Hope you all managed to enjoy some downtime with friends and families to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee and made some good memories of this once in a life time event.

he smells of BBQ’s and other food preparation was a pleasure to the senses. Summer is moving along with the longest day been and gone. Still, there is plenty of time to get out and about and do all the fun activities that comes along this time of year. Preparations are in full swing for the WFS Families Day that is taking place on the 25 August. This is a huge tasking for everyone organising this event. Remember to put this date in your social diaries. It’s business as usual providing advice and support to personnel and families. Appointments can be made by contacting your relevant

welfare team by phone or email. Alternatively, you can just pop into the welfare reception where we will assist you with your queries. Wednesday mornings, we also operate from Hadleigh House, located at 14 Leeks Close, Hadleigh, IP7 6GE. Doors open between 0900 – 1200 hrs. Your most welcome to drop in, have a cuppa, chat and meet members of our welfare team (subject to availability). Monday mornings at Hadleigh House, the charity Home Start runs children’s activities and a coffee morning for military families. It’s free, so please pop along from 0915 – 1115 hrs. No booking required. HIVE is currently vacant therefore, if anyone requires information regarding WFS and local areas, please pop into welfare and see Angie or Clare. For information on running an event and general queries, please contact Clare—on 01449 728358 or Angie on 01449 728621.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update Just to remind our Service Families that Pinnacle Services are the point of contact for all occupancy and maintenance issues. It is the Serving Person’s responsibility, as the holder of the Service Family License to ensure all occupancy or maintenance requirements are addressed directly to Pinnacle National Service Centre Help Desk - www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk in the first instance. Please update your welfare team of any issues you are facing. Contact Clare – Welfare Co-ordinator on 01449 728358 or clare.morrin100@mod.gov.uk

Wattisham Flying Station

Community Centre The Community Centre is a thriving and busy hub with NEW activities taking place for individuals and families of any age!

lease see the latest timetable for all activities taking place however here are just a few activities for your diaries. Please look for information at the Community Centre, Around housing locations and on the Facebook Pages. NEW - Mondays – EB Dance Classes for ages 3- 12 years. Please see details on EB Dance Unity or Emily Brindal on Facebook or posters. NEW – Wednesdays – Meet and Eat picnic sessions from 1100 – 1300 hrs. Just turn up. Everyone can attend. Beth, your Community Development Support Worker (CSDW) is based at the Community Centre two days a week on a Monday and Tuesday so please pop in to say hello. In addition to Toddlers Soft Play on a Monday morning, she has organised a NEW

Monday session – Family Fun Nights, consisting of fun activities for the whole family and only £1. What a bargain! The Tuesday Coffee and Cake mornings are going strong and a good way to meet up with others and welcome new faces. The Youth Clubs on Tuesday evenings is a must if you have bored children. To join Youth Club please contact Beth for enrolment details.

Events can take place during the week and weekends, subject to availability. If you have any questions, wish to book the Community Centre for parties, meetings, training, clubs, please contact or Clare on 01449 728358 Skype on 0300 163 0986 or Angie on 01449 728621.

Contact House

The Contact House is a three-bedroom house based on the patch at Wattisham. It is administered by the WISC for use by soldiers and their families. Current cost is £30 per night with a minimum charge of £60. To find out more information or make a booking please contact Angie on Tel: 01449 728621/ Mil: 94674 8621 or Clare on 0300 163 0986

THE EAGLE | 11

COMMUNITY

Need Free, Confidential and Impartial Advice? Welfare Event Plans for 2022

Subject to change depending on staff availability and Covid regulations

Citizens Advice Bureau are running Virtual sessions at WISC for individuals or for families. Appointments are available on Tuesdays at 9.45, 11.00, 12.45 and 1400 hrs and are all carried out in the strictest of confidence. To check availability and to arrange an appointment, please contact Clare on 0300 1630 986.

Date

Activity

Venue

Time

Booking Required Snack Provided

25 Aug 22

Families/ Veterans Day

WFS

TBC

14 Sep 22

Coffee and Craft Activity

Community Centre

1030 – Yes 1230 hrs

Yes

27 Oct 22

Halloween Event

TBC

Yes

02 Nov 22

Bonfire Night

TBC

Nov/Dec 22 - TBC

Pantomime

Stn Gym

TBC

Yes

December 22 - TBC

Christmas Event

TBC

Need Free, Confidential & Impartial Advice? They offer a virtual appointment service to Wattisham air base on Tuesday mornings, where you can receive advice via a video link from a private office here at Wattisham to a trained adviser Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please contact Wattisham Information & Support Centre on 01449 728358, and they can set this up for you in confidence. Benefits, Housing, Consumer, Education, Employment, Discrimination, Debt & Money Advice, Family & Relationships Phone for advice on: 01449 676060 or 676280 Monday-Thursday 0930-1530 and Friday 0930-1230 Call in at 5 Milton Road South, Stowmarket, IP14 1EZ Email: advice@midsuffolk.org.uk or www.midsuffolkcab.org.uk

Wattisham Airfield Childcare Centre We are now in our last term of the academic year. We have had a lovely time celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, making crowns, flags, cards, dressing up as Royalty and much more. We are looking forward to our first nursery outing since Covid,

THE EAGLE | 12

with a trip to Bayham Farm. Our Summer fate will be on the 23rd July, 10am, in the Nursery carpark. Everyone is welcome! There will be raffles, cake stalls, face painting, games and more. Our Nursery is open Monday to Thursday 8am-6pm and Friday’s 8am-1pm, 38 weeks of the year. We care for children from the age of 3 months to 5 years. We have 3 rooms within our nursery, Babies (0-2 years), Toddlers (2-3 years)

Help and support for veterans from the MOD Veterans UK Helpline 0808 1914 2 18 Email: veterans-uk@mod.uk www.gov.uk/veterans-uk

House Repairs (24 hours) Wattisham Station Pinnacle Service Families 0800 031 8628 (option 1) Hadleigh and Ipswich Via Flagship 0203 603 9472

and Pre-school (3-5 years). If you would like a place in our setting from September 2022, join our waiting list now! If you require a space for your child in our Pre-school room in September, to claim your Early Years funding for 15 or 30 hours, we suggest registering your child with us early to avoid disappointment. Funding in our setting is available for 2,3- and 4-year-

The mobile Post Office van Please note opening times. It is situated in the car park of the closed Premier shop (opposite Base Garage). Tuesday 2pm – 4pm Friday 2pm - 4pm They can do all the functions of a Post Office shop. Easy access for everyone.

Let's use it or lose it

old children, which is available the term after the child’s birthday. We offer this on a term time basis where your child can use up to their 15/30 hours a week entitlement during the school term. For more information, please call into the nursery or contact Evie on: 014490728928, wacco2@googlemail. com Thank you!

COMMUNITY

Wattisham HIVE is currently closed due to gapped post. HIVE Information Centres support the chain of command and service communities through the provision of up-to-date and relevant information worldwide. The HIVE offer an extensive range of information on relocation, local unit and civilian facilities, places of interest, forces discounts, schools and further education, accommodation, healthcare, employment and training opportunities as well as discounts, deployment, transition, resettlement, welfare signposting and financial information.

Your nearest HIVE is Colchester HIVE

Children’s Easter Party

It was great to see so many military families attend the Children’s Easter Party which took place on Wednesday 13th April 22 in the WFS Community Centre. Mr Bean Entertainments kept the children amused with their disco, games and magic show, the Easter Bunny appeared to deliver the Easter Eggs and a fun time was had by all. Please look out for future events which will be advertised via FB, posters and on the military system or contact Clare for updated information on clare. morrin100@mod.gov.uk

Teddy Bears Picnic Party

What glorious weather we had for our first Teddy Bears Picnic in the Community Centre Garden on Wednesday 18 May. The sun shone, the children played and the Mum’s who attended had the opportunity for a good catch up. It was lovely to see some of our SP arrive during their break to have lunch with their families. After speaking to the families, we are planning on

this becoming a regular group, on a Wednesday from 1100 – 1300 hrs, bring a packed lunch and drink with you and if your partner is able to join during their lunch break, they will be made to feel most welcome. Please come along and meet each other in a chilled and relaxed atmosphere. If the weather is not kind to us, we will hold the get together inside the Community Centre. For more information, please contact Clare at clare. morrin100@mod.gov.uk.

THE EAGLE | 13

COMMUNITY

PLAQUE UNVEILED IN MEMORY OF THE LATE IAN MORTON Ian Morton was the Training Centre Manager (TCM) at Aviation Training International Limited at Arborfield and later the TCM at Attack Helicopter Training Services. In September 2021 he caught COVID and passed away shortly afterwards. To mark his dedication to the delivery

of Apache training to the Army customer over a period of almost 20 years, a short ceremony was held on 12 Apr 22. His widow Wendy and members of his family were invited to site, where Wendy unveiled a plaque dedicating the Apache Maintenance Training Facility to Ian’s memory.

Introducing new Welfare Officer, 7 REME I am the Unit Welfare Officer for 7 Aviation Close Support Battalion REME and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you and your family to your welfare team. I am Captain Gary (Gaz) Burdon, the Unit Welfare Officer (UWO). I am married to Clair, my amazing and long-suffering partner of over 20 years. We have three fantastic children, two teenage girls (Sophie and Emily) and one young boy (George); all with their own unique quirks, characters and personalities. We are living in Hadleigh for the duration of the assignment and have had the fortune to have travelled across the globe, living in Germany, Canada and Kenya as a family unit over the course of my

THE EAGLE | 14

career. I commissioned from the rank of WO1(ASM) after serving over 22 years as a Technician and Artificer Electronics within the REME. I am predominantly from a technical background but come with a whole host of life skills and experience. I enjoy most sports, love to be outdoors, enjoy good company and I’m a lifelong Sunderland AFC supporter; so, I’ve become no stranger to mild disappointment and expectation management over the years. I hope to see you, or you and your family soon. Don’t be a stranger, we are here to support you with your welfare needs, so please feel free to engage with me or any of the Welfare Team if you have any questions, ideas for betterment, or just need someone to speak to.

Cricket in the community

attisham Station despite its lack of decent facilities has a number of interested Cricket Players some of which are very talented. Cricket is a Summer Sport that the Army have played for many years. Born in England and taken abroad to many Commonwealth country’s during the rule of the British Empire, it became one of the most popular summer pastimes. These days cricket remains popular and even more importantly, accessible to all. One of the major issues is the extremely poor state of the station’s sports facilities. The sports fields for several years have turned into a state of disrepair, the astro turf is extremely poor, and only until recently the gym was unable to hold cricket nets. With the second lease of life coming to Wattisham, one can only hope that the facilities and the contracts will improve allowing better facilities for the soldiers and their families (Including cricket) allowing the community to flourish on camp as it once used to. During my time in Suffolk, I have ventured to find out a bit more about some of the local cricket offerings available, and there is an abundance of them. In my search for better facilities and opportunities, due to the demise of the stations own, I was fortunate

to stumble across a quaint, stereotypical English Village club on the outskirts of Stowmarket called Battisford Cricket Club. Interestingly the club has a member called Delia Smith (the famous TV chef and owner of Norwich City FC), who is a local to the surrounding area. I quickly struck up a relationship with them, and they were even kind enough to fund my venture into gaining recognised cricket coaching qualification, which allowed me to engage wider with the local community. There are many more opportunities and clubs available for those interested, including Hadleigh CC and Copdock CC. The county also has its own Cricket board (Suffolk County Cricket Board), which actively has events for Adults and Children, male and female. There is the Children’s All Stars and Dynamos’ programme running at most clubs this summer and also the Chance to Shine street cricket programme aimed to capture a younger and much wider demographic. All are worth a try and each club has its own unique feel, from competing in the top tiers to being a welcoming family club. For further information look up on ecb.co.uk the various programmes or get down to your local club.

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Whole School Open day Saturday 17 September 2022 Register at: www.lvs.ascot.sch.uk/admissions/open-days Discounts available to Armed Forces and Diplomatic families

THE EAGLE | 15

COMMUNITY

A Note from Beth

o you ever get so snowed under with “adulting”, that it makes you value more the moments to escape! Maybe it’s the moments to have a good vent with a friend over coffee, or watching your child smile as they project themselves down the slide at the play park. Maybe it’s dropping the kids off at their weekly club knowing they’ll have a blast. I’ll admit that lately I’ve been chugging through a mountain of paperwork. But those moments of feeling snowed under have meant that I have valued the moments I’ve shared with you all, all the more. The brilliant, interesting and hilarious stories I’ve heard at Cake Break. Hiding behind a stack of leaflets in plain-sight

during a game of hide-andseek while a child walks past in blissful ignorance at Junior Youth Club. Or getting to know our amazing young people at Seniors Youth Club over a goodol’ classic game of UNO. These are the moments that make the boring stressful times of “adulting” worth it.

To find out more about our regular and one-off events, keep an eye out for posters, and the HIVE & Social Media Pages. Alternatively, you can contact Beth to find out more about what’s on: Elizabeth. millar105@mod.gov.uk

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR... Summer Programme October Residential

HAVE YOU HEARD…

FAMILY FUN NIGHT Mondays from 3.30pm-5pm £1/family

At Wattisham Community Centre Fun activities forthe whole family every week, including arts & crafts, STEM & MUCH MORE! *ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANED BY AN ADULT AT ALL TIMES* For more information contact Bet Miller Elizabeth.millar105@mod.gov.uk

THE EAGLE | 16

COMMUNITY

Mobile Library

Open for Business

You can borrow books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, games and language courses. If you live in Suffolk or a neighbouring county, you can apply online to become a member at www. suffolklibraries.co.uk and they will post your card to you. Alternatively, visit any Suffolk Mobile library with proof of identification and they will give you a card. It’s free. Children and young people up to the age of 16 need a guarantor. To use any of the online services you’ll also need a PIN. If you

don’t know your PIN contact a member of staff, on telephone number 01473 351249 or email help@ suffolklibraries.co.uk. Venue: Great Bricett – Wixfield Park Time: 13:30 – 14:15 Calling on the following Thursdays 14 July, 11 August, 8 September, 16 October

Wattisham Community Centre Timetable TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SAT/SUN

10.00 – 12.00 Toddlers Soft Play (0-5 years)

10.00 – 12.00 Coffee & Cake Morning All welcome

11.00 – 13.00 Meet & Eat

10.30 – 12.00 Baby Massage 5 week sessions Booking required

10.00 – 12.00 Health Visitor Baby Weigh Clinic (2nd & 4th week of month)

Available for private event hire

17.30 – 20.00 Childrens Dance Classes

(bring a packed lunch & drink)

PM Available for use

Youth Club Junior 6 - 11 yrs 17.00 – 18.30 £1/session Senior 12 – 16 yrs 18.45 – 20.15 £1/session

19.00 – 21.00 Crafters Gonna Craft

13.00 – 14.30 Home-Start Family Group (0-5 years)

17.00 – 18.00 Rainbows 18.00 – 19.15 Brownies

PM Available for Available for use private event hire

EVE Available for Available for use private event hire

To book the Community Centre, please contact Reception at the Wattisham Information & Support Centre (WISC), 2 Valley Road Tel: 01449 72(8621) *Subject to change

THE EAGLE | 17

15.30 – 17.00 Family Fun Nights (£1 per family)

Group

MONDAY

MILITARY WIVES CHOIR

What better way to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee than to come together with good friends to sing on stage in front of a large and appreciative audience?

n Friday 3rd June, the ladies of the Wattisham Military Wives Choir did just that! We joined forces with the Military Wives Choirs of Honington and Marham to perform as the special guests of Katherine Jenkins at the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. We had the privilege of opening the celebrations with a forty-five minute set, during which time we sang a rousing selection of songs from our repertoire: Some

THE EAGLE | 18

traditional, some old favourites and timeless classics, and some from the Military Wives film of 2019. The atmosphere on stage was incredible, with singers and musicians coming together before a terrifically supportive and encouraging audience who couldn’t have been more festive and patriotic. We were then treated to some wonderful pieces by the National Symphony Orchestra (and a Hurricane Fly Past!) before Katherine Jenkins took to the stage and wowed

with her impressive and moving vocal collection. At the end of the performances, the Military Wives Choirs joined Katherine on stage for the final song and grand finale: ‘Dancing Queen’! A most magnificent end to a most memorable day. It was a great opportunity to have been able to sing to such a large audience and in such a beautiful setting, and what a fantastic experience – the memory of coming together to achieve something so remarkable

is something we will all take away with us and treasure. The Sandringham concert was the culmination of months of hard work and dedicated practise from the members of the choirs and their wonderful music directors who made it all possible. We really are looking forward to seeing what the next year holds for us! 'We meet Tuesdays 7-9pm at the station church and new members are always welcome

SWIMMING POOL

WFS SWIMMING POOL

e have started a parent, carer and toddler swim session. This began in March after the much-awaited pool maintenance was completed. We encourage swimmers of all abilities to come down. The swimming pool timetable is shown below and on various notice boards. We have a variety of floats and equipment and Dave our pool manager will be happy to give you some pointers on swimming techniques and ways to improve. We are still running the weak and non-swimmer lesson, organised by SSgt Zoe Lemming-Watts (4 RAPTC). Each month there is the Monthly challenge in which everyone is invited to have a go at - your name will be put up on the board and yes you can even have more than one try in order to improve your time- So have a go!

CIVILIAN USE OF THE STATION P&RTC GYM AND SWIMMING With immediate effect, the requirement for civilians (MOD Civil Servants and contractors employed at Wattisham Flying Station) to provide evidence of 3rd party liability and personal accident insurance is rescinded. The Station has taken out 3rd Party Liability and Personal

the station QMSI on carl. jackson462@mod.gov.uk. Swimmers over the age of 16 are permitted to attend swimming periods unaccompanied. Any swimmer under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or sibling over the age of 18. Pool staff reserve the right to refuse entry into the swimming pool.

Accident Insurance cover to remove the need for individuals to provide evidence. It should be noted that Personal Accident cover only provides basic cover, limited to a maximum claim of £10,000 for death or disablement. Personnel are recommended to seek advice / additional cover, should that cover be insufficient for their circumstances. To arrange an induction, contact

Day

Early AM Session

Lunch Session

Monday

07.00-08.30 hrs Closed UFN

12.00-13.30 hrs Open

Tuesday

07.00-8.30 hrs Closed UFN

12.00-13.30 hrs Open

Wednesday

07.00-08.30 hrsClosed UFN

12.00-13.30 hrs Open

Thursday

07.00-08.30 hrs Closed UFN

12.00-13.30 hrs Open

Friday

Closed

PM Session Families 16.3017.30 hrs Open Ladies 14.0015.00 hrs Open

16.30-17.30 hrs Open 16.30-17.30 hrs Open

Ladies 14.0015.00 hrs Open

Families 16.30-17.30 hrs Open Closed

Pool staff reserve the right to refuse entry into the swimming pool.

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3 AAC FREEDOM PARADE

Parade celebrates Army aviators’ community links Army aviators have celebrated their links to Suffolk and their proud history as they look to a future operating the British Army's new Apache AH-64E attack helicopter.

“

With swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing, and Colours flying” and a flypast by three Apaches, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps exercised the Freedom of St Edmundsbury on Thu 31 Mar 22. Setting off from Abbey Gardens and led by British Army Band Colchester, troops marched around the historic centre of Bury St Edmunds. The salute was taken on Angel Hill by Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk Lieutenant General (retd) Phillip Jones; Councillor Margaret Marks, Chair of West Suffolk Council; and Brigadier Mark Ackrill, Commander of 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team.

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The parade was a delayed celebration of the Regiment’s 50th anniversary, a milestone which could not be marked at the time due to coronavirus restrictions. While reflecting on its proud history, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the unit is looking forward to a bright future as the first to operate the Army’s new Apache AH64E attack helicopter. 3 Regt AAC’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Simon Wilsey said: “It is a great honour for the Regiment to exercise the Freedom of St Edmundsbury. We’ve been based at Wattisham since 1993 and built strong and supportive links with local people. Today has been about celebrating our place in the Suffolk community, and putting on a show as a gesture of appreciation for the disturbance our flying training can cause. “It is also an important time for the Regiment as we enter a new era, changing the helicopters

we operate. from the Apache Mark 1 to the AH-64E. We are at the forefront of bringing this state-of-the-art helicopter into service, which will be a key element of how the Army fights in the coming decades.” The Regiment was granted, and last exercised, the Freedom of St Edmundsbury in 2010. Among the 180 soldiers on parade today was Staff Sergeant Dudley Mennie, who said: “Taking part in a parade like this is a very humbling experience. It’s great to be

out in public in uniform and feel the appreciation and support from the public who were clapping and taking photos as we marched past.” 3 Regt AAC was formed in 1969 with squadrons based across the south of England. It moved to Soest in Germany as a consolidated regiment in 1977, coming to Wattisham Flying Station in 1993. It has flown the Gazelle, Lynx, and Apache Mark 1 attack helicopters on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit’s current role is to provide a long-range aviation strike and reconnaissance capability to 3rd (UK) Division, the British Army’s high readiness warfighting division.

3 REGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS Commanding Officer: Lt Col S Wilsey AAC Second in Command: Maj H Anderson AAC Adjutant: Capt T Fraser AAC Regimental Sergeant Major: WO1 (RSM) J Cooke AAC

WO2 SC Meacher UWWO Hello everyone. It’s an absolute pleasure and privilege to be taking over as 3AAC’s Welfare Warrant Officer. Whilst taking these initial steps, it is already clear how very welcome my family and I have been made to feel by all of the teams here. We are grateful, thank you. Throughout my professional life I have had the pleasure of working alongside some incredible individuals. Friends, colleagues, coaches/mentors who have all helped shape me, or have empowered me to push myself further and most importantly have supported

my family and I throughout a 22+ year career. My individual and collective experiences amongst likeminded people continues to motivate me and I believe the single most important commodity in our armed forces are its people and the immediate family networks that support them. With this in mind I hope to be able to contribute positively, a better lived experience(s), to our unique military family. Once again it is a pleasure and I am very much looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can.

663 ES Platoon Exercise

VOIJEK SABRE

On 17 Jan 22, 663 ES Platoon deployed on a BCS training exercise to Thetford, Norfolk. The mission was to establish a Workshop location, suitable to carry out Level 1 and 2 maintenance on an Apache attack helicopter. The Platoon was run by JNCO Aircraft Technicians to allow personal development and

s the Sqn welcomed the weather of spring and early summer, we have settled into our supporting role for 662 Sqns E Model transition with 663 Sqns very much on the near horizon. The spring showers put a spring in the Sqn’s step as the unit tackled the gruelling VOIJEK GRIZZ – a 24 hour loaded march that saw personnel broken down into 4 person teams to race around 4 miles, every 4 hours for 24 hours. The event proved a huge success and the collective sense of achievement from all departments was fantastic – although for many these benefits weren’t felt until its competition! Navigating the uncertain waters of an ever-changing FOE has meant that the 663 Sqn team have had to remain ever flexible, seizing both planned and lastminute training opportunities. From Sqn functions to last minute 48 hour AT packages that have included mountain

biking and orienteering – the collective drive to get after training at all levels has been fantastic. At all levels the people of 663 Sqn have come together and put their best foot forward. The Sqn supported Ex WALLRIDER, the first E model outing beyond Wattisham, in Leeming with an additional Mk1 flown by 663 Sqn. T he exercise was a great success, with the Sqn managing to return as a 3 ship via Shawbury and help inspire the next generation of Apache pilots. The prospect of E model transition remains very much at the forefront of the Sqn’s thoughts. It has been fantastic to have so many of our Aircrew complete their ASTC at Middle Wallop – giving those individuals a glimpse of what the Sqn can expect in the early Autumn. 663 approach the Summer period in good spirits with an exciting 6 months ahead of them.

to increase the physical and mental resilience of the Apache fighting force. The training objectives were wide ranging and included Vehicle Hides, Section Attacks and Navigation. As a subunit, the exercise helped improve cohesion between all elements of the Sqn and improved their core skills as a soldier.

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662 SQUADRON

669 SQUADRON

Ex COYOTE CHARGE 2022

n Friday 4th March 2022 Myself and five other members of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps took on the 9 hour long drive to Spean Bridge in the Scottish Highlands to take part in the challenging 7 mile (11KM) Commando Speed March carrying 36lbs (16.5KG), with the aim being to complete it in less than the original test time of 60 minutes. After spending the night in a community hall, the next day we walked to Spean Bridge Railway Station and the start of the Commando Speed March. We were then marched by a Scottish Piper to the start of the race we were set off on the original World War Two route taken by

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prospective Commandos. The first mile from the train station to the Commando Memorial was completely uphill before turning left at the memorial to commence the downhill section of the race to the bridge. After reaching the bridge in the middle of a valley we embarked on another uphill section of the race. At the top of the hill there was a sharp left turn into some undulating terrain towards the finish at Achnacarry House. All six 3 Regiment participants completed the race and enjoyed a celebratory coffee before returning home the next day. LCpl Jack Edwards 662 Wksp.

669 (HQ) Sqn 3 Regiment AAC Deployed to Warcop Training Area on Ex COYOTE CHARGE during the middle of February to develop our basic soldiering skills.

x COYOTE CHARGE will hopefully lead the way for future Corps exercises utilising armoured vehicles and turrets, a first for the Army Air Corps (AAC). For some members of 669 (HQ) Sqn the exercise started in January as they attended a 2-week GPMG cadre before the rest of the exercising troops joined them for a week's joint training at Wattisham Flying Station and STANTA where we ensured we had the fundamentals down before travelling up to Warcop. During the first week of exercise, we built up our basic soldiering level using it as a foundation to add new skills and techniques onto. We moved fluidly from 6 section battle drills and reacting to enemy fire to vehicle anti ambush drills and extraction drills and then onto operating in built up areas. This training enables us as AAC soldiers to carry out our task as a support group self-sufficiently and has enabled the juniors amongst the Sqn to understand their role in depth. The Sqn then moved into a role play scenario where we combined all skills we had learnt and refreshed to

culminate in a 2-day serial where we inserted via vehicles to a rendezvous point, then patrolling at night with NVG’S to a target building which we then assaulted, occupied and used as a base to operate out of on vehicle sentries/ clearance patrols. This was a great experience for the exercising troops, and something not often done. This ended the weeks blank firing package and we then transitioned onto live fire for the second week. Onto the second week of Ex COYOTE CHARGE at Warcop live firing package. This built on the first week's blank firing. We began on individual and pairs fire movement working up to section level. With the basics nailed we progressed onto live firing vehicle drills similar to what we had practised the week prior. This type of training is vital for the role 669 (HQ) Sqn plays in the support and transport element of ATF4 and was thoroughly enjoyable. Tuesday evening then saw section defence shoots at night which was a first for some and a great experience allowing us to use target indication techniques which normally we wouldn't be able to. On the Wednesday we had an amazing opportunity to go onto live grenade throwing which was another first time for many individuals and was a highlight of the exercise. The exercise ended with section and Platoon level attacks and withdrawals with GPMG gunners firing from the Armoured EPLS which will be the new way we will train and operate.

3 REGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS

Exercise Snowboard Eagle Exercise Snowboard Eagle differed from the usual Army exercises.

o weapons, webbing, just you and your snowboard. Ex Snowboard Eagle was a great opportunity for Officers and Soldiers of all abilities, from across all AAC Regiments to learn how to snowboard. Being with people you don’t usually socialise with has its positives; it gets you out of your comfort zone and builds confidence. Ex Snowboard Eagle is one of the highlights of my Army career to date. Even though I wasn’t amazing at it, it was still great. Although some people might think Snowboarding is easy, I can safely say that it is not.

We departed from Luton Airport to Geneva, Switzerland in the early hours of Sunday morning. On arrival we picked up our hire car and drove to our resort, Avoriaz in France, through some incredible snowy mountains, a sight I had never seen before. Once we got to the resort, we checked in, collected our equipment, and set about relaxing before an early night, ready to be up early for a busy week ahead. On the first morning, we were getting to grips with the snowboarding basics, primarily testing my balancing skills. This started with ‘scooting’. ‘Scooting’ was basically pushing yourself along the snow; something that is essential for using the chairlifts and the source of

much laughter. The essentials of stopping, turning and tightening these turns followed. Over the next couple of days my confidence on the board grew. We began learning about link turns; the transition from looking like an amateur to looking like you know what you’re doing. This was like what you see on TV, when the snowboarder almost zigzags across the snow, changing direction on the decline. We then continued to push the envelope further and tried our hand at some small jumps. We then split into groups with one of the more experienced boarders leading each group. Avoriaz had a great selection of slopes (pistes) to practise for all abilities. Green is the easiest

(least steep), then blue, red, and then the most difficult, black. On the final day we went to ‘The Park’, which was essentially a skate park for snowboarding. We had a run set up consisting of a box, grind and jump, bigger than we’d ever tried before. We went down one at a time, cheered on by everyone else. It was a great sense of achievement and something that was seemingly unachievable at the start of the week. A great way to finish off the exercise! Overall, my experience of Ex Snowboard Eagle was fantastic. Snowboarding proved to be a great leveller, bringing together all ranks from across all regiments, blending a competitive learning experience which the sport demanded together with a relaxed social environment. It’s for this reason why I’d strongly recommend Ex Snowboard Eagle to anyone interested in trying something new or improving on their snowboarding skills with the Army. You won’t regret it! AirTpr S. Ferguson 663 SQN, 3 AAC

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ARMY AIR CORPS ENDURO

Army Air Corps Enduro Championship The Army Air Corps Enduro Championship is in full swing with riders competing in the Inter Corps Cross Country Championship (ICCCC), G H motorcycle Solo enduro championship and the Dave Barkshire 2 Man Enduro Championship.

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he Wattisham Enduro track has also had an update, perfect for training and holding future races. The season started with the team conducting a training package at Wattisham Airfield in preparation for the year ahead. The week began with some much-needed track maintenance ensuring the very best riding was to be had, the team was trained by the more seasoned rider LCpl Jones who rides in the expert class. The training consisted of slow speed control, tackling obstacles like logs, corning, and finished off with a 40-minute moto enduro to put everyone to the test. This was also a perfect opportunity to hold the team AGM and present awards for last season’s AAC Championship. This saw Cpl Finch and WO2 Willet placing joint 3rd, LCpl Ainsworth placing 2nd and the LCpl Whitehead being crowned AAC Champion. Round 1 of the ICCCC was held at Driffield off-road training area hosted by the Royal Engineers. The round saw 4 riders from the team tackle a 7.5mile long course, which was a gruelling 3hrs long testing the rider’s endurance. The course was littered with wooded technical sections and fast flowing open areas. LCpl Ainsworth managed to bag 3rd place in the Clubman class, he will soon be giving the experts a run for their

money in the future. May saw the Wattisham Airfield Enduro track get a well needed revamp which was lead by LCpl Jones, who organised all the kit and equipment needed for this much needed upgrade. The whole team pitched in to some much needed cutting back of the woodland areas and extending of the whole area to make a 2-mile loop, with a mixture of motocross, enduro cross and woodlands. The track took two weeks all together to get it to where it is today with great support from the Corps. All this work was going toward one goal, which was to host Round 2 of the ICCCC. This is the first ever motorcycle enduro event hosted by the team making history. The round saw teams from all three services tackle 3x 40mins Moto Enduros. All members of the AAC team set up and marshalled the event making sure the riders were safe throughout the day. The day was a great success and was widely enjoyed by all participants setting the standard for future events. The event couldn’t of been possible without the support of the station and the Army Team and we hope to host again in the near future. Solo Enduro Championship Round 2 ACU Eastern Centre Enduro Championship, saw three members of the team take on a 3-hour hare and hound at Foxborough Quarry. The 4-mile

ARMY AIR CORPS ENDURO

loop included highly rutted tight flowing woods and the famous Foxborough Bog. The track proved to be demanding on man and machine, with riders glad to see the chequered flag at the end. LCpl Jones put in an impressive performance coming away with third in class.

Dave Barkshire 2 Man Enduro Championship. Two teams from the AAC Enduro Team competed in round 1 & 2 of the ACU Dave Barkshire 2 Man Enduro Championship. Team 1 saw Cpl Finch & LCpl Ainsworth paired up and Team 2 included Cpl Kenyon & LCpl Fox. The event consisted of four 30 minutes stints for each rider, making sure they came in on the correct time on the minute to hand over the timecard to the partner, who would then head out for their best efforts. In the event of someone arriving late a time penalty would be given to the team, which can have massive effects to the overall standings, this making for some exciting racing and bar bashing. For anyone who is interested in motorcycle Enduro they can contact any of the team members below. The team is constantly looking for new talent and is open to all abilities and ranks. You can see what we have been up to and stay in the know by following our Instagram page @aacenduro. The team is also looking at future open days that will allow personnel to have a go, so keep your eyes pealed for future dates been posted out.

Words by Cpl Kenyon Team Secretary Sgt Sam Thrower 662 Sqn 3AAC Team Manager Cpl Mike Moran 669 Sqn 3AAC Team Treasurer Cpl Gary Finch 662 Sqn 3AAC Team Captain LCpl

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4 REGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS

Commanding Officer: Lt Col A Harris AAC Second-in-Command: Maj D Hyland, AAC Adjutant: Capt WES Hearnshaw, AAC Regimental Sergeant Major: WO1(RSM) MR Jones

Exercise CHINTHE STRIKE On the 15th of March 2022, I conducted my first ever live firing FARP (Forward Arming & Refuelling Point) as part of the two week long Exercise CHINTHE STRIKE – a 656 Sqn range package at Wattisham Flying Station and Holbeach ranges.

T It is with great pride that I write this article after recently taking up the position as Regimental Sergeant Major of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps.

originally joined the regiment in early May 19, as HQ SSM and most recently RQMS A. Having lived it with you, I believe this places me in an ideal position to understand the demands you face as members of the Lead Aviation Task Force. This was evident due to our recent efforts deploying on Ex SWIFT RESPONSE, which was a largescale, multinational exercise under the DEFENDER EUROPE series that exercises NATO’s airborne Joint Forcible/Theatre Entry (JFE) capability. More so, at the beginning of the year, when called upon to project forward to the B3 states in such short notice, it gave the perfect opportunity to show Land Forces what we were about! The determination and professionalism which was on display from our personnel throughout has been heartening and gives me a superb introduction to what is to come in my tenure as your RSM. I am extremely confident that this can-do attitude will continue to serve the Regiment well as we move forward.

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Clearly, for the regiment to be a cohesive unit all its elements need to work well together, we need to understand what makes each other tick and what can be done to improve harmony. This must continue to be an ongoing effort across all ranks, and it is important for the junior leaders to harness the experience passed down as much as possible. You are the future of the Corps. Equally, it is crucial that we create an ethos which encourages the regular habit of sport and AT participation for units within ATF1. With the aim of unearthing new talent and exposing soldiers to new sports. This in hindsight will add to the lived experience for our Service Personnel. To my SNCO members of the regiment; please continue to give your all to the team you have been assigned to, coaching and mentoring them well, ensuring they are set-up as well as they can be for their next rank or appointment. I would finally like to take this opportunity to thank you and your families for the hard work and selfless commitment you continue to show daily, which enables 4 Regiment AAC to be at the forefront of Army Attack Aviation. WO1 (RSM) MR Jones

he tasks I conducted included uploads, downloads, and preparation of ammunition and refuelling. The highlight for me was being given the responsibility of marshalling the aircraft – something I had not done since phase 2 training. After a quick confirmation brief with Cpl Foulkes, I received the first aircraft and bought it into position, then joined the arming team to load the 30mm. This went very smoothly and in no time, I was marshalling the aircraft back out ready to hit the ranges. We conducted FARPs by day and night, allowing us to operate in various conditions. The weather was quite hot during the day and although the FARP was cold at night, it stayed dry, which we were grateful for! Overall, the weather was perfect for the FARP that was conducted across the 2 weeks. Preparing the ammunition (30mm) was quite quick and easy as I have had a lot of practice with dummy

Air tpr Tamang (L) and

an Air tpr Tamang marshalls point aircraft on to the arming

rounds in the hangar and on my AH Basic course, which I completed recently. This was my first time conducting a live ammunition upload and from the feedback I got from the team I think it went well, especially for my first time. FARP operations allow us to keep our currencies up, become slicker and develop as a team – all of which we certainly achieved on CHINTHE STRIKE. Operating at the FARP was a really good experience for me, especially the marshalling. I came on the FARP and was told at short notice that I would be marshalling. Being put into this position developed my confidence and having experienced people around me helped me reflect on my performance on a personal level, and within the team. Overall, it was a great experience and I’m looking forward to more opportunities like this. Airtpr Tamang 656 Sqn 4 AAC

team upload 30mm ammu

nit ion

4 REGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS

Exercise CLOCKWORK

CWAOC In late November 2021, 656 Sqn Workshop deployed numerous SP to Norway onto the Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course which is designed to allow us as aircraft operators to work safely in extreme cold weather environments.

he course consists of four main phases: the classroom phase, the non-tactical phase, the tactical phase, and the survival night. The classroom phase is all about learning the theory of survival, being educated on the proper use of the unique equipment used in the Arctic and cold weather specific tactics. Following this the non-tactical phase involves getting used to the daily routine of living outdoors; two nights are spent in 10-man and then 4-man tents learning how to administrate yourself properly in the extreme cold. The tactical phase after this, for me, was far more challenging. Two nights enduring the extreme cold, whilst occupying sentry positions and responding to almost constant contacts. When I was doing this the temperature dropped as low as -27 degrees Celsius and was sustained at -25 for numerous days, but with windchill it felt a lot colder. The final phase of the training was the survival night;

Personnel conduct a snowshoe walk

one night completely exposed, with only what we carried in our pockets to sustain us. We had to build our own shelter, start our own fire, and kill and cook our own food. This was the most fun I had on the course. Next morning saw us conducting the infamous ice-breaking drills; after a quick dip in a frozen lake followed by a tot of rum the course was finally finished. As part of 656 Squadron this course is an absolute necessity: we are the Attack Helicopter Force’s only specialist Arctic squadron. While in theatre the risk of an aircraft landing away from the main operating base means that we must be ready to go out for recovery at a moment's notice in any weather conditions. The course provides us with the skills to not merely survive in the cold but to operate and conduct our normal duties effectively. LCpl Calder 656 Sqn Wksp 4AAC

AAPTI Course

The All-Arms Physical Training Instructor course is an 8-week enduring course covering theory topics such as human anatomy, health, nutrition, PTI policy, procedures and all other PTI knowledge.

he course entry requirements include a full SCR with a run time below 8:10 and at least 4 pull ups, as well as passing the Military Swim Test (MST) and Role Fitness Test (RFT). My normal trade is as an Aviation Communication Specialist but I showed interest in becoming a PTI in May 2020. I began training as a ‘grey jumper’ which involved shadowing PTIs and learning about how lessons are conducted. In late October I reported for duty at Fox Lines, Aldershot, feeling slightly apprehensive about what the next eight weeks would entail. My nerves quickly settled after I met my DS and realised they were more approachable than I was expecting. Week two saw the start of the first of seven inter-section flag competitions which pitched sections against each other in events including athletics, British Army Warrior Fitness, potted sports and crosscountry. My section consisted predominantly of runners which served us very well in athletics where we secured the win. The hardest and most enjoyable competition was saved until last; the endurance competition was a test of body and mind combining log and stretcher runs with equations and memory games. Weeks 6-8 consisted of delivering our lessons to the other members of our sections. I delivered a steady state run and a hypertrophy session in the gym which was my first experience instructing as a PTI. Upon receiving my course report I was very happy with a Merit overall and recommendation

to join the PT Corps at the earliest opportunity. This would be a viable option after gaining some experience as an AAPTI at regiment first. Unfortunately, there was no ceremonial pass off parade for our course due to COVID restrictions however we had a small parade on the last day of the course. We were presented with certificates and the coveted cross swords badge to be worn on our number 2 dress. Overall, I would highly recommend the course to any serving personnel with an interest in fitness and a desire to develop their leadership skills within the armed forces. Since completing the course I have taken an active role in delivering PT to 4 Regiment AAC including delivering Soldier Conditioning Reviews (SCR) and co-conducting the first iteration of the new Role Fitness Test (RFT); all of which are essential for maintaining the regiment at readiness. Airtpr Atkins 654 Sqn 4AAC Airtpr Atkins receives his white vest and red belt in recognition of completing the AAPTI course

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4 REGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS

Exercise

SABRE STRIKE 664 Sqn, 4AAC recently deployed to Lithuania in support of Exercise Sabre Strike, a large multinational exercise that tests the interoperability of NATO allies in a demanding and realistic scenario.

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t was the first time the Squadron had deployed as part of its high readiness role, which it has held for last two years. Thanks to the efforts of all involved, 664 Sqn was able to launch from their home base of Wattisham Flying Station, Suffolk, in minimal time and with minimal fuss. This was a complex movement involving ground support equipment being moved via road and ferry, personnel travelling by air and the Apaches themselves flying to Siauliai Air Base, escorting Chinooks from 18(B) Sqn RAF. Over the course of the exercise, all trades within 664 Sqn were provided an excellent opportunity to both practice and improve their core skills in their respective jobs, operating in the adverse and often arduous weather conditions of

late February Eastern Europe. The aircrew got to remind and revise their core marksmanship skills using the 30mm cannon, in total putting over 2000 rounds down range over the course of the deployment. Signallers had to adapt to the unique challenges provided by working with allied nations and groundcrew along with engineers suffered through the cold, ensuring the aircraft were available as much as possible. On the engineering front, REME Technicians from 664 workshop maintained the aircraft effectively and reliably, ensuring that as many aircraft as possible were available to deploy on missions. This was not made easy, as along with the usual high demand of servicing and maintenance, on two occasions airframe repairs had to be

conducted. Another hardship was the cold; the freezing temperatures made parts of the aircraft more liable to failure and gauges such as that of the engine oil tank to be unreliable. All this provided great experience to Technicians not previously exposed to operating in cold environments. In total, over 120 flying hours were completed over the duration of the exercise. 664 Sqn & 18(B) Sqn RAF members also had the pleasure of being visited by the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss. A group representing members of each trade involved in the deployment flew to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, with an aircraft from each Sqn in attendance. Liz Truss and her delegation, which included the UK’s Ambassador to Lithuania Brian Olley and

4 REGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS

officials from Lithuanian Government, had the opportunity to see the aircraft up close and were introduced to some of the battle winning capabilities they bring to bear. In conclusion, this was a highly successful deployment whereby the Squadron had the unique privilege and honour of being involved in the first readiness deployment of this kind. Relationships were built with our NATO allies and RAF counterparts, and the Lithuanian government and public were reassured that NATO and the British Army can deploy at short notice to any environment and operate effectively. LCpl Kieran Horn 664 Sqn Wksp 4 AAC

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664 SQUADRON

7 AVN CS BN REME

Commanding Officer: Lt Col M Jones REME Second in Command: Maj K Tait REME Adjutant: Capt S Dougal, REME Regimental Sergeant Major: WO1 (RSM) D Foley, REME

s most of the British Army and the wider world eased into the new year, bounding back from the Covid-19 pandemic, 664 Squadron started an inevitably busy year with many personnel attending Ex Eagle Ski 22. For a considerable group of personnel, it would be their first time on snow and for some the first time visiting Europe. The group consisted of officers and soldiers, novices and experienced skiers alike. The objective of the exercise was simple; take as many people from the Corps as possible, teach them to ski or enhance skills from previous trips and compete in an alpine race, all within five days on slopes! The trip started on a dreary Friday night at Wattisham. Despite the prospect of over twenty hours on a packed coach, spirits were high at the anticipation of fresh slopes and an alpine bar waiting only a few hundred miles away. Once we arrived at the Les Arcs resort, with Mount Blanc overlooking, excitement and a little bit of terror gripped us for the days that lay ahead. The first morning was spent being sorted into ski groups based on ability rather than regiment. This was imperative to Corps cohesion, one of the key objectives of the trip. As the first day went on, the groups shifted as inevitably some people were a bit optimistic declaring their skill levels! As the days went on, beginners quickly worked towards their

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ski foundation 1 qualification, which would enable solo skiing on future trips. A welcome relief to many, desperate to be free of the grasp of their instructors. While the beginners spent their days scrambling up slopes searching for ejected poles and skis, advanced skiers honed skills and worked towards ski foundation 2 & 3, which would open the door to potential instructor qualifications in the future. Still feeling as though we had just arrived, race day was soon upon us; 130 personnel of all abilities competed. At the bottom of the slope there were some incredible times and grand crashes for all to see! Not only did established skiers validate times, but novices also had the chance to showcase pure ability and aggression on the slopes with the view to fast tracking development on future trips, bringing in the next generation of Air Corps competitors. At prize giving on the final night, I’m delighted to report that 4 Regiment were by far the fastest overall, mostly due to members of 664’s contribution. Winning was only part of the achievement. Every single person (barring a few unfortunate injuries) raced and achieved a minimum of ski foundation 1. An incredible result considering it was the first time on the slopes for so many. The bruises and aches will subside, but the memories will last a lifetime. AirTpr Ward 664 Sqn

t’s been another extraordinarily busy period in the Battalion. The development of the new Avn BCT Support Group Headquarters, new structures, roles and capabilities has moved at pace in addition to the daily workload and multiple exercises carried out by the sub-units. We have welcomed a new Officer Commanding 70 Field Coy, Major Phill Douthwaite and his family to the Battalion as well as a host of equally enthusiastic new faces. The Junior Command Board (JCB) has been established to support the chain of command. Led by Sgt Donaghie and Cpl Makhura the JCB has already taken ownership of Battalion funds, revitalised the way Battalion personnel can get access to funds and are working hard to establish a better welfare facility for the Battalion. They have a lot of great ideas and

enthusiasm to make life in the Battalion even better - I am truly excited to see their inevitable future successes! Despite the hard work, I have been immensely proud of the extra mile that Battalion personnel continue to reach. 132 Sqn have reached out to industry and ran a number of truly engaging and thought provoking leadership events with the likes of Omega Ingredients, Magnus Group, Just Hype and Lotus Cars. Battalion personnel have represented the REME, RLC and AGC in E-Sports, Rugby, Skiing, Football, Hockey, Road racing and much more! The Battalion has entered teams in the inter-unit Cricket, Squash, sailing and many more. Sporting success has never been far from the Battalion, and I am over the moon with the success of the British Army Warrior Fit Teams consistently pushing their own limits to stand on the podium at every competition they enter. The icing on cake however was the crowning of the Battalion Boxing Team as REME Corps champions for the second year in a row. A huge congratulations to everyone in the Battalion its been a great term!

HEADQUARTER (HQ) COMPANY

HEADQUARTER (HQ) COMPANY QUARTERMASTER DEPARTMENT SGT PATERSON Following a recent restructuring of the Quartermaster’s (QM) department, the Clothing Store has seen a significant amount of change. Alongside the dayto-day task of supporting the Battalion (Bn) with ongoing deployments and keeping the Bn clothed, the team have relocated their store and welcomed a new member. Joining Mr Gregory (the longest serving member of the clothing department) and LCpl Taylor is Sgt Paterson. He joins in the middle of a very chaotic period for the department but has settled in quickly and has a lot of expertise to take the store forward. With his extensive knowledge and experience from the Assurance Cell, he is sure to be an asset to the department and will help keep everything running smoothly, and the team’s main focus now is to continue to re-organise

MOTOR TRANSPORT (MT) DEPARTMENT – WO2 BOWES With the preparation for the deployment of Ex SWIFT RESONSE getting underway a busy period was upon the Bn MT. Mr Ade Woods, the lead Level 1 servicing guru, mounted a full-scale operation alongside the Bn MT to prepare the vehicle fleet for deployment. This involved upwards of 12 vehicles and pieces of equipment that needed servicing and inspecting within a short amount of time. After working tirelessly, the task was achieved in good time. Alongside vehicle preparation came driver training, trawled by JHC, Cpl Marshall-Nichols along with members of 6AAC aided in the license acquisition

the store to ensure that the highest standards are achieved. Sgt Paterson, LCpl Taylor, and Mr Gregory strive to provide a reputable service and to build positive relationships with all whom visit the department in need of clothing and equipment. QUARTERMASTER (TECHNICAL) DEPARTMENT SGT GODZICZ The QM(T) Department has had a busy period since February. Maj Shaw (QM) deployed back to Oman to complete the recovery of equipment by Sea, ensuring all remaining items of freight have now been returned post exercise PINION OMAN 21. With the QM deployed the

training of 4AAC personnel. This training was vital to their readiness capability and was delivered with exceptional standards. Cpl Jones was also afforded the opportunity to deploy in support of 132 Sqn on this overseas exercise, an opportunity he grabbed with both hands. The department continues to deliver routine training involving instructors from the Bn MT in support of multiple areas and platform training, including HAZMAT and General Service Driver Conversion courses. These courses are vital to the Bn and its deployability and will continue to be an MT priority for the future.

department went through a restructure moving all offices and splitting the departments so it has reverted back to a traditional set up of two separate QM departments. This has seen key customer facing functions relocated to maximise efficiency in order to support the Bn and the 1 Aviation Brigade Combat Team (BCT). There has also been continued support to transition, with the department continuing to support the Apache E-Model transition. This involved the relocation of the Battalion Tool store to the shopfloor, allowing a clear transition of tooling from Mk1 to Model E and is now fully open and functional. Outside of trade, SSgt Godzicz continues to represent the REME with Masters Rugby, Sgt Harrison has represented the RLC with Ice Hockey and LCpl Deamer has represented the REME Call of Duty E-Sports team. CATERING DEPARTMENT SGT LOGAN It has been a very busy period for the chefs, whether it be catering on Exercises in the field, or working with ESS within Wattisham Flying station on Mess functions. Cpl Pun found the time to compete at the Annual TriService catering competition, where he came away with

FAREWELLS AND PROMOTIONS Sadly, the department has had to say goodbye after 26 years of service to WO1 (SSM) Hilliard who is leaving the Army for pastures new in Civilian Life and SSgt Gurung on assignment to Grantham. Congratulations go to SSgt Gurung, SSgt Wilkinson, Sgt Donnelly and Sgt Logan who have been selected for promotion to WO2 and SSgt respectively.

a bronze medal, second in class in the fresh open pasta catering competition category. The Department deployed to Warminster providing Food Service support to the BCT HQ on Exercise ORTHORUS, this would be the last Exercise with SSgt Gurung as the department Master Chef. It was another successful deployment for the chefs, producing some excellent food in the field on OFCS, whilst in the meantime deploying Pte’s Mills and Mowbray to Macedonia in support of 16 Air Assault BCT HQ. The Catering Department have continued to improve their technical trade skills by attending courses in Grantham, such as a Chocolate skills course completed by LCpl Jacob and Pte Mills, hopefully the Bn functions will benefit from their new skills learnt. Outside of trade, Sgt Logan has represented the RLC once again on the rugby field, where he played for his Corps. Pte Mills continued his running hobby by completing the Wimbledon marathon in 4 hours, and LCpl Jacob has played Football for Stowmarket FC. The department are now looking forward to the next few months ahead, which no doubt, will bring out the BBQs with the great British weather.

THE EAGLE | 31

71 AVIATION COMPANY

71 Aviation Company in

North Macedonia

8 Members of 71 Company, led by Lt Nyathi RN and SSgt Artificer Leather are currently deployed on Ex SWIFT RESPONSE. The exercise is a multinational exercise taking place in North Macedonia, combining elements of both 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and 1st Aviation BCT in addition to the US Taskforce LOBOs, with their fleet of HH-60 Blackhawks and RQ-7 Shadows in addition to A-10 Warthogs and F-16s. We have been working

THE EAGLE | 32

alongside Italians, Macedonians, Albanians and Greeks. The exercise has been a marathon from start to finish, with the team overcoming numerous challenges to deliver serviceable Apaches in aide of 2 PARA and the Italian air assault and subsequent fight against the Plumbians, the fictional invaders of North Macedonia. We’ve tackled delays on a planned 9-day road move that ended up taking over two weeks, leaky seals on main rotor heads and daytime temperatures of more than 30 Degrees. We are subordinated under Aviation Task Force 1 (ATF-1), the command element composed of 4 Regt AACs RHQ. We have been working alongside 4 Regt AAC as the intimate second line ES element. We have seamlessly integrated into the engineering team, resulting in a 65-strong team turning red cabs into green cabs at a rate of knots. Our support to the exercise started from the moment of

deployment. A team, formed of the 4 Regt Workshop Maintenance Group, deployed ahead of the aircraft across Europe. Two teams deployed, inconspicuously, in white fleet to France and Italy. Much like the recent deployment to Lithuania, they received the aircraft on their pan-European transit, turned them round overnight, and sent them on their onward journey. The team has engaged with all levels of engineering. Head changes in Italy, all manner of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance packages in the

main operating base and dealing with weapons and avionics faults when deployed forward to the training area itself. All members of the team have gained valuable experience out here, learning about their own limits of working in the heat, making engineering decisions under pressure, and also getting a chance to venture into Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia to learn about the history of the country. We have all relished the opportunity to deploy on the largest NATO exercise to ever happen in these exciting times.

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THE EAGLE | 33

HQ WFS FAREWELLS

7 AVN CS BN REME

HQ WATTISHAM FLYING STATION & 1 AVN BCT ATTK FWD FAREWELLS On Wed 20 Apr 22, members from across Wattisham Flying Station attended a farewell lunch to recognise the contributions made by personnel on departure from the HQ:

Maj Ewan Campbell says farewell to WFS and moves down to Andover on promotion to the Directorate Basing and Infrastructure as SO1 Infra Ops SE. He leaves WFS as the last DCOS and XO.

Sgt ‘T’ Simpson, who leaves on promotion to 28 Engr Regt, RAF Honington.

7 Aviation Support Battalion (7 Avn Sp Bn) target success with the development of a new Station Combat Centre 2021 saw the start of the development of the new Wattisham Station Combat Centre, with new equipment and aspirations of competing in multiple combat sport championships.

T WO1 Rob Jackson moves across the Station to the SFOC as the Flying Ops Warrant Officer after several years as part of the very busy CAP DEV team We also bade farewell to

THE EAGLE | 34

And finally, WO1 Balcomb leaves FTRS after many valued years of service only to return in the same post but as a Reservist on 01 May 22 after a much deserved holiday in the sun..

he facility will include uses for Boxing and Martial Arts, headed up by Capt C Beaman, 7 Avn Sp Bn QM(T). The REME Corps Boxing Championship returned in earnest following a break due to COVID-19. 7 Avn Sp Bn Boxing Team is led by head coach, LCpl Brewer, who boxed as a youth at Hull’s famous St Pauls Boxing Academy, represented 13 Air Assault Regiment, and more recently had a successful professional debut in Bare Knuckle Boxing (UBKB) winning via first round knockout. He’s joined by LCpl Pascoe, who also has a wealth of experience as a civilian and at 13 Air Assault

Regiment as both a boxer and a coach. With new facilities, new coaches, and new boxers, 7 Avn Sp Bn had high hopes of retaining the REME Championship title; previously won prior to the pandemic with LCpl Pascoe. Preparations began in March this year with a rigorous schedule of physical fitness and boxing education. The team travelled the country, gaining coaching from professional boxer Tommy Jacobs at Willies Gym in Colchester, a training camp in Aldershot and time with the Army Boxing team. The coaching and team development continued with delivery from former GBR coach Mike Bromby at St Pauls

7 AVN CS BN REME

Boxing Academy along with various other activities such as climbing Kinder Scout in the Peak District and a training camp in East Riding of Yorkshire. With expectations high, 7 Avn Sp Bn marched through preliminary bouts, with the only loss coming at the hands of their own as they fought for a spot in the finals. The REME Boxing championship finals were action packed, with 7 Avn Sp Bn retaining their title as REME champions by one point in what was a hard-fought contest across all bouts. LCpl Gater described his experience saying, “This Boxing camp has been one of the best experiences of my life! I’ve never boxed before but it’s been brilliant learning. On top of that, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself, knowing how hard I can push myself, to be more confident and it’s really helped me learn to communicate better. Which is something I’ll carry with me after boxing is finished.” After winning the REME championship, 7 Avn Sp Bn are entering three boxers into the Army Individuals Boxing

Championship in early June. Following the success of this season, 7 Avn Sp Bn team caught the attention of both the REME and RLC Corps Boxing teams, and the Army Boxing team after a fine display by boxers during the competition. Head coach LCpl Brewer shared his aspirations for the team moving forward. “I’ve been very lucky to have support from the Battalion, and after this year’s success, I’m hoping to enter a team into the REME championships, and another one into the RLC Championships. The RLC championships will have some stiff competition, so it will be a great challenge.

Who knows, maybe we’ll be competing in the Major Unit championship in the future.” 7 Avn Sp Bn recently appointed Capt Burdon as the Battalions new Boxing officer. An avid Boxing fan, he looks to spearhead the next campaign that hopefully

includes an Inter Station competition with 3 & 4 AAC, the hosting of the next REME championship, and competing in other various competitions. Plans for improving and the official opening of the Wattisham Station Combat Centre are already underway, with the purchase of more equipment for Boxing, Martial Arts, and general fitness, will allow the new facility to host Fitness classes, Station PT, Sports afternoons, and evening clubs for fitness and skills. With coaches for multiple sports, the gym will be open to anybody, whether that be for fitness, a casual interest in combat skills, or for people with a desire to compete.

THE EAGLE | 35

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

St Mary’s C of E Primary School Telephone: 01473 823268 Email: admin@stmaryshad.co.uk Website: www.stmaryshad.co.uk Headmaster: Mr A. Frolish We invite you to our friendly, welcoming school to see how we develop children into successful learners and caring members of the community.

ry 2020 ‘Rated GOOD by Ofsted Februa NDING’ and Early Years was OUTSTA in 2017!’ ‘Rated Outstanding by SIAMS

enjoy going to school. The “Pupils at St Mary’s are happy and e.” school is a friendly,welcoming plac lmingly positive.They agree that “Parents and carers are overwhe and caring start to their their children have a very good the warm welcome te ecia appr education. Parents leaders provide.”

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70 FIELD COMPANY

Ex VULCAN DANNY BOY

0 Fd Coy began the arduous exercise VULCAN DANNY BOY on a bright spring morning. The day started with a back-to-basics lesson on bayonet etiquette. The troops were encouraged to endorse their soldier first tradesmen always attitude. Using their controlled aggression and discipline they advanced into the first bayonet lane of the day, where Sgt Walsh led the company with detailed demonstrations. To which they were able to execute each serial at a high standard. Moving forward from this they paired up and worked as a unit to perfect their casualty evacuation drills, developing their strength and technique. Each soldier conducted several types of casualty lifts with clear disregard for their casualty’s stature. Following this the company embarked on a squadded run towards the final lane, which included multiple casualty’s and inconveniences on the way. Upon reaching a lull in the battle, the squad was immediately placed into the scenario tent, where they were laid on their belt buckles with their hands on their

helmets under the deafening sound of the fog of war, waiting for their chance to advance to battle. One by one the soldiers were taken through to the bayonet serial. Here they encountered multiple enemy positions and had to cross many hurdles which included wading through a river crossing, fighting through marsh land and leopard crawling under bridges. After all personnel completed Ex VULCAN DANNY BOY, they were greeted with a sausage bap and pat on the back from the IC of this exercise, the outgoing 70 Field Company OC, Major Daniel Burchill. This Exercise saw challenging times for the troops of 70 Field Company, but all participants, embraced the unity within themselves and peers – putting in a sterling effort.

VULCAN OPIFEX

new development within 70 Field Company is the VULCAN OPIFEX exercises, led by the Platoon Commanders. These exercises are used to help develop junior soldiers trade proficiency in the field, allowing for enhancements of these skills to be used in the future on operational tours and Battalion exercises. The exercises have seen Veh and Gen Platoon deploy to Thetford for two days a month, with support from the Recovery Mechanics of Elec and Gen Platoon, creating inter-trade cross pollination. In the midst of these exercise’s, we have seen a variety of equipment support repair tasks, which have increased the knowledge for all whom

have attended. For example, we have been completing jobs such as anti roll bar drop links, gearbox oil cooler o-rings on Land Rovers and EGR valves on MAN SV’s. As well as conducting our familiar trade skills, we are expanding our knowledge on other trades such as Recovery Mechanics. During the exercises we have been indulged with recovery scenarios where LCpl Martin has been taking groups from the exercise and teaching them the ropes of his trade using the SV(R) and all the CES present. April’s exercises even saw the Platoon Commanders assist with some serials, much to the delight of the Recovery Mechanics.

70 Field Company Spring has seen 70 Field Company welcome a new Officer Commanding, Major Phillip Douthwaite. He has taken command during a period where we have been getting back into the swing of training, with the soldiers and officers alike, pushing to ensure that they are combat ready and operationally deployable. Therefore, if you ever require second line, equipment support from an experienced and reliable team, please reach out to us.

THE EAGLE | 37

132 SQUADRON RLC

132 Squadron RLC OC: Maj K Desai SSM: WO2 S Jones. At the time of going to press, 132 Squadron RLC is deployed to Macedonia on Ex SWIFT RESPONSE. The deployment tested the full extreme of Logistics delivery, moving from the 3rd line to the 1st line. 132 Sqn once again deployed with a full Deployed Spares Pack (DSP) with 4 AAC and parts of 71 Coy, for a road move through the continent. The Squadron has also been part of the ongoing support to NATO’s efforts in the Baltic region, posturing as required. This once again tested the Squadron’s readiness capability and providing logistics support immediately when called upon. The middle part of this year has been focussed on teamwork and development, with plenty of team building activities occurring throughout this second period of the year. Op TEAMWORK the Army’s full day pause on all non-essential activity reinforced this key aspect. EXERCISE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT The Squadron drove from England through France and Italy and finally arriving in Macedonia after a week on the road. Logistics Specialist (Log Spec) team from 132 Squadron led by Cpl Gurung are currently supporting 4 AAC with aviation spares for a smooth running of the Ex. This is another opportunity to Log Specs to test and adjust the DSP holdings for RLS but also Despatch dept to understand delivery constraints. INDIVIDUAL TRAINING REQUIREMENT (ITR) The Army has replaced the military annual training tests with a whole new package. This now takes place in the form of

THE EAGLE | 38

Individual Training Requirements (ITR) refreshing the way in which military training is delivered every year. A refresher of the basics for the soldiers from 132 Squadron was conducted with the new training package, which allowed our soldiers to apply military skills already acquired and an opportunity to step up into leadership roles. The Squadron took part in both theory and practical modules designed to be delivered and assessed in the classroom-based exercises as well as in the field, conducted over five days in Thetford training area. ITR is the core foundation requirements of basic soldering which need to be achieved. This now sets the standards for further development as the squadron look forward to September where we will deploy into urban and rural areas as both logisticians and developing our core soldiering skills. This will be achieved on Squadron Collective Training - A (CT A) exercises designed to test on basic military skills

and a CT-B exercise designed to test on trade capabilities. LEADERSHIP PACKAGE The leadership package that was delivered before was such a success that we decided to create another opportunity to have guest speakers from commercial industries and discuss leadership qualities and challenges from a civilian perspective. We were immensely fortunate to have CEO of Omega Ingredients, Founder of Just Hype, Be Inspired D&I Champion and CEO of Magnus Group delivering their experiences of leadership and teamwork in commercial sectors. This gave the Squadron the opportunity to learn a different approach to leadership and collaboration, also learn some logistics challenges that a commercial sector have faced during the pandemic and post BREXIT. Ultimately, having a fresh outlook on different leadership styles and some logistics strategies in the

commercial business sector. This has been very beneficial to most of our team as they have learned from a different perspective rather than just the army which we can all to often become to accustomed too. TEAMBUILDING The Squadron have managed to pack around their busy operational output a number of team focussed activities. A well organised visit to the RLC Corp Museum and the Gurkha Museum was organised by Pte Pun. Sqn personnel had a chance to have an insight into the Corps history and the role that RLC has played since its inception to date. In addition, the team also had the opportunity to learn about the history behind the famous Kukri knife, the Gurkhas history, and the UK military campaigns that Gurkhas have been involved up to date. Members of the Squadron also organised a fantastic adrenaline packed Go-Karting Grand Prix event at Anglia Go-Karting followed by attendance at local club Ipswich Town fixture against Lincoln City. We also had the opportunity to

take on Paint balling in Thetford Forest, a welcome change to exercising on the same area. The troops even got the chance to finish off with a high-octane game chasing down the OC, 2IC and SSM – 20 against 3! MEDIA TRAINING. The Squadron 2IC has been the driver behind much of the Battalion’s media footprint. He finally managed to get away on a media officers’ course, which he will be looking to drive into the Battalion, allowing us the opportunity to understand the positives and pitfalls of media interaction and how to get a message across in the right manner. LCpl Delice who has become the to go photographer in station has also been fortunate to embark on a photography and filmography course to hone his skills and deliver even more media footage. Roles as the Media officer or as part of the team are really key roles in this modern and networked age, and also extremely time consuming, but rewarding. The team are always on the look-out for keen volunteers to join the team and capture more of the Battalions activities. SPORTS The Squadron continues to do well in a variety of sporting activities. LCpl Brewer a Level 2 Boxing coach designed an innovative programme and reinvigorated a new gymnasium facility

to lead the squad to become eventual REME Champions. Pte Edwards new to boxing this year, won his first competition. The Squadron also has a number of keen Basketball players who are key members of the RLC Corps set up either as coaches, officials or players. This love for the sport also let to the Squadron showcasing some of their hidden talents and winning all their matches against other sub-units from the Battalion in the Mariners Cup competition. The squadron also has a healthy following for cricket with a number of them being part of the Battalion squad competing in the Army, REME and RLC competitions this summer. Lt Rae and team are also embarking on the Nijmegen marches in Holland later this summer and there will be several teams embarking on the RLC Military skills competition which is an arduous competition involving, a March and Shoot, amongst other testing activities. We wish everyone luck in the season ahead FAREWELLS In this iteration we sadly have to say farewell to two of our civilian Staff who added a great dynamic to the squadron. Our civilian staff add a huge level of continuity and are massively committed to their roles. As the military personnel rotate in and out, it is these stalwarts that often hold the squadron together. After a full career in the civil service, we say goodbye as they venture into retirement. Alan Coyne and Mark Dixie will keep themselves busy with numerous activities, including VW campervan fairs, welding and other DIY activities, whilst Mark will be busy with his new puppy, a few holidays and watching cricket. It will take some time getting used to the scenery without them. It was great to say farewell with a plush dinner with much of the Squadron in Ipswich Quayside.

Local Industry Engagement

he opportunity to partake in local industry engagement serves as an opportunity that cannot be refused. There are several companies with whom the camp has built a healthy relationship, and this is something that serves soldier and service leavers well. For our soldier currently serving it give them the opportunity to learn from a variety of business, in areas such as Leadership, Engineering and Logistics. The skills and acumen which have been learnt are vast and provide some inspiration for those serving to push themselves harder and achieve their dreams and aspirations. Recent visits to Lotus Cars in Hethel, showcased the processes and systems that the commercial sector utilises to deliver engineering and logistics output to a ferocious deadline and with stringent controls, similar to that of Aviation Engineering. The visit included a tour of the factory and a close look at several cars. There was also the opportunity to engage with several logistics companies. Of note was a visit to Uniserve’s Felixstowe

Mega Distribution Centre, a warehouse significantly bigger than our own within building 700 on station. It is the UK’s largest warehouse at 1 million Sq ft with state-of-the-art logistics technology and its own Supply Chain Academy delivering learning for its staff through a series of apprenticeships and degrees. There is also going to be regular engagement with the Magnus Group who will give the logisticians on camp the opportunity to understand a fast-paced logistics warehouse and transport operation, including experience on a much more up to date Warehouse Management System than the military uses. Continued engagement is extremely important as it provides future employers a flavour of how driven our soldiers are, a bespoke and lengthy learning period and also a link to prospective employers once the soldier comes to the end of their 22-year career, at which point a second career is necessary. In addition, they are also now aware of the need for spouses also requiring jobs during a soldiers’ posting.

THE EAGLE | 39

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