THE SustainerJournal of The Royal Logistic Corps R WINTER 2017 THE Corps Motto: We Sustain Regimental March: On Parade by Albert Elms Sustainer Regimental Slow March: Lion, Sword and Crown by Craig Bywater formed in 1993 Volume 25 No 4 R Winter 2017 7 Defence Digest An update on matters affecting 12 soldiers and officers careers, fundraising for charity, cultural celebrations and training defect reports 8 Global advance A snapshot of The RLC across the world 12 Invictus Games 2017 RLC veterans come home with decorations 14 Taking pride in who we are RLC soldiers mark the the 50th 16 Anniversary of the start of the decriminalisation of homosexuality 16 3 Regiment Public Duties The time-honoured ceremony of the changing of the guard 20 Army Photographic Competition All the winners from the competition this year 22 Ex JOINT CATERER The annual flagship event for Armed Forces and MOD civilian caterers 23 The MGL’s Cabal Highlights from The RLC Conference 17 23 31 Soldier to Veteran One RLC soldier's story of transition 34 Unit Notes Updates on what's happening in regts and units across the Corps 70 Sports & Adventurous training News from across the Corps and the world, everything from trekking and rock climbing to football and rugby 22 www.royallogisticcorps.co.uk • Facebook: The Royal Logistic Corps • Twitter: @RHQ_The_RLC 1 EDITORS’ NOTE With the winter issue of The Sustainer, 2017 is drawing nearer To mark the occasion, two RLC soldiers look at their to a close, and what an interesting year it has been. experiences of serving as openly gay officers and why it is The year has seen plenty of achievements for The RLC and important to recognise individual diversity. this issue demonstrates some of the very latest successes. You don’t have to look too far to read about some shining Perhaps one of the most notable achievements of the latter examples of talent with the coverage of the Army Photographic part of the year are the gold medals won by ex RLC soldiers at Competition, the Military Skills Competition and the largest the Invictus Games. You can read about the stories behind the cookery exercise of the year, Ex JOINT CATERER. achievements in this issue. We also acknowledge some of the biggest sporting It’s heartening to see our people progress through the Corps and feats of the latter part of the year, RLC Sailing, clay shooting get even stronger, even when life throws some of its biggest curve and badminton. balls. There are also two personal stories in this issue which At this special time of year, our thoughts turn to friends and illustrate the strength and courage it takes to be an RLC soldier. family, those that are here to celebrate with us and those who One details the transition of a soldier to civilian life after are absent. retirement from the Corps and the other details one soldier’s Don’t lose sight of what’s really important in life and make journey to the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) and moving sure you live your life to the full every day, you’re definitely in the from the regulars to the reservists. Both life-changing events. right profession to be able to do that! Continuing on the defying adversity theme, be sure to read the A very happy and healthy new year to you all. article marking the 50th Anniversary of the start of the Anne-Marie Causer decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK. [email protected] Charter: The Sustainer records the activities and achievements of the Publishing: The Regimental Association of The Royal Logistic Corps, Corps family, its units and personalities, as well as the organisations of Dettingen House, The Princess Royal Barracks, the Forming Corps and their Associations. It keeps soldiers of today in Deepcut, CAMBERLEY, Surrey GU16 6RW. touch with each other and soldiers of yesteryear in touch with the Corps of today. The Journal is not only a means of cohesion and communication Typesetting, Printing, Binding and Distribution: within the Corps but also a source of research material for posterity. Holbrooks Printers Ltd, Norway Road, Hilsea, Editorial Staff PORTSMOUTH, Hampshire PO3 5HX. Editor: Miss Anne-Marie Causer BA (Hons) Copy Editor: Miss S C Waller BA (Hons) Advertising: There is normally no space for commercial advertising, please contact the Editor. Graphic Design: David Blake Address: The Editor, RHQ The RLC, Dettingen House Rules: Copy should be typewritten, with minimal use of abbreviations. House, The Princess Royal Barracks, It is requested that units send separate text and photographs/graphics files Deepcut, CAMBERLEY, GU16 6RW via email. Cos and OC’s should approve their unit entries before submission. Tel: Deepcut Mil (94214) 5770 The SUSTAINER should be prepared in blocks of 450 words with separate or Aldershot (01252) 833303/833377 supporting photographs; longer contributions will inevitably be cut! Fax: Deepcut Mil (94214) 5375 Photographs: Photographs must be sent in digitally, exceptions can be or Aldershot (01252) 833770 made occasionally for clear hard copy photographs. Digital photographs E-mail: [email protected] must be high resolution and have been taken with a minimum of 3 million Security: This Journal contains official information. It should be treated pixels. Do not embed images into text documents. Photo captions should with discretion by the recipient. be typed and added at the end of the word document. Colour slides are not acceptable; neither are cuttings from newspapers or magazines. © Crown Copyright: All material in this Journal is Crown Copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the Closing Dates for THE SUSTAINER: Regimental Association of The Royal Logistic Corps. 12 January 2018,10 April 2018, 20 July 2018, 1 October 2018 E-mail: Articles and messages can be sent to the Editor or Copy Editor © Cartoons are copyright. at [email protected] or [email protected] Disclaimer: No responsibility for the quality of the goods or Births, marriages and deaths should be notified separately from main services advertised in this Journal can be accepted by the contributions. publishers or their agents. Advertisements are included in good faith. The contents of this Journal and views of individual authors or Change of Address: Serving members of the Corps who are due to units does not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or move into or out of non-RLC appointments (eg E2) and other otherwise, of the Corps or Ministry of Defence. subscribers are requested to notify the Editor of their change of address. No information, no magazine! Front Cover: 3 Reg on Public Duties 2 www.royallogisticcorps.co.uk • Facebook: The Royal Logistic Corps • Twitter: @RHQ_The_RLC Late Entry Commissions Congratulations are offered to the following individuals who were selected for a Late Entry Commission in the 18-19 promotion year: WO1 P J Alcorn WO1 S M Jack WO2 P Archer WO2 D E E Kelly WO1 M L Archer WO1 B P O'Donnell WO1 J N Avent WO1 J L Powell WO1 W G Barkness WO1 A R Prentice WO1 M I Bloomfield WO1 K J Rickerby WO1 C Boyle WO1 J G Robinson Junior soldiers WO1 P S Broom WO1 M S Sander WO1 G D Bruce WO1 B A Smith WO1 G A Clarke WO2 T H Stringer march towards WO1 L A Davies WO1 J P Sumner WO1 M A Gwilt WO1 G R Taylor WO1 S L Hamilton WO1 D W Towers-Clark new careers WO1 M Howe-Ellis MBE WO1 J M Wilson-White The Army Foundation College in Harrogate saw over 650 teenagers graduate this summer from the Army’s flagship training establishment for 16 to 17 year olds. The college in Penny Pot Lane, Harrogate runs two types of course – a 42-week long course and a shorter 22-week course, The William and both which train junior soldiers destined for a wide variety of Army careers. Lieutenant Colonel William Strickland OBE, the College’s Grace Trust Commanding Officer said: “It has been long and hard, and The William and Grace Trust has been set up with a sometimes emotional. I congratulate all of the Junior Soldiers generous donation from a benefactor, who wishes it and their instructors on a job very well done.” to be used to “relieve in cases of need, hardship or distress, “The majority proved equal to the test and they are the future serving or former members of The RLC and its of the British Army. We are proud of their achievements and we predecessors and successors who are injured or killed are looking forward to their bright futures.” whilst undertaking, having undertaken or being trained to The Junior Soldiers on the longer 42-week course marched undertake EOD duties.” off the square to the second phase of their training in the The Trust is extended to dependants of such personnel Infantry, Royal Artillery, Royal Armoured Corps and The Royal and also to those who are involved in supporting such Logistic Corps. duties or who had at one time been involved in such duties. While a company of Junior Soldiers on the shorter 22-week A further extension to the Trust was agreed in 2012 making all course, designed for other cap badges, headed for the longer those in The RLC EOD Community (past and present) more specialist phase of their training which could include plus their dependants who are in need, potential beneficiaries. becoming a vehicle mechanic with the Royal Electrical and Trust membership was further expanded by a Resolution Mechanical Engineer or a communications systems operator at the Nov 14 meeting to reflect more appropriately the whole with the Royal Signals.