CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY

RESERVE FORCES AND CADETS ASSOCIATION for Northern ANNUAL REPORT 2017 | 2018 CONTENTS RFCA NI OVERVIEW 03 CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION 04 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S SUMMARY 06 RESERVES 07 EMPLOYERS 09 CADETS 10 SCHOOL CADET EXPANSION PROGRAMME 12 PATHWAY ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES 12 CIVIL ENGAGEMENT 13 ESTATES 14 FINANCE 15 HUMAN RESOURCES AND IT 15 MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS 16

UNIT SUMMARIES 17 HMS Hibernia 18 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment (2 R Irish) 19 152 (North Irish) Regiment 21 204 (NI) Field Hospital 24 253 (North Irish) Medical Regiment 27 591 (AA) Field , 71 Engineer Regiment 30 B (North Irish Horse) Squadron, The Scottish & North Irish 33 40 (North Irish Horse) Signal Regiment 35 Army Training Unit () 37 62 Military Intelligence Company 39 157 Field Company, 106 Reme Battalion 41 Queen’s University Officer Training Corps 44 502 (Ulster) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAUXAF) 47

CADET SUMMARIES 49 Northern Ireland District Sea Cadets 50 1st (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force 52 2nd (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force 55 Northern Ireland Wing Air Cadets 58 COMBINED CADET FORCES 62 Bangor Grammar School Combined Cadet Force 62 Foyle College Londonderry Combined Cadet Force 63 Royal School Combined Cadet Force 64

2 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 RFCA NI OVERVIEW RFCA NI, like its twelve sister organisations across the UK, is a civilian, autonomous, non-departmental government body (underpinned by an Act of Parliament) with a pre-scripted structure and membership that reaches across society throughout Northern Ireland. It has two formal functions, namely:

Non-Executive: The Association acts as a champion and conscience for Armed Forces reserves (circa 2,000) and cadets and their adult volunteers (circa 5,000), as well as their stakeholders – employers, local authorities, parents, schools etc – across the Province. It does so through its voluntary members and Board, led by its Chairman, that report through a national board to the Defence Council and Parliament.

Executive: Under the direction and responsibility of the Chief Executive, the Association is accountable for:

• Delivering reserve and cadet infrastructure. • Administering and providing support – to differing degrees – to all types of cadet organisations. • Providing life support to reserves, including finance, recruiting, PR and community relations. • Acting as the lead interface between employers and reservists. • Developing, nurturing, sustaining and maintaining links across the community. • Acting as an advisory body to the Ministry of Defence on regional matters.

Particular to Northern Ireland, the Association uses its networks, structure and resources to engage in a wide-ranging youth outreach programme “Pathways” and is working hard to develop a robust structure that facilitates better coordination and delivery of support to our veterans.

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 3 the latter under the auspices of the Marine Society CHAIRMAN and Sea Cadets. A further two are in the pipeline, all As I come to the end of my tenure as Chairman, I being steered by our School Cadet Expansion Officer take the opportunity to look back over the last five (SCEO). As ever, our cadets perform staggeringly well years to remind us all of the remarkable changes that at national level. Do read about their achievements have taken place, both for the Association and, more later in this report, but I would highlight our shooting importantly, for the constituents we serve. Much of results; over 40 shots in the top 100 at Bisley is this change has been driven by austerity but, equally, astounding. Thank goodness they are on our side so much is the result of concerted efforts to stay abreast to speak! of a rapidly developing “operating” environment. At the same time we have been able to support Estates and help exploit our community’s appetite to Austerity has arguably hit infrastructure budgets to produce reserves, cadets and adult instructors of the a greater extent than any other area across defence. finest pedigree. Allow me to give you my headline We oversee a regional volunteer estate that is in observations across each of our areas of functional better condition than any other. However, virtually interest. non-existent maintenance budgets and the fact that we are, overall, “under-scaled” (that is to say Future Reserves 2020 insufficient facilities to give reserves and cadets what The FR20 exercise – involving an increase in reserve in theory they should enjoy), present challenges in numbers as a proportion of overall numbers in the coping with increasing numbers. Having said this, Armed Forces and, more significantly – a greater the application of imagination, a really professionally integration of reserves into a whole force structure – engaged estate staff, the addition of our own funds has dominated the past 5 years. At the national level, raised elsewhere and the wide shoulders of our the Army in particular struggled to meet recruiting Chief Executive, have culminated in the opening targets, not helped by a struggling commercial of two state of the art cadet facilities in Omagh and contract. Many of the challenges have now been Ballynahinch. At time of writing, we await a political overcome. Behind this headline though, NI has decision as to whether NI will receive an additional, shone – across all three Services. In recent weeks significant injection of infrastructure monies to build an additional further approximately 200 Army posts new facilities for our growing numbers. have been added to liabilities, taking our Region’s contribution to over 7% of the whole, against less Engagement than 3% of the population. And we use them – to The role that the RFCA plays in both engaging with wit, as an example, the highly successful deployment the local community on the part of Defence and in of a contingent from 591 Engineers to South Sudan, facilitating engagement by the individual Services partly with reserve medical support from NI. is one of our most important functions. Strides have been made locally to realise more effective Cadets co-ordination. I hope that the creation of Defence Our cadet recruiting is now healthier than at any Relationship Management (DRM) at MOD level with a time I can remember. The Air Training Corps (ATC) remit to oversee all of this and with our own Regional is the one exception, but we note a number of Employer Engagement Director (REED) appointed as dynamics responsible and are working with the ATC the DRM lead regionally will help this process. to help rectify this. Army Cadet Force (ACF) numbers in particular are very impressive. Of particular note Wider Youth Engagement and Pathways is the success of the Cadet Expansion Programme The Pathways programme and its extraordinary – creating more Combined Cadet Forces (CCFs) success is well covered later in the report. However, in state schools. The original target for NI was an the scale of its activities (we now employ over 100 additional two. Three new contingents are already full and part-time staff and in the last year have up and running – Bloomfield (in partnership with engaged with some 60,000 young people) and the Campbell College), Lisnagarvey and , impact it has had on deprived communities have, 4 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 not surprisingly, given the Association an enviable the members, to the immediate Association staff and profile (as well as influence and insight) across not to our wider stakeholders for their engagement and just the wider youth sector, but government as a support to myself and the Board during my tenure. whole. I truly believe that this level of engagement, It has been an extraordinary honour to have been with patience, will deliver significant benefits both to your Chairman and I have no doubt that my worthy defence and community integration more widely. successor will oversee the on-going growth of our contribution both to defence and wider society Support to Veterans across Northern Ireland. The Association now oversees the newly established Veterans’ Support Office (VSO NI), with a specifically Thank you for your on-going support. recruited development manager, which provides a service to seek help for those veterans whose HK McAllister needs are not met by statutory services such as the OBE TD DL VR NHS or by Service charities. This is in the context of the application of the Armed Forces Covenant in NI and the recognition that security concerns and local legislation are such that not all veterans receive the level of support that exists elsewhere. We face a particular challenge, though, in communicating to individual veterans this service and how it can help them. I hope that our members from Local Authorities will be able to help take this forward.

Internal structures In order to cope with all these initiatives the Association has gone through a considerable degree of internal restructuring. That has been the business of the Chief Executive and the Board is very happy with how, in effect, we have moved from three pillars of output delivery to five within a broadly similar set of resources. This has taken our level of output to a new level and one that far exceeds that delivered elsewhere. What has been within my remit to control is the structure of the Board to support these changes. If we the members, represented by the Board, are to fully exercise our “Haldane” function then we must ensure that the Board represents the society with which we are engaged and has the professional expertise across all the Associations’ functional areas to enable the Board to add value. To that end, I have overseen the restructuring of the Board and the setting up of associated sub- committees to include representation from the youth sector, veterans, local government, higher education and wider business and all of this to include up-to- date expertise.

Valete Finally, I wish to pass on my heartfelt thanks to you RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 5 million contract to upgrade accommodation CHIEF EXECUTIVE within the training estate in . The fact Last year I highlighted our need, as a publicly-funded that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) body, to add value. I said that we needed to question, has recognised the Association as the most continuously, the degree to which we do so and appropriate (not just value for money) body to areas in which we might do more. That is what as an deliver where larger commercial organisations organisation we have tried to do – looking to exploit have been unable bodes well for the future. the unique selling points we undoubtedly have: our presence in and knowledge of society, our ability to • The improved co-ordination of cadet support. This mobilise support within that society and the is better than any other region of the UK, but such flexibility and initiative that our autonomy and are our local challenges that it never makes sense structures allow us. We are really fortunate with the to plough individual furrows in terms of what is quality of staff we have and the fact that they all buy common to all. All cadet movements have their into the above approach. unique selling points and these must be protected, but we can always do more in terms of We are here of course to support our local reserve administrative and logistical support, including and cadet stakeholders and the communities from engagement and recruiting. which they come. But we are also here to facilitate and add value to the activities of the MOD as a whole • The embedding of our veterans’ support structure. and the three Services. Positive relationships with all Essentially, this will be a challenge of of the latter is absolutely crucial and I am delighted communication and I appeal to you all for your to report that these are as strong as ever. In the help. confined space that is NI, with all of its political and societal complexities, Defence needs to be as • The growth of our youth outreach activities but to co-ordinated as it can be to optimise effect. Despite do so in a manner that is increasingly focussed the clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to which and co-ordinated. we all work, the avoidance of confusion across several organisations full of committed staff often Finally, allow me to express publicly my thanks for requires mature compromises that need concerted on-going support from all our staff, from our single commitment from us all to make work. All of that Service partners and from our membership. Above demands both trust and a willingness to challenge all, though, my sincere thanks to our out-going each other. This largely exists and is one of the factors chairman without whose committed support the behind the success that the Chairman has Association would not be where it is today. highlighted. Colonel JW Rollins MBE As we move forward, there are a number of challenges that I believe will occupy us in the coming year. These include: • The pulling together of engagement activities to improve the clarity and cohesion of the messages we send, all with a view to optimise recruiting, or, as the Army chain of command has phrased it, “to ENGAGE to ATTRACT”.

• The sustaining and, where possible, improvement of our infrastructure in order to attract (not least through ensuring a presence in those areas ripe for recruiting). This applies to both reserves and cadets. Of great significance is the recent appointment of the Association to deliver a £4

6 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 period, but the challenge which that brings should RESERVES not be under-estimated. The delivery of an integral, sustainable reserve continues to occupy Defence and Northern Command and Control (C2) Structures Ireland’s reserve units who make a significant There have been several changes to Command and contribution to the national picture. Control (C2) arrangements in Northern Ireland, the greatest change has been seen within the Army The figures below are indicative of current strengths Reserve. in our region: Establishment Trained Untrained Whilst C2 structures may not be optimal from a /Target Strength Strength regional and parochial perspective, they function RNR 133 108 29 well enough. They do demand, though, a conscious Army Reserve 1932 1566 244 effort to pass information and to co-ordinate RAF Reserve 1401 58 41 activities wherever and whenever it adds value to do 1 Plus 50 additional medical posts held as a global establishment. so. This is particularly so in relation to Defence links Note: These figures do not include the OTC/UAS or ATU. with the wider community. The Association and Council of RFCA remain fully committed to acting as Strength a POC and facilitator where this adds value. The statistics in the above table show the current status of the Reserves of all three services within Activities Northern Ireland and it is satisfying to report that The unit summaries at the back of this report give a recruiting in all areas is buoyant and the future looks better idea of what Northern Ireland’s reservists have promising. We do believe, though, care should be been involved with this year, but a few highlights to taken to ensure that short-term initiatives do not look out for are: harm longer-term sustainability. Last year’s report • 591 (AA) Field Squadron mobilising 16 reserve addressed the problems associated with the soldiers on Op Trenton, the United Nations recruiting “pipeline”. These have not yet been fully Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS). Op TRENTON 1 resolved, but progress has been made and the & 2 was the first turn of the wheel for British Forces current structure is in a workable state. We are a little to be deployed in South Sudan and is the first real concerned about the new HQ Recruiting Group/ UN mission, less Op TOSCA in Cyprus, in over 15 Capita IT system (DRS). We also await to assess the years for British Forces. impact of the latest Army recruiting campaign. We do hope that both initiatives succeed. We are, • 22 soldiers from 2 R Irish deployed with 1 R IRISH though, encouraged by the level of diligence and in , operating as the Kabul Security co-operation shown by our recruiting/chain of Force. command partners who are keen to exploit those areas where we are in a position to help. • HMS Hibernia provided the largest contingent of personnel to Exercise Helios Encounter. This Growth land-based warfare training fortnight based in The reserve has continued to grow throughout the Cyprus provided a ‘hot weather’ environment to last year. The liability for both 591 (AA) Field Squadron RE and 2 R Irish has grown. DComd (Reserves) is leading a review on how further growth might be realised. Both HMS Hibernia and 502 RAuxAF Squadron have grown significantly. The Association remains fully committed to ensure that such growth is maintained, sustained and increased in the coming reporting

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 7 assist in training personnel in a less hospitable operational climate.

• 253 (NI) Medical Regiment provided Real Life Medical Support to military marchers at the Nijmegen Marches in Holland. The Exercise involved injury and illness prevention and treatment for the British Military Contingent participants of Nijmegen 2017, numbering around 900 (750 marchers and 150 support staff) and also gave personnel the opportunity to work in a Joint and Multinational environment.

The RFCA Relationship We are delighted to report that engagement with all reserve units and sub-units across the Province continues to improve, with many more now understanding the wider ways in which the Association can facilitate, support and champion their aspirations and long-term interests.

8 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 EMPLOYERS Employer Support JSP 766: the Defence Directive on Employer Support (ES) Part 1 provides a framework for direction and guidance on the delivery of employer support at a local level. This was six HSCTs, the single Service (sS) Chains of Command reviewed and amended in 2017 and takes account of and the Department of Health. The six HSCTs’ ‘Armed local delivery nuances. Forces/ Defence Champions’ continue to advocate and disseminate information on behalf of defence. Employer Engagement Strategy and (EE) Directive(s) Mobilisation Defence Personnel EE Strategy (DPEES) and Defence Due to the drawdown in Afghanistan, mobilisations have Personnel EE Directive (DPEED) were reviewed and been low. However, reserves from 591 (Antrim Artillery) amended in 2017. Field Sqn, 71 Engineer Regiment were mobilised on Operation TRENTON (South Sudan) and reserves from Defence Relationship Management (DRM) 2nd Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment were mobilised DRM remains the single point of contact linking on Operation TORAL (Afghanistan). employers with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). DRM exists to offer advice and support on employing Case Work members of the armed forces community, and enable Due to the decrease in mobilisations the caseload is organisations to develop a mutually beneficial working relatively light. SO1 Army Engagement and the REED relationship with the MOD. have continued to brief all Army Reserve units on EE and ES available via a series of unit and subunit ‘roadshows’. Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) (The REED has replicated for the Navy and Air Force.) RF&C hold the policy lead for the ERS. DRM are the delivery arm at the national level and REEDs and RPOC Employer Notification (EN) deliver regionally, but in line with and Although NI personnel still remain exempt from supporting the national policy intent. An NI directive on compulsory EN, wherever possible reserves are the delivery of the ERS has been issued. encouraged to ‘opt in’ to EN. Consequently with the consent of the individual reservist, employers are Regional Employer Engagement Board (REEB) notified, in line with JSP 766. The DPEED directive states that tri-service REEBs are to be established regionally across the UK. However, in (EE) Activities Northern Ireland the REEB is subsumed into the Many tri service EE functions have been organised to Engagement Steering Group (ESG) chaired by cover both public sector and private businesses Commander 38 (Irish) . Senior Naval Officer NI employing reserve forces. Events have included the (SNONI) and Air Officer NI (AONI) represent the RN and Defence Medical Services Royal Gun Salute at RAF and CE RFCA NI represents the RFCA NI and DRM. Hillsborough Castle, strategy & leadership days, visits to The purpose of the ESG is to provide direction and UK and overseas based exercises, capability priorities for CE and EE across NI and assure delivery of demonstrations, aircraft visits, receptions, dinners and direct employer engagement for the 3-way relationship support to ships visits. between units, reservists and employers. Regional Employer Engagement Group (REEG) The REEG continues to act as a regional force multiplier in the effort to engage with and assist in the delivery of the MOD’s EE strategy, to ensure that the MOD maintains sound relations with employers and to ensure that defence personnel benefit from this enhanced relationship. The REEG meets on a six monthly basis, chaired by Mr T Salmon OBE and has been successful in providing a forum for discussion and feedback on the issues which affect employers who employ reservists in NI and offering guidance to policy makers. The Health and Social Care Trust Forum (HSCT Forum) The HSCT forum has continued to meet on a six monthly basis. It is attended by representatives from the

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 9 CADETS Cadet recruiting for all organisations has fluctuated within the reporting period, with some successes in gathering new recruit numbers, for example, an estimated increase in Army Cadet Force (ACF) recruiting of almost 12% compared to this time last year. Interestingly a number of cadets are now attending from the Republic of Ireland, Co (15 Visits and Trips in total to date) – Letterkenny and being the A number of overseas visits have taken place, most two ‘centres’ of interest. This bodes well for the future. notably the annual pilgrimage as part of the Op REFLECT (commemoration of the First World War) There is evidence of a sustained and durable increase battlefield tours in Holy Week, where 50 Cadet Force in interest for the ACF and numbers are increasing Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and cadets visited the following successful advertising in both the digital battlefields of the Somme for the centenary of that space and also the local press. There have been a great battle; and the first visit by cadets to Rome, number of articles highlighting the activities of the with 32 cadets and adults visiting the Eternal City. In ACF engaging in visits to Rome, achieving driving test both instances cadets and adults enjoyed interesting, passes and also community and Remembrance Day commemorations. Current ACF numbers stand at 1719 cadets and 366 adult volunteers, which is an increase of 7.5% from 2017. These numbers follow two successful annual camps in Strensall Camp in and Altcar Camp in during the summer of 2017.

There has been a small decline in the Air Training Corps (ATC) in both cadet and adult volunteer numbers. This has been primarily due to a difficulty in recruiting for the Squadrons, which has led to the closure of 2390 Belfast Royal Academy and 1134 West Belfast Squadrons. We are assisting the ATC in restoring their previously healthy numbers and there is a new intention to open an ATC squadron in which we also consider will prove successful.

The Sea Cadets in Northern Ireland have had a successful year and have opened a new unit at Cookstown High School, where 30 cadets paraded for the first night. The number of Northern Ireland Sea Cadet units now stands at 12 with numbers now over 600. challenging and very worthwhile educational visits to two areas of Europe which are steeped in history. Driving Licence Scheme There have been 52 senior cadets who have gained Activities driving licences through the support of RFCA NI’s A summary of cadet activity can be found at the back driving licence scheme. Many of these cadets have of this report, but a fraction of the highlights from gone on to careers in the Armed Forces, which this year were: reduces the training bill when they complete their • The implementation of the new Queen’s Cadet initial basic training; more have passed into the Further Commission has been delivered from 1st and Higher Education universities and colleges and it December 2017, which will bring all cadet is hoped that the Officer organisations to the same commissioning Training Corps (OTCs) will procedures. benefit from these cadets • Cadets Kelsie Stewart and Nathanael Richmond and their cadet experience from 2nd (NI) Battalion ACF attended the and knowledge. Canadian Marksmanship Exchange 17. • The ACF cadets (most notably the 2nd (NI) Battalion cadets but ably supported by the 1st (NI) Battalion cadets) achieved record success in the 10 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 annual Bisley shooting competition, ultimately collecting 13 awards during the competition. • 2Lt Connor Fitzgerald, Detachment Commander of ACF detachment, completed the Initial Officer Training Course (IOT) and attended the final residential at Sandhurst at the end of August, where he was awarded the Course Tutor’s Prize for best student. • Cadet Cpl Yasmin Andrews (Larne ACF) attended the Cadet Expedition Instructor Course at Argonaut, New Brunswick in Canada.

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 11 in November 2018 and so SCHOOL CADET EXPANSION the expectation is that the PROGRAMME (CEP) final tally will be 5, which will bring the total number The second year of the Cadet Expansion Programme of schools with CCFs in NI to (CEP) has witnessed the successful introduction 10, doubling the number of of three new schools in parading, at Cookstown schools in less than 2 years. High School, Lisnagarvey High The CEP offers initial set- School in Lisburn up funding for successful schools to cover the cost and Bloomfield of staff absences whilst the new CFAV attend initial collegiate (partnered courses and for any infrastructure works required with Campbell to ensure the new unit has a suitable space from College CCF) in which to operate from. All three of the new schools Belfast. All have have availed themselves of more than £70K worth of begun, in the time- such staff and infrastructure support in the first year. honoured fashion, Ongoing training and logistic support is provided by with a number of the Cadet Training Team (CTT) and by the Brigade new cadets and Headquarters once the unit begins to parade. the strength of the partnership with the school, RFCA NI and 38 (Irish) Brigade has been instrumental in this new phase for the schools.

The target is now set for another 7 schools to be approached and the hope is that 2 of those schools will follow the examples set above. The CEP will come to an end (for the open recruitment of schools)

PATHWAY On a more local front, the Portadown area saw the delivery of an activity programme over a period of 2 ADVENTURE months throughout the summer delivering physical ACTIVITIES activity (it has now become a 5-year programme supported and funded by Almac), OCN qualifications, Pathway Adventure Activities, a mini-medics qualification for primary school children RFCA NI’s youth engagement and 70 ethnic minority children from Syria, Poland, programme, has continued many sub-Saharan African countries and 20 peer apace and has delivered to mentor youth leaders received an OCN qualification almost 60,000 young people in youth work delivered by the Pathways staff. This in 2017, a 44.7% increase was delivered in partnership with four other principal on the number of places delivered in 2016. A very organisations: Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI), eclectic mix of activities has been provided this year as the Children and Young People’s Social Partnership Pathways are now recognised as an Approved Activity (CYPSP), The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Almac Provider (AAP) for the Education Authority (EA), an Pharmaceutical Company in Craigavon. Open College Network (OCN) examination approved deliverer and a Duke of (DofE) delivery Projects like this have led to continued discussions partner. This has been the busiest year to date for the with the Department for Communities, and the group and with a permanent staff of only 3 people Department for Education with a view to rolling out and a volunteer base of 103 staff, they have been similar programmes, funded by the Departments, extremely busy throughout the year. across Northern Ireland. The future of Pathways looks set to expand as we look to One of the more significant events was the delivery to delivering DofE to a number 300 cadets from Cleveland ACF who, for the first time, of schools and also another held their Annual ACF Camp at Ballykinler in August. two programmes similar to Such was the impact that Durham and Gloucester ACF the Portadown Gets Active are now holding their Annual ACF camps in July and programme in August of 2018 (a total of almost 800 CFAV and cadets). and potentially in Limavady.

12 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 sector and utilises the VCs. It is a facilitation and CIVIL ENGAGEMENT communications role rather than one involving Community Engagement service delivery (notwithstanding our task to deliver Delivery of Community Engagement (CE) remains accommodation adaptations for wounded service challenging in Northern Ireland, however, working personnel). It also involves facilitation of the NIVSC, closely with 38 (Irish) Brigade and the regional RAF which met most recently in October. This continues and Royal Navy representatives, good progress has to strive to improve support for NI veterans in a been made on the coherent delivery of activities. joined up manner and most major service charities and associated supporting organisations are The regional Armed Forces Day event, this year run represented. by Ards and North Down Borough Council, was another great success, with impressive representation The Armed Forces Covenant is still a very contentious from all 3 services and the cadet organisations. issue in Northern Ireland, but the VSO NI and NIVSC are working hard to ensure that NI veterans are not The decision was made not to host a RFCA NI disadvantaged. Cobseo, The Confederation of Service engagement dinner this year, due in part to budget Charities, has been very supportive of the issue in the constraints, but also because it was felt that an Province and recently submitted a bid for funds from event on this scale should only be biennial, in order the Armed Forces Covenant Grant fund, to expand to retain its impact and to give time to develop the the capacity of the VSO NI. This bid was successful relationships that were established. The aim will be to and the funds will be used to pay for a new part-time hold an event in late 2018. post (Development Manager) within the VSO NI and also to provide resources for an awareness campaign, Relations with Local Authorities including a new website to help with signposting Each of the eleven local authorities has an appointed veterans. The Development Manager will also work elected councillor as its representative to the to promote the Armed Forces Covenant Grant Association’s membership and these representatives Fund – encouraging organisations to make bids and also act as a “veterans’ champion” (VC) within their providing advice on their submissions. council area. This requires them to act as a conduit (At time of writing, the recruitment process for to the MOD and, more specifically to the Veterans’ the post of VSO NI Development Manager was underway.)

The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) sponsored Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing Study, which is being carried out by a team at the University of Ulster, is well underway and their reports so far can be found at: http://www.niveteranstudy.org/. The study should be completed in 2019.

Support Office (VSO NI) for any veterans’ issues that arise within their council area. The main challenge at the moment is ensuring that the role of the VCs is widely advertised so that veterans are aware of who they can turn to for advice.

RFCA NI generally has a good relationship with the local authorities and acts as the initial point of contact for any MOD issues that may arise.

Veterans Much progress has been made on the Northern Ireland support structure for veterans since last year’s report, including formal recognition by the Covenant Reference Group (CRG) of the Veterans’ Support Office (VSO NI), facilitated by the RFCA NI. The VSO NI acts as a conduit between local government, other statutory bodies and the voluntary and charitable RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 13 ESTATES Site Estate Issues Enniskillen Army There is no capacity to accommodate Current Context Reserve Centre additional cadet detachments such as Air You will not be surprised that, given the pressure (continued) Cadets and Sea Cadets who have both on the Defence budget, there is not much money expressed an interest in this location. available for estates. Across the UK, there is nothing Army The existing buildings are significantly available for capital works outside what has been Reserve Centre under-scaled for current reserve needs. committed under FR20. The intention is that any The existing buildings are in poor future requirement – for the time being – will be condition and the facilities are not fit for purpose. paid for through disposal. There is almost nothing There is no capacity to accommodate available either for maintenance/sustaining the additional reservists. estate, other than to meet legal requirements. Hydebank Army The main building is below scale pending Nonetheless, through RGI – locally or pan-RFCA Reserve Centre FR20 capital works. Funding for the raised-in-year underspends and anything we can get project design stage has now been our hands on, we do what we can. received with the remaining allocation expected in 2019/20. The collapse of Carillion underscores the fragility of some private sector contracts and it is against Cadet Estate that background that we have been asked – and The Cadet Estate in Northern Ireland remains above accepted- to deliver a £4 million accommodation the national average in terms of condition scoring, project within the training estate at Ballykinler. We however the lack of suitable cadet estate continues anticipate more work like this but are wary of taking to constrain the delivery of the full cadet experience on more than our own resources allow. which we continue to raise:

Reserve Estate Site Estate Issues The Reserve Estate in Northern Ireland has the Ballykinler Cadet The existing buildings are significantly highest condition scoring of all RFCAs, however in Training Centre under-scaled for current needs, in the absence of funding for planned maintenance particular: deterioration is inevitable. To mitigate this the • Severe lack of appropriate sleeping facilities are subject to regular inspections by the accommodation for cadets and adults • Lack of appropriate toilet, shower and Estates staff to ensure failing facets are identified and changing areas remedial actions costed and submitted as bids to • Lack of classroom facilities exploit funding opportunities. • Undersized commercial kitchen and dining area The expansion of reserve numbers in NI has thrown • Lack of storage facilities up a number of specific challenges as, in theory, we Foyle College The Foyle College CCF Detachment has have insufficient infrastructure to enable all of this Combined Cadet no miniature rifle range within its new expansion. In practice, we find solutions and, in the Force (CCF) school development. spirit outlined above, are doing what we can. To – Land/Sea/Air highlight the accommodation pressures an RFCA priority list has been drafted to identify sites with Completed Projects chronic accommodation issues: The new Joint Cadet Centre, Harmony Hall, Ballynahinch Site Estate Issues was opened in October Kinnegar The proposal to relocate the reserves from by Mr David Lindsay, Lord Kinnegar to Palace Barracks is no longer for the County of affordable.Army Infra have asked the Down. project team to consider other options and involve RFCA to help identify more cost-effective solutions. The new facility occupies a brownfield site which Army Below scale due to FR20 refine. Also, the was purchased in 2016; Reserve Centre recent arrival of 591 (AA) Field Squadron is pushing the site further below scale. since then a significant transformation has taken place with demolition of Enniskillen Army The existing buildings are significantly the existing dilapidated warehouse building and Reserve Centre under-scaled for current reserve needs. There is no capacity to accommodate subsequent construction of the new Cadet Centre. additional reservists. The modern two-storey facility was designed to cater The existing buildings are in poor for the needs of the cadets and to maximise the condition and the facilities are not fit for available space within the prominent town-centre purpose. location. 14 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 FINANCE The forecast this FY is for expenditure of £3.99m also received funding (£4M) to carry out a Capital Funding was received against control totals which Build Project, on behalf of DIO, within the Defence were tight and well costed, reflecting the economic Regular Estate. Minimal expenditure against this pressures felt by our funders and stakeholders. project is expected this FY and these costs are Further efficiency wedges were applied which would reflected in the chart below. have made much of our activity difficult and so our The generation of RGI from Pathways activities has risks were bought out by a sister Association. Funding allowed ongoing support to cadet activities, most for the year is manageable but not extravagant and notably the battlefield tours and the scheme to we have reset some priorities. The Association has sponsor driving lessons.

Consolidated Expenditure Forecast FY17/18 (£3.99m) IT and communications £63,000 Transport and movement £46,000 Vehicle Contract Recruiting Hiring £119,000 support Support to reserves and cadets £161,000 £44,000

Administration £140,000 Estate Capital Costs £455,000

Estates maintenance & minor projects £603,000 Staff Costs (other) £738,000

Infrastructure (soft FM) £947,000 Staff Costs (ACF PSS) £678,000

HUMAN RESOURCES AND IT The year saw a greater than usual turnover of staff, with changes within Estates staff, Finance, Cadet and SCEO posts.

Overall, we now have 41 staff, housed in 12 Locations. The Payroll function has been out-sourced to Price Waterhouse Cooper, also the Association’s Auditors and this should make audit more straightforward. Financial support has also been provided to fully exploit the secure laptops issued to all staff with laptops/docking stations now the preferred arrangement. RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 15 e-newsletters and the social media pages. MARKETING AND The tri-cadet digital marketing campaign has been COMMUNICATIONS funded throughout this financial year and is still proving extremely successful, with over 300 enquiries The RFCA NI website (www.reservesandcadetsni.org. made in 2017. This is enhanced by the RFCA NI social uk) allows members to keep up to date with reserve media presence and local print media press releases. and cadet news and future events, as do the quarterly In December 2017, funding was received from the ACFA to run an ACF marketing campaign, aimed at targeting parents. The funds paid for local newspaper advertising which was supported by the ongoing digital campaign and a RFCA NI social media campaign.

The establishment of a Communications Support Officer post has enabled our social media presence to be vastly increased and has given us the capability to produce videos for cadet detachments and reserve units, which is proving to be a very useful asset.

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16 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 UNIT SUMMARIES

502 (Ulster) Squadron Royal Auxiliary AirForce502 (Ulster) Squadron Royal Auxiliary (RAUXAF) Queen’s Officer University Training Corps 157 Field Company, Battalion 106Reme Company Intelligence 62 Military Army Training Ireland) Unit(Northern Horse)Signal Regiment Irish 40 (North Horse)Squadron, Irish Irish &North B (North TheYeomanry Scottish 591 (AA) Field Squadron, 71Engineer Regiment Regiment Medical Irish) 253 (North 204 (NI)Field Hospital Regiment RoyalLogistic Irish) Corps 152 (North 2nd Battalion Regiment (2RIrish) The RoyalIrish HMS Hibernia RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 17 Sports HMS Outside of the training environment HMS Hibernia HIBERNIA made its mark in a number of sporting events. A well trained and capable six-a-side football team Background carried off the cup in the Royal Navy Reserve football The Royal Naval competition held in Liverpool. Additionally, HMS Reserve Unit based Hibernia finished a creditable third in the annual in Thiepval Barracks, charity Dragon boat Lisburn, continues to race, donating money provide the Royal Navy presence in Northern Ireland. from the personnel of Well established both within Thiepval Barracks and HMS Hibernia. Lisburn, HMS Hibernia has evolved and grown in UNIT SUMMARIES personnel numbers. Whilst still carrying a small part An Able Rate has of the spirit of the previous RNR base on-board HMS been part of the Royal Caroline, the Unit has increasingly forged its own Navy equestrian team identity since commissioning in 2009. and an Officer of HMS Hibernia competed The move of the Royal Navy from the Belfast area to in the annual Royal Lisburn has also been advantageous in widening the Navy and Royal catchment area for recruiting with transport links and Marines Charity Field geographical demographics further enhancing the Gun Competition, a tri-service and NATO event opportunities to attract potential recruits. With the held in front of large crowds in HMS Collingwood, importance of playing a part in the drive to recruit Portsmouth. A team from the unit also took part in Naval personnel in support of the Future Reserves the NI Armed Forces Day competitions in Bangor. 2020, HMS Hibernia has ensured a steady flow of personnel both from the civilian sector and in ex- Community and Charity regular personnel transferring to the Royal Navy HMS Hibernia has contributed to ceremonial duties Reserve. both in Northern Ireland and in 2017, including the November ceremonies. Training In the wider arena, HMS Hibernia personnel have A very successful year for the unit was then finished provided training and operational support to the in style with a charity ‘wear a onesie or Christmas Royal Navy both in the and abroad. jumper to work’ night at the last drill night of the Personnel from HMS Hibernia have taken part in year. The evening event saw 6 quiz teams fight it out several large exercises including Joint Warrior 1701 for the massive prize of a chocolate selection box for and 1702, the multi-national tri-service exercises held each member of the winning team. At the end of in Scotland. In addition, HMS Hibernia again hosted the evening a total of £200 was raised for charity. the Ballykinler training weekend which encompassed the other 5 units of the United Kingdom Northern Following the quiz night it was decided that the area. This involved training in weapon handling, a monies raised will be the first in support of the simulated evacuation of United Kingdom personnel HMS Hibernia 2018 chosen charity ‘The Mary Peters from a potential combat zone, medical and survival Trust’. This charity, headed by Dame Mary Peters, training. In addition, HMS Hibernia provided the an Honorary Captain in the Royal Navy Reserve, largest contingent of personnel to Exercise Helios supports talented young sportsmen and women, Encounter. This land-based warfare training both able-bodied and disabled, from across Northern fortnight based in Cyprus provided a ‘hot weather’ Ireland. environment to assist in training personnel in a less hospitable operational climate. HMS Hibernia Looking Ahead also provided media coverage and training for the Looking forward, HMS Hibernia aims to continue to Exercise. build on its success, with the major aims of recruiting, training and supporting operations to the Royal Navy, continuing to be at the centre of all that the Unit strives to achieve.

18 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 2ND BATTALION THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT (2 R IRISH)

It has been a busy and diverse year for 2 R IRISH. We have had soldiers deploy to numerous countries across the globe, delivering against the Army’s outputs. Our soldiers continue to relish the challenge and their desire to volunteer continues to run in the DNA of the Battalion. We are well-manned, have in supporting these two highly demanding yet exceeded our target and, as a result, have rewarding expeditions. been rewarded with additional liability of 105, to be recruited by 2025. Defence Engagement UNIT SUMMARIES 2 R IRISH is responsible for delivering upstream Operations capacity building activity in support of Defence In September we recovered and demobilised 22 Attachés in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. This soldiers who had been deployed with 1 R IRISH in year we helped teams from Ukraine and Moldova Afghanistan, operating as the Kabul Security Force. prepare and enter Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL, and This was the Regiment’s fifth 1 and 2 R IRISH paired operational deployment in recent years, the first being the invasion of in 2003. We also recovered two soldiers who had mobilised for operations with the United Nations in Cyprus.

Training Our recent training highlight was a Battalion Infantry Field Firing Concentration in Otterburn in August. This Field Firing package provided an excellent training focus for the year and a vehicle for

hosted a Belarusian delegation to orientate them for entry in 2018. We also coordinated a package of training for a Belarusian Peacekeeping Company and deployed our Bugles, Pipes and Drums on a number of occasions to support Ambassadors and Defence Attachés. Out of area, we delivered a team to support a multinational peacekeeping exercise in Serbia in June and deployed a training team to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in November. While our portfolio is ever increasing, the opportunities presented are superb. us to get back to the basics of demanding infantry soldiering in a conventional setting. After winning Commemorations the Garelochhead 50-miler, our team finished as the We are fortunate to be in the position to reflect on second-placed team at the Nijmegen a remarkable period of our Regimental history. In march. On the Adventurous Training front, we had May we supported a commemorative event at the a team summit Mont Blanc in June and a further Cross of Sacrifice at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, team summit Mount Toubkal and a number of other attended by the Prince of Wales who unveiled a 4000m peaks in the High Atlas in October. We would number of commemorative stones. like to thank RFCA NI for its financial generosity And in June our soldiers stood side-by-side with the Irish Defence Force to commemorate all those that had fought at the Battle of Messines 100 years ago. The commemoration was attended by the His Royal Highness the Duke of , the Taoiseach, the Princess of Belgium, and Ministers from across Europe. In July the Battalion supported the 101st commemoration of the in France, and led the event at the City Hall

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 19 UNIT SUMMARIES 20 Faugh-A-Ballagh! NI. we receive fromsupport organisations suchasRFCA dedication andcommitmentofitspeoplethe 2 RIRISHisinareally goodplacedueto the somuch. sacrificed in ourlineagewho ‘cleared theway’ before usand andreflect onallthose the Centenary Armistice WW1 from theserelationships. Andfinally, we willmark reciprocalabroad, to benefit andlookforward further inthe pipeline,European bothathomeand partners withourEastern numerous trainingopportunities level dismounted closecombatexcellence. We have a trainingprogramme low- thatwilldrive forward the following year. More routinely, we planto deliver to Afghanistan, againwith1RIRISH, cohort a further prestigious event inSeptember, andwillthendeploy be presented Colours new inthe ina Titanic Quarter will exercise acompany group inCyprus inApril, will forward,Looking ourprogramme isexcellent. We beyond2018 and delivering across allofoursites. in RFCA NIfor andhighlevel ofsupport itsproactivity ourpeoplesafe.in keeping We to would thank like the infrastructure isfit and for purpose and for work upgrades across that allofoursites, inensuring key have to beenfortunate receive maintenance and our soldiersfit Morefor combat. routinely, we ingetting andisplaying abigpart fantastic facility isa at theendof2016,fundedby RFCANI.It gymwascompleted A new inPortadown ARC Estate aweekGuard later. atthedelayed service we provideddiscovered theCenotaph inthevicinity; due to anumberofdissidentpipebombsbeing inOmaghwasdisrupted Service Remembrance 22 events andhadover 180soldiersonparade. A the November we period supported Remembrance Defence Force toOver reflect onourshared past. withtheIrish yet againwe stood side-by-side and reconciliation inDublin; event inIslandbridge in Belfast. We inaremembrance alsoparticipated RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report Exercises around the 152 (NORTH IRISH) REGIMENT world for successive ROYAL LOGISTIC CORPS and concurrent periods. The next 152 (North Irish) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps challenge will now (RLC) is Northern Ireland’s only RLC Regiment and be to maintain this the only Fuel Support Regiment in the British Army. capability and find The regiment consists of three Task Squadrons and ways to hone the newly learnt skills of these professional Logisticians.

Interoperability UNIT SUMMARIES 8 Soldiers from 152 (North Irish) Regiment had the chance to train alongside their Regular and Reserve Counterparts in Fort Bragg, North Carolina for three weeks this summer. The Liquid Logistic Exercise tests units from across North America in providing fuel, water and support services in one of the US Army’s biggest deployments every year. The Northern Irish Soldiers were embedded in a Headquarter Squadron with an establishment a Regular US Fuel Pipeline Company and assisted of 398 Reserve and 44 Regular & FTRS personnel. (often taking the lead) with building over 5 miles Regimental Headquarters, 227 (Headquarter) of Pipeline, all by manual labour. Once this was Squadron and 400 Squadron, are co-located in tested and operating, there was no rest as the Palace Barracks, Holywood. 220 Squadron is located British contingent switched to assisting a Reserve in Kinnegar, Belfast and 211 Squadron is located in unit building a Fuel Storage Site. Despite the high Londonderry with a troop in Coleraine. Currently workload and even higher humidity, the work the Unit strength is 341 and continue to do very well ethic and constant cheerful demeanour displayed with recruiting. throughout by our soldiers was noted and work

Unit Mission 152 RLC mission is to recruit and train reserve petroleum operators and bulk fuel vehicle driver operators (Close Support Tanker and Unit Support Tanker drivers), deployable at section strength in order to enable operational success.

Annual Continuous Training Exercise 120 Soldiers and Officers from 152 Regiment deployed on the Annual Training to Longmoor Camp, Surrey in September. This two week period was progressed faster than ever when 152 were around! aimed at increasing As with many Military Exercises, the opportunity to trade capability by see some of another country was embraced with two progressing soldiers nights in Washington DC – one of the many benefits through courses. of being in the Army Reserves. Looking forward, this Everyone that will become an annual event with planning well attended came away underway for more of 152 Regiment to go back to with a new or higher the US in 2018. qualification. These ranged from new Football vehicle types such Yet another highly successful year for the Regimental as the Regiment’s mainstay, the Combat Support Football Team who continue to set the standard in Tanker holding up to 20,000 litres of fuel, to shooting the UK for Army Reserve football. Having made it to and X-country driving courses. This intensive the final of the Army Reserve Cup for the sixth time period of training saw the Regiment meet its Full in seven years the team were narrowly beaten 1-0 Operating Capability and thus meet the Army’s after extra time by 154 (Scottish) Transport Regiment. requirement to deploy Soldiers on Operations and However on a positive note the football team are

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 21 UNIT SUMMARIES 22 Operational ShootingCompetition andalsothe Championship attheForce Troops Command withtheRegiment winningtheRLChistory Unit This wasthemostsuccessfulyear intheRegiment’s Shooting RLC. Regiment Irish) comeandjoin152(North Reserve want to play football atthehighestlevel intheArmy footballBrigade teams. The bottom lineis-ifyou manager ofboththeRLC and38(Irish) Reserve The Unitalsoprovides themanagerandassistant Nationalfootball team. a coachto theReserve UnitintheUK–andalsoprovides of any Reserve National football team –thehighestrepresentation forThe Unithas6soldiersselected theArmy Reserve 6-a-side football trophy for successive year. thefourth more impressively theteam retained theRLC Reserve in 2014–quite animpressive achievement. Even year sinceitwasintroduced of thiscompetitionevery theteam have2016 and2014–infact madethefinal 6-a-side competitionhaving won thiscompetitionin Nationalfootball runners upintheArmy Reserve footballers August to theteam. theUnitfinished In and 2013following theadditionofsomequality high hopesto retaketheCup won they in2011,2012 the first team into this year’s and have quarter-final RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report at points. of AT, zone outsidetheircomfort pushing everyone improved thechallenging requirement and sokept both navigation increasing andterrain astheirskills inthe National Park in walking with thedifficulty The secondhalfoftheexpeditiontook inmore Bridge.and to Gate visittheGolden was programmed into SanFrancisco as aculturaltrip andday 5 available to Army Reservists opportunities day.to complete every Travel ofthe isabigpart thansomewerework butall managed expecting harder and ofcoursethejetlagmadeactivity stop itall. occasionallyto absorb The heat,altitude and thegroup hadto wasbreath taking scenery at altitudesof6000ft. The were challenging, walking Yosemite NationalPark The first four days in participate. for JNCOsopportunities to Regiment, prioritising Irish) personnel across 152(North aim wasto provide AT to 16 Champions2017 the RLC Reserve Cross Country Regiment were againcrowned Irish) 152 (North Sports Other held inArkansas. Forces2018 attheArmed to be Meeting atArms Skill Shooting Army Reserve Team onExercise Fortuna to additiononesoldierwasselected representIn the the Regiment alsooccupying 51stand52ndplaces). as well aswinning 5 Top 50badges(withmembersof the Regiment gaineditshighestever placingof3rd OperationalShootingCompetition in Bisley Reserve gunner andRLC Championgunteam. At theArmy were RLC ChampionJNCO, ChampionRLC individual individualtrophy ofnote Other winnersworthy years’ for thesecondtimeinthree years. service) Young trophy Soldier (for soldierswithlessthan2 Ex YOSEMITE FINN’s main Adventurous Training trophies! success intheNew Year andretaining bothofthese managed to dominate. We to lookforward more having never beento eitherlocationbefore andstill onthetrainingareas.practice Oursoldiersarrived on themainlandandotherunitshadmonthsto given thatallthecompetitionswereremarkable held against strong competitionbuteven more Champions 2017. These are great achievements UnitandalsotheRLC Major Reserve Orienteering Yosemite National Park is an outdoor playground taken part in 12 major Outreach events province- and this expedition has only touched the tip of the wide such as the Maritime Festival, Airwaves, Steam iceberg. All personnel who took part in the exercise Rally and Armed Forces Day. We continue to take part agreed that it was both physically and mentally and arrange as many outreach events as possible. challenging to all levels of fitness and personal capabilities. Charity Fundraising The focus this year has been on raising money primarily for Marie Curie with events such as the ‘Big Brew’ being organised and held in the Junior Ranks Club. A big success with great attendance and varying abilities of baking attempts! UNIT SUMMARIES

Pipes and Drums Constantly in demand and always delivering a superb performance, be it on parade in front of large crowds and senior VIPs or entertaining dinner nights and Regimental functions, the Pipes and Drums of 152 (North Irish) Regiment have again had an outstanding year. As ever we are looking to recruit, especially pipers and will take any level of experience. WO2 Wallace, the Pipe Major, has done an excellent job of mentoring and teaching complete beginners right through to performing at events such as the Belfast Military Tattoo.

Community Engagement 152 (North Irish) Regiment, working with 38 (Irish) Brigade and RFCA NI, planned and organised an Employers Visit to the Annual Continuous Training at Longmoor, Surry in September. Unfortunately this was cancelled at the last minute due to a poor response from employers but good lessons were learnt as well as contacts made that will be followed up in future events.

Remembrance Day events are always well-attended and expertly arranged for Holywood, Londonderry and Coleraine. The Regiment had over 150 soldiers at various events and parades that marked the commemoration. We also arranged OP SACRED (Schools And Community Reserve Experience Days) events for Northern Regional College, Bangor South Eastern Regional College (SERC) and Belfast Met. With the contacts made from Bangor SERC, we were able to enhance their training and experience by offering them the opportunity to cater, deliver and carry out front of house service at the Officers Mess Christmas Ball. This was a great success for everyone involved and something we would hope to build on in the future. A Ready Steady Cook event was also arranged for Limavady Catering College and we have also

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 23 UNIT SUMMARIES 24 as aneffective 204 to becredited the green lightfor was effectively This assessment committed year. as we entered our AssessmentReadiness was now timefor our 16,it inSept MIRROR Having completed ExJORVIK exercise STANDBY. within6months,JORVIK Ex JORVIK saw 204FieldApril ontheirsecond Hospitalembark Ex JORVICK STANDBY immenselyto facilities.forward thenew in theprocess ofbeingdrawn upandtheunitlooks advice andassistance. Plans for improvements are have helpfulwiththeirongoing beenextremely space. RFCANIhave responded to ourrequests and classrooms withModel Ward andincreased office particular,In increased changing facilities, larger Centrebe required (ARC). Army Reserve atHydebank will thatsomebuilding works has becomeevident withintheunit,it andmaximisingefficiency further With theprospect ofraisingmanninglevels even do.they the recruiting job team are andwhatawonderful This isarecord for theunitandshows how effective profilerise andseenmanninglevelsto almost83%. upitsengagement andrecruiting204 haskept with deployment asawhole,Although nottasked year to next Afghanistan. andanotherearly Kenya individuals have to beenselected deploy to Iraq, STANDBY, where itwasgiven thegreen light.Several was rigorously EXJORVICK tested during inApril within thehospital, inorder to deploy. The hospital the cliniciansare upto date inallareas oftheirrole that isofvitalimportance potential deployment. It towards ourFORM Year five, inpreparation for The lastfew intensely years have beenspentworking and Kenya. deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Leone, Sierra Cyprus operates intheworld. Many of204personnelhave medicalcare whereverthe Army it withexpert (AMS) provides Services Army Medical The Reserve Ireland. Northern andfrom any locationin areas oftheHealth Industry recruits from ofBelfast.It all situated ontheoutskirts are Regimental Headquarters Ireland. Its in Northern FieldReserve Hospital is theonlyArmy 204 (NI)Field Hospital HOSPITAL FIELD 204 (NI) RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report of sleephad alarge butthrough effecteveryone, on busy.to nameafew ofthetasks, everyone kept Lack on patrol, reports, reaction to ambushandcontact weapons, establishingcomms, issuingorders, going onthe ground.into practice Taking atpreparing turns involved from thefirst putting knowledge weekend and The washeldatBallykinler secondweekend covered theArmy Leadership Code (ALC), Moral Hydebank and The wasrunatARC first weekend forweekends allranksoftheunit. The RSMof204Field Hospitalran2development Leadership WeekendsRSM immensely enjoyed by all. successfulexerciseOverall, whichwas itwasavery treat andevacuate assoonpossible. atthehospitaltested to evaluate, ourability arriving developing scenarios. The amountofcasualties reality. wasn’t It longbefore we were hitwithafew over ahospitalofpatientsjustaswe would doin The exercise thencommencedwith204taking (MMI), Fire Evacuation andmany clinicalscenarios. members to includeSOPs, Incidents Medical Major withtalksbeingdelivered inearnest by Unit started inStrensall204 arrived withover 100personnel After alarge amountoftrainingandplanning communication withindepartments. command andcontrol elementandensure effective deploy. The Exercise’s was to maineffort test the hospitalshouldwe berequiredfully functional to action. action. plan andcoursesof present withtheir hadtowhich they exercise to complete, and given aplanning down into groups were thenbroken Planning. Personnel and Knowledge Leader, Military conducted. Training the Exercise would be layout andtheway was happy withthe to ensure everyone so itwasimportant on aHOSPEXbefore us whohadnotbeen personnelwith new Trainer. We hadmany AMSCentre Training exercise withinthe this to conduct In round 1outinthefield,In teams moved on foot to the field. achieved maximumpointsbefore moving outinto Onward Movement where andIntegration), 204 Staging, withaRSOI (Reception, competition started and itwasgreat to members. seesomenew The andclinical ofexperience,good mixture both military personnel withaminimumof2females. There wasa The rulesstipulated theteam consisted of8 environment. to succeedinthecurrent contingentoperational required skills andmedicalspecialto arms military to demonstrate leadership, commandandcontrol, isdesigned to provide acompetitive formatAMSTTE place thisyear atQueenElizabethBarracks, York. others and markets; capital’s landmarks tour ofthe cycling a deciding to take in Santiago, some time for someR&R Exercise there was At theendof for all. an amazingchallenge snow anchors. several volcanoes – They thentackled onsnow profiling andinstruction avalanche and drills andoff-pistetouring as downhillwell as skiing, refresher The team completed askills period, ski personnel from 204(NI)Field Hosp. Field Brigade, including3 Hospitalswithin2Med The expeditioninvolved personnelfrom allofthe oftheChileanAndesandseveralterrain volcanoes. expeditionencompassingthedifficult touring wasanoverseas AndesSerpent ski Ex Northern Ex NORTHERNANDESSERPENT the unitandwithincivilianworkplace. –usefulto applybothwithin rank andexperience confidence inleadinga group ofpeoplemixed helpedto develop It skills. learnt using theirnewly couldseehowit allthey to respond andadapt Exercise (AMSTTE) took Exercise (AMSTTE) TacticalServices Training The annualArmy Medical AMSTTE large inthecity. park capped Andesrangefrom a andsurrounding snow- city ofthe commanding view museums andgaininga visiting thezoo and water rafting, mountain offer, including caving, white more different on activities French Alps. With ten or inthe setting ofMorzine, took placeinthestunning Continuation(ACT) Training Part Bofthisyear’s Annual Ex NORTHERNALPINESERPENTFINN Disorder (ADHD). DisorderHyperactivity (ASD)/Attention Deficit Benevolent Fung andBelvoir Autism Spectrum charities, whichincludedlocalcancercharities, Army Hundreds ofpoundswere raisedfor thenominated amused. everyone keep and many more to activities stand (offering free wounds) Tombola, Piper, recruiting disco, climbingwall, BBQ, strange animalsto pet,a There dancers, were Irish tosome money charity. be inthepositionto donate day out,butto wonderful only to give thefamiliesa The aimoftheday wasnot museum. defences. military to Plenty seeincludingasuperb coastal Ireland for allNorthern Headquarters during World War Two, whenitwastheOperations played amajorrole inthedefence ofBelfast Lough site, originally builtin1904.It coastal artillery at Grey Point Fort, nearHelen’s Bay. isarestored It For thesecondyear running204ranitsFamilies’ day Families Day leadership, commandandcontrol. inacompetitive environmentskills including andclinical to develop bothmilitary opportunity The competitiongave anexcellent us, asReservists, including oursister unit34Field Hospital. andoutgunned units multipleRegular performance and rebuild thegun. The team gave anoutstanding several obstacles, loadtheminto landrover vehicles to moveeffort thecomponentsofgun over gathered themselves for afinalpush. This wasa team 204 achieved. Now qualified for the Finale, the team tight, onlyafew thetop pointsbetween ten which race andanassaultcourse. was The finalscoring stands includingfire andmanoeuvre, astretcher oftimed aseries round 2,teamsIn hadto undertake both physically, mentallyandclinicallychallenging. a numberofstandsthroughout theday, whichwere RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 25

UNIT SUMMARIES biking and via ferrata, everyone could push their boundaries that bit further.

Making use of our own instructors for many of the activities enabled us to make the most of what the region offered us. Spectacular views for the hill walkers and vacant ski slopes for the mountain bikers. For some of the more specialised activities, we were able to make use of a local provider, whose expert External Study Day local knowledge made the caving and canyoning The 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital Annual Study Day achievable and memorable for all. Being so close to once again took place at the Island Civic Centre in Geneva and Lake Leman gave us the opportunity to UNIT SUMMARIES Lisburn. The aim of the day is to deliver education to hire two small yachts and practice some sailing skills, our own personnel and also to showcase the Army which was superb. Reserve to potential recruits. This event, which is now a firm fixture in Northern Ireland in the postgraduate The final day culminated in an all ranks Sports medical and nursing education scene, attracted Day, run on the banks of Lake Leman. Everyone over 350 delegates. Although aimed at medics and showed great enthusiasm for some of the slightly nurses, the theme this year “Team dynamics in tough unconventional activities, including Boules (we were environments” also attracted infanteers, mountain in France), American football and a mountain bike rescue personnel and PSNI officers. Brigadier Tim obstacle course. Winners were presented with a Hodgetts, giving a very amusing insight on how to useful cow bell each. lead the team, delivered the keynote lecture. The quality of the speakers was very high and all rated Honours and Awards extremely highly on the post-event feedback. Of Nurse of the Year Awards particular note however were Dr Neil Spenceley The Royal College of Nursing’s Nurse of the Year from discussing team culture and Dr Yourdi Awards 2017 were held in the Culloden Estate on Yordanov from Paris who gave a frontline view 8th June. This annual event is held to recognise the into the system response in Paris to the Bataclan brightest talents in the Northern Irish nursing family. massacre.

For the second year running 38 (Irish) Brigade Looking Forward sponsored a Defence Medical Services award, Now that the unit is moving through the training the RCN Defence Nursing Reservist of the year cycle to FORM Year One, focus will be on individual 2017, as part of this event, for outstanding nursing courses and advancement, along with Basic military contribution in the Reserve Forces. This is presented training. alongside the civilian awards. Nominations came from 204 Field Hospital, 253 Med Regiment, HMS ACT 2018 is already booked for the South of England Hibernia and 502 (Ulster) Sqn. The winner was Lt Col in September, with a selection of interesting training, Joy Duffield (McGrath) OC Clin, 204 Field Hospital. both military and adventure, throughout the year. 204 is also running Ex MEDICAL CHALLENGE in Lt Col Duffield was nominated for her ‘exemplary’ June 18, which will be a high-profile event, allowing standards of clinical practice and education, civilian members of the Health Industry to sample credibility that gives her an excellent base for the some of our demanding and skilful activities. large assurance and governance portfolio she skilfully A change of Commanding Officers is on the horizon manages and for her outstanding contribution to in Feb 18 and while we look forward to a new both the AMS and the HSC Trust she serves. chapter in 204 Field Hospital with Col Matt Wills, we will be sad to see Col Mark Sheridan moving on to his Runner up prize was awarded jointly to Major Angela new post. We wish him all the very best in all that he Gregg and Major Gina Catherwood (Dickson), both does. members of 204.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) Force Troops Command (FTC) Commendations GOC FTC Certificates for Meritorious Service were presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle, to WO1 (RSM) Reeves and Cpl Shirley Allison. Very many congratulations and well deserved to two very hard-working members of 204 Field Hosp.

26 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 OSC in Catterick, followed by winning the 1st (UK) followedOSC inCatterick, by winningthe1st(UK) elementofthe102Logistic Army Brigade Reserve so theunithadto becontent withwinningthe OperationalShootingCompetitionIreland (NIOSC) didnotrunaNorthern Brigade this year 38(Irish) top unitteam Army. intheRegular Regrettably achallengeto the andmostlikely Army Reserve in 2017to bethedominantshootingteam inthe Regiment Shooting 253 (NI)Medical Team continued Shooting dinner intheCulloden 2017. Hotel on21stOctober Corps,Army Medical initsnumerous forms, witha Regiment, Royal of253(NI)Medical 50th anniversary formation of107(Ulster) Field Ambulanceandthe This ofthe year we celebrated the70thanniversary Anniversary Dinner ’Merit. of Certificate withSgtBishopandLucasJohn theLord earning wasawarded Brice Jonathan theOrder oftheSt Due to outin2017,Major thehard carried work Honours andAwards Army Reserve. oftoday’s anddiversity thevariety typify conducted Regiment. 253 (NI)Medical weThe have activities been anamazingandexceptionally busyyear for Leone,Sierra Cyprus Sudan.2017has andSouth been deployed Afghanistan, onOperationsinIraq, Regiment have 2017membersof253(NI)Medical In with asubunittroop located atEnniskillen. Centre islocated 108 Sqn atLimavady Army Reserve 109 and110Squadrons are atPARC co-located whilst Centre (PARC),Reserve Sunnyside Street, Belfast.107, issituated inPantridgeRegiment Headquarters Army Army operatesBritish inthe World. 253(NI)Medical health care for soldiersonOperationswherever the highest standards medicinesand ofemergency Ireland. The unitspecialisesinproviding thevery Regiment inNorthern Medical Reserve Regiment istheonly 253 (NI)Medical REGIMENT MEDICAL 253 (NI) into the Top 50and special of the8man team madeit prizes. Individually, 6out oftheteam the majority Championship andalsowon third timeinarow, theUnit the team retained, for the At theAROSCinlate June OSC. Division Army Reserve Gate Memorial, Memorial, Gate Ypres onSaturday evening. The the emotive Last Post Ceremony atthe Menin in to participate The lucky unitwasextremely this year. their100thanniversaries Salient andbothmarked which were theGreat battlesduring War inthe Ypres of Passchendaele, bothof andtheBattle Messines ontheBattleof primarily battlefield study focussed France. The exercise wasa VIPER inBelgium and completed Exercise SALIENT Regiment (NI) Medical fromand Soldiers 253 Officers 33 Army Reserve From 2017, 5th-8thMay andFranceBelgium Ex SALIENT VIPER - programme. TroopsGames to Target on theArmy’s Olympic with three ofthemalso the Army in Target Pistol Pte McClure allrepresent Alexander, LCpl Moore and TargetMoore, Sgt Rifle. Cpl and theArmy inFull-bore success we hadCapt McLean representing Ireland additionto ourcombatshooting Brigade. In Med UOTC andthree oftheField Hospitalswithin2 benefited this year are 102 Log Brigade, Cambridge the Field Army. The organisations andunitsthathave coursesacross marksmanship to delivering bespoke developed astrong core ofcoacheswhoare used the USNationalGuards Championship. We have three memberswho went onexercise, shootingin and in2017we had from theRegiment made upofshooters is Team (ARCST) Combat Shooting The core oftheAR Class BChampionship. andthe Gun Match winning theMachine well by doing very with Pte McClure individual silverware ofthe the majority Team memberswon for thethird time. forMedal theAR, Her Majesty’s Queen’s Alexander whowon must goto Cpl congratulations RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 27 UNIT SUMMARIES UNIT SUMMARIES 28 The Exercise andillnessprevention involved injury Marches inHolland.marchers attheNijmegen to military provided Life Real Support Medical from Regimentand Soldiers 253(NI)Medical From Officers 15th-22ndJuly2017,66Army Reserve Marches Nijmegen Real Life Support 16th August 1917. Commonwealth thatfell inthe Ypres Salientbefore Ireland and UK, officers andsoldiers from the to remember the54,389 was the30667thservice in Regiment participated that 253(NI)Medical inSurrey instead. Cemetery The ceremonyMilitary the ceremony from wasconducted Brookwood of Occupation German Ypres in World War 2,where at 2000hrssince2ndJuly1928;except the during evening The ceremony every hasbeenconducted wreath Regiment. onbehalf of253(NI)Medical honouredwas extremely andproud to lay a Commanding Officer, Clarke, Lt QARANC ColChris RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report means of a static Emergency means ofastaticEmergency Healthcare wasdelivered by environment.Multinational to and inaJoint work personnel theopportunity andalsogave staff) support 900 (750marchers and150 around2017, numbering ofNijmegen participants Contingent Military British and treatment for the treated patients to the sound of loud music all day; treated patients to thesoundofloudmusic allday; situated beside thediscotent, meaning medics was this wasmadestrangeras themedicalfacility environment, howevera multinationalmilitary at timesto beproviding care to patientsamongst perday. wasstrange 40km marchers It ofwalking attimesdespite thearduous acarnival task forlike Regiment personnel. atmosphereThe is Nijmegen for experience was anew mostof253 (NI)Medical for andinteresting varied work. The deployment personnel, UOTC reserves, andcadetswhichmade Contingent includedregular military Military British resuscitation area to treat patients. emergency The clinic. Facility Medical The Emergency alsohada /walk-in aGPpractice parades whichwasabitlike Facilityto Medical attend theEmergency for sick end ofeachday. addition, marchers were In able Facility Medical Emergency treated marchers atthe AreasRest treated themarchers on route andthe for 4days sotheirfeet took quite apounding! The wound care. perday The marchers 40km walked to shifted blister treatment andfootworkload As themarching days progressed, theclinical theirfeet to marching.included pre-taping prior Facility Medical the Emergency for foot care which began! work ofpatientsattended The majority from 18th-21stJuly 2017,whichiswhenthereal clinical scenarios. The marches lasted for 4days also spentfinalisingclinicaltrainingandpractising their own clinicalareas. The first daysfew were Facility wasmultinationalwitheachnationhaving set upfrom Medical scratch andtheEmergency the marches commencing. hadto be Eachfacility Areas inpreparation for and themarchers arriving Facility Medical up theEmergency andtheRest The first Nijmegen were daysfew in spentsetting on existingclinicalskills. andbrushingup clinicalskills new of bothlearning wasanintense butenjoyable yearand weekends. It trainingevenings onreserve training wasundertaken together for 10monthsspecifically for thetask. This and combatmedicaltechnicians whohadtrained outby ofdoctors, amixture nurses was carried location eachmarching day. The medicalsupport Area Treatment Teams whichdeployed to adifferent FacilityMedical atHeumensoord Camp and3Rest 3rd prizes were given to teams. thetop scoring ceremony where 1st,2ndand with aprize-giving from thenightbefore! The concluded weekend day ontheSunday to blow awaysports thecobwebs on theSaturday evening, finishingupwithafun Training Camp, withabuffetevent mealandsocial standssetuparound atvarious Ballykinler activities the exercise. in They spentthe2days participating and combatmedicorparamedicfor thedurationof were splitupinto groups andassigned withamentor effectively situation. inanemergency Participants to guidethepubliconhow to respond safely and andcivilianpersonnel was designed by bothmilitary app(www.citizenaid.org),the smartphone which The event itselfwaslooselybaseduponcitizenAID™, employers ofcurrent reservists. Care Trusts andgainingadeeperunderstandingfrom relationships withtheHealthService good working However, agreater inbuilding italsoserves purpose optionsavailableinsight into to thevarious them. Royal Navy, Army giving andRAFreserves, theman professionallyto attract qualifiedpersonnelinto the leadership activities. The mainaimoftheexercise is competein whichthey inmilitary, medicaland the Healthcare withateam sector buildingchallenge life” event whichprovides civilianprofessionals from andRoyalAirForce,Royal Navy itisa2day at “look from theArmy,Regiment alongsideotherreservists weekend. This year hosted by 253(NI)Medical much anticipated annualExercise Challenge Medical The 23rd-24th the September 2017thisyear marked Exercise Challenge Med 2017 again in3years’ time. to forward repeating thewholeexperience looking Regimentenjoyable. is 253(NI)Medical Overall was challenging, fulfilling, memorableandhugely whose day jobsare totally different, thedeployment surreal! combatmedicaltechnicians As reserve very themselves andtheircolleagues. with many alotabout goinghomehaving learnt proudextremely oftheirindividualandteam efforts, hard, play hard” mostexhausted but ethosleft andcivilianalike. military The Army Reserve “work As always, washadby afantasticweekend all, both stole thelimelight,comingin1stoverall. respectively, butitwasLagan Valley Hospitalwho Hospital were closecontenders, coming2ndand3rd Hospital/Royal Victoria Care Trustand Whiteabbey Craigavon Area Hospital/Western Health&Social RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 29 UNIT SUMMARIES 591 (AA) FIELD SQUADRON, 71 ENGINEER REGIMENT

Op TRENTON 1 & 2 (Jan-Jul 17) 71 Engineer Regiment mobilised 28 individuals for the United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS). 16 of these reserve soldiers were from 591 (AA) Field Squadron in Bangor, Northern Ireland. The reserves soldiers were attached to 34 Field Squadron, 39 Engineer Regiment in Kinloss, Scotland for the pre- deployment training. UNIT SUMMARIES

Op TRENTON 1 & 2 was the first turn of the wheel for British Forces to be deployed in South Sudan and is the first real UN mission less Op TOSCA in Cyprus in over 15 years for British Forces. The British Task Force was split over two locations, Malakal and Bentiu in South Sudan. The task force was Exercise Finn Circuit faced with a harsh, 591 (AA) Field Squadron recently completed a major extremely hot and construction task – a 2.1 Km cross-country driver remote environment training area – on Ballykinler training area in Northern to operate and Ireland (NI). The task was completed over four weeks construct two camp in July and August 2017 and will enable the resident locations in. Both Brigade, 38 (Irish) Brigade, to train a new generation locations required of off-road drivers. a fully functional camp which was safe, Although a training area had existed for a number of years, there was a clear requirement to upgrade the area – the previous track could only be used as liveable and workable to ‘nursery’ for new drivers and units in NI had to send be constructed within the all of their drivers to England to gain the off-road six months. This consisted qualifications, which incurred significant travel costs. of tasks ranging from For approximately 10 years, units in Northern Ireland water services, ablutions, have been hoping for an upgraded cross-country accommodation, road driver training area in the province, without which construction, electrical they struggled to train their drivers. This summer supply, cooking and dining 591 Field Squadron fully delivered that requirement facilities, camp perimeter and units in NI will now be able to deliver off-road driver training in-house, and welfare facilities. from quadbikes and The Task Force was WMIKs (Weapons Mounted also carrying out UN Installation Kits) to SVs construction tasks (Specialist Vehicles) and CSTs such as culvert design (Close Support Tankers), and build, and UN resulting in a dramatic helipad construction increase in driver manning and maintenance. and saving the MOD £600- Additional to these 800K in construction costs tasks was the main effort which was the design, build and manning of a fully operational Level 2 Hospital in Bentiu. This Hospital is the only medical level 2 facility within that part of South Sudan and is one of the best facilities within all of South Sudan.

30 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 worst oftheweather was avoided. Mercifully, wasaccurate andthe theweather report dayMaintenance was pushedbackby days. two to and thedisappointmentofguys) theRest was reshuffledseveral times, mostnotably (and andthesequenceofevents was alsoamajorfactor days, andthetaskwasbackontrack. The weather three weeks into four wasturned phone-calls friendly was estimated at2-3weeks! Thankfully, withafew wasidentifiedbutthetime to delivery a shortage of vitalresources: withonly aweek andahalfleft, occasion thatchangemeanttheteam wasshort always changesalittleontheground, andonone Invariably, ofrock. avoiding theplan ashortage increased to 20trucks aday (400tonnes) narrowly schedule was company washelpfulandthedelivery day.until lunchtimethenext Thankfully, thedelivery failed to mention–anddeliveries didn’t resume were involved had they inalocalparade–fact ringing! Many ofthesupplier’sbells started drivers when thedeliveries stopped for awholeday, alarm schedule, requiring around 14deliveries aday. So, significant amountofstone wasneededinatight to overcome, many minor, butsomemore –a serious As withany project,there were issuesandchallenges Challenges regular counterparts. engineers invaluable from learnt tipsandtricks their combat ofplantandreservist time onavariety integration, thistaskgave regular POMs significant 39 Engineer Regiments. ofregular-reserve Atriumph regular assistancewasprovided from both 36and the Regiment, 124and102Field Squadrons, and Also joining591were teams from units within their training. andcombatengineers to cement machine-hours units, thistaskalso enableddrivers to driveup their between weeks. solidco-operation Demonstrating days two forrefuel thewholefour vehicles every required to runthemachines, aCSTwassentto Tasked withsupplyingthe10,000litres ofdiesel local Petroleum Regiment, 152(NI)Regiment RLC. enlisted thehelpofanumberunits, including order toIn complete thetask591Field Squadron Co-Operation and simulated river-bed amongothers. pit,steep ascenthill of obstaclesincludingaquarry trackincludesavariety andthe2.1km spans 0.3km2 1,100 man-hoursto complete. The trainingarea 10,000Tstone, 13piecesofplantand 9,000T earth, toField date, requiring Squadron hasundertaken The trainingarea task591 isthelargest construction per year. £2-5Mintraveland between andsubsistence costs scrambles and a summit of nearly 1,300m. scrambles andasummitofnearly thesecondday featuredhillwalking; multiple Hillwalking: Two days were alsogiven over to technically. more challenging bothphysically cycle, and andthesecondwasalongersignificantly cycling thefirstwasanintroduction to arduous biking; Biking: Mountain Two days were spentonmountain being acommonfeature. were:The activities temperatures andheights were challenged, withhigh Squadrons. Allparticipants from 102and591Field deployed,and 3instructors to Spain,with10participants AdventureExercise Training Overseas multi-activity completed asuccessful 71 Engineer Regiment Exercise Groan Finn and thesuppliers! assistance of152Regiment RLC, estate management the Regiment, theattachedregulars andthewilling But itcouldn’t have beendonewithouttherest of thetasksite withahugesenseofachievement. left Squadron hasever completed, andallmembers This hasbeenoneof, ifnotthebiggesttask591Field Summary training facilitiesto asimilarlevel. another 2-3locationswillbeableto upgrade their with locationsacross theUK–hopeisthat toto driveandsotheplansare learn beingshared itisn’t whoneed Clearly Ireland justunitsinNorthern for off-road, wheeled Army.vehicles intheBritish trainingarea kind –theonlypurpose-built first ofits Driver This Cross-Country Training Area the isinfact Future Plans RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 31 UNIT SUMMARIES Rock Climbing: An intense day of rock climbing were also on show including plant, combat, signals was also included, giving experienced climbers the and medics. There was also a special presentation chance to challenge themselves on climbs up to 6A, to a 96-year-old veteran who had lost his beret and and pushing novices to learn how to lead climb. badge from the Second World War. Norman Dickson Other Activities: The party also had the time to walk served with the and holds the War the stunning Caminito Del Ray route and teams were Medal and the France and Germany Star. He had been tasked with shopping and preparing meals. unable to trace his beret and badge so the Army Adventurous training is hugely important to the Armed Forces and aims to ‘promote enhanced operational capability through controlled exposure to risk’. For the majority of those involved it is one of the highlights of their time in the reserves. UNIT SUMMARIES

Exercise MARKET STAR Ex MARKET STAR was the Royal Engineers Parachute Team (REPT) Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) exercise taking place in Lake Elsinore, California, costing a personal contribution of just £500, which included 28 jumps. The aim of the exercise was to provide a mentally challenging and physically testing overseas adventurous training opportunity by undertaking an Reserve Engineers remedied this by presenting him intensive two week parachuting course. with new ones. Earlier this year, Norman was awarded The Legion of Honour Medal for his participation in Skydive Elsinore Drop Zone (DZ), located 75km south the D-Day landings when he sailed to Gold Beach in east of Los Angeles, operates two Twin Otter and Normandy. He went to war after training at Ballykinler two Cessna 208 aircraft. Each is capable of taking and still vividly recalls the loss of his many young jumpers to 12,500ft in approximately 15 minutes. The friends at the time. He said at the event that he is location provided ideal weather conditions to ensure proud of his time in the military. maximum tanning!!

After 6 hours’ ground training, AFF Students made our first skydive from 12,500ft above ground level (AGL) with two Accelerated Free Fall Instructors (AFFIs). The aim of the first jump was to establish a good body position and deploy our parachute after approximately 45 seconds of freefall at a height of 6,000ft AGL. A further 7 descents involved us progressing onto skydives with one AFFI and carrying out aerial manoeuvres such as turns and back loops. After achieving the 8 instructed jumps we made 10 solo consolidation jumps.

An amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone!!!!

Squadron Open Day Our Open day this year was a huge success with a footfall of over 500 and 13 potential recruits. The activities on offer to the families and general public included: mascot and handler from the Royal Irish Regiment; Royal British Legion Veteran Bikers; BFBS ice-cream van - free ice cream to all ; Eddie Irvine - F4 cars on show; Northern Ireland Fire Service - One engine with crew; Northern Ireland Fire Service specialist rescue team; Pathways -Climbing wall, inflatable Assault course, inflatable bungee run and Air soft; BFBS Radio (Doing some interviews and playing music); War years remembered Vintage military vehicles; Sweetie shop. Our own stands

32 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 squeezed inon top (HMG) course was Gun Machine Heavy planned training, a along withthe understatement; camp wasavast To say itwasabusy ofDenmark. part southern inthe 2017, inNymindegab, OksbolandBorris Guard. Exercise VIKING STAR took placeinSeptember Forces oftheDanishArmy andtheUSNational Exerciseof anInternational involving theCombined aspart Annual Camp, whichtook placein Denmark, The highlightoftheyear undoubtedly wasthe STARExercise VIKING year. positionasitenters anew Squadron isinapowerful within theRegiment. There isnodoubtthatthe the SNIYandwe findourselves asthebestmanned strengthened thepositionofSquadron within position andgrowing allthetime. thishas Overall established inColeraine just2years agoisinastrong an incredible 120%. This hasensured thatthe Troop which hasseentheSquadron manpower increase to life. notablehasbeenourRecruiting, Most Reserve of which hascontinuedto develop inallaspects This hasbeenanotherexciting year for theSquadron, IRISH YEOMANRYNORTH SQUADRON, THE SCOTTISH & B (NORTHIRISHHORSE) Sqn fromSqn 2010–2013. previously commandedthe for thesecondtime, having command oftheSquadron Taylor over has taken Johnnie Brigade. Major a positioninHQ38(Irish) up whohastaken Gannon, bid farewell Mark to Major 2017 saw theSquadron Change ofCommand enjoyed. asataster alsoserved The mountainbiking part taking it onlyaddedto thefun that everyone before. Althoughconditionsin the seawere rough, hadnottried thatthey activities to experience allowed 10soldiersfromIreland. It theSquadron coastofNorthern onthenorth and coasteering Ex ENDEAVOURWOLF’S involved mountainbiking ENDEAVOURExercise WOLF’S beginning ofJuly2017. centrestraining basedin3mountainbike inNIatthe involved andpractical Course. It 5days of theory FoundationSquadron Bike to gaintheirMountain Exercise ENDURO allowedWOLF 6soldiersfrom the WOLF ENDURO Exercise place. taken which theAdventurous Training couldnothave their adventurous trainingexercises andwithout forSquadron Bikes to several of usetheirMountain A bigthankyou to RFCANIfor allowing the 2017. in January trip, ExerciseRegimental Ski FOX SNOW to Val D’Isere 10 membersoftheSquadron enjoyed theannual away. andfurther exercises, Ireland bothinNorthern inmany adventurousand participate training The Squadron continuesto enthusiasticallyorganise Adventurous Training ‘Soldier’s Soldier’ award. the campwinning ‘Best Troop’ the andalsotaking B Squadron managedto scoopseveral awards during already busydays. through theintense HMGcourse, ontop oftheir qualified gunnerswhostepped upandpowered wasallcredit to else. the13newly It of everything RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 33 UNIT SUMMARIES UNIT SUMMARIES

to motivate soldiers to gain their mountain Biking Foundation Course in the future.

Sport The Squadron has again excelled in the sporting field, with members participating in numerous sports throughout the Army, including Army Football, skiing and more recently the SQMS had success in the Army Push and Pull Weightlifting Championships, qualifying easily for the next round. The Squadron also has a strong orienteering base, taking part in numerous inter troop competitions throughout the year.

The female members of the Squadron participated for the second year running in the Scottish Festival of Female Sport, held in Edinburgh in October 2017. The females were able to take part in numerous sporting activities, including, rugby, swimming, netball and badminton.

Looking Forward Updating and improving the Facilities for Dunmore ARC to reflect the improvement in female recruiting and enhancing IT/Gym facilities for the troop in Coleraine ARC are just 2 of the top priorities for the coming year.

34 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 a church service before returning to the Town Hall, 40 (NORTH IRISH HORSE) giving the salute to the Lord Lieutenant of Antrim SIGNAL SQUADRON and the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim. At the lunch afterwards, The Honorary Colonel of B (North Irish Introduction / Ops Horse) Squadron, Colonel Kinahan, presented the The Squadron has been fully engaged in numerous Squadron with a magnificent signed picture of Her activities throughout 2017, leading the way in Majesty The Queen, to celebrate our Golden Jubilee. the pan regular–reserve Army integration, with the continued nurturing of our soldiers in the provision of Army wide Force Protection by way of UNIT SUMMARIES Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), working with 225 Signal Squadron. On the UK Ops side, we have gained significant momentum by providing assistance to 38 (Irish) Brigade Signal Troop on training exercises throughout the year. Over Annual Continuation Training two weeks in October, the Squadron provided two The Annual Continuation Training (ACT) took place soldiers to a small Royal Signals team, with the aim of over two weeks in September at Strensall Camp, North carrying out servicing and assurance on all defence Yorkshire and Magilligan Training Centre, County communications in the Falkland Islands. The year Londonderry. The majority of the Squadron took part has once again brought the soldiers in the Squadron in an imaginative range package followed by a military opportunities across a broad spectrum of soldier, trade skills exercise on Catterick Training Area putting to and adventure training. test the command and leadership skills of our soldiers. This was excellent preparation for future promotion Recruiting courses. The recruiting for the Squadron over the last 12 months has provided a consistent flow of recruits, Adventure Training with 13 new faces (4 of these being trained soldiers The soldiers from the having transferred to the Squadron from various units) Squadron are fortunate with the unit now fully manned at 84 personnel. to avail of the regular AT It is reassuring that this figure is accurate and all opportunities that 32 are regular attenders. Individual circumstances are Signal Regiment strongly managed appropriately, with retention being a high encourage. Of note in 2017 priority. Attendances throughout 2017 at both the are the expeditions to the Regimental and Squadron training events continue to French Alps (Alpine Skiing), be encouraging. The Squadron is now addressing the California (Sky Diving) and shortfall of young officers. Peru (Trekking across the Andes). 40 Squadron – 50th Celebrations In April, the Squadron celebrated the Golden Jubilee Events of Interest of 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment. The occasion was Other events of note which the Squadron has marked with a parade at Clonaver Park followed provided soldiers for include competing for the by a commemoration lunch for past and present 32 Signal Regiment Team in the Lanyard Trophy members of the Regiment. We were delighted to host competition, an arduous 40 mile race along the a wide number of guests across the Army Reserve welsh coast carrying 40 lbs. The Regimental Shooting community. Team experienced convincing victories at both the 51 Brigade and inter The Hitler Line Commemoration Corps competitions The annual commemoration of the Battle of the Hitler at Bisley with the Line on 20th May began with a dinner in Londonderry Squadron providing the evening before. There were 24 members of the six out of the eight Squadron, along with our brothers from B man team. (North Irish Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, who marched through Carrickfergus for

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 35 UNIT SUMMARIES 36 demand. the exciting will challengesthatArmy 2020Refine Squadron isinastrong, healthy positionto implement 12months, and . to forward the thenext Looking oftraininginPeru,variety The Falkland Islands, France the soldiersinSquadron have a experienced relationships Army colleaguesand withourRegular The Squadron hasestablishedpositive working year! wasanotherfantastic,packed action It Summary Squadron inJanuary.June andanew Sergeant Major Wein over Commanding taking have Officer anew September. next Sennelager placewithourparentto take Regiment over in The AnnualContinuation Training in2018isdue Regiment over inGlasgow. with theprocess training withQueensand32Signal Potential process andboth Officer are fullyengaged We have more two soldiersgoingthrough the Force Protection role. (225Signal Squadron) ECM inournew counterparts is hopedwe cancontinueto assistourregular Army commitments onfuture operationsandreadiness. It current can provide direct assistanceto support established to identifyareas where theSquadron group atahighlevel hasnowA working been Look Forward RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report access to around-robin standsdelivering ofvarious additionto attendance byIn unitstaff, 70 recruits had Unit HealthFair thePhase during 1Bcoursein August. ATU to deliver theirfirst (NI)grasped theopportunity Unit Health Fair 2017 staff.instructing continue to develop theprofessional ofour capability challenge for 2018isto maintainthisstandard and field army with124passingtheAlphacourse. The 2017ICoy deliveredIn 113trainedsoldiersto the personnel to Crete withATU Scotland. to London and3 andArnhem PEGASUS REFLECTION from ICoy were ableto attend a Battlefield StudyEX With allthehard comesreward work andpersonnel have testified to. asnumerous studentvalidations thoroughly deserved 95% intheArmy whichisacredit to the in’‘train ATU NIhasthehighest recruit pass outrate atover with athree day exercise andlive firing. these Training anddevelops themfurther Objectives and anovernight exercise. The Bravo coursereinforces covers Drill, SAA,PD, Values andStandards, Law Mil whilst theconsolidated courselastsfor oneweek and Alpha coursesconsistof4weekends’ basictraining 2 Phase 1Bravo coursesover theyear. The Modular courses, 3Phase 1Alphaconsolidated courses and ICoyOverall delivered 4Phase 1Alphamodular Phase 1AlphaandBravo courses. Syllabus(CMS) recruits passtheir Common Military CHALLENGEwhichsawsuccessful SHAMROCK 69 Wray handedover overseeing commandafter avery Garethin September to Latus(2RIRISH).Maj Maj Peterwith Maj Wray (RMP)handingover thereins hasbeenayear ofchangeatthetop forIt ICoy CompanyInitial IRELAND) (NORTHERN UNIT TRAINING ARMY Gen Hyams OBE and is OBEandis Hyams Gen Maj by theGOCARTD symposium Division (ARTD) and Army Recruiting Training presented atthe to CplKnox This prestigious award was the Year (SNIY). to CplKnox award ofReserve Trainer of Training Group (ITG) withthe was recognised by Initial ofourinstructors capability philosophy oftheunit. The cover advanced. available asthey to theGermans avisitasitshows thelimited since 1941and isworth invaders hadto travel, stillexiststoday, changing little river bedrunningto/from thesea,alongwhich the thewalk. scrapes remain –itwasworth The dry including hill107,where andshell original bunkers airfield, atMeleme were studiedsequentiallystarting battlelocations The key phase hadnotbeenwasted. was clearthattheresearch highstandard andit very presentations were ofa the runupto thetrip. All in hadlearnt what they to demonstrate everyone for provided anopportunity locations, at various which were delivered by allteams ofthebattle aspects various presentations on Short invasion ofCreteairborne andsubsequentoperations. 4days wereThe next spentstudyingtheGerman to Chaniaonthe journey Western sideofCrete. on theMELandadministrative the matters we started were welcomed. warmly Following adetailedbrief where Barracks, Scotland we formed upinCavalry placed into teams andtasksallocated, thegroup Having previously beenissuedjoininginstructions, in theMediterranean. island asanAxisoperatingbasefor future operations its useby alliedforces withtheintent ofusingthe Crete 1941inorder inMay to seize theislandanddeny Operation MERCURY, invasion of airborne theGerman (NI) joinedATU abattlefieldstudyinto to (Sc) conduct On the21stofSeptember 2017three membersofATU ATU (NI)Crete 2017 Sep HealthProfessionals. ofexternal utilise thesupport for future events and build onthissuccess career. The unitplanto the recruit’s military the foundation of from Healthy Mind of Healthy Body– instil anawareness The wasto objective Personal HealthCare. of aspects various RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 37 UNIT SUMMARIES displayed by soldiers during the battle. John Frost The Imbros gorge walk, the actual route to Sfakia Bridge (John Frostbrug in Dutch) is the road bridge taken by the retreating allied forces and civilians was over the Lower Rhine at Arnhem, in the Netherlands. excellent and gave insight into the terrain through The bridge is named after Major-General John Dutton which the allies travelled on their difficult withdrawal. Frost (1912–1993), who commanded the British forces that reached and defended the bridge during the Many lessons were learnt from this study and the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. advantage of Mission Command, as employed by the German forces, and the fighting spirit of their airborne Unit Families Day troops were highlighted as key to their success. Even CO ATU (NI) was keen to show his appreciation to the though all senior German officers were killed during families of staff from the unit and assistant instructors the early stages of the battle at Maleme airfield, they for their continued support with an open invitation still succeeded because everyone knew what the to the Families Day. Activities laid on by Pathways commander’s aim was and by the time Hill 107 had included climbing wall, inflatable assault course, been taken the Medical Officer was in command. archery, BB and Nerf ranges in addition to the wives and partners showing their marksmanship talents on This was an excellent trip, superbly well organised and the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT). For delivered by ATU (Sc) to whom we are most grateful. a change the Ballykinler weather was brilliant which allowed for the event to EXERCISE PEGASUS REFLECTION have a perfect finale with an At the launch of the Army Leadership Code in Sep 15 excellent bar-b-que. the CGS’S intent for leadership directs that we apply our philosophy of mission command in both wartime Looking ahead to 2018 and peacetime, with our approach to both being 2018 will bring some as similar as possible. Mission command is based significant changes for on mutual trust between leaders and those they the ATU (NI). A change of lead. Leaders have a duty to provide the guidance, Commanding Officer, I Coy including resources and constraints that allow 2IC, RSM, Trg WO and a few subordinates to use their initiative and judgment. In instructors will all add to the return subordinates have a ever busy Battle Rhythm. duty to act with loyalty and We say goodbye to Lt Col discipline. Trust is a two-way S Pajger, Commanding process that is guaranteed by Officer of the ATU (NI) since every soldier, whether leader July 2015, who moves onto or led, living our Values and a new role in GB knowing Standards and setting an he leaves the ATU (NI) as a appropriate example – it is centre of excellence that about doing as you would all others aspire to. We be done by. also welcome our new Commanding Officer Lt Col The RSM (WO1) John Simon Cassells QVRM VR R Crawford, the ATU (NI) IRISH who comes to the unit ALC Champion, strives to from an SO1 role in 38 (IRISH) Brigade Headquarters, ensure all ranks from the CO bringing a wealth of experience to the unit. to lowest rank in the ATU embodies this aspiration by The ATU (NI) will deliver 3 Modular Alpha courses, 3 CGS. On a recent Battle Field Consolidated Alpha courses and 2 Bravo consolidated Study at John Frost Bridge in courses in 2018 and will aim to maintain our current Arnhem RSM Crawford took high percentage pass rate. It’s not all work though the opportunity to discuss at the ATU (NI) as a battlefield study to Italy is in the key elements from the ALC planning stages for June 2018 and we look forward to ATU (NI)’s participation in the Raft Race and also our annual families’ day.

38 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 62 MILITARY INTELLIGENCE COMPANY

62 MI has grown over the course of the year having welcomed new personnel and we have seen a major change to the Company HQ team. New OC & CSM have risen to the challenge with their own unique styles. Due to the sterling efforts of the RSUSO and his recruitment team, we are now 82% recruited. sections in new roles each Given the challenging environment of NI it is to be day in demanding heat commended that we are on a constant upward and pressured conditions. trajectory. Company personnel were also key contributors to the Within the last year we have welcomed over 12 planning and execution of individuals into the ranks. The Phase 1 soldiers the OTX. completed their basic training in Ballykinler and We sent one female JNCO on Pirbright this year with 6 members of the Company Ex Pilgrims Khanjar in Jordan passing out between May and September 2017. Amongst strong cadres, the quality of their Phase 0 training is evident, demonstrated not least by another top recruit award to add to our trophy cabinet. They are now gearing up to undergo their OPMI training before the New Year.

62 MI personnel have reminded the Corps that we can punch well above our weight and we have had soldiers engaged in numerous courses and varied exercises thought the year. The Company has seen six of its members pass their OPMI 3 course and we look forward to witnessing their future contribution to the Company and Corps as trained Operators. Not to rest where she was able to apply her HUMINT and MPE on our laurels our soldiers push to advance through skills in a two week exercise. their OPMI classes and we congratulate 3 JNCOs on completing their OPMI 1 and OPMI 2 training. The Battlefield Studies Company has also seen 2 new Officers successfully As ever 62 Company personnel step up to the mantle complete OFMI in what is sure to be just the start of and relish the opportunity to be seen and heard. exciting prospects to come in their reservist careers. This year we’ve had two JNCOs in Monte Cassino, Italy to visit the site of a famous WWII battle that In addition, personnel have attended training courses was fought on sheer mountains. No doubt the pair which allow them to pass on knowledge to the leant a lot about vital ground and vantage points. company for in house training, making 62 MI ever We also managed to get two JNCOs to the Island of more self-sufficient. From the Biometric Sp Op course Crete, and while the weather was a dampener, their to Civil Affairs and DIT courses - we look forward to appreciation for the battlefield study could not be them offering superior lessons within the Company. diminished. The global reach continues with one intrepid JNCO taking part in Ex Corsican Spider on Exercises the island of Napoleon’s birthplace, Corsica, to take The varied exercises that 62 personnel have applied part in a multi cap badge expedition run by 1 ISR themselves to are truly indicative of the high calibre Brigade, to traverse the Island’s 180 km mountainous and willingness of the soldiers in the Company to spine. There is a certain reason why the French represent the Battalion across the Corps and wider Foreign Legion uses it as their testing phase. Army. This year, 20 personnel deployed on Ex Lion Star 5 to Cyprus where 6 MI Battalion conducted their annual training exercise, testing both soldiering skills and intelligence skills in an exercise that placed

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 39 UNIT SUMMARIES 40 counterparts. ofourRegular insupport experts forces matter MPEsubject becoming theReserve year towards andwork aswe develop ourcapability to strength immenselyto andlookforward thenext 62 MICompany. We continueto grow from strength All inallanotherchallenging andproductive year for tribute. the Company level; itwasafitting to anexemplary hisroles within in June2017,having performed Queen’s Palace heldatBuckingham Garden Party CSM wasinvited by royal appointmentto the The Company showcased fairly itselfwhenits and soldiersintheircore skills. ethosandcontinuouslydevelop officers cross service intelligence picture whileallowing usto grow the to appreciate eachother’s role the ingathering across theservices. This willallow bothservices to share ourtrainingtechniques andcapabilities inajointtrainingeffort counterparts Intelligence has alsojoinedforces Reserve withourRoyal Navy Shooting Competition. 62MICompany Recently shooting competition,andtheFTC Operational inaninter-Companytested allowing participation developed and and Battalionare oftheCompany skills Operational shooting also ensured thatthe Training has Officer admirably. Our acquitted itself the Company competition where Battalion milskills Ex Eagles Trial, the including sports competitions and inter-Company in numerous has participated testing, andthisyear is nostrangerto The Company itself RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report Ex Griffin Spanner2017istheREME’sEx Griffin annual exercise, Exercise GRIFFINSPANNER inthe localislandchurch. church service a short War identifiedontheisland, Graves (CWG) followed by presentations were given atsites ofCommonwealth and culturalpointsofinterest to discusslater. Verbal were in historical Junior Ranks encouragedto take Island, whichpassesthewreckonroute. ofHMSDrake from journey Ballycastle to Churchferry Bay, Rathlin Commonwealth War consisted Graves. ofa ExRW and Legends) andcommemoratinganumberof environment. Combined withaCultural Tour (Myth inaunique andchallenging included orienteering from trip Ballycastle. ExRW anda6-mile ferry Kintyre area of3,500acres situated 11milesfrom of theMull Islandhasacurrent populationof107,an Rathlin RATHLINExercise WANDER one. Div SpCompany to thecurrent issimilarinmakeup much ofachangeday to day. The company new 157 Field Company however to see shouldnotexpect REME willamalgamate with102BattalionREME,157 capability. 106Battalion Reserve increased infantry will becomethree, inorder room to for make an Engineers andMechanical (REME)Battalions Electrical ofArmy 2020R,sixRoyal anticipated change-aspart hasalsobeenayearfor of aUnitraisedinApr2015. It have beengrowing steadily innumbersandmaturity This hasbeenagoodyear for 157Field Company who BATTALION 106 REME COMPANY, 157 FIELD Teams (FRTs) were deployed regular to various Forward Repair week ofACT thenext During andBeatingofRetreat.that evening withaReception grounds ofStAndrews oftheUniversity andfinishing Parade through inthe StAndrews, Games Highland to engagewiththecommunity. The day includeda celebrate amomentous occasionandanopportunity for 157Fieldopportunity Company to jointogether to Corp’s wasan celebrations. It extensive 75thbirthday complimentedof theREME.REMEScotland the oftheformation oftheCorps the 75thAnniversary Rampant Saltire (Ex RS) marked The ofEx first weekend Annual Continuation Training (ACT) Ex RAMPANT SALTIRE by Pathways,The funday wassupported RFCANI. food, allyear to round. thankfamiliesfor theirsupport popular.very There waslive musicand hotandcold climbing wallwasanadditionfrom lastyear andwas vehicle stands. castleandmilitary bouncy The mobile children’s assaultcourse, BBguntarget shooting, to including enjoy afullrangeofactivities opportunity attended by familymemberswhohadthe 157 Field Company Families’ Fun Day waswell Families’ Fun Day out of21 Teams. the firsttimeandcame7th Company Team entered for 72hours. 157Fielda further the regular phasefollows for over aweekend, which after phase, thisisfor 36hours For skills. thereserve military that test bothtradeand through ofstands aseries a hightempo environment, and reserves. Teams rotate, in separate phasesfor regulars the exercise provides two itscurrent andasindividuals.format, collectively In operations inwhichfitter teams are tested both Command ofcontemporary (FTC) againstascenario is organised and runannuallyby Force Troops Bluebell and Western Approaches. Spanner ExGriffin Divisional Exercises, Northern Craftsman, Southern SpannerGriffin replacedthethreearm special to each other. With ofthereserves, therestructuring and seesregular and reservist ‘fitters’ trainalongside RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 41

UNIT SUMMARIES Units, 2 Battalion the necessary repairs successfully undertaken. It was REME at Leuchars fortunate that 157 Field Company had two Translink and 3 Battalion vehicle mechanic subject matter experts serving in Rifles at Dreghorn the Company and others with significant engineering Barracks, working knowledge and experience to complete the repairs. on assorted vehicles On completion, the Bus was driven to the DVA Test and equipment. Centre and passed the MOT test. It has now been This took Craftsmen handed back to the stakeholders for use in the wider back to engineering community. principles and added to their Record of Ex YELLOW FLAG Competencies (RECs). The International North West 200 is Ireland’s largest UNIT SUMMARIES The second week outdoor sporting event, attracting crowds in excess began with a cultural of 100,000 as well as the biggest names in motorbike visit to Edinburgh, racing. Building upon last year’s engagement, 157 taking in sites of Field Company REME assisted the organisers, Coleraine interest. The following and District Motor Club, with scrutineering and week was Skill at Arms, dismantling of the Circuit and they still found time to Range Package and Ex do some valuable fund-raising for the Air Ambulance Scrapheap Challenge NI. which saw teams having to design and manufacture passenger carrying carts. The carts had to be tested Whilst participating in the event for the third for capability around a circuit and the OCs were given consecutive year, the REME’s involvement, known as the task of being the passenger. Recovery Mechanics Exercise Yellow Flag, was more widely recognised this deployed to Cambusbarron Training Area for recovery year as the reservists were able to wear uniform to taskings and the final phase was type 2 multi-activity the event, raising the profile of the unit amongst the Adventurous Training in the Lothian and Borders, public and increasing awareness of the Company and which included mountain biking and hill walking. its very professional Reservists.

THE Inside Out Bus To transform the 8.9 miles of open road into an The Inside Out Bus (a former London red double International Standard Circuit requires a lot of work decker bus) was introduced into the Northern Ireland and the cooperation of various local authorities and civic society in 2013. It was primarily supported by The departments. 157 Field Company gained valuable Department of Justice who provided key resources knowledge about the requirements of controlling an to the project. The bus is equipped with a high-tech event of this scale, which must cover all eventualities. music studio, games consoles and iMac computer This ranges from considering the needs of the farming suite. It was uniquely designed to facilitate and enable community to the day to day wellbeing of the the development of digital projects facilitating the residents in the area. introduction and development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) into schools and During the race week, presentations were given to Community Outreach.

Initial reports were that the bus had a breakdown resulting in the vehicle being moved to a barn in were it had been parked for two years. It was proposed that Inspire (Charities), in conjunction with the wider community stakeholders, and 157 Field Company REME, would reinstate the Bus to full working order the team by the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) and deploy it back into the wider community. The Scrutineers, the North West 200 Communications Community stakeholders provided full funding for all and Race Control Manager and the Dunlop Tyres parts. Development Team, to name a few. So whilst the Company personnel were there to assist the Following some initial repair on site, the bus was organisers, they also benefitted from some excellent moved from the barn to 157 REME Workshop and training and development.

42 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 on 11 October 1996. on 11October by abombat killed Thiepval age43, Barracks, Lisburn, Engineers, andMechanical RoyalElectrical BRADWELL SergeantMajor) JAMES GEORGE Class 1(Artificer Bowl isatrophy incommemorationof Warrant Officer leadership development competition. The Bradwell competition, anengineering innovation and 157 Field Company revived theBradwell Bowl Bradwell Bowl Competition year! again next organisers, whonodoubthopeto seetheREMEteam the wholeevent washugelyappreciated by the track backto normality. Their assistancethroughout assist, helpingto transform thearea from arace Once theevent drew to aclose157continuedto particular, theREME. and, Ireland in inNorthern the Army Reserves to promoteroles available…a fantasticopportunity of157Fieldsponsors onthework Company andthe presentationto giveto the ashort VIP guestsand wasinvited marquee to thehospitality McKillop WO2 metalloftheregulationsbikes - “Core REMEStuff”. leathers, bootsand gloves aswell thatthe asensuring the standard and fit ofallthecompetitors’ helmets, process,Scrutineering whichinvolved checking includingassistingwiththe activities various On raceday itself, 157Field Company conducted Newton Aycliffe. to HQ102FSBattalionREME,whichisbasedin PlatoonDetached willbere-subordinated atLisburn Company, witha continuingto bebasedatKinnegar) (157DivisionSupport Ireland inNorthern the sub-unit andaPl inGrangemouth) and its HQinEastKilbride, Company, (153Recovery inScotland sub-unit with Battalion REME).Nolater 2018,thenew than1May to form 102Force BattalionREME(102FS Support subordinate to 102BattalionREME itssub-units summary,issued. 106BattalionREMEwillre- In of 106Battalionwith102REMEhasbeen OrderThe (IO)for Implementation theamalgamation OC’s 2020RUpdate 2018. formedwithin thenewly 102BattalionREMEinFeb is plannedto raisethecompetitionto ahigherlevel team withtheBradwell Bowl performing Trophy. It assessment andsubsequentawarding ofthebest and leadershipdevelopment stands, resulting inthe competed across arangeofengineering innovation Four teams from 157Field and Company took part Apprentice Auto Mechanical Technicians. training for Apprentice Auto and BodyRepair whichprovides trainingservice, recognised transport NutsCorner, Dundrod, aleading, (TTS), Services The competitionwasheldat Transport Training RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 43 UNIT SUMMARIES most STA weekends involving an element of inter- QUEEN’S UOTC rivalry through a cap-badge related skills UNIVERSITY competition. Throughout the year, Queen’s UOTC has sent strong representation to each of the STA OFFICER weekends. One particular highlight was Queen’s TRAINING UOTC winning the Sapper’s Medium Girder Bridge Build Competition during the RE Weekend; the CORPS Commanding Officer will be hoping that Queen’s UOTC retain the trophy in 2018. As the only University Officers’ Training Corps Annual Camp 2017 (UOTC) in Northern Ireland, Queen’s UOTC is open The Corps deployed over 100 OCdts and Staff to all students from Queen’s University and Ulster to a very successful Annual Camp to Longmoor UNIT SUMMARIES University, and the other higher level educational in June 2017. The primary focus of the Camp institutions across the province. The Corp’s dual was to reinforce the OCdts’ military training with purpose of developing individual leadership a conventionally based five-day field training potential coupled with creating a positive impression exercise, followed by a live firing range package of the Armed Forces with individuals and across the and public order training. The Corps also exploited university community has generated an exceptionally the opportunity to visit the Royal Military Academy busy but exciting and rewarding programme for the Sandhurst (RMAS) to dispel Officer Cadets (OCdts) during 2017. From the Corp’s some of the myths very successful Annual Camp in Longmoor to Winter regarding academy life and Warfare Training in South America with the Chilean the commissioning course. Military Academy, international level Orienteering During the second week on Royal Deeside and an arduous training exercise Corps personnel were given in South Africa, Queen’s UOTC OCdts have been the opportunity to conduct exposed to life changing and challenging scenarios various Leadership and in testing environments across the world. Resilience Training activities which included parachuting, Military Training sailing, trekking, gliding, Corps Military Training horse riding and mountain The RMAS sponsored modular commissioning biking. programme continues to provide Queen’s UOTC with Army Reserve Operational training objectives against which the Corp’s activities Shooting Competition are planned, delivered and assured. The programme (AROSC) delivers the first two modules of the four module In June, ten members of Reserve Commissioning Course, and in parallel it Queen’s UOTC travelled also provides the framework for delivering practical to the National Rifle leadership experience for the Corp’s OCdts. Association ranges at Bisley Ex Northern Lights to compete in the AROSC. Ex NORTHERN LIGHTS is the annual military skills and With only a few days of sports competition focused pre-competition held jointly with the training at Ballykinler, the four Scottish UOTCs team performed exceptionally well during the and Queen’s UOTC. competition. Three members secured their place in This year it was hosted the Top 50 Shots, and each one a TA 50 medal, and by Tayforth UOTC the Corps secured one Silver Medal in the Combat in St Andrews. The Snap Shoot. Corps was placed 3rd Support To Army Cadet Force (ACF) Annual Camps overall; a very credible In July, Queen’s UOTC OCdts provided support for performance from the Army Cadet Force 1st and 2nd Battalions’ Annual all the Queen’s UOTC Camps at Strensall and Altcar in England. Supporting sports and military both camps provided an excellent opportunity for skills teams. The the Queen’s UOTC OCdts to develop their leadership Corp’s Irish Dancing Team will be looking to retain its experience. Scottish Dancing Competition winner’s title in 2018. Army Attachments Special-To-Arm (Sta) Weekends During the summer months, 6 Queen’s UOTC OCdts Throughout the year there are a number of ‘Look at joined the 2 R IRISH’s Battle Camp. The OCdts were Life’ weekends hosted by the Army’s larger Corps. given the opportunity to undertake progressive These STA weekends provide a very positive insight build-up training which culminated in a live day- into the capabilities delivered by each Corps, with 44 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 time Platoon attack and Resilience and Leadership Training live night-time Section Ex Mountain Yeti Finn attack. Also, one OCdt In early January 2017, 16 OCdts from Queen’s UOTC deployed with 591 Field travelled to Bavaria, Germany, to gain Alpine Ski Squadron on their Annual Foundation qualifications. During the week, 7 OCdts Camp in Ballykinler during achieved Ski Foundation Level 1, and a further 9 which he assisted with the achieved the Level 2 Ski Foundation award. Ex construction of an off-road MOUNTAIN YETI FINN was planned and executed by driver training area. two Queen’s UOTC OCdts; Ex Nijmegen March 2017 the success of the exercise In mid-July, Queen’s UOTC deployed twelve was a genuine reflection of OCdts and one staff member to participate in the their highly developed UNIT SUMMARIES arduous Nijmegen International Four Days Marches. planning skills and personal Nijmegen is the largest marching event in the world commitment. and hosts approximately 45,000 participants each Ex Inyati Finn year with over 5,000 military entrants. Qualification In late Aug 17, 64 OCdts and for the event was a mere 50km around Garelochhead staff deployed to South in Scotland; but, the main event was a total of 160km Africa for 17 days of arduous over 4 days carrying 10kg Leadership and Resilience dead-weight in addition Training (Trekking, Mountain to water, food and other biking, Climbing, Kayaking consumables. All twelve and White-Water Rafting) Queen’s UOTC OCdts and educational Battlefield successfully completed the Studies (focusing on March; a tremendous effort. Rorke’s Drift (Zulu War) and Christmas Weekend Spioenkop (Boar War)). The Corp’s last training event of 2017 began with Outreach the Commanding Officer’s Leadership-In-Practice ‘fun’ run along Tyrella beach Queen’s UOTC OCdts and and the Ballykinler training staff successfully delivered area. The ‘run’ warm down Leadership-in-Practice (LiP) was enhanced by lying in training to undergraduates the snow and producing from both Queen’s and snow angels! During the Ulster Universities in remainder of the day, OCdts January and April. The LiP were hosted by the Garrison programme comprises Shooting Club where they of a mix of theoretical were given the opportunity instruction and group to experience clay target discussion, reinforced by related practical activities. The subject matter covered 6 areas: Leadership, Followership, Effective Communication, Positive Personal Impact, Time Management and Planning. The LiP programme provided an excellent experience for OCdts to support fellow university students, and gain mentoring skills in the process. The package has now also been developed into a one-day leadership event for Sixth Form students. Queen’s UOTC will be delivering more training for School and University students in the coming months. Cadet Outreach shooting and they were also given an introductory Queen’s UOTC, with 38 (Irish) Brigade, has now lesson with the Army’s in-service pistol and several initiated Cadet Outreach activities with the main non-service pistols. The training day concluded CCF-sponsoring schools across Northern Ireland. with the OCdts’ Christmas Dinner in the Ballykinler Branded as ‘Young Leader Development’ these Cookhouse followed by their Christmas Party back at outreach activities are targeted at Senior Pupils/ Tyrone House. School Prefects. The Outreach aim is twofold: firstly, it aims to inform those in positions of responsibility

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 45 about the meaning of leadership, and how to Sport develop their own leadership skills. Secondly, it aims Queen’s Uotc Sports to raise awareness of the UOTC (and Army Reserve) Queen’s UOTC has continued to promote sporting for those pupils heading to university. opportunities across the UK. The Corps has been Defence Engagement very well represented throughout 2017 at the International Military Skills Competition – Chile. In major 38 (Irish) Brigade sponsored sporting events, March, Queen’s UOTC represented the RMAS Group including the 38 (Irish) Brigade Cross-Country League at an international (Northern Ireland Military military skills League Runners-up), the competition hosted Winter and Summer Military by the Bernardo Orienteering Leagues O’Higgins Officer (Northern Ireland Military UNIT SUMMARIES Academy in Santiago, League Champions), Squash Chile. The event (Northern Ireland Individual marked the 200th Champions) and the Brigade Anniversary of the Duathlon event. The Corps Chilean Officer has also been represented Academy and at pan-Army (Regular and Reserve) Netball and Hockey competitions. Corps Rugby and Football has been limited to the Inter-UOTC sporting competitions (Ex NORTHERN LIGHTS and Queen’s Challenge Cup). Queen’s UOTC OCdts have also competed in the British Army Warrior Fitness league, an ‘extreme conditioning’ style competition linked to the functional requirements for soldiering. Ex Compass Finn In late July 2017, the Commanding Officer encouraged 16 OCdts to travel with him to Aberdeen to compete at the world renowned Scottish 6-Day International Orienteering Festival. During a very included a visit to the physically demanding week on Royal Deeside, each Presidential Palace and OCdt developed their orienteering skills and enjoyed Ceremonial Parade through competing against some of the best orienteers in the the capitol. world. It was also great opportunity to be hosted by Chile - Winter Mountain Aberdeen UOTC in Gordon Barracks. Training Three OCdts from Queen’s CO’s Closing Comments UOTC returned to Chile in Queen’s UOTC continues to enjoy a very positive August 2017 to join OCdts reputation within the RMAS Group and in the from the Chilean Officer two NI universities. There is still much work to do Academy during their with delivering and sustaining the Corps’ Mission Winter Mountain Training exercise. This demanding towards maintaining the ethos that Queen’s UOTC exercise exposed Queen’s UOTC OCdts to the remains the ‘University society of choice’ to ‘inspire, fundamentals of ski patrolling, mountain navigation challenge and develop’ university students. With ever and survival skills. changing training audiences, increased demands on Ex Somme Finn individual’s time, commitment and energy the Corps In August, 10 OCdts and 4 staff members travelled has an increased challenge to maintain the seamless to Belgium and France to study the experiences of delivery of a positive experience for all members of Irish Regiments during the First World War. Prior the unit. For those who commit to the Corps, I am to deploying on the Battlefield Study, the Queen’s absolutely confident that Queen’s UOTC will reward OCdts researched former members of Queen’s UOTC them with a fantastic life-changing experience. (whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour in Tyrone House) who fell during the Great War and Finally, I fully recognise that Queen’s UOTC very much then during the exercise they paid their respects at relies on RFCA NI for their considerable advice and their final resting place, or at the site of their final generous financial support; we could simply not action on the battlefield. deliver our outputs without them.

46 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 described thedeployment asa described experience”“terrific and enter thebasewithminimaldisruption.Lee, 46, documents andthatUKConvoys were ableto exit staff sothat from 906 EAW obtainedappropriate role goodrelations wasensuring withHostNation both ATsy oninvestigations. key and A working effort coalition andhostnationpoliceassetsinproviding alongsideboth his trainingto gooduseinworking instructor.career driving asapublicsector Heput by giving upsixmonthsfromOp Kipion hiscivilian operationson LeeCorporal supported McDowell mobilised forof 1Police atour atMinhad. Reservist 2017through during Deployments thevolunteering 502 Squadron to personnelcontributed Operational Operational Deployments mainoperatingbaseneeds. supporting periods fieldsalsoundertook HealthandDental the Mental from theunitwithspecialismsin Reservists Medical Jaguar Spares disposalprogramme atRAFCosford. ongoing commitmentofaLogs (Sup)SAC to the SAC atRAF Support Wyton for amonth,and an SAC atRAFHonington for 5months, 1Personnel RAF Coningsby for 4months, Analyst 1Intelligence deployments have included1Logs (Sup) SAC at back-filling positionsofthoseon overseas by 502personnel undertaken opportunities Other Whole Force Integration Genbeneficial intradessuchas Tech (Electrician). to, anddraw trainingfrom, hasproved mutually asabaseto bothprovidewith RAFMarham support ready anddeployable. Acontinuingpartnership that by end ofyear, 56%oftheSquadron wascombat Staff and Part meant Time (PTVRs) VolunteerReserves in 2013andthesubsequentdedicationby theHQ oftheSquadronThe sinceitsreformation maturing (RAUXAF) ROYAL AUXILIARY AIRFORCE 502 (ULSTER)SQUADRON ceremonies by personnelin uniform. medium to large town Day Remembrance wreath strength, theRAFwasrepresented of atthemajority BecauseoftheSquadron Down. Newcastle County the annualPortrush AirShow andFestival ofFlight at families’Britain day, andatrecruiting events suchas attending theBelfast Tattoo, hostingtheBattleof get outandaboutatcivicrecruiting events, issues, Squadron personnel continuetosecurity Ireland, anddespiteAcross theon-going Northern Defence Engagement feedback received, isalways mostpositive. Flt regarding trade andclinicaltraining, andthe RAuxAF Squadron and600 Med 4626and612Sqns We continueto receive from great Medical support positive, forremains butisnever taken very granted. also Ireland from the NHSinNorthern Support Aeromed ground phase. number ofSquadron nurseshave alsocompleted the Flt coursesatGBfacilities. attending various A 3 training, hascontinuedwithmany oftheMedical stands atatotal of22attested personnel. Phase 1to As attheend ofthe2017,FlightRAF Marham. coverAeromed andDental at courseatBrize Norton andproviding mental healthcoverShawbury for the championships, airshows atRAFFairford andRAF including providing cover Medical attheRAF Tennis events assistingwithvarious with anumberofPTVRs Squadron flightof502 The hadabusy Medical year, who committed to 4weeks theevent. duty exercise atRAFLeeming involved oneof502’s SACs exercise Guardian. An withtheUSAFtitledMobility a Sgtnursegave four inajoint weeks to participate Analyst from period, and theunitover atwo-month Ambitionsaw theinvolvementRamstein of1Intel UK CDSandtheAlbanianPrime Minister. Exercise withAlbaniantroops. working Whilst there met they provided for ExUSTAR EAGLE (Albania), aFPExercise Further Police intheform of4personnelwas support Kenya. Bahrain, Portugal, Bahamas, Jamaica,Hawaii, and ofExercises intheUSA,Canada,in support Qatar, at Flying StationAldergrove and at diverse locations Troopers andcargo passingthrough orovernighting dutiesfor RAF andpassengerchecking security ofthePoliceMembers Flight provided vitalaircraft Operations RAF andExercisesSupporting Squadron ondeployment. Analystwith1(F) upapostasanInt Shader taking Another Squadron memberwasmobilisedfor OP Airbenefit anExpeditionary Wing. from hiscivilianlife together withhisRAFtrainingto hisskills and oneinwhichhewasableto bring RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 47 UNIT SUMMARIES A high profile DE project for RAF recruiting aimed at attitude and allowed all ranks to get to know improving recruitment from the BAME community each other in a less formal environment. Ex was led during the year by 502’s Media Ops Squadron SNOW LEOPARD () 2017 was based in the Leader. The project involved showing groups of Arlberg region of Austria. The aim of the Exercise parents of UK Asian and black teenagers what life was to conduct the Ski Foundation Level 1(SF1) is really like in the RAF and gaining their feedback, as Distributed Training (DT) and Continuation interviewing BAME servicemen and women from Training (CT). The SF1 course would concentrate on all three services about their life experiences and fundamental alpine turning the material into usable media for DE and ski techniques and recruiting purposes. The end product has received to achieve cohesive AFB praise. morale, camaraderie, bolster effective UNIT SUMMARIES Collective Training communication and The year saw the first Squadron Level Training contribute towards exercise built around a Force Protection Field individual personal Exercise. Given the range of 14 trades on 502 Sqn, Ex development in the Red Flash 17 provided a unique opportunity for the form of confidence development of unit cohesion, ethos and resilience building. The overall via common learning through the exercising of Force aim was to enable Protection skills. personnel to improve their skiing skills aiming towards Ski Foundation Level The modest exercise aim & objectives were to Two (SF2). consolidate existing military skills Patrolling, Navigation, Vehicle Checks, Living in the Field, Summary Contact under Fire, Role 1 Medical Treatment 502 Squadron continues to grow in stature and Facility (MTF). These activities were conducted in its ability to support the wider Air Force. Now under demanding conditions and were designed to established in a new working headquarters, with an develop leadership, physical /mental resilience and improved parenting arrangement, and welcome new teamwork whilst under duress. In terms of in house neighbours in the form of the new Ulster Universities training, this received the highest positive feedback Air Squadron, it looks to 2018 with the knowledge from Squadron members experienced since the that it is better positioned than it was twelve months unit reformed and will be repeated and built on as a ago. retention tool.

In sport 502’s Flt Lt Mark Cordner was on the RAF Hockey team, which in November won the inter- services championship. Mark who coaches schools hockey took time off to lend his skills to the RAF. The Squadron has also channelled sponsorship money towards junior hockey and rugby clubs in the spirit

of encouraging sporting excellence and broadening interest in the Reserve Forces.

New skills were acquired in an AT trip to Austria where beginner and intermediate skiers bonded together in a highly enjoyable visit to the Alpine snow. The event contributed to a positive retention

48 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 Northern Ireland District Sea Cadets 1st (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force 2nd (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force Northern Ireland Wing Air Cadets COMBINED CADET FORCES Bangor Grammar School Combined Cadet Force Foyle College Londonderry Combined Cadet Force Royal School Armagh Combined Cadet Force CADET SUMMARIES

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 49 NORTHERN IRELAND DISTRICT SEA CADETS

Many teenagers arrive at Sea Cadets excited at the prospect of all the adventures and activities they can have with us and quickly see the depth of what they can gain for their future and they grab it with both hands! Foundation, the Education Endowment Foundation You can literally see the difference Sea Cadets can and Durham University to evaluate the impact of Sea make. How our teenagers hold themselves, welcome Cadets on educational achievement and personal new people, and support each other, how they listen development. CADET SUMMARIES better in school, aren’t offended by constructive feedback, and get on with teachers. They are We have developed a formal academic Outcomes confident and composed in that precious first job, Framework with NPC – a charity committed to college or university interview. helping others create lasting impact. Sea cadets can now achieve BTEC Level One, Two and Three in Public What Sea Cadets can give young people is Services, Music and Maritime Studies and this year desperately needed. One in five teenagers are now the Marine Engineering Specialist Programme is now shockingly experiencing mental health problems like aligned to Open College Network Awards, giving 16 anxiety and clinical depression. And the widening and 17 year old cadets the opportunity to have an gap between rich and poor is seeing huge numbers Engineering Qualification equivalent to HND. of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds being shut out of opportunities because they cost The Northern Ireland Sea Cadets have had a busy too much. time over the summer and autumn months. Sixty-five Cadets and Adult Volunteers attended Gibraltar for Few children now play unsupervised out of the Summer Training Camp, Op Tariq, where training was home with others, where they often used to learn to hosted by the Royal Navy. Cadets enjoyed warmer sort out problems for themselves, and to cope when climates for waterborne activities such as snorkelling, the unexpected happens. Meanwhile indoors, the paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and Power ‘always on’ culture of social media, where everyone Boating, spent time with the Gibraltar RN Squadron looks like they’re having a great time, can make on-board HMS Sabre and HMS Scimatar, known teenagers feel a failure while putting on a brave face. previously as HMS Grey Fox and HMS Grey Wolf, the Being glued to screens keeps young people inside two Lough Neagh Patrol Boats. The maritime element and awake at night, for fear of being excluded. of the Ministry of Defence Police and The

At school, young people are often persuaded that Royal Gibraltar Police demonstrated their latest looming exams are their one shot at a future and if maritime assets to deal with smuggling and they fail all is lost. Higher education is presented as incursions into Gibraltar Waters. A historical tour of the only route to success. There is fierce competition for internships and apprenticeships. Soaring housing costs make the prospect of leaving home and starting real adult life impossible for most. And the changing job market requires agility and adaptability that looks daunting.

We have been working across the UK with the Government to bring the life chances of Sea Cadets into twenty-three schools by 2020. Many of the new units are already open with planning for the rest well advanced. The first in Northern Ireland has opened at Cookstown High School where 30 cadets paraded for the first night. Northern Ireland Sea Cadet units now the rock during WWII demonstrated the enormous stand at 12 with numbers now over 600. number of tunnels within the rock, used during the war. The wellbeing of the UK’s teenagers is so important for them as individuals, and also for our country’s The NI cadets travelled to London in September to future. We’re working with partners like Youth United compete in the National Sea Cadet Regatta where

50 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 Royal Marines Cadets areRoyal Marines stillstrugglingto recruit Royal Cadets Marines to theyoung cadets. opportunities commissioned later thisyear, increasing thesailtime fundraisingandasecondyachtwillbe charitable raised to purchase theyachtcamethrough andmate.cadets, alongwithaskipper The £400,000 and Carrickfergus. upto six The yachtcantake recently, Ireland Northern poppinginto Bangor two 42’The new firstofour Rustler Yachts visited Sailing Offshore Bringing hometheNationalLaserPico Trophy. withthePico in Southport Team Winning and Gold Late September seentheNISailing Team compete Gold, Silver andBronze Medals. Sprint andKayak Second Teams ahoard earning of our Rowing Teams Polo camesecond, Kayak Team Lord Lieutenants’ Cadets for asone ofthe and selected nominated He wasfurther the First Lord’s Sea Cadet. as Ireland), and Northern (Scotland, NEEngland Area Cadets Sea Northern represent thewholeof Belfast Formidable Unit, from JCuthbert Corporal First Cadet, Royal Marines This year hasseenthe do. inwhatthey forward mature cadetswhostrive have numbersofenergetic, Carrickfergus andBelfaststill grow. UnitsinPortrush, their numbersinNI Adult Volunteers to help the Caledonian Canal. Awardtheir Gold ExpeditioninSeptember, kayaking their Bronze andSilver Awards andfive completing Cadets withBangorcadetscompleting within NISea ofEdinburgh’sThe Duke Awards are againactive Duke ofEdinburgh’s Awards Cadets. ofBelfast,anotherfirst Marines Royalthe City for the RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 51 CADET SUMMARIES CADET SUMMARIES 52 his duties. We welcomed on board Phil’s successoras professional out andefficient way inwhichhe carried commitment anddedicationto therole and for the for thepastsixyears. We wishto thankhimfor his PhilhadbeenCEO Major (CEO) PhilStuart. Officer September saw theretirement oftheCadet Executive award for Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) fundraising. ChallengewhichistheNational the Cadet Revision received, thehighlightwasRunners-UpAward for Fund throughout thatyear. thethree awards Of they outstanding fundraisingfor theArmy Benevolent of DCompany, received recognition for their thesummer,Also during Dunmore Detachment the Commandant Frimley Park. andwasawarded theSilverperformance Coin from creditable putinavery Lisneal Detachment Company Matthew Sergeant Major Walker from Competition atFrimley Park inAugust. Cadet The Commandant visited theChampionCadet Lieutenants. (CFCB) at andbeingcommissionedas2nd Westbury completing theCadet Forces Commissioning Board Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) successfully recruitmentisongoing withthreeOfficer Cadet Commandant. All sixwere appointed Cadets Master by theCadet at theNationalCadet Training Centre, Frimley Park. successfully completed Cadet theMaster Course Throughout theyear atotal ofsixseniorcadets successive year. championsfor national girls hockey thesixth from 2nd(NI)BattalionACF were they crowned front; togethersuccessful onthehockey withgirls regional andnationallevel. Ourgirls were yet again andsomenotableachievements at of activities withrepresentationmost sports, across awiderange The Battalionremains competitive inshootingand programme. to provide achallenging, exciting, safe andfun seen somesuccessandhasenabledusto continue provision ofa ‘First ClassCadet Experience’. This has retention ofbothadultsand cadetsto ensure the continues to bethe The maineffort recruitment and oftheCadet Experience. aspect almost every with theBattalioncontinuingto beengagedin year for 1st(NI)BattalionArmy Cadet Force (ACF), 2017 hasbeenanotherrewarding andsuccessful FORCE BATTALION ARMYCADET 1st (NORTHERNIRELAND) RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report Battlefield Tour in France andBelgium, along and 2CFAVs from theBattalionattended a WW1 13cadets Under thebannerofOperation Reflect, Ex Passchendaele 100 leisure activities. APC training, combinedwithadventure trainingand and enjoyed programme avaried ofBasicand1Star group. 130 cadetsattended (44more thanlastyear) camp againfocussed onthe12to 13½year oldage Cadet Training Centre from 16thto 21stApril. This The Easter Camp thisyear washeldatMagilligan Easter Camp on11thMarch. Barracks StPatrick’sthe 2RIrish Day Parade at Thiepval and 11CFAVs from across theBattalionsupported A contingentof50cadets St Patricks Day McClay. and Lieutenant Suzanne Captain Read John of Merit: Lord Lieutenants’ Certificates Two CFAVs were awarded of Coleraine Detachment. Sergeant HollieMcCartney in Co Londonderry, Cadet and Detachment Enniskillen Cameron McFarland of inCoDetachment; Fermanagh, Cadet Sergeant Johnston ofLarne Cadetin Co Sergeant Antrim, Jake cadets were appointed asLord Lieutenants’ Cadets: March, ataceremonyIn Castle, atHillsborough three Lord Lieutenants’ Awards lessonsandtest. driving through theRFCA NIinitiative whichsponsorstheir licences Duncan, successfullyobtainedtheirdriving andAimee McIlwaine Colour Sergeants Rachael This year, more two ofourseniorcadets, Cadet LicenceDriving Scheme long andhappy associationwiththeBattalion. role we wishhimwell andtrustthathewillenjoy a CEO, Derek Grahamandashesettlesinto Major the Husband and wife team, Captains David and Brunswick for sixweeks over JulyandAugust. Course atArgonaut New Expedition Instructor Corporal Yasmin Andrews attending theCadet the Cadet Canadian Exchange courseswithCadet The Battaliononceagainhadrepresentation on Royal Canadian Army Cadet Exchange Courses and presentations. ina participating ‘Colour Run’ before thefinalparade camp allofthecadetsandmostadultsenjoyed Colonel Maurice Warnock. Onthefinalday of Colonel Paul Shepherd; ACFA andChairman NI, Brigade, Colonel Cadets 38(Irish) Angela Garvey; Colonel, Dr visitors to campincludingourHonorary Thompson, Drumahoe. We hosted anumberof andrunnerupwasSergeant Rebekah Antrim student wasawarded to Logue, Sergeant Darragh thetop Cadre (SCIC); Cadet Instructor the Senior camp.Eden POW 35cadetssuccessfullycompleted andvisitsto theRoyal DragoonGuardscraft and training, ranges, (APC) paintballing,Certificate camp ofArmyincluded agoodmixture Proficiency busy andfunfilledexperience for all. The programme cadets andCFAVs attended whatwasagainavery Area, Strensall, York, from 8thto 20thJuly. all326 In and was heldatQueenElizabethBarracks Training The highlightoftheyear wasAnnualCamp which Annual Camp experience. found thisto beamostmoving andmeaningful (ACFA) by RFCANI. NIandsupported The cadets organised by theArmy Cadet Force Association Combined Cadet Force (CCF). This wasagain with cadetsfrom 2nd(NI)BattalionACF andthe Detachment were runners up in the ACF section. section. wereDetachment runnersupin theACF overall winnersofbothACF andCCF. Cullybackey were andwere thewinnersofACFBurton section team SarahBoyd consistingofCorporals and Hollie 2nd (NI)BattalionACF. DungannonDetachment Smith, andformer historian Commandant WW1 Brigade, theCERFCANIandColonel Derek (Irish) of theCommander 38 judging panelconsisting local hero from to a WW1 their projectson CCF Contingents, presented (NI) BattalionACF andthe with teams from the2nd The Battalionteams, along on Saturday 2ndDecember. at Room Thiepval Barrack in theCommander’s Briefing Local Hero Competition held Brigade Three inthe38 (Irish) Battalionteams took part Local Hero Competition context. application ofSTEMinamilitary for thecadetsto seefirst-hand thepractical Army AirCorps. The coursewasafantasticopportunity a Lynx helicopter to pickupanddrop loadswiththe Royal filtration unitwiththeEngineers andmarshalling the RoyalSignals, andtesting awater constructing thenusedinanavigationwhich they exercise setby included buildingandtesting adirectionalaerial, technical Regiments andCorps. The commandtasks commandtaskswith6ofthe Army’s undertake and to experience gave thecadetsopportunity almost 150cadetsfrom allover theUK. The camp ina5dayPlain STEMcamp alongwith to participate travelled to Montgomery Westdown Camp, Salisbury 2017,four October cadets andLieutenant Shirley In STEM Camp at Skill degrees ofsuccess. Services At theCadet Inter regional andnationalcompetitions withvarying Cadets from across theBattalioncompeted invarious Shooting Course.Army Cadet Marksmanship for attended the Elizabeth Doak asAdult Escorts

in thetop 100. Battalion were placed 26 cadetsfrom the national competition, Cadet 100small-bore ACF the team. In finishing asthebest exceptionally well Company team did 19-23 October, theA over of theweekend took placeatBisley meetingwhich Arms RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 53 CADET SUMMARIES Duke of Edinburgh Award Summary Participation in the Award has increased significantly The list above gives a flavour of the breadth of with more and more cadets completing Bronze, activity enjoyed by the cadets throughout the year. Silver and Gold. In May, Ex Cadet Company Sergeant This is only made possible due to the fantastic Major Ben Henderson from Omagh Detachment was volunteer commitment and dedication of the Cadet presented with his Gold Award from the Duke of Force Adult Volunteers who unselfishly give of their Edinburgh himself, at Hillsborough Castle. time week in, week out so that the cadets can enjoy a First Class Cadet Experience. A lot of this would Band and Drums not be possible without the ongoing support from The Band, Corps of Drums and Pipers continue to Cadets Branch 38 (Irish) Brigade including the 38X grow from strength to strength under the leadership Cadet Training Team, RFCA NI and ACFA NI, for which of the Director of Music, Major Heidi Blackwood we are most grateful. With everyone’s support, we MBE. They continue to support multiple community look forward to continued success in 2018. CADET SUMMARIES engagement events across the Province and further afield, participating in the Military Tattoo and the annual Rorke’s Drift Concert at Brecon. Musicians attended the Uniformed Youth Organisations Music Concentration at Edinburgh in April and performed in the Massed Band at the ACFA Scotland Beating of the Retreat on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The Band also performed at the Officers’ Dinner on 30th September at the Cadet Centre, Magilligan to mark the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the Battalion. On that occasion they gave the first performance of the new Battalion March ‘First and Best’ composed by Major Blackwood. In November the Band had the honour of supporting the Band of 1 Royal Irish at the Festival of Remembrance at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. They also supported the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland at a Beating of the Retreat in Newtownards in September. The Battalion is extremely grateful to RFCA NI for their continued support to the Band.

25th Anniversary On 30th September an Officers’ Reunion Dinner was held at the Cadet Training Centre Magilligan to mark the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the 1st (NI) Battalion ACF, with some 70 former and current officers attending. The principal guests included: three former Honorary Colonels, Sir William Hall KCVO, Mr Dennis Desmond CBE and Mrs Joan Christie OBE; four past Commandants, Colonel M Elder OBE, Colonel T Quinn OBE, Colonel D McCleery OBE and Colonel P Shepherd OBE; and the current and past CEs of RFCA (NI), Colonel J Rollins MBE and Brigadier I Osborne OBE DL. All enjoyed an excellent and memorable evening and were entertained by the Pipes and Drums of 2 Royal Irish and the Band of 1st (NI) Battalion ACF.

54 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 visit to Rome. ofwhatwe Much dowould notbe Sandhurst (RMAS), battlefieldstudiesandacultural Academy Courses, visitsto theRoyal Military Engineering, Cadet Leadership and Mathematics), Cadet Experience”:“the STEM(Science, Technology, up whichmake inthe widerangeofactivities part ourcadetshave taken competitions andsport, skills additionto thecadetsyllabus,in March. In military to Aviemore successfultrip was avery into Skiing Hockey, Swimmingand Tug of War. Ourfirst venture remains popular andwe enjoyedSport successat into theCadet Patrol Cambrian Competition. entered. Forever thefirsttime we entered a team competition competitions, winning every skills successfulinshootingandmilitary been particularly and always play to win;andwinwe do. We have levels. The Battalionhasastrong competitive spirit successfully passingthrough thecadetsyllabus, atall is acorresponding increase inthenumberofcadets standards andmethods continueto improve there has for thefirsttime reached 1,000. As training increase.shown a marked The Battalionstrength the recruiting ofcadets andadultvolunteers hasalso fun” beingachieved. Onthebackofthis, iscertainly a safe environment, whilstatthesametimehaving interesting, rewarding andchallenging trainingin value from it. to Effort The BattalionMain “provide ACF hasto offer andsqueezingthelastdrop of the opportunity fulladvantageofevery taking Force (ACF) withbothcadetsandadultvolunteers BattalionArmy Cadet Ireland) the 2nd(Northern This hasbeenayear ofunprecedented successfor FORCE BATTALION ARMYCADET 2ND (NORTHERNIRELAND) July/August. Course in inBavaria 6 cadetsattended Activity aMulti to runasimilarexercise inSarajevo in2018.Afurther at Aviemore CADET inMarch. SNOW The intention is A group of11(8cadetsand3CFAVs) inEx took part Skiing boys’ team came2ndandthe girls’ team came3rd. championshipsinAugust the and Irish theBritish In at Strensall inJulytheboys came3rd andthegirls4th. theACFA good season.In another very competition competing, theBattalion Tug of War teams enjoyed Sofley, andKatie andinonly their3rd year of Nicky Under thewatchful eye ofhusbandandwife team, Tugof War won theevent. during 7th May. Anumberofindividualmedals were also Swimming competitionheldin Thiepval on Barracks The Swimming Team were Unit winnersattheInter Swimming consecutive year in York on1stJuly17. Force Association (ACFA) for tournament the6th Battalion team went onto wintheArmy Cadet held in Thiepval on7thMay. Barracks Ajoint1st/2nd competition team UnitHockey won theInter Hockey contested After akeenly competitiontheGirls Hockey Sport for aflight. opportunity and CFAVs incamphadthe whichallcadets during have 4hoursflyingtime were enoughto fortunate was theChinookflight; we The highlightofcamp the Starlevel attended. of cadets achieving majority great successwiththevast Camp wasa Course (SCIC). Cadet Instructor the Senior one 2Star, one3Starand The cadetswere dividedinto 4cadres: 1Star, two cadets attended AnnualCamp atAltcar inJuly17. atEaster,Cadre Camp inBallykinler 288 afurther additionto the58cadetswhoattended theBasic In Annual Camps Safeguarding ofourCadets andAdult Volunteers. 1992.Above isthe October allelse, ourtop priority oftheformation oftheBattalionon1st Anniversary held to mark the25th held to mark dinner whichwas successful for avery year included support Association whichthis Forces andCadets oftheReserve support generous the very possible without RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 55 CADET SUMMARIES CADET SUMMARIES 56 Micks” Skills Military sponsored “Mini Guards The Irish Micks Mini Competition - Skills Military Detachment Guards Inter Irish Commander. (G Company) won theprize for bestSection came outontop. Cadet Sergeant HollyMcAlpine the 6thconsecutive year. This year GCompany The Calcutta Cup wasretained by theBattalionfor – The Calcutta Cup Competition (NIMSC) Skills Military Ireland Northern Competition attheendofApril. Skills Mil Ireland to represent theBattalioninNorthern declared thewinners. The top 4teams went forward contested GCompany weekend “A” Team were keenly 3rdthe weekend to 5thMarch. After avery overannual Colonels Cup competitionatBallykinler inthe Eight teams from our4companiestook part Colonels Cup Competition – Skills The Inter-Company Military Skills Military forwas selected Athelings in2018. Exchange; Cadet NathanaelRichmond Marksmanship wereRichmond to selected attend theCanadian andNathanael Stewart in Canada; Cadets Kellie forwas selected theAthelings team to compete Cadet19 team Africa; Cameron inSouth Moore competed for Harrison and Rebecca theGBunder andCanada: Africa CadetsSouth Jordan Stewart National ACF team to represent Great in Britain ofthe A numberofcadetswere aspart selected Cadet Hanlon,bothofECompany. andRunnerupwas wasCadet Richmond at Arms becoming ChampionUnit(ECompany). Champion team matches and winning4 -1 Oct, Meeting, 30Sep the NICadet Rifle individuals dominated shooting teams and 2nd (NI)Battalion medals. team andindividual huge haulof alongwitha Ireland back to Northern 9majortrophiesrunners up. were Afurther brought the Championteam andGCompany atBisley were July, level. In and International ECompany were successatRegional, achieving National their sport, Cooper, have ourmarksmen completely dominated Under thedirection andleadershipofCaptain Charlie Shooting RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report facility. to our update andextend shortly toexpected start Ballykinler. This issueisbeingaddressed is andwork oftheCadet sleeping capacity Training Centre at a company trainingweekend, dueto thelimited are now too bigto allcadetson beableto take retention positive. The down sideisthatcompanies to provideability uniforms for allwillprove to be Cadet numberscontinueto grow steadily and the Cadet Recruiting 18th November 17. about bothmesses. Ten CFAVs new were sworninon continues to increase, there isamore youthful look excadets well andasthenumberofhigh-quality are working packages Assessment andInduction the emphasisonquality. The Familiarisation and The recruitment ofCFAVs continuesto begood, with CFAV Recruiting weekend. selection potential officers were identifiedonatrainingand forselected aCadet Force 3 Commission. Afurther Three Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) were Recruiting Officer Recruiting Academy Sandhurst(RMAS). attended theSovereign’s Parade attheRoyal Military career cadets withaninterest inpursuingamilitary and10 Officers 17;two Course 15th–20thOctober fiveMaster cadetsattended the Cadet in October; 2018;ninecadetsattended theSTEMcourse early 9scheduledto attend (CLC) withafurther inOctober Eleven cadetsattended theCadet Leadership Course Leadership TrainingCadet year.next was learnt! We confidently forward to are looking inthecompetition andmuch from part NIhadtaken completion. This wasthefirsttimethatacadet team well of andreceivedteam performed acertificate Patrol Competition from 31stMarch –2ndApril. The The Battalionentered ateam for theCadet Cambrian Cadet Patrol Cambrian (Gransha). HollyMcAlpine Sergeant Major prize for BestCadet wasawarded to Cadet Company also won the prize for thebestshootingteam. The Ballygowan of2nd(NI)Battalionwho Detachment from across theUKtook part. Winners were the in October. Army Cadet ForceThirteen teams competition washeldatMagilligan Training Centre numbers enrolling increase inthe has beenahealthy Turkington there Roberta of Major Under theleadership Award Duke ofEdinburgh about theculture of oneofthegreat cities inEurope, to learn contingents and provided an opportunity cadets andCFAVs from both ACF BattalionsandCCF whichbroughtThis wasafantastictrip together attend theRFCANIorganised to inAugust. Rome trip Battalions, 15cadetswere enough to fortunate ofthe creation ofbothACF of the25thanniversary andincelebration oftheCadet Experience As part Visit to Rome July/August.in Canada during towas selected attend Ex WHITE HORSEfor 6weeks Detachment from High Down Erskine John Corporal oftheCanada Exchange programmeAs part Cadet Ex WHITE HORSECanada Commonwealth Fly theFlag day. Ireland to the contribution flag astheNorthern scaled Slieve Donard to flythecommonwealth 17anumberofCFAVsOn 13Mar andseniorcadets Commonwealth Fly theFlag Day Castle onSaturday 25thMarch 17. Lieutenant’s ataceremonyHillsborough Certificate in waspresented Sofley withthe LordLieutenant Nicky Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate CastleHillsborough onSaturday 25thMarch 17. Cadet for ataceremony Down County in Sergeant AlexLanewasappointed Lord Lieutenant’s as Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for BelfastandCadet wasappointed Cadet Sergeant ChloeMcCrory Lord Lieutenants’ Cadets 17. took placeon22ndApril A total of7teams were entered for theMMA which Adventure Mountain Mourne (MMA) ceremony in Gate attheMenin Ypres. inthewreath laying part which includedthemtaking aBattlefieldStudyin conducted France andBelgium Guards inLondon.1st BattalionIrish They then attended theStPatrick’s Day paradewiththe Guards cadetsandCFAVsA contingentofIrish St Patrick’s Day Noteworthy Events achieve highcompletionrates. andsummerof2018wespring are ontarget to hasbeenplannedforexcellent the training package 11th–16thJuly17.An during District in theLake seven cadetscompleted expedition theirDofEGold ofEdinburgh’sinto theDuke Award schemeand Second battalion – Second to battalion –Second Second None! confidence. to challengesinthefuture meetingnew with ishighandwe lookforward Morale expectation. their fullpotential andinmany casesare exceeding challenging, safe andfun.Ourcadetsare achieving year for thisBattalion. Training isprogressive, thisanoutstandingly successful combine to make unwavering commitmentofAdults andCadets, all recruitment, unprecedented successandthe levels ofcadetachievement, increasedHigh Summary came secondoverall. competition. ECoy were thebestACF team and addition,4teams24th June. entered In theSTEM Forces Armed support Day inBangoronSaturday A large number ofCFAVs outto andcadetsturned ForcesArmed Day NI Combined Services. ACFA Nationalcompetitionandwere third inthe competition. They went onto berunners-upinthe Young oftheACFA Adult section (NI)First Aid andNewel won Lilburn the Sergeant Instructors First Aid– Young Adult Competition NI battlefieldstudy to Ypres inApril. Two CFAVs and11cadetsattended theACFA/RFCA Battlefield Study– Ypres WW2. ofthebattlefor during including theaspects Rome RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 57 CADET SUMMARIES CADET SUMMARIES 58 to 25,atotal of150Cadet Force Adult Volunteers NCOs. CivilianCommittee membershave increased and3 3Commissioned Officers Civilian Instructors, more successfulwithatotal appointed of16 newly On theotherhand, staff recruitment hasproved 30 paradingeachweek. Squadron withover 70cadetsand5withwell over cadets andthisnumberisstillrising. The Wing has1 increased from around 40cadetsto retaining over 70 Facebook ashort after Campaign, Recruitment has circa 40to 408,however Squadron, 817Lisburn Cadet numbersinthe Wing have decreased by Belfast Squadron. closure of2390BelfastRoyal Academy and1134 West recruiting staffandcadetswhichhas resulted inthe as theBelfastSquadrons have hadadifficulttime Hall onDromore Street for justover 20years, when intheMasonic Squadron, whohadparadedweekly washandedover CadetJoint Centre to the (JCC) August premises thenew In for 2004(Ballynahinch) Infrastructure 2017. and successfulyear ofareas across during avariety Training (ATC) Corps busy hasrecorded anothervery oftheAir Wing (NIW) Ireland The Northern CADETS WING AIR IRELAND NORTHERN RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report although notinallareas, and Cadets hasbeensteady, ofbothCFAVRecruitment The People Force (ACF). shared withtheArmy Cadet JCCare thestate oftheart premises Squadron. The Flight of817Lisburn beganasaDetached they two PTT practical sessionson theeffects ofcontrols practical PTT two theoretical introduction viaPowerPoint followed by consistsofa The Cadets BlueAviation package Newtownards Airfield. the Vigilant Gliderpreviously Motor usedto fly in Aviation Ground (AGS). School isbasedon The PTT which stood 2016,stood down upas 664 inearly NIUAS building. 664 Volunteer GlidingSquadron, OnehasbeenbasedatAldergrove withinthe (PTT). has beentheintroduction ofthePart Task Trainer flyingprogram ofthenew AsCorps-wide, part there Regions. Ireland and Northern 200 AirCadets wereScotland and flown from North attend ahelicopter AEFatRAF Topcliffe anda total of August, 13Cadets fromIn NI Wing were to selected August. Air Squadron (NIUAS) in University Ireland Northern Station provided by Aircraft atAldergrove flown intheGrob Tutor 9cadetswere A further Station with12AEFinJuly. Tutor Aircraft atLeuchars of 71slots, where cadetsreceived tuitionintheGrob in 2017,however RHQallocated intheinterim atotal problems, NICadets couldnotflyatRAF Woodvale near Liverpool. Unfortunately, dueto runway Flyingtheir AirExperience (AEF) atRAF Woodvale an AirCadet andNI Wing cadetspreviously received ofbeing aspects Flying isoneofthemostimportant Flying/Gliding Cadet Development/Experiences licence hasbeenobtainedand2Lowland Leaders. Assessment andChildProtection. OneD1minibus theyear,courses during includingFirst Aid, Risk training Staff have mandatory attended various Staff Development in theprocess. (CFAVs), 12potential CivilianInstructors withafurther military personnelfor theweek longdetachment. military 5000 live together inaHeumensoord Camp serving teams asallmilitary andmasscatering 2am starts doesn’tIt longto forget take thepainofblisters, made withmarchers from allover theworld. andfriendships thatwilllastalife-time memories year andhave Medal, returned with theNijmegen 8 Cadets and4staffcompletedevent the this conditionsanddistance.terrain, to asthe “iron-man” ofqualifyingevents dueto the march closeto2-day Loch Lomond referred –often 400 milesincludingthegruelling Garelochhead months oftrainingwhere team memberscover over The marches themselves are the culminationof6 participants. military long distancemarchers including5000international march inJulyjoiningwithover 47,000dedicated 4-day International inthe101stNijmegen took part cadets andstaff consecutive year For the17th Marches Nijmegen Photo: AirCadets_6 popular withcadets. event isextremely annual Scotland. This Aviemore inNorth Rothiemurchus near Training Camp at annual Adventure 22 Cadets and7Stafffrom NIwingattended an Adventure Training Belfast Academic Institution. Campbell College, andRoyal Armagh Royal School cadets from theCadet Combined Forces (CCF) from sessionsfor atotal of16 forhas alsoarranged PTT Ldr Loftus,Sqn Kevin NI Wing’s Aviation Officer, indicating aGliderflight. Badge “A” indicatingAeroplane i.e. AEFflightor “G” Cadets are awarded witheithertheirBlueFlying the trainingcourse. Since June17atotal of77cadetshave completed along withaglidinginstructor. etc. Cadets thenhave ahalfhoursessioninthePTT day alongsidethousands of fansonthefinal cheering sight ofover onemillion get into ourbloodandthe comments thatthemarches march since2000, every Miller, whohasattended Flight Lieutenant Ailsa Football, Netball, 2ndinSenior 1stinJuniorHockey. Inter-Wing resultsOther included: 3rd in Junior 16Boys Cadet Philipand intheOver Cox came2nd. Chloe 16Girls, CWO theOver In Tweed camefourth record. overall intheUnder16Boys, thebutterfly breaking second year runningandCadet Paul Cox coming2nd recordthe Under16Girls, setting2new timesfor the came 2ndoverall, withCadet Andrea Cox winning theInter-Wing swimmingcompetition,NI In Wing Region Event atCosford. were to selected represent S&NIRegion attheinter Region Event atCosford. seniorboys Rugby, In 6boys were to selected represent S&NIRegion attheinter close 2nd and 5 girls netball team finishedGirls a very theinter-regional In competitions, Sport. theSenior successfulyear inregards2017 hasbeenavery to Sport Full Bore Coaches. this hasgiven the 10SmallBore and4 Wing afurther Coaching andL98A2trainingcourses, Elementary Shooting Training Team deliver the (ScotSATT) This year we were to fortunate have theRegional to achieve theirshooting badges.are now starting through to progressive thenew trainingsyllabusand Small Bore moving thesecadetshave Rifle, started to thosetrainedontheoldNo8 small incomparison andfiring are Whilst thenumberstrainedonrifle General Rifle. the Cadet firing L98A2 Purpose to concentrate ongettingmore cadetstrainedand however, ahitthisyear; taken thishasallowed us 144SmallBorenew SmallBore Rifle, shootinghas andfieldingofthe Due to issueswiththedelivery Shooting oftheaward.spectrum inseveral expeditionsacrossSquadrons the took part Bangor,Lisburn, Belfast BallynahinchandSouth theyearDuring thecadetsfrom Larne, Antrim, ofEdinburghDuke Award otherday isapure tonic. every supporters RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 59 CADET SUMMARIES Within NI Wing, 833 Antrim Squadron led the way at the NI Wing Athletics Competition in June, winning Best Overall Squadron, the over 17 boys, the under 15 Girls and the over 15 Girls.

First Aid All CFAVs must have a minimum of the British Heart Foundation Heartstart Award, therefore First Aid training courses at all levels have become more popular during 2017. In total, 23 CFAVs gained a pretty successful year in gaining places for cadets at new or renewed their standard St John Ambulance other events during 2017. Activity First Aid qualification, including 2 Senior Cadets. These cadets, who hold their Method of A total of 163 cadets in the Wing and 34 staff CADET SUMMARIES Instruction award, can instruct First Aid training attended events/camps: RAF Lossiemouth Stem skills to NI Wg Cadets. 275 cadets have successfully Camp, Drill and Ceremonial Camp at RAF Cosford, completed First Aid training in either Heartstart or St Regiment Camp at RAF Barnham, Super Camp at Johns Youth First Aid. Stanford training Camp, Rothiemurchus Adventure training Camp, The Aerospace Camp, and Aldergrove Fieldcraft Training Camp in August and October. The delivery of fieldcraft skills to our The Wing also supported and filled cadet places cadets continues at overseas camps to Gibraltar, Ramstein and moving forward. The Sennelager. CFAVs are delivering phase 1 training Cadet Flight Sergeant Burnside and Sergeant Woods on their Sqn and at attended the National Aerospace Camp at RAF training weekends. Syerston. They enjoyed a visit to the Rolls Royce factory plus flights in the Chinook and Viking gliders. Communications They also took part in STEM challenges and a visit The progressive radio training is well underway, a total of 72 Blue communicators badges were awarded during the year, 41 to cadets who attended the Autumn Training Camp at Aldergrove in Oct.

9 Bronze Communicators badges were awarded to 13 cadets from 9 squadrons in March 17.

Cadet FS Andrew Ruddell is one step away from obtaining his Gold Communicators (deployed radio) after attending the course held at Leuchars in Oct. to RAF Scampton to learn about aerospace battle management. This was a fantastic opportunity with Health & Safety only 3 places available to Northern Ireland cadets. The Squadrons within the wing are monitored and inspected regularly by the Regional Health and Safety Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) Adviser (HSA). Inspections are graded to Gold, Silver Staff from NI Wing, have become a pivotal role as and Bronze standard; NIW has currently been graded part of the Air Cadet Management team. 2017 saw as follows: 14 Gold Awards, 0 Silver Awards and 1 Cadets and staff attending for a week to assist in the Bronze Award. running of the Airshow.

Our HSA also runs the ACO Risk Assessing and British Safety Council, Entry Level Award (ELA) Tutor Course; this year we have gained 10 CFAV Risk Assessors and 10 ELA tutors.

Camps Although there has been a reduction of RAF Stations in the UK offering “Blue” camps, NI Wing has had a

60 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 1200. events; thetotal personnel involved hasexceeded alongside themanyof theSomme localpublic Sqn Day, Poppy oftheBattle Centenary Appealsweek, ForcesArmed Day, Remembrance BattleofBritain, the province: Portrush Airshow, Festival ofFlight, represented NI Wing publicevents across atvarious Throughout theyear, Cadets andStaffhave The Public Eye wing. Programme) course -thefirstofchaplainsinNI just completed hisAVIP (Adult Volunteer Induction Squadron has 817Lisburn Reverend JasonKernohan in 2017to provide pastoral care to cadetsandCFAVs. from NI Wing to attend theRoyal International Tattoo hasbeenthefirstChaplain Chaplain Andrew Irvine 2017. made during appointmentsbeing a Chaplaininplacewith3new NI Wing; atotal of10the15Squadrons now have great successintherecruitment ofChaplainswithin The AndrewsWing Joseph hashad ChaplainRev Pastoral Care the event. Celebrations where itishopedtheaircraft willflyat Air to theRoyal International Tattoo for theRAF100 of 2018andupbeatabouttheirvisit spring in early regular basis. The project isontarget for completion staff membersstillprogressing withtheproject ona There are approximately 15cadetsand5dedicated transceiver. components, suchasstrobe lightingandGPS system andsurrounding the aircraft electrical parallel, thededicated on In team are working year. ofnext part in theearly installation ofthepropeller andsurrounding housing theoilandfuelsystemsto before connect the the LightAircraft Association (LAA). Work continues this hasbeenmodified to meetthe requirements of elevators, the Wings, 812ISengine theRotax fitted; thetailhasbeenfitted includingthe Externally dash hasbeenfitted includingallcontrol runs. funded ‘Build aPlane’ project. The cockpit internal progress intheAirLeague-sponsored andBoeing- The Project significant team hasbeenmaking NI Wingbuild anAircraft Project 2018. and Sports. We to forward asuccessful are alllooking oftheACOin allaspects syllabus, especiallyFlying both Cadet andCFAV membersandhasparticipated the Overall Wing hasbeensteady inrecruitment of Conclusion locally andnationally. Appeal. raised£186.82pto Reuben helpRAFveterans formoney RAFA theSeptember 2017 during Wings Fermanagh RAFAirCadets whoraisedthemost presented withtheLeinster Cup for Omagh& Palmer,Cadet Reuben ofOmaghRAFAC wasrecently RAF and VRT. Miskimmin Wing Commander Michael £3012.48 from RAFR AirCommodore Dawn McCafferty Parade Breige received Mullholland Mrs achequefor Ireland, attheAnnual Ambulance Northern Wing This year’s wastheAir Wing Commanders Charity VRT. RAF RAFR and Miskimmin Wing Commander Michael for £3,012.48from AirCommodore Dawn McCafferty Parade, Breige received Mullholland Mrs acheque Ireland. At theAnnual Ambulance Northern Wing This year’s Wing Commander’s wastheAir Charity EventsCharity to theirowners. are they training ofguidedogsandhow important guide dog. muchabouttherole Cadets learned and Andrew from NIandofcourseJamiethe GuideDogs others. toThey were have lucky avisitfrom David and citizenship whichinvolved about /caring learning atanarea825 BangorSquadron looked ofgood RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 61 CADET SUMMARIES COMBINED CADET FORCES of laying a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony at the BANGOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL Menin Gate. The trip was an eye-opening experience COMBINED CADET FORCE for all those who attended.

Introduction Summer Camps Bangor Grammar School CCF has gone from In June, Navy section went to Garelochead and strength to strength in 2017 and has had another Faslane for their summer camp. They spent a successful year. Run number of days on the water honing their skills in in collaboration with sailing and powerboating. They also spent time Glenlola Collegiate with the Royal Marines and the MoD Fire and Rescue School, there are Team. currently 300 cadets and 10 CFAVs in the The Army section went to Wathgill Central Camp for contingent. a week of tactics, field craft and TIBUA (Training In Built-Up Areas) culminating in Exercise Green Dragon. Orienteering Despite the rain the highlight of the week for many Once again Bangor was the AT day at the Krypton Factor which gave the

COMBINED CADET FORCES COMBINED Grammar School cadets the opportunity to run the obstacle course entered a large number of cadets in the 38 (Irish) Brigade (38X) Cadet Orienteering Competition, coming away with numerous medals at both junior and senior level: first and second place in the senior girls individual and first place in the senior girls team event; second place in that was used in the television series. the senior boys team event; first and second place in the junior girls individual; and first and third place in Courses the junior girls team events. A number of cadets attended courses during the holidays in various parts of the country. Five army National Navigation Award Scheme section cadets attended Cadet Leadership Courses In March all of the APCA completed their NNAS in both Warcop and Senneybridge and a naval cadet Bronze Award as part of their syllabus training. This at BRNC Dartmouth. CCAT courses were popular this culminated in an assessment day in Tollymore Forest year with cadets taking part in summer mountain, Park run by 38X Cadet Training Team. caving and climbing courses. One cadet was also lucky enough to spend a week in Bavaria on a Easter Camp multi-activity package. RN courses were also well In April, 30 cadets and 8 CFAVs travelled to Halton attended with cadets attending HMS Summer Training Camp in Lancashire to take part in an Camp, adventurous training in Scotland and Level 2 adventurous training package. The cadets spent Powerboating. Fifteen of our naval cadets also took three days doing a round robin of activities run part in the Junior Leadership Course which was held by Borwick Hall Outdoor Education Centre. The at Palace Barracks. activities included a hill day in the Lake District, canoeing on the Lancaster Canal and on site activities First Aid such as high and low ropes and indoor climbing. A large number of our cadets completed Heart Start, Youth First Aid and First Aid at Work qualifications Battlefield Tour throughout the year as part of their syllabus training. At the beginning of May, 2 Navy Section cadets, In September we entered two teams into the 38X accompanied by the Contingent Commander, were First Aid Competition with the youth team awarded lucky enough to be able to take part in a Battlefield second place. Tour to France and Belgium. During the trip the cadets were able to locate the names of pupils from Shooting Bangor Grammar School who had lost their lives In September two teams took part in the Northern during the war. Cadet Wood also had the honour Ireland Inter-Services Cadet Rifle Meeting (NIISCRM) 62 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 battlefield tours supported by RFCA,andI amglad to battlefield tours supported attend theArmy Cadet Force Association (ACFA) run years someofourcadetshave to hadthe privilege To thatendwe are grateful thatover thepast4 which some76expupils paidthesupreme sacrifice. 2018we commemorate theendof In in WW1 From asanArmy Cadet Force ourpasthistory changes andmany acadetpassthrough itsdoor. -400years old. history The schoolhasseenmany Foyle College asaschoolhasmetmilestone inits FORCE CADET FOYLE COLLEGE COMBINED cadets still serving. cadets stillserving. present day, withmany ex throughof Lucknowright to andtheBattle conflicts India dating backto the history school hasalongmilitary around 100cadets. The we nowto average report with 12cadets, we are glad off 15 years ago, starting humble CCF existence some (ACF) detachmentandour Portsmouth. camps plannedfor Halton, Crowborough and We to forward anotherbusyyear with are looking forwardLooking Legion. ParadeRemembrance organised by theRoyal British School, GlenlolaCollegiate andattheBangor School ofremembrance inacts inBangorGrammar part November CCF BangorGrammarSchool In took Remembrance Commander.best Section SampsonalsowonSergeant thetrophy Major for shoot andsilver inthemarch. Cadet Regimental also won gold medalsfor theFirst Aidstand, the Competition for thefirsttimesince1979. Skills They wonBangor GrammarSchool theCCF Cadet Military The highlightofouryear when occurred inOctober Competition Skills Military achieve secondplace. Hullwon 4helpingherteam goldinMatch Major to andCadet Company Ranges Sergeant at Ballykinler City ofLondonderry.City Iwasinvited to attend the astheLordselected Lieutenant’s Cadet for the letterunexpected congratulating mefor being Just before 2016,Ireceived Christmas acompletely account ofhisyear: CCF, Cadet SSMAndrew gives Hawthorn ashort To give aflavour at for theactivities Foyle College Cadet Summary move into base. Navy anoldsite ofanAmerican West to theEastbankand banklocationinthecity oftheschoolaswe move fromhistory ourtraditional building inJanuary. This isasignificant move for the new and cadetswillmove to astate-of-the-art of2018,theCollege As we to lookforward thestart 18. in Mar another4more willvisitthe Battlefieldsagain report RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 63

COMBINED CADET FORCES Awards Ceremony on Saturday 25th March 2017 at guided tour around some Hillsborough Castle. It was a beautiful day but my parts of the base and looked nerves got the better of me at the start of the day. out for submarines travelling However, as the day moved on, I finally started to in and out of the Clyde. After relax and joined the 8 other cadets to receive our the visit they finished off awards. The day progressed with great success and a with ten pin bowling in the day to remember. station Bowling Rink and of course pizza. While Easter This year our cadets have taken part in many varied Camp was going on I had activities from adventure training in Scotland to the privilege to travel and take part in the Battlefield summer camps in Warcop, Portsmouth, France and Tour of the First World War. The trip consisted of 30 not to mention Bisley. One of the highlights each other cadets from across NI and 2 of my fellow cadets year is our Easter adventure training camp and this from Foyle College. This trip was memorable for year we travelled to Scotland. This trip saw our cadets loads of different things but in general it was an eye take on the marvels of the West Highland Way, a trip opener to what I read before the trip and putting it on Lough Lomond, mountain biking in the lowlands all into perspective. To me the big sobering thought as well as a day trip to Edinburgh. One of the planned was that some of the soldiers that died in the activities was a visit to HMS Clyde where they had a battlefields were the same age as myself, 16. COMBINED CADET FORCES COMBINED

All in all, with our training weekends and evenings, attending courses and competitions throughout the year, Foyle College CCF has been a whole new experience for me and the others that have joined. It is easy to say that I would not have travelled or visited so many different places or meet or made so many friends. All I can say is ‘’A Cadet Life is a Great Life’’ and one I am glad to be part of.

NI Cadet Battlefield tour, Passchendaele 100. This was Royal once again a very worthwhile venture with one cadet School from RSA finding the grave of his Great-Great-Uncle. This was the first time a family member was able to Armagh do so. Combined RSA CCF cadets took up the challenge to raise funds Cadet Force for Northern Ireland Guide Dogs. Through running a disco, sponsored combat swim test, bun sales and Spring/Summer non-uniform day the cadets were able to present a Royal School Armagh cheque of £1040 to this very worthwhile cause. Combined Cadet Force (RSA CCF) had busy Spring/ Summer terms with 5 training weekends. A recruiting day was held in June for all year 8 students and senior students in the Preparatory A St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in March and all Department. Pathways greatly assisted with this cadets and guests were presented with a shamrock. event and all of the potential cadets had an amazing Dean Gregory Dunstan officiated and the event was day. After this successful event 54 cadets decided to positively received by the school. join the CCF. The Contingent competed at the annual Inter Services Orienteering competition. Cpl Joe Haynes was placed runner up in the Junior Boys individual.

Two teams from RSA CCF took part in the Mourne Mountain Adventure with both groups successfully completing the challenge and expedition levels.

5 cadets and one officer from RSA CCF went on the 64 RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 First Aid and NI Inter Services Cadet Rifle Meeting Cadet Rifle First Services Aidand NIInter First Aid, NationalCCF First Aid, Services NationalInter NIRegional Skills, RSA CCF competed attheMilitary competitions. for RSACCF and6 with 4trainingweekends busy September through to wasvery December Autumn/Winter challenge. say thatallfrom RSA successfullycompleted this a safe to route to thesummitanditiswonderful progressively gotstronger. Conditions stillpermitted Snowdon. Weather wascloudy, withlightwindsthat within thearea. The week cumulated inthe assentof were water andland-based as well asculturaltours inanadventure challenge. part take The activities to Snowdonia to and 2adultstravelled A group of11cadets museum inLondon. fit inavisit to anRAF alsomanagedtothey other schoolsand camp trainingwith They spenttheir Benson inOxfordshire. travelled to RAF The RAFsection SCICcourse. cadets have CTT attended a38Brigade pleasingasthiswasthefirsttime CCF which wasvery wasplacedjointtop cadetonthecourse, Martin rewarding. Feedback positive. CSgtRachel wasvery found thecoursedemanding, challenging and Battalion Army Cadet Force’s annualcamp. Allcadets Cadet (NI) Brigade at2nd(NI) Training Team (CTT) Cadre) coursewhichwasrunbyInstructors 38 camp to complete Cadet theirSCIC(Senior RSA CCF sentfour seniorcadetsto Halton Moor toperspective thelocalarea. Eden Project different whichgave themavery benefited from aculturalvisit to the world-renowned will nodoubtstay withthemforever! Cadets also enjoyed themselves. The exercise onDartmoor a lotfrom theweek’s thoroughly andthey activities forOkehampton theirannualcamp. Allcadetsgained travelledThe Army section with43cadetsto and 2ndoverall Services. intheInter the team were placed1stintheCCF competition day ofthecompetition,theirhard paidoffand work abouttheirdelivery,They were but,onthe nervous documents. on theirpresentation andsupporting the Local Heroes competition. hardThe team worked Legionthe Royal British represented RSACCF at Pinkerton L/Cpl Rebecca encouraged by theirefforts. of thecadetswere positively This wasanovice team soall 4shoot. runners upinMatch CCF managedto beplaced for thenationalcompetition in Yardley Chasewhere overall.won theBest Individual The team qualified L/Cpl EllieKnipe Services. well aswinning theInter the CCF strandoftheNIregional competitionas mentioningthat,inFirst isworth Aid,It RSAwon (NIISCRM) andtheLocal Heroes competition. Great-Great –Unclefor of research onEllie’s comprehensive body interesting and compiled an and SamMcWilliams Pinkerton Rebecca L/Cpls EllieKnipe, the RBL. through with Armagh and 4CFAVs paraded Sunday 54cadets Remembrance the evening. On poems throughout She read two theatre, Armagh. Place in theMarket Remembrance, held (RBL) Festival of At theNIISCRM,RSA overall inthis. were placed3rd competition. RSA Services the Inter in part to thentake qualified the team competition. This runners upintheCCF werethey placed RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report 65 COMBINED CADET FORCES COMBINED CADET FORCES 66 2018. RSA CCF to exciting abusyand forward looks him well. inDublinandwe School wish Anglia International greatly positionat Nord missed. onanew Hetakes Ireland. Hewillbe movement asawholeinNorthern asset,notjustto theCCF buttowonderful thecadet aCCF andindoingsohewasa lead andsupport knowledge Crute soughttorequired findthe to years’ to boththeschoolandCCF. service Mr Headmaster, 15exemplary after Crute wholeft Mr sawThe thesadfarewell atChristmas endofterm of RCFA 2017/18 Annual Report Tel: 028 95 219818 Freephone: 0800 730730 www.reservesandcadetsni.org.uk Find us on social media: RFCANI

RCFA Annual Report 2017/18 67 Tel: 028 95 219818 Freephone: 0800 730730 www.reservesandcadetsni.org.uk Find us on social media: RFCANI