Inside: Combat Bridging Services Special 1 RSME Rugby
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rsme matters ISSUE 4 : MARCH 2010 NEWS FROM THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING MILITARY OF SCHOOL ROYAL THE FROM NEWS Inside: Combat bridging Services special 1 RSME rugby... Working together to train our soldiers for operations 02 MARCH 2010 MARCH 2010 03 rsme matters rsme matters Contents Features Introduction ........................................... 4 5 Let it snow! ............................................ 4 Sport: rugby........................................... 5 Don’t walk by......................................... 6 Royal School of Military Engineering .... 7 SPORT: RUGBY 2009 A look back................................... 8 For many aspiring sportsmen and women the highlight of the week at the RSME is Wednesday afternoon. One of the traditional sports in Class of 2009 update .......................... 10 which 1 RSME regularly competes is rugby. Read more on page 5 COLD – VERY! ..................................... 14 Services special 6 10 Safety update ...................................... 15 Combat bridging.................................. 16 28 Engineer Regiment are building bridges in Helmand................ 18 OP GIRAFFE, Workington DON’T WALK BY CLASS OF 2009 UPDATE Cumbria 26 Nov 09 ............................. 20 Each card submitted will be Congratulations are due to our class actioned and you will be given of 2009. They have now started their Construction update............................ 22 feedback on the action taken and next phase of training. RSME of course your card will be entered Matters caught up with four of our Early beginnings .................................. 24 in the monthly draw. volunteers at Chatham early in Read more on page 6 February. Read more on page 10 New Chief Instructor for PEW ............. 24 Reachback........................................... 25 IT update ............................................ 26 16 26 4 Main picture: COMBAT BRIDGING IT UPDATE Helping to keep Minley snow-free Ask anyone, anywhere what the If you want to know what’s Royal Engineers do and the answer happening in the IT world at the LET IT SNOW! Photography: All images except where stated will inevitably be ‘build bridges’. RSME, ask Holdfast Head of IT For the second year running both sites were hit by bad weather in January. by Ian Clowes www.goldysolutions.co.uk Read more on page 16 Chris Bryant. Design and Production: Plain Design This year however the snow lay thick on the ground and only the combined www.plaindesign.co.uk Read more on page 26 efforts of everyone within the RSME kept things running... Read more on page 4 Cover image: 1 RSME rugby team in action 04 MARCH 2010 MARCH 2010 05 rsme matters rsme matters Let it snow! Sport: rugby As we explored in issue 3, the For the second year running both sites were Holdfast Site Manager Taddy McCauley For many aspiring sportsmen and group caps. A number of other players have Royal School of Military Engineering hit by bad weather in January. This year described one particular challenge. ‘As women the highlight of the week at the played at County level. The opponents, 13 Air is all about training. In this issue we however the snow lay thick on the ground people will remember, the availability of grit RSME is Wednesday afternoon. All types of Assault Supply Regt from Colchester, would take a look at the sometimes and only the combined efforts of everyone became a major problem country-wide. sports are catered for from golf to sky soon know that they had a fight on their forgotten world behind the training: within the RSME kept things running and all Thanks to the decision of CO 1 RSME to diving. One of the traditional sports in which hands. Today’s game is the second round of that of housing and feeding the resident students and staff safe, warm and utilise the parade square as a central car the RSME regularly competes is rugby. the Army Rugby Union Community Shield. thousands of students and staff each well fed. park our grit requirements were reduced, RSME Matters dropped by one murky year at the RSME. We also learn but our procurement team managed to February afternoon to see how the 1 RSME WO2 Snook takes up the commentary: about how the RSME is directly Minley Site Manager Adam Cooper takes secure one of the last available loads of team was doing. ‘Both teams took to the field with 1 RSME helping to solve problems in theatre up the story. ‘The start of the New Year saw rock salt available in the UK which was sporting their new Holdfast sponsored strip. and how bridging is still a central the continuation of the harshest winter for offloaded, suitably under cover of darkness “The team did well 1 RSME soon established a very quick 7 theme for Royal Engineers both at over 30 years. At Minley, exceptional to our Wood Street QM department.’ point lead. 13 AA drew level but 1 RSME home and in Afghanistan. snowfall covered the site with over 12 against strong kept the pressure on and went into half- inches of snow. During the first week in Lt Col Paul Fountaine (CO 1 RSME) added, opposition and are time 8 points ahead. In the second half 13 We catch up with some of our particular large numbers of RSME ‘A great deal of planning took place AA seemed to have a renewed sense of volunteer Sappers as they embark on personnel simply couldn’t make the journey between the Regiment and Holdfast to now looking to purpose and kept 1 RSME defending their trade training, watch 1RSME bring into work. However it did not deter determine the best way to minimise the defend the Fern Cup own try line. But the boys dug in their heels down the opposition on the rugby significant numbers from making it into disruption to training, whilst remaining alive and didn’t allow 13 AA to take advantage. field, hear how the RSME coped with work either on foot or in 4x4’s to ensure the to the problems people were facing getting of which they are the Introduction Introduction the January snow, and more. 900+ students were well looked after. to work and the possibility of needing to current holders.” After a succession of scrums Sapper Taff assist the local community. Thankfully no Barlow managed to run in a try which was Tim Redfern ‘3 RSME and Holdfast met twice each day such deployment was needed, and successfully converted taking the score to to review progress and identify actions although training was disrupted for a short The team is selected from a squad of 45 22-7. Towards the end of the second half required. This ensured that the impact on period, we soon caught up all lost time. The soldiers and four permanent staff. There is Sapper Dougie Douglas drove over for a training was minimised and a round-the- flexibility and mutual understanding an enthusiastic coaching team led by second try by the corner flag completing a clock approach to clearing and gritting site demonstrated by all stakeholders was WO2(SSM) Lew Snook, SSM 24 Trg Sqn, successful game for 1 RSME.’ We’re always looking for new parts of roads was really effective. Holdfast testimony to the strength of the RSME himself a RFU Level 2 Coach, who also the RSME to explore and share within engineers and chefs remained onsite partnership, without which the impact could coaches with the London Irish Community The team went on to narrowly defeat 14 Sig RSME Matters. If you’d like us to tell overnight to ensure heating systems and have been far greater.’ Team at Premiership Masterclass camps. Regt 11-10 in the Qtr final of the shield but your story then just let us know. centralised feeding were guaranteed.’ Lew is joined by two other coaches: SSgt were themselves beaten by 16 Regt RA in Vince Reynolds, Electrician SSgt also a the semi-finals. Ian Clowes Around the Medway sites the training and Level 2 Coach, and Sgt Drew Sherston, service delivery remained largely unaffected. Durrant Troop who is a Level 1 Coach. WO2 Snook remains optimistic. ‘The team Editor, RSME Matters 1 Training was halted for 1 ⁄2 days due to the did well against strong opposition and are conditions but this time was easily made up The highest capped player in the team is now looking to defend the Fern Cup of 07930 982 661 over the following weeks. Sapper Joe McClean who has six Welsh age which they are the current holders.’ [email protected] 06 MARCH 2010 MARCH 2010 07 rsme matters rsme matters Don’t Royal School of walk by Military Engineering There’s a new name in safety at the we’ve been able to address: from slip, trip Vicky recently met the first three winners at HQ RSME RSME. Vicky Huckle has recently taken on and fall hazards to complex issues such as Minley. Sgt Owens spotted trailing electrical HQ RSME with Holdfast coordinates and resources the activities of the regiments and wings in order to allow the lead Heath and Safety role within the traffic management around sites. leads outside Mac’s Mess. Jason Jordon effective and efficient delivery of trained and motivated soldiers for operations in Afghanistan. Matters of RSME and will be working closely together identified the risk from ice build-up over the quantity and relevant training content are articulated by the HQ as a requirement in concert with the five effects from the RSME Plan: support operations; maximise the effectiveness of the recruit and training pipeline; with her team of Patrick Mottram (Medway) ‘What’s needed now is a big push behind entrance to the workshops and Peter improve training delivery; embed a culture of continuous improvement; deliver improved infrastructure. and Steve Marshall (Minley) to champion the scheme. My aim is that everyone uses Thomas highlighted the hazards of loose safety and environmental issues.