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Rsme Matters ISSUE 7 : APRIL 2011 NEWS from the ROYAL SCHOOL of MILITARY ENGINEERING from NEWS the ROYAL SCHOOLMILITARY OF

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Rsme Matters ISSUE 7 : APRIL 2011 NEWS from the ROYAL SCHOOL of MILITARY ENGINEERING from NEWS the ROYAL SCHOOLMILITARY OF rsme matters ISSUE 7 : APRIL 2011 NEWS FROM THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING FROMNEWS THE ROYAL SCHOOLMILITARY OF Inside: On the water with Durrant Troop CinC Land Forces visit Dogs of War Working together to train our soldiers for operations 02 APRIL 2011 APRIL 2011 03 rsme matters rsme matters Contents Features 13 Introduction ........................................... 4 08 The Sandwich Run ................................ 4 Cpl James Bedford MC ........................ 4 Service with a smile .............................. 5 CinC ...................................................... 8 KEEPING THE FLEET ON THE ROAD CinC Review of 2010 ................................... 10 In the last issue, RSME Matters visited the Motor Transport (MT) team at Minley. It was literally a flying visit in early April by Commander in Chief Land In this issue we learn more about the team behind the scenes responsible for the Forces General Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE (Late Royal Green Jackets), as Nutrition .............................................. 12 recovery, repair and maintenance of the vehicles. Read more on page 13 he flew in to visit the RSME at Brompton Barracks. Read more on page 8 Keeping the fleet on the road ............. 13 Virtual Battle Space 2 ......................... 16 16 20 A 21st Century Institution special Safety Update ..................................... 19 Construction ....................................... 20 Don’t Walk By ..................................... 22 VIRTUAL BATTLE SPACE 2 CONSTRUCTION Dogs of War ........................................ 23 There was a noticeable nervous Carillion Project Manager Paul tension amongst the group of Royal Young updates RSME Matters on Boats: Durrant Troop .......................... 27 Engineers gathered in the hallway recent construction successes. outside the new VBS2 (Virtual Battle Read more on page 20 Close Support .................................... 31 Space 2) training suite at Brompton Barracks. POMs .................................................. 33 Read more on page 16 Troop Commander ............................. 34 23 27 Main picture: Holdfast Vehicle Inspector Steve Eley checks out the new MAN SVR recovery vehicle in DOGS OF WAR BOATS: DURRANT TROOP the Minley MT Workshops. One of the busiest areas of the We continue our look at Chatham- Photography: All images except where stated RSME sits in the green fields of based 36 Training Squadron with a by Ian Clowes www.goldysolutions.co.uk Melton Mowbray; the Joint Service focus on Durrant Troop. Durrant Design and Production: Plain Design Dog School, otherwise known as Troop is responsible for all boat www.plaindesign.co.uk the Canine Division of the Defence training at the RSME and is based Cover image: Members of 36 Training Squadron Animal Centre (DAC). at Upnor. coming ashore during an exercise at Upnor. Read more on page 23 Read more on page 27 04 APRIL 2011 APRIL 2011 05 rsme matters rsme matters Cpl James Introduction Bedford MC Welcome to issue seven of RSME Barracks to learn first-hand how things It’s not often that you bump into the Matters. Well into the third year of joint are progressing. Volunteers continue to holder of a Military Cross in the Fitter’s Café delivery of training and support at the come forward to share their experiences at Brompton Barracks. However Cpl James RSME we take a look back at 2010. We with RSME Matters. You will be Bedford MC is now based in McPhie Troop, also catch-up with the build programme introduced to three sappers on the Plant within 36 Training Squadron and was as the major demolition begins at Operator Mechanic course and a Troop recently awarded the Military Cross for Brompton Barracks, and new-builds and Commander as he tackles the Troop bravery in Afghanistan. refurbishments are completed at both Commander’s Course. Bicester and Minley. Cpl Bedford was deployed as part of a We also visit the Canine Section at the reactive RE Search Team in Afghanistan Continuing our look at the work of 36 Defence Animal Centre and learn more when his Troop came under fire, taking Training Squadron we meet Durrant Troop about the increasingly important work the casualties. A modest man, Cpl Bedford ‘boats’ and the Holdfast team busy RSME is doing preparing both dogs and recounts the actions following the initial working to keep them on the water. On handlers for the modern-day challenges attack, explaining how he administered first land we learn more about the Holdfast of operations in Afghanistan. aid to his colleague while sniper rounds hit MT Workshop team at Minley as they get his back pack. Once the casualties had to grips with the new vehicles and benefit Finally our special feature looks at the been evacuated by helicopter, he returned from new investments in equipment. Institution of Royal Engineers. An to the scene to recover sensitive equipment organisation that itself has undergone in open ground knowing that the sniper was Training Transformation is at the forefront tremendous change over recent years. You still active. of activities at the RSME and we follow will be surprised about the breadth of its Left to right: Kirsty Bianco, Laura Hidson, Jo Collings, Fay Bussey, CinC Land Forces as he visits Brompton remit and the dynamic vision of its future. A full interview with Cpl Bedford will be Laura Hidson, Sue Hearn, Nicole McLaren, Mike Gander. featured in the next issue of RSME Matters when we will learn more about his experiences in Afghanistan and his present role within the RSME. Service with a smile The Sandwich Run One of the innovations introduced by months of intense work to develop the entering jobs into the computerised system Holdfast Training Services in January 2009 procedures and scripts we would use. The and holding discussions with the Holdfast At Brompton Barracks Holdfast can was the Service Support Desk (SSD). team also undertook several weeks of planning teams, responsible for the now provide a selection of freshly made RSME Matters recently spent some time training that included multiple site visits to deployment of electricians, plumbers and baguettes, sandwiches and wraps with the SSD team, in their control centre, familiarise themselves with the RSME. As well other trades as they mobilize their resources direct to your desk. All you have to do tucked behind the reception building at as carrying out several training exercises on to tackle the first jobs of the day. The next is place your order before 10.30am and Brompton Barracks. the run-up to January, we had a dedicated request he deals with is an overnight answer your food will be delivered between SNCO working alongside the team during the phone message regarding a heating 11.30 and 12.30. Your editor The first questions, however, came from first couple of weeks of live operations.’ problem in Kitchener Guardroom. experienced the Sandwich Run during them…would I like a coffee, and for lunch a visit to Chatham and can highly would I like to join their chippy run? Just the The SSD is the single point of contact for ‘This call was logged for the attention of the recommend the service! welcome you would expect from a team both military and civilian personnel across Holdfast team at 0800hrs,’ Mike noted, ‘and that has established such a positive all sites. the job is reported as complete at 0839hrs.’ To place an order: reputation over the last couple of years. civ: 01634 822 447 The team’s mission statement is ‘Putting ‘Overnight there is an answer phone service mil: 94 661 2447 The team was put together, and is still led the Customer first at all times’, and there is which we deal with as a priority each by Customer Services Manager David no doubting their commitment to this. morning. However all urgent or immediate Gatfield. It has recently been extended to out-of-hours requests should be reported include the reception team at Brompton The SSD phone lines open at 0800hrs. via the Regimental Orderly Officer,’ together with reprographics and the site However the team are at their desks much comments David. We’re always looking for new parts of the RSME to explore and share within RSME mail services. We will take a look at these earlier, checking the telephone answer Matters. If you’d like us to tell your story then just let us know. elements in a future issue. machine and running through faxes and The overnight Duty Operator also reports in, emails received overnight. updating the team of the night’s activities IAN CLOWES, Editor, RSME Matters ‘We took our first calls on January 5th 2009,’ and any priority outstanding issues. These 07930 982 661 [email protected] explained David. ‘This followed several SSD Officer Mike Gander is already busy are all logged onto the system. 06 APRIL 2011 rsme matters Between 0730hrs and 0800hrs there is a ‘This is a request for transport in support of At 11:00am Laura is busy reviewing the day LAURA HIDSON, SUPERVISOR CHARLOTTE O’CONNELL DAVID GATFIELD steady stream of visitors to the centre an upcoming exercise to be held in the so far. The team has received 79 calls, all reporting issues directly to the team. Minley training area. I also received a call answered within the required two minutes, Laura Hidson moved to her current role, Charlotte O’Connell joined the team at the London born David is a qualified civil earlier for a repair to a leaking sink drain at most within 15 seconds. Compare that to Customer Service Supervisor, in September start of the contract. She tells the story of engineer who joined Holdfast in May 2008. At 8am the phone system goes live. The Chatham. This has already been repaired the last time you called your bank! 2010 and is now responsible for both the her first days at Holdfast. He is also a Certified ITIL Practitioner in first call is a late request for by Dave Woods, a member of the Holdfast SSD team and the Chatham Reception Team.
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