ALDERSHOT GARRISON HERALD April/May 2016 Linking our Community Issue 007 10 QOGLR, On parade during Freedom of RushmoorALDERSHOT GARRISON HERALD Anew neighbourhood forAldershot www.wellesleyhampshire.co.uk From the editor Lt Col NC Macgregor ever let it be said ‘nothing happens in Aldershot’! Prince Harry visited Aldershot Garrison Sports NCentre to encourage and support the wounded warriors of team GB who are busy preparing for the Invictus Games in Orlando, USA on 8th May 2016. 10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment (QOGLR), were granted the Freedom of Rushmoor by the mayor.They paraded through the streets of Aldershot on 12 March 2016 with great support from the local community.Tocap off a Commander 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, great week, the British Army beat the Lt Col PSReehal MBE RLC receives the freedom scroll from ALDERSHOT GARRISON HERALD The Mayor of Rushmoor,Councillor Martin Tennant. French Army 57 –3atthe Army Rugby Stadium in Aldershot on 16 March 2016 in front of over 600 spectators. Contents Commander 11 Infantry Brigade re-opened the Connaught Community Centre on 17 March 4Garrison at aGlance 2016. Along term project with some great work from Mrs Jo Usher and tremendous financial support from the Army Central Fund. The project 8Historical Aldershot sees the creation of acentral welfare hub serving all Garrison Unit Welfare offices. There is still 10 Charities –CMPP Please address all correspondence to: Aldershot some technical work to be completed to improve Garrison Herald, Garrison Headquarters, St Omer Barracks, Alisons Road, digital communications with families and Service 12 Around and About the Garrison Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2BG or via Personnel. This is apositive step that supports the email [email protected]. welfare of the military community. All submissions for the June/July edition are 14 Armed Forces Covenant to be with the Herald team no later than 13 May 16.Ifyou are submitting photographs July 2016 will be one hundred years since the please ensure they are agood quality jpeg and Battle of the Somme. Aldershot played asignificant have an appropriate caption. 18 Our Partners Update role in the lead up to and during the battle. The Aldershot Garrison Herald will be covering the FRONT COVER PIC: 10 QOGLR, On Garrison’s role in the battle, but will also highlight 20 Lifestyle parade during Freedom of Rushmoor. Photo courtesy of Army Media 11X. the men of Rushmoor who fell on the Somme and how Aldershot intends to commemorate their 24 On the Horizon Production Manager – sacrifice. More details to follow in the next edition. Lee Sexton, HQ Aldershot Garrison, 27 Notices [email protected] Hopefully with the improved weather we will be seeing increased numbers taking advantage of an improved canal tow-path and the Wellesley 29 Community Centres woodland walks. If you do have an article you would like published, then please remember, 31 Spiritual News from Above you can submit stories to: [email protected] Published for Commander Aldershot Garrison by Method Publishing, of the Garrison, the Army or the Ministry of Defence. No part of this publication may be Sutherland Press House, Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland KW10 6RA. reproduced without the permission of the Editor. Email: [email protected] Design and Ty pography ©Method Publishing 2016 No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted The Aldershot Garrison Herald is published every other month by kind permission of the by the Editor or Publishers and advertisements are accepted on the express condition that Garrison Commander. they in no way contravene the provisions of the Tr ades Descriptions Act 1968 nor any other prevailing Consumer Legislation. The Editor and Publishers cannot accept responsibility for the Views expressed in this magazine, unless otherwise specifically stated, are not necessarily those result of errors or omissions in articles or advertisements. ALDERSHOT GARRISON HERALD 3 GARRIsoN AT AGLANCE Combat Service Support Tr ials &Development Unit Whilst CSS TDU is manned 50/50 with soldiers from the Royal Logistic HQ 11 infantry Brigade Corps and Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, its remit is certainly NOT Headquarters 11 Infantry Brigade Community Engagement Te am, based confined to CSS trials and development (T&D) activities. CSSTDUis in Aldershot with support from 17 Port &Maritime Regiment RLC who one of six Army T&D units, representing all Army cap badges and trialling are based at Marchwood, near Southampton held an Armed Forces equipment for the Royal Marines and RAF Regiment too. Frequently,the Employability Pathway (AFEP) at Longmoor Camp. TDU’s collaborate on trials. Project VIRTUS, was arecent case in point. AFEP is amutually beneficial partnering scheme designed to help Infantry TDU led the overall trials, but all TDU’s played their part. VIRTUS unemployed and under-employed Job Seekers become more provides integrated Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and Load Carriage employable. The AFEP offers Job Seekers the opportunity to undertake Equipment (LCE) for tri-Service personnel. It delivers scalable PPE for employability training, awork placement, gain depth understanding of the head and torso (helmet and body armour) and delivers modular LCE armed forces and civilian opportunities and if they wish to, begin the (pouches, webbing, day sack, rucksack etc), integrating the sub-systems to application process for the Reserve Forces. The programme also offers optimise a‘whole system’ capability.Four different systems, from avariety opportunities to develop sector-specific programmes which focus on of Defence contractors, were put forward for User/Operator trials. One national skills shortages for UK PLC. AFEP involves acombination of system was withdrawn early,but the remaining three systems went the military work, insight and work placement with local companies and distance. The TDU’s collectively judged that the eventual winner offers brings together youngsters from avariety of backgrounds, including the most flexible, agile option, increasing manoeuvrability when soldiers potential Army Reserve recruits, engineering apprentices, academy carry out their specialist roles, across all cap badges. Furthermore, the students and those not in education, employment or training (NEETs). complete fitment of the chosen system is closer to the body and doesnot The next one will be in Thames Gateway (Medway) commencing on restrict movement of the soldier,asmuch as the current body armour and 6th June 2016. webbing, which it will eventually replace. Defence Dental Centre Dental Centre Aldershot has been working very hard this year.The dental centre has been under alot of pressure due to 4Military Army School of Physical Tr aining DN`s being posted, without replacements. All staff have been On the 10 Feb16, as part of community engagement the ASPT working very hard to get as many personnel dentally fit as possible. gave Farnborough Military Preparation College the opportunity to Special thanks to Mrs Sharon Davey who liaises with the Sgt Majors showcase their skills at aspecial celebration day. to block book appointments. Around 60 teenage learners visited the ASPT for the College’s Anumber of successful Health Fairs have been delivered this year Awards Ceremony.The day recognised the personal at 4Rifles &27Regt, delivering important information regarding achievements of learners at the Farnborough College and was smoking and its negative effects on oral health. This is in preparation attended by the students’ families and local VIPs. for No Smoking Day on the 09 Mar 16. As busy as we have been, we are able to nominate individuals for Guests were treated to an impressive gymnastics performance by AT.SSgt Slade-Jones is representing the AMS team in bobsleigh and members of the Royal Army Physical Tr aining Corps, as well as LCpl Buerdsell has been away for aweek on aCT1 exercise which parade, drill, physical training and log display sessions by students was extremely cold (-12 degrees). SSgt Slade-Jones is also raising from the Military Preparation College. money for Sports Relief and is soon to complete a2.5k swimathon The day concluded with an Awards Ceremony where all and will be running the 2016 London Marathon. Maj Scott is now learners from the Farnborough Military Preparation College were back full time at the dental centre after asuccessful season of skiing presented with acertificate of achievement marking their progress. and being in charge of the highly successful AMS team. Special awards were also presented to anumber of learners for outstanding achievement including Most Promising Student and Best Physical Tr aining Award which was presented by the ASPT Commanding Officer Lt Col (MAA) KMcDonald RAPTC. 4 ALDERSHOT GARRISON HERALD GLANCE 4RiFleS 4RIFLES have maintained their energetic tempo set prior to Christmas with anumber of exciting deployments and activities. Early in February the Battalion conducted public order training which helped prepare them for avariety of tasks they may face on 22 Field Hospital their high readiness year.ACompany 22 Field Hospital was given the prestigious task of are currently deployed to Belize hosting three female journalists as part of the Female on Exercise MAYANWARRIOR Engagement Campaign, in partnership with Marie Claire conducting Jungle Warfare training. magazines. This is aRecruiting Group initiative. The aim BCompany have deployed with their of the Female Engagement