the Voice of Innsworth Station imjinSummer 2019 On the ball Our Girl at Gloucester-Hartpury page 10 COMARRC’S INTRODUCTION Welcome to the summer edition of the imjin magazine. As I look through this latest edition, I’m reminded what a really busy and interesting place Imjin Barracks is to live and work. There is currently a renewed interest in NATO, not least because the Alliance is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Meanwhile, the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps will also be marking two other significant dates – it’s 75 years since ‘D-Day’ at Normandy, where our forebears, in 1st British Corps, commanded the Allied landings at Sword and Juno beaches, and it’s now 20 years since the ARRC led the intervention in Kosovo in June 1999. So, with this rich heritage and long association with NATO, the ARRC remains as relevant as ever to the Alliance, particularly as we prepare to become the first NATO warfighting corps to be held at readiness since the Cold War. This magazine includes news from Imjin Barracks and beyond. Importantly, it also offers plenty of suggestions as to what to explore in the local area. Lieutenant General Tim Radford CB DSO OBE Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps CONNECT WITH WORDS FROM THE EDITOR THE ARRC ON Salut, les amis! SOCIAL MEDIA I love working for NATO. After two decades serving across the world with the For the latest on the Allied Rapid British Army, I find myself feeling very at home here Reaction Corps visit our website in Gloucester. It must be the camaraderie. www.arrc.nato.int Where else can a British Army officer, on their way For staff and families posted to Imjin to work in the morning, receive a cheery ‘hello’ in Barracks, there is a private Facebook at least a dozen European languages? Or enjoy sharing a joke about the group. Search for ARRC Community German army – with the Bundeswehr? and ask to join the group. But despite the exposure to new military cultures, I am yet to unravel some of the great mysteries of Imjin Barracks. Such as, is there really a secret Italian café within the NATO headquarters serving real espresso coffee? And who planted the fluorescent-pink plastic plant by the pedestrian entrance to camp? In this edition of the imjin we invite you to discover new things about the area. So, we’ve sent the French to taste our most famous local product – www.arrc.nato.int Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Double Gloucester cheese. And we tempt you all to explore the west of England, as our travel feature takes us the furthest you can travel in one day by bus from Gloucester’s new bus station. We’d like to thank our readers for your patience as we have taken the time to redesign the magazine. We hope you enjoy the result. Cordialmente @HQARRC Allied Rapid Major Laurence Roche Reaction Corps EDITOR’S NOTES Cover image: Lance Corporal Anabelle The publication of an advert, article or photo Whitecross of the in the imjin does not necessarily reflect the British Army, with team views of the ARRC, Partner nations or UK mates from Gloucester- (MoD). The editor reserves the right to omit, Hartpury Women’s Allied Rapid Groups amend or edit any advert, article or photo at Rugby Football Club. Reaction Corps ARRC Community the discretion of the HQ without liability. Taken by Sergeant Should you wish to include an article or photo Jon Bevan RLC. in future editions, please contact the Public the imjin is designed Email: Affairs Office on 01452 718007 or email [email protected] and printed by Manor [email protected] Telephone: +44 (0)1452 718007 Printing Services The next edition of the imjin will be issued www.manorprinting. in July 2019. co.uk 2 SUMMER 2019 the imjin @HQARRC Allied Rapid Reaction Corps the Voice of Innsworth Station imjinSummer 2019 CONTENTS NEWS 4 Allied Rapid Reaction Corps 10-11 COVER STORY Keeping in Touch – The Royal Signaller playing Premier 15s rugby 12 ARRC Support Battalion 13 1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade 14 MOD Defence Business Services OUT AND ABOUT 16-17 What’s on 18-19 TRAVEL Naval Gazing – Exploring Plymouth’s military heritage 20-21 ARRC International Club WELFARE 22-23 Welfare news 24-25 Housing 26-27 Medical 31 Useful telephone numbers Gold Standard Olympian leads charge at Italian army ski contest – page 9 the imjin SUMMER 2019 3 Grand Alliance UK Defence Secretary hails NATO as ‘cornerstone’ of security The British Defence Secretary, The “It’s great to have such an important Right Honourable Gavin Williamson MP, part of the NATO architecture here It’s great to have has expressed his ‘ambition and pride’ in the U.K.” for the vital role of NATO’s Allied Rapid such an important Reaction Corps in Gloucestershire. VALUE He continued: “What makes During his first visit to the alliance’s part of the NATO the strength of the ARRC as an base in the west of England, the organisation, a structure that so architecture here Minister praised our multinational many nations look to with envy, is the staff for their contribution to the fusion that we have with personnel in the U.K. ‘cornerstone’ of security. from all different nations bringing He met with senior commanders, their knowledge, their expertise, their as well as addressing the passion, and their commitment. headquarters staff, telling them: “We know that your capabilities, your “NATO is the absolute cornerstone, will, and your expertise that you bring not just of our security here in the is second to none, so thank you very United Kingdom, but the cornerstone much for your work. It is great to of the security of every European see you and to have a much better nation and the United States understanding of the value of what and Canada. you bring.” TOP BRASS PICKS UP The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps’ next Smyth-Osbourne enlisted in the Army commander has been announced as and joined The Life Guards in West Major General Sir Edward Alexander Germany in 1983, and has served on Smyth-Osbourne KCVO CBE from the operations in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, British Army. and Afghanistan. General Smyth-Osbourne (pictured Before the general’s most recent right), is currently serving as Deputy appointment serving with NATO Commander at NATO Rapid Deployable in Italy, he was General Officer Corps – Italy (NRDC-IT), our sister Commanding Headquarters London headquarters in Milan. District. But he is perhaps best The cavalryman, who will be promoted known for his role as Prince Harry’s to Lieutenant General on appointment, Commanding Officer when the is expected to take over as ‘COMARRC’ prince undertook active service in in the summer. Afghanistan. 4 SUMMER 2019 the imjin ARRC NEWS British sailors meet the Spanish Armada Naval staff officers serving with the ARRC have enjoyed a free flow of information – after meeting with their Guernsey honours Spanish counterparts at Naval Station Rota, in Andalucía, ARRC’s German soldiers southern Spain. NEWS IN BRIEF The two-day exercise aimed The Channel island of Guernsey has to strengthen ties between thanked the Allied Rapid Reaction the maritime personnel from Corps’ German contingent – with a the Gloucester-based NATO commemorative plaque to mark work HQ and Spanish Maritime done by the NATO troops on the island Forces (SPMARFOR). last summer. British Royal Navy Commander The memorial was unveiled by John Payne explained: “It’s Guernsey’s Lieutenant-Governor Vice important for us, now, to build Admiral Sir Ian Corder and the ARRC’s those relationships so we Captain Erik Winter of the Bundeswehr can understand the maritime during a simple ceremony held at Fort world now, and all nations should be perspective of any operation.” George military cemetery. together to try and maintain peace.” “We’ll be able to afford much better advice to the COMMON BOND WELCOME commander of the ARRC In July 2018, British and German German Captain Sebastian Kühne a and the staff on what the soldiers came together to work on staff officer serving with HQ ARRC capabilities and limitations the unique project to restore the war added: “When we arrived on Guernsey are of that maritime force.” graves of military personnel who had we had a very warm reaction – so many died on the island during the Second people supporting us and they offered World War. their spare time to help us with our The NATO soldiers spent two weeks endeavours, providing us with tools, pressure washing and repairing the and showing us around the island. headstones under the supervision of “I feel very touched to have worked experts from the Commonwealth War on the graveyard and see the names Graves Commission. of the British and German soldiers It was the first time the German military that died here because they are very Ocean Wave – The ARRC’s maritime had returned to Guernsey in uniform young, most younger than me.” staff met with fellow sailors from the since the Nazi occupation of the The small military cemetery at Fort United States, France, Portugal and Spain Channel Islands that lasted until 1945. George on Guernsey’s east coast Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, said includes 111 German war graves, as well at the unveiling: “It is a very different as those of British airmen. ARRC boffins win U.S. award Academics working at Headquarters ARRC have received a rare award from the U.S. Army in recognition of their innovative analytical work. It is a very The Operational Analysis and Research Branch (OARB) different received the accolade from the United States Army for its world now, efforts “to help organise the thinking of a modern Corps and all Headquarters”.