Welcome to the fifth edition of Barbarian Blog – and my final
contribution as Commanding Officer. This
edition will focus on the changes being undertaken across the unit, which will
be implemented by the end of the year, as well as a recap on some of the
fantastic achievements we have enjoyed in the last few months.
The theme for the last twelve months has been change, both in the
Regiment and the wider British Army. We
have spent almost a year preparing the Regiment for the imminent changes and
June saw the first of the Future Reserves 2020 changes implemented – the
cessation of training in 125 Squadron in Glasgow. Having known their fate for some time, the
Officer Commanding Major Gary Wallace, Captain Bill Forsyth, the Permanent
Staff Administration Officer, and all of their team, have worked tirelessly to
provide transfer opportunities for all of the Squadron’s personnel. On 1st June they stopped training
and by the end of the month, all Reservist personnel had been transferred out
into new units. The loss of the Squadron
in Glasgow will be painful for all concerned, but Gary, Bill and the team can
be proud of the professional and diligent manner in which they have carried out
their work. Whilst the Squadron may have
stopped training, it doesn’t mean the Regular staff have yet either; as Bill
and his permanent staff prepare to assist in supporting the Commonwealth Games
in Glasgow this summer.
The other two key changes are less painful but nevertheless seismic –
the re-subordination out of the Regiment of 216 Squadron, back to 150 Regiment,
and 381 Squadron, to 156 Regiment. Both
Squadrons have supported the Regiment’s commitment to operations doggedly and
been at the forefront of the Army’s recruiting efforts under Operation
FORTIFY. We will get a chance to say
goodbye to Majors Harry Drennan and Derek Morton – and their Squadrons – over
the weekend 26-27 July in Swynerton. The
Quartermaster is leading with the “Regimental Farewell Parade” and I hope that
as many of you as possible will join me over that weekend for some sports, a
BBQ and it will culminate with an inter-Squadron tug-of-war competition.
The other confirmed major change to the Regiment is the addition of 294
Squadron in Grantham. 294 will be
joining us from 160 (National) Regiment and will be transforming to a Regional
footprint over the summer. I welcome
their new Officer Commanding, Major Paul Ashton, to the unit and hope that as a
Regular Officer, he will be able to provide the absolute dedication required to
grow the Squadron to a competent and effective unit in the next two years.
The changes we face at home must be balanced by our commitment to
operations and the requirement for us to keep one eye on Afghanistan at all times. We have, after a few individuals have
returned, 23 of our ‘Barbarian’s still in Camp Bastion with 1 Theatre Logistic
Regiment who are currently completing their rest and recuperation in
anticipation of a theatre drawdown this year.
Owing to the success of this contingent and the wider Army efforts in
Helmand over the last year, the commitment to Afghanistan for our paired
Regular unit, 6 Regiment RLC, was significantly reduced at the end of May. As a result the cohort we had trained and
selected were stood down. This was a
very disappointing time for all of the individuals and their families, as plans
had been made and subsequently dashed.
We all knew that there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the tour and
volunteers were advised to not make concrete plans, so as to avoid
disappointment, but that doesn’t counter the disappointment we all feel to have
not contributed to the final iteration in Afghanistan. I know that opportunities for Reserve units,
this one in particular, for overseas exercises and short term deployments are
increasing; from April next year we hope to see legislative changes made which
will allow Reservists to deploy to Canada, Kenya and the Falkland Islands in
the same manner as a Regular.
On the training front, it would be remiss of me not to highlight the
huge success of this year’s Annual Deployment Exercise (ADE) in
Sennelager. Masterfully coordinated by
the Training Major, Andy Masters, and Regimental Technical Officer, Captain
Andy Wilmot, this year’s exercise was just as challenging and rewarding as last
year’s. This year saw the addition of a
sailing package in Kiel (read Corporal Gibbs’ blog on her experiences
here: https://britisharmy.wordpress.com/tag/159-supply-regiment/),
an enhanced and more challenging technical trade focussed package for the
Supplier contingent and move to a different site in Sennelager – with better
accommodation, gymnasium and canteen.
The 140 plus Reservists who deployed to learn, teach, administer and
command all fed back useful improvements for next year and gave their thanks
for an exercise which was overall a resounding success. The training team have set the benchmark high
and as the two Andys leave the Regiment in the next few months, I’m sure their
handover notes will include plenty of tips on planning a good ADE!
The other key changes in the Regiment will be well known to all of
you. Major Marvin Bargrove has stepped
aside as Regimental Administration Officer and handed the baton over to Captain
Paul Blythe, who joins us from 37 Signal Regiment. Marvin remains in the unit as a Reservist and
will be focussing on “special projects” in the HQ. We also welcome WO1 Davies in from 17
Regiment RLC as the new Regimental Sergeant Major, taking over from WO1 Smith
RLC who leaves the Army this summer after 24 years’ service. WO1 Smith was dined out in style in April and
I believe is still being dined out until mid-September; such is his popularity
and impact across the Corps! WO1 Davies
follows in the footsteps of two other WOs joining the Regiment from 17 Regiment
RLC and he has already made the position – and office – his own. Welcome to Paul and the RSM.
A final note form me, I have had a fantastic and privileged time as your
Commanding Officer. Not a week passed
without one being inspired in some way by your commitment, dedication and
achievements. All I ask is that you
continue to drive the development of this fine Regiment and remain as positive
and productive as you have been during the last two and a half years. To each and every one of you it has been a
real pleasure to know you and I hope that our paths cross again in the future.
Yours
Colin Francis
