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Itook over the helm at 9 TS Bn REME in June 2023. My preconceived ideas of what a Unit would be like was taken from
already fully established PD departments and not one that only formed 6 months before my arrival.
In my arrival interview, Lt Col J Anthistle stated his intentions for Physical Development (PD). With fire in my belly I committed to enhancing the Unit’s operational output, but soon had the realisation that this was going to be no easy task. Words of advice from WO2 (QMSI) A Syrett was to take stock and see how everything is running before making any changes. However, I found myself in the first week flat out trying to re-write the world before I remembered his sound words of advice.
9 Bn REME is part of the Theatre Enabling Group and a spearhead for Far Bank operations. I would like to say that I understood everything that was being spoken about in my arrivals interview, but I would be lying. The Unit is always at high readiness, ready to be the bridge that connects home bank to far bank anywhere in the world, there would be no road movements without the recovery assets we lead with.
Being the newest Unit in the Army, 9 Bn REME had to establish themselves quickly before our deployment as part of the biggest NATO-led exercise since the Cold War. 9 Bn REME were to be the bridge between the UK and Germany running all Reception, Staging, Onward Movement & Integration (RSOI) packages and ensuring all exercising troops were delivered to their exercise areas across Europe. This
SSgt (SSI) S Harris RAPTC
was no easy task for a newly established Unit. At the time of writing this, we are three months into a six-month deployment leading Enabling Group (South) (EGS) in Sennelager, Germany.
Running the PD Department whilst deployed came with its own set of challenges, only six-months previous I had been re-writing all documents and here I found myself doing it again, this time not only for 9 Bn REME but for EGS as a whole.
I soon realised that the PD department was an extension of the welfare facilities for deployed troops, and started a football league, boxing club, rugby training and a spinning club in the evenings.
SSgt (SSI) S Harris delivering Spinning
We will finish our Deployment by July 2024 and then push on to our next deployment in October. A high readiness Unit is fun but hard work to ensure everyone is ready to deploy out the door at a moment’s notice.
My first year at 9 Bn REME has been amazing, we are a small but very busy Unit that strives to punch forward at every opportunity. I could write a book on my experiences thus far, but who would read it.... my mum maybe?
My parting advice would be to enjoy every moment and don’t swamp yourself with work, it will be there tomorrow. Be present with your family, they come first!
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9 THEATRE SUPPORT BATTALION REME
SSgt (SSI) S Harris RAPTC
“Beg, borrow, just don’t steal... do what you need to do to facilitate everything”
Sennelager Spin Club... or is it a discotheque?
EGS PT Delivery in Sennelager