Page 21 - Chiron Autumn 2017

Military Reserves Exchange Programme
– An America Exchange
by Capt Richard Harvey 101 MWD Sqn
The Military Reserves Exchange Programme (MREP) is an annual reciprocal exchange with the US armed forces. Participants spend 2-4 weeks training with a US unit on that US unit’s annual exercise and it is open to reserve soldiers and of cers from all cap badges.
I was fortunate enough to spend nearly four weeks in August/ September 2017 in the USA. The aim of the programme is to enhance interoperability and operational effectiveness of reserve forces, and to increase knowledge and experience of one our closest NATO allies.
Further details are on the MREP website which can be found by searching ‘MREP’ on the Defence Gateway for serving Reserves.
I was matched with the 11th Security Forces Support Squadron, part of the 11th Air Wing, US Air Force and based at Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC. The 11th Security Forces Support group are a military police unit and have the largest military working dog kennels (MWD) in the US Air Force.
Their role is the training and operational use of MWDs– protection dogs and arms explosive detection, active operations to secure the Andrews Air Force air eld and Air Force One (as well as other aircraft for high level military and government), as well as many on-going operations worldwide – and are also responsible for Joint Base Andrews Security, and the training of Military Police – eld combat and speci c police skills, weapons, unarmed combat etc. Needless to say they
are a very high tempo and busy unit with lots of opportunity to get involved with training.
The 11th Security Forces Support squadron were extremely welcoming and worked hard to involve me in as much as possible. It was obvious a lot of time, effort and resources had been put into making my time with them both bene cial and enjoyable. I was involved in MWD training and validation, taught to operate US standard issue weapons and military police non-lethal weapons, got to go on offensive operations training at Quantico training area, and also spent some time at the Veterinary Centre with the US Army Veterinary Of cer observing the examination and treatment of MWDs. It was really bene cial to be able to compare and contrast SOPs and MWD training and veterinary treatment methods, which are very similar to UK, but provided some learning points to take back to my own unit.
On top of this my host unit also organised a trip to watch a Baseball game, I was on the runway when President Trump took off, and went on a visit to Arlington National Cemetery where I was shown the US Army Caisson platoon lines, who’s horses and riders pull the caisson (the wooden wagon that carries the casket) in military and state funerals.
I would recommend the MREP programme to all; it is a fantastic opportunity to travel overseas, learn about one of our major allies, enhance your operational effectiveness and interoperability and more than anything it is great fun.
A MOVING REMINDER OF THE EXTRAORDINARY BOND BETWEEN MAN AND HORSE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
Over 6 million horses played a role in The Great War;
the British Army alone used almost 1.2 million. Donations from the patrons of the Home of Rest for Horses (now The Horse Trust), supported horses at the front but with the war producing untold numbers of wounded men and horses, Committee Members made an inspired gift to the Army Veterinary Service (AVS) of the world’s first motorised horse ambulance. Expressing his gratitude, Director General of the AVS Major- General Pringle wrote “It will prove of the greatest value
to the Veterinary Hospital Overseas...” Prescient words; it was so effective that 13 more motorised ambulances were procured and, by the end of the war, over 2 million horses were successfully treated.
The Horse Trust has specialised in providing respite and retirement for British working horses since the 1880’s and has worked in partnership with Army veterinarians since those early days. The first equine veterans retired to their Home of Rest at the end of the Boer conflict and to this day the Trust and the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) are in regular contact planning the retirement needs of serving horses.
In commemoration of
The Great War, and as
a reminder of the bond between man and horse in the face of adversity, the Trust commissioned sought-after artist, George Bingham to create a fitting tribute. The bronze portrays the removal of the saddle for the last time
as the horses’ Army career ends. The statue will provide a focal point for reflection
for visitors to The Horse Trust. Contributions towards our special commemoration fund are welcomed. A limited edition of 25 maquettes will be available for purchase. To contribute to the fund or
to express an interest in a maquette contact The Horse Trust on 01494 488464.