Page 95 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2019

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
Tinker, Soldier, Student, Snowflake
Security and Strategy Institute, Academic External Placement Programme
In September 2019 I arrived at the Security and Strategy In- stitute. Dressed as I was in a suit there was a brief moment where I was mistaken as a lecturer. This was quickly dispelled. The External Placement Academic initiative, which some may remember as the Higher Defence Studies Programme, offers various academic positions to all ranks of the Army each year. Six of these positions are full time Masters degrees undertaking a MA in War studies at Kings College London, or Strategy and Security at Exeter.
I am studying at the latter in an extraordinarily diverse cohort of 20 students. The ages vary from 20 to 50, and include gov- ernment representatives from Sierra Leone, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Italy as well as an Infantry Captain from our own forces and a Squadron Leader from the RAF. Aside from the (short-lived) joys of being a student again, scrounging for one’s food (some of my colleagues may remember this is a skill at which I excel), and an attempt at growing a beard (long since ended), so what?
Our institution, the Army, often sees our thinking fall into the traps of echo chambers, groupthink, narrow-minded opinions, and process driven outputs (most particularly the last). As a ser- vice person dropped into a bunch of fresh, liberal, diverse, bal- anced and intelligent young things I have found myself having to sink or swim – or, ‘think, don’t be dim’. Initially I scorned academic opinions and assumed the students to be part of the ‘Snowflake’ generation. But I have had to quickly revise these rash judgments. Most of our academics have spent more time in conflict zones than we have, and the student cohort is all (but one), joining the services, FCO, or similar tools of the state.
It is too early to say whether I am on a Saul-like journey into the academic world on the road to the Damascus of a PhD (I doubt it). But I am certainly being challenged far more than I have been in previous jobs. In this post-truth era where sub-threshold warfare is interpretative and subjective, we as a student cohort are rapidly learning what each can bring to the table. And this is after all, what we in the Army seek to develop most; a highly functioning, objective, thoughtful and imaginative team that can adapt and evolve to solve the problems of this era.
For serving officers and soldiers interested in the program, con-
Capt Purbrick is working to become the next Master of Strategy
sult ACSO 3231 or drop me a line.
AJP
Capt Purbrick with the Exeter Mumford and Sons tribute act
Defence Ordnance Safety Group – A step into the unknown...
Having arrived in the Defence Ordnance Safety Group (DOSG) in the April after finishing Staff College, I wasn’t fully sure what to expect. This was to be my first role within Ca- pability and Acquisition and certainly served to focus the mind during the related module in the preceding months at Shriven- ham! DOSG is based in MOD Abbey Wood and overseas a huge variety of ammunition on behalf of UK Defence. The depart- ment is split into a number of different divisions and as you’d imagine the role that I’d be involved in centres on large calibre direct fire (30mm, 40mm and 120mm).
Currently the role is centred on two major Army projects; AJAX and Challenger 2 Life Extension Program (CR2 LEP). With re- gards to the former, it has been excellent to be working alongside the project team and seeing the progression that has been made. This was highlighted by being able to view the first MOD crew fire the 40mm cannon in Pendine in January 2020. This was a major project milestone and also showcased what a capable and potent platform AJAX will prove to be once it comes into service.
The work in relation to Challenger 2 has also been extremely interesting. The CR2 LEP is a huge project and will bring the UK’s Armoured capability in line with other NATO nations who
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