Page 39 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

On looking through the E2 options, in order to stay up North, I noticed a strange array of numbers and letters. SO3 G4 Log Ops, G7 Geo, SJC (UK) Plans, SO3 UK Ops ...and so
it went on, all familiar of course, well to an extent and I’ve always been happy for it to remain such!
The one that stood out was SO3 UK Ops, yeah this was the one, I knew a bit about this already from previous roles, in the bid went. Congratulations, you’ve got SO3 G4 Log Ops, bonus! The only logs I knew were the ones outside my previous gyms and I had the sense that this wasn’t going to be them.
I stepped on to the conveyer belt of an Ops and Plans team in a fast paced deployable Bde. Initially there was a language barrier problem, I had no idea what people were saying, I caught glimpses of English amongst the acronyms but overall, I was stumped. I thought I knew a thing or two about ‘the Army’ but here I was surrounded by my new comrades all speaking a very different language, I had to learn it and fast. I can currently hold a conversation but am by no means fluent, you know, which way to the swimming pool and so on.
Within the first 3 months I’d deployed in HICON roles on MRX’s and been acting Brigadier (gen!) for a rear area security Bde on Ex LOYAL LEADER, a multi-National Ex where my ‘Brigade’ was the rear area security for 1 Canadian Div, the ‘Red Devils.’ Intense but an awesome learning curve.
Luckily, I have Matty Arthur here as SO3 PD so it’s good to catch up with him for a brew now and again and find out what’s going on back in the PD world.
Joking aside, this is an incredibly interesting job, every day really is a school day, you have to be on your toes as there’s little room for stragglers but with such a great team it’s easy to fit in. I am currently running with UK Ops in all its glory, it’s astounding to
Capt (MAA) C Hames RAPTC 4X G3 Op
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4TH INFANTRY BRIGADE AND HEADQUARTERS NORTH EAST
OPERATIONS AND PLANNING TEAM
Capt (MAA) C Hames RAPTC
see just how much the Army is committed to at any one time, also disheartening to imagine the affect this is having on AT and sport.
It would appear that everything that’s deployable and moves is syphoned through this office, the recent deployment of 2 MERCIAN and 1 LANCS on Askari Strom is a good example, the work that the team had to do to test them and load them on to flights was staggering, in this case with minimal Army direction. Planning 12 months ahead is quite normal and looking at deployments two years in advance to generate the training requirements seems to be the way to balance it out. FGEN, FPREP and FSEN’s are now within my daily dialogue and after 6 months in the role I feel I am adding value, though it’s been a tough learning curve. We all sit in our little PD bubble but if you really want to expand your wider Army knowledge don’t be afraid of stepping outside it, you will not regret it and it can only be of benefit, I’ll even help you learn the language!
4 INFANTRY BRIGADE & HEADQUARTERS NORTH EAST
Capt (MAA) M Arthur RAPTC - SO3 PD
Well, it took me 19 years to get to the North but I finally made it!
At the time of writing this I am some eight months into my tour and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it so far. I can confirm Catterick does have its own weather system and both the Yorkshire tea and puddings are the best I have tasted; we should also not forgot that Yorkshire is the birthplace of the first football club (Sheffield FC in 1857 (for those who care)) but more importantly the ‘Yorkie’ bar which maintained the troops morale as a staple of ration packs for many years.
Aside from the above, which on its own is a great reason to live in the North I should probably take some time to recognise the ‘family feel’ you instantly notice amongst the RAPTCIs when you serve here; there is a clear bond between all, with mutual support, collaborative working and the sharing of best practice the norm. I am thankful for the support they provide the branch which gives me confidence that as the global situation improves, we can grow
key areas of our business for the good and benefit of the Units in our AOR.
Brigade life is fast paced, reactive in nature but hugely rewarding as its purpose is clear and defined against the Operational requirements. I am
amazed by the work of the Ops teams and wider Units
in meeting the requirement for deployments and
the many wider taskings which have been undertaken as a result of the