Page 96 - The Light Dragoon 2024

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Joint Force Command Brunssum is a 4 star HQ based in the southern Limburg region of the Netherlands.
As a ‘warfighting HQ’, it is designed to command multi domain operations in the Eastern part of the alliance and controls the key deterrence activity in the region. JFC Brunssum is one of three operational level HQs alongside JFC Naples (Italy) and JFC Norfolk (USA).
At the HQ we command and control multiple exercises throughout the year,
NATO Holland
most recently leading Exercise Steadfast Defender, involving 90,000 allied soldiers from 31 nations, demonstrating the rapid deployment of allied forces to reinforce the defence of Europe.
Within J5 (Plans) our role is the devel- opment and refinement of Operational plans, either real life or exercise, in order to provide SACEUR options for the employment of his forces and contribute to the deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area.
Life in the Netherlands (recently voted 5th happiest country in the world...) is excellent and the stereotypical view of a nation obsessed with bicycles, strong beer and pancakes is entirely accurate. Due to the location of the HQ, bordering Belgium and Germany, the options for travel are superb with France, Italy and Denmark all reachable by car for a weekend break – I highly recommend a visit!
WD
Quartermaster Technical – Mission Ready Training Centre (MRTC)
My second year as MRTC QM(T) has been just as busy, if not busier than the first, as this unstable and unsettled world we live in meant the increased support and assistance of the British Army and wider MOD both nationally and globally was in demand more than ever before. MRTC trained, exercised and tested a substantial number of individuals, troops, squadrons and regiments in a plethora of iPDT and cPDT, training a total of circa 4600 SP who came through the gates of Bassingbourn Bks last year. The G4 Dept was instrumental to this in supporting our Training Teams, allowing them to validate and enable Force Elements to be at readiness for deploying to no less than 36 operational theatres, OCE’s and Defence Engagement tasks for them to be ‘Mission Ready’. It was also good to see some old (and new) faces when elements of the regiment came through MRTC last year to conduct PDT for their most recent operational deployment.
I routinely liaise with the operational G4 CoC from the circa 36 operational theatres & OCE’s worldwide, ensuring the best possible service from our 1Up is delivered. Of note, I also put huge effort into producing a bespoke MRTC UECD whilst instigating and overseeing a complete rewrite of our Equipment Entitlement, neither of which had been done since 2019, making both fit for purpose and emphatically improving the equipment efficiency of the unit. It is down to my G4 team’s tenacious work ethic and continued diligence that the unit’s EC policy is maintained, and our technical accounts are set to the required standards, meaning we pass the LEA’s, LSA&I’s and PSA with ease, ensuring the continued G4 success within MRTC.
As both the QM(T) and de-facto OC LAD (as we do not have one), I oversee
MARARTHON – Autonomous Robotic Targets for Live Fire Tactical Training.
the management of our large vehicle fleet of circa 110 vehicles and huge armoury holdings of over 2000 weapons and associated equipment (inc 350 NSPLWs (NON-SERVICE PATTERN LIGHT WEAPONS)). The G4 team ensures that our three Formation & Unit Advisory Teams (FUTAs), the Individual Training Wing (ITW) and the Specialist Training & Advisory Team (STAT) are well equipped with everything they need to deliver first class training to those due to deploy on Ops, from issuing green string and cyalumes to autonomous robots, 3D printed sUAS and everything in between.
My time at MRTC has been both enjoyable and testing, helping the organisation go from IOC (Initial Operating Capability) to FOC (Full Operating Capability) in my time here, the work/life balance is second to none and I have enjoyed every minute of my time here. However, onwards and
Innovations sampled by MRTC in 2023
upwards now, as I was fortunate enough to be successful in being selected from the Beige List for promotion to Major on my first look. At the time of drafting this article I await confirmation of my next job (which will be confirmed in Apr 24) but a total of five and a half years as a QM(T) takes its toll,andIamnowreadytomoveontoa different venture.
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